jots and tittles

Fri. 3/23/18 Good afternoon Brandon, Sister Bolivia real name Yovana is a caregiver which provides her a place to live. She was so depressed and frustrated and ready to through in the towel last month. She called her mother and her sister and they all began to fast and pray together. She asked our director, Elder Merril for a blessing. He by the power of the priesthood cast the devil out of her and she felt it leave. She was so relieved. Her depression and frustration left. I just finished listening to her tell how she has taken charge of the nurses and cna’s that help and care for her old lady. My response to her was: they stepped on the wrong toes when they stepped on yours. I huddled close to her so she could tell her stories in a quiet private voice. After 30 minutes I told her, this is the last story. She knew prayer meeting was over and I could go back to work in that room. She thanked me for being a good listener. I don’t know how trusting she is. I don’t know if I am one of many or just a few with whom she updates the story of her life. Stories about Satan being cast out are few and far between for me. For that reason I had to record it for you and me. @ She described her prayer to HF for me, that she kept offering in the midst of her discouraged turmoil: ”HF, you put me here, you led me here, if you need me somewhere else please guide me to where I can do the most good.” bps, what kind of person offers a prayer like that? @@@ We did 2N 10 last night after doing chapter 9 last week. Nephi loved the teachings of Jacob his brother and Isaiah. 2N6,7,8,9,10 are all from Jacob! Just like Moroni copied teachings and letters from his father Mormon in Moroni 7 and 8. Do you remember how Nephi was commanded to make a small set of plates at the end of his life and only put spiritual things on them? This is what he felt was the most spiritual and beautiful to him! @ In chapter 10 he teaches us about the Jews that will reject Christ. Haven’t you wondered how they could deny and reject him when he was right there? Last night I declared that they had lots of help. When ever the gospel truths are on the earth among a people, they are the ones Satan focuses on! Everyone else is already floundering and lost. But the saints he really really wants to destroy. He had succeeded with the Jews by making the wonderful true details, commandments be bigger and more important than life. They were following the jots and the tittles and were insensitive to the spirit.

{Most of us are unfamiliar with jots and tittles because most of us do not read the Hebrew language. Jots and tittles have to do with letters and pen strokes in Hebrew writing.

A jot is the tenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and the smallest. It was written above the line and looks to us rather like an apostrophe:

Jot is related to our modern English word iota, meaning “a very small amount.” The Hebrew spelling is yodor yodh. Many Bibles have a picture of a yod in Psalm 119. Check out the section title coming just before verse 73.

A tittle is even smaller than a jot. A tittle is a letter extension, a pen stroke that can differentiate one Hebrew letter from another. An example can be seen in the comparison between the Hebrew letters resh and daleth (or dalet): The resh (on the left) is made with one smooth stroke. The daleth (on the right) is made with two strokes of the pen. The letters are very similar to each other, but the distinguishing mark of the daleth is the small extension of the roof of the letter:
That extension is a tittle. See Psalm 119:25 and 153 for pictures of the daleth and resh, respectively.

When Jesus said, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” in Matthew 5:18, He was stating emphatically that God’s Word is true and trustworthy. God has spoken, His words have been written down accurately, and what God has said will surely come to pass. Fulfillment is inevitable. Even the smallest letter of the Law will be fulfilled. Even the smallest pen stroke of the Prophets will be accomplished.}

Do you remember me complimenting the dedication of those in Jesus’ day who stood with heads bowed for hours on street corners praying? You don’t see anyone praying anywhere today do we? Even in a restaurant we are too embarrassed to be seen praying! @ So even though we may diminish the Jews when we think of the crucifiction and their lack of following him, how many saints are truly righteous today? How many enjoy feasting on his word everyday? How many enjoy serving him everyday? We are truly less than the dust of the earth. At least it obeys! @@@