237. What idols do we worship today? Pres. Spencer W. Kimball gives wonderful counsel.

Today was a particularly interesting entry in Latter Day Devotion.  I decided to include the calendar of what happened in the Church on this day in history. 

 What idols do we worship in our daily lives?  President Kimball gives such a good description of what could be idols.  Right now, before Conference, is a good time for us all to really go through some soul searching, and be ready to receive the counsel from our leaders this coming weekend.  

Latter Day Light DAILY DEVOTION _________________________ Modern Idolatry Nauvoo, Illinois September 29, 2014 SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Doctrine & Covenants 1:16 "They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall." QUOTE OF THE DAY:   Spencer W. Kimball "Idolatry is among the most serious of sins. . . . Modern idols or false gods can take such forms as clothes, homes, businesses, machines, automobiles, pleasure boats, and numerous other material deflectors from the path to godhood. . . . Intangible things make just as ready gods. Degrees and letters and titles can become idols. . . . Many people build and furnish a home and buy the automobile first . . . Whom do they worship? Certainly not the Lord of heaven and earth. . . . "Others have as their idols the games of sport, baseball, football, the bullfight, or golf. . . . Still another image men worship is that of power and prestige. . . . "These gods of power, wealth, and influence are most demanding and are quite as real as the golden calves of the children of Israel in the wilderness" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, p.146-147). DAILY READING SCHEDULE Read the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon in one year with our Daily Scripture Reading Schedule: Isaiah 13:1 - 15:3   Helaman 13:1 - 13:19 TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: September 28 1835 - The Prophet Joseph met with the Kirtland Stake High Council as they heard a charge against Allan Avery who was appealing a case from the Elders Court in Missouri which took away his license to preach for rebelling against them. The Prophet acted as defense for the accused and plead for mercy. The decision was made to restore him to fellowship and return his license. (History of the Church, 2:286) 1838 - The Kirtland Camp continued their travel through Missouri towards Far West. On this date they passed through Chillicothe. The road was new and very rough in places. Thomas Carico's and J. H. Holmes' wagons were turned over, but no injury was reported. They have now traveled 825 miles from Kirtland, Ohio. 1839 - Being Sunday, the Prophet Joseph preached at his own home to a group of Saints. He spoke saying it was useless for missionaries to talk of judgements to the world, but rather to preach the simple Gospel. He also stated that it was wrong to think that the Saints would escape all the judgements, that some would suffer because of various reasons, some would die but be saved in the Kingdom of God. That if Saints do die as part of the last day turmoil, that it is improper to think they died because of sin. Encouraged all to "judge not, lest ye be judged." 1842 - The Prophet Joseph spends the day with his wife Emma, who had become sick with fever. (History of the Church, 5:166) 1857 - General Daniel H. Wells leaves Salt Lake City to establish a military headquarters and presence in Echo Canyon to defend the Saints in Utah from the approaching United States Army led by Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston. The army had been sent to Utah by President Buchanan to quell the alleged rebellion against the United States government by the Mormons. 1954 - Julie Bangerter Beck, fifteenth General President of the Relief Society from 2007-2012, was born in Granger, Utah. 1967 - The new administrative position of regional representative of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is announced. Sixty-nine men are called and trained in this new position. 1979 - The Church releases the LDS edition of the King James Version of the Bible. It contains a Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, and extensive footnotes. 2009 - A strong earthquake and tsunami hits the islands of Samoa and Tonga and causes severe damage and loss of life. The Angel Moroni statue atop the Apia Samoa Temple snapped off and two stake centers were severely damaged. Many homes along the coastal areas hit by the tsunami were destroyed. Eight Latter-day Saints were killed and two others hospitalized. The Church sent emergency supplies of food, clothing, and other relief items and assisted in the rebuilding of 50 homes. (Church News, October 3, p. 15 and October 31, 2009, p. 6)