Persecution

     No wonder they tell you to rejoice when you are persecuted - for the rewards are incredibly high. You have to be firm in your testimony to endure persecution, not only endure but to love your enemies. Persecution is a strong sanctifying power - one that will bring you closer to God, His love, and His power. Do not fear it, do not hide from it, do not sorrow in it - persecution will bring you closer to God and more like Him.

*Psalms 10:2 - "The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor"

*Isa 52:7, Jer 11:19, Mos 14:7 - The way Christ was persecuted: as a lamb to slaughter, sheep to shearers, opened not his mouth, they sought to cut him off that His name would be remembered no more.

*Matt 5:10, 3 Ne 12:10, Luke 2:22-23 - "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, endure to the end and shall be saved - Matt 10:22, D&C 101:35

*Matt 5:12, 3 Ne 12:12 - rejoice in persecution for your reward in heaven will be great

*Matt 5:44, 3 Ne 12:44, Romans 12:14, 1 Cor 4:12(suffer it) - pray/love/bless/do good to those who use you/persecute you

*Matt 13:21, Mark 4:17 - If your testimony is not strong enough, you will be offended by persecution

*Matt 23:34-35, Luke 11:49-50 - Those who persecute prophets have the blood of all persecutions on their hands.

*Luke 13:34 - How oft He would gather, but they would not - they chose to persecute

*Luke 21:12 - There will be much persecution in the last days

*John 5:16 - The Jews persecuted Jesus - way before the last days of His life.

*John 15:20-21 - If they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute you.

*John 16:2 - The time will come that when people persecute you, they will believe they are doing it in God's name, for righteousness sake

*Acts 7:51-52 - Those who resist the Spirit are those who persecute the prophets, those whose fathers persecute also persecute(*another name for Christ:the Just One)

*Acts 7:59 - Stephen was stoned to death - Paul also stoned, Acts 14:19, more persecutions of Paul:2 Cor 11:24-33

*Acts 8:1 - Great persecution scattered the people of the church, Acts 13:50, Acts 11:19 - Being scattered helped them preach to a wider audience - blessings from heaven

*Acts 9:4-5(22:7, 26:14) - Christ asks Saul why he persecutes Him

*Rom 8:35-39 - NOTHING(including persecution) can separate you from the love of God

*1 Cor 4:9 - "persecuted but not forsaken"

*2 Cor 12:10 - Take pleasure in persecution for Christ's sake - "for when I am weak then am I strong"

*Gal 1:23-24, D&C 121:38 - It is possible(thank God for it)for those who once persecuted to repent and become preacher

*Gal 4:29 - Those born of the flesh persecute those born of the Spirit

*2 Thes 1:4 - have paitence and faith in your persecutions

*2 Tim 3:12 - "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution"

*Rev 6:9 - Under the fifth seal are all the souls who have been slain by persecuters, Rev 12:13 - another revelation that I don't understand about a dragon and a woman

*1 Ne 18:11 - The Lord allowed Laman & Lemuel to persecute Nephi in order to show forth his power, fulfill His word

*2 Ne 9:30 - Wo unto the rich who persecute the poor, meet, etc. - Hel 3:34 - persecute because of pride, great evil, 2 Ne 28:13

*2 Ne 26:8 - The righteous who follow prophets, look to Christ - will not perish, not withstanding all persecution

*Mosiah 27:2 - King Mosiah made persecution illegal, Alma still persecuted = chastised by "nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people" - 27:13

*Alma 14:9 - Alma & Amulek forced to witness persecution

*3 Ne 6:13-14 - Some people were humble with persecution, others took revenge - split the church

*4 Ne 1:29 - Persecution began because they were jealous of miracles/blessings of faith

*D&C 40:2 - James Covill - received word with gladness "but Satan tempted him and the fear of persecution and the cares of the world caused him to reject the word."

*D&C 45:53 - Those who persecute will feel the lamentations of their actions

*D&C 88:94 - Woe to the great abominable church who persecute the saints

*D&C 98:23 - If you bear persecution patiently, you'll be rewarded

*D&C 99:1 - Sometimes you are called to preach when there is already persecution

*D&C 101:1 - Sometimes you're persecuted for your own transgressions - those who can endure chastening can be sanctified

*D&C 122:7 - If all matters of persecution come to thee, it will give experience and be for thy good

*JSH 1:23 - From a young age, JS dealt with persecution

*Acts 28:22 - Be open minded to those who are persecuted

*1 Ne 8:33 - Part of the iron rod/tree of life is to hold steady while others mock/persecute