In the Old Testament I read a verse that tells us that if we make a vow to the Lord, we need to keep it and do what we have covenanted that we will do. To do anything short of this, is a sin. Deut. 23:21 "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how people teach false and foolish doctrines, being lifted up in pride. They would teach that they could eat, drink and be merry and that God would justify them in committing a little sin. They'd die and God would beat them with a few stripes and then they'd be saved. Doctrine like this makes it easy to commit sin and feel justified in doing so. Why repent and change our lives? We're not that bad. We'll receive a little punishment and then everything will be okay in the end. You can see why Satan would like us to believe foolish doctrines like this. 2 Ne. 28: 8-9 "And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines , and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the story of how angels came to shepherds watching over their flocks by night and told them of the birth of Jesus Christ. They went to find the baby Jesus lying in a manger, and when they had seen Him they went abroad telling other people about this child. They were the first missionaries after the birth of Christ! When we learn about Jesus Christ, are we also willing to share this knowledge with others? It's too good of news to keep to ourselves. Luke 2: 8-17 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."
---------------------------------------------

In the Old Testament I read a verse that says adulterers should be put to death, to put away evil out of the land. Of course we don't have such harsh punishments today, but this shows the seriousness of this sin and how it is looked upon by the Lord. How very important to avoid this kind of sin in our lives and to quickly repent if we are guilty of such things. In today's world sexual immorality is often portrayed as normal or okay, but we need to remember that nothing could be further from the truth. The Lord sees this as a very serious sin. Deut. 22:22 "If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel."


In the Book of Mormon I read some verses that talk about how God invites all men to be saved and forbids no one. He wants all men to partake of His goodness. They need to obey the commandments and repent of their sins, but anyone who is willing to do so can be saved. It doesn't matter if they're black or white, Jew or gentile, all are alike unto God. He loves all of us and wants all of us to come unto Him. 2 Ne. 26: 23-28, 32-33 "For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness. He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw call men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance. Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden. And again, the Lord God hath acommanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish. For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us not to covet things that other people have; but rather be content with what we have, knowing that the Lord will never leave or forsake us. How very comforting that is, knowing that God is watching over us. Have you ever noticed children in a playground, looking over to see their parent and then playing with abandon, knowing their parent is watching over them? We can be like that--knowing we have a loving parent watching over us and He will neer leave or forsake us. Heb. 13: 5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

In the Old Testament I read some advice about how to treat the property of others. If we find something that someone else has lost, we need to return it to them or hold it in trust until they come seeking after it. And if an animal that belongs to someone else falls down, we need to lift it up. We need to treat other people's property with respect and do with it what we would want someone to do with our own property. I've had instances in my life when I've lost items that were valuable to me and someone turned them in to lost and found or made sure I got them back How grateful I was for other people's honesty! And then there have been times when I've found items belonging to someone else, and what a joy it was to be able to return them to their rightful owners. One out of town woman who had left her purse in a restroom had tears in her eyes she was so thankful to get it back in tact. Another woman who I went to a lot of trouble to track down to return a box of irreplacable items that had fallen off a truck as she was moving said I had restored her faith in people. I think the Lord sometimes has lead me to find various items because He knew I'd return them. How gratifying this can be! And when people have offered me a reward I've told them, "The only reward I want is that if you ever find something that belongs to someone else, you'll likewise return it to them, just as people have done to me in the past. Pass on the favor." I think this is just part of the Golden Rule to do to others as you would have others do to you. Deut. 22:1-4 "Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again."

In the Book of Mormon I read that we need to look to Christ for a remission of our sins, and we need to teach this to our children. We need to talk of Christ, preach of Christ, and rejoice in Christ. We need to make Christ the center of our lives. 2 Ne. 25: 26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

A verse from a thought booklet tells us that Paul prayed that the people's love would abound more and more and that their knowledge and judgment would increase. This is something we could all pray for ourselves, esepcially that we'll grow in our love for others. The gospel is about love. Philip. 1: 9 "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;"

In the Old Testament I read that the Israelites were commanded to destroy all the people in the lands they were to possess to prevent these people from teaching them their abominations such as serving other gods and sinning against the Lord. This shows the influence that being around wicked people can have on us. In today's world, we aren't supposed to go around killing wicked people to get rid of their evil influence, and we can't always avoid being around evil influences in our lives, but we can choose those we associate with most as our close friends and we need to make sure we choose wisely. They don't need to necessarily share all our same beliefs, but they need to be good people who would not encourage us to do things that are wrong. It's important to surround ourselves, as much as possible, with people who will strenghten us and encourage us to be the best people we can be. Deut. 20: 17-18
"But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the Lord your God."

In the Book of Mormon I read that Nephi prophesied that Jesus Christ would be crucified, laid in a sepulchre, and after three days He would rise from the dead with healing in His wings. All those who believe on His name would be saved. 2 Ne. 25: 13 "Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name."

A verse from a thought booklet talks about being in darkness but seeing a great light. Learning about the gospel and Jesus Christ can indeed bring light into a dark life. Isa. 9: 2 "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord would go before the Israelites to fight for them in their battles to save them, so they had no need to fear, even though their enemies might be greater in number and have mighty horses and chariots. If the Lord is on our side, it doesn't matter who fights against us--the Lord is mightier than them all. Deut. 20: 1-4 "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people. And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."

In the Book of Mormon I read that the words of Isaiah are difficult for many people to understand. Boy, I've found that to be true! However, Nephi says that the words of Isaiah are plain unto those who are filled with the spirit of prophecy. So if we find Isaiah hard to understand, we need to pray to the Lord for understanding. 2 Ne. 25: 1, 4 "Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews. Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the story of the conversion of Saul, who later became Paul the apostle. He went from someone who persecuted Christians and tried to destroy the church to a great preacher of the Gospel, convincing people that Jesus was the very Christ. What a wonderful story of a transformed life! Acts 9: 1-22 "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing cno man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." The thought that went with this, written by Donna H. Eliason from San Jose, California, says: Anne our seven year old granddaughter, painted a background with various shades of blue. Next she started to paint a girl, but the brush dripped black splashes, so she threw it away and started another picture. "Wait, Anne," her grandfather cautioned. "Artists can make their mistakes into something beautiful." He helped her transform the black splashes into a beautiful landscape with a little girl sitting under a tree. Not only was she delighted with her painting; she also learned a valuable lesson. God, too, has a wonderful way of taking a messed up life and transforming it into something beautiful. What we may consider hopeless and ruined, God can mold into a valuable masterpiece. We have the choice of either keeping the status quo or giving God the opportunity to guide and shape our present and future. Our God is the God of second chances and new opportunities.

In the Old Testament I read that two or three witnesses are needed to testify against a man, not just one. And if it is proven that someone has born false witness against someone else, the false witness needs to be punished with the same punishment he sought to obtain against the person he was bearing false witness against. Deut. 19: 15-19 "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you."

In the Book of Mormon I read some verses that talk about how after the Second Coming of Christ the animals will be friendly and peaceful and the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. What a wonderful day that will be! 2 Ne. 21: 6-9 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

A verse from a thought booklet tells us to commit our way to the Lord and trust in Him. Our lives will go so better if we allow the Lord to lead and guide us and we put our trust in Him. Ps. 37: 5 "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

In the Old Testament I read about how God would raise up a prophet like unto Moses (Christ), that God would put words in His mouth and that the people should listen to Him and hearken to His words. Deut. 18:15, 18-19 "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."

In the Book of Mormon I read a verse that quotes Isaiah, prophesying about the birth of Jesus Christ. He would be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. 2 Ne. 19: 6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to hear what the Lord speaks to us, for He'll speak peace to us. Indeed, if we do what He says and not return to our folly, we'll hae peace in our lives. Ps. 85: 8 "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly."

In the Old Testament I read how the Lord commanded the people to avoid the sins of the nations as they came into the promised land to possess it. They should not sacrifice their children to idols, nor become involved in divination or spiritualism. These things are abominations to the Lord, and are the reasons why the Lord drove out the people guilty of them from before the Israelites. The Lord commanded the children of Israel to be perfect. Deut. 18: 9-14 "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do."

In the Book of Mormon I read the prophecy quoted from Isaiah that a virgin would conceive and bear a son and call His name Immanuel. The birth of Jesus Christ was prophesied by many prophets, hundreds of years before it happened. 2 Ne. 17: 14 "Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign—Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

What a coincidence! Some verses in a thought booklet tell how Isaiah's prophecy about the birth of Jesus Christ was fulfilled--quoting the same verse in Isaiah as was quoted in the Book of Mormon. Matt. 1: 21-23 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

In the Old Testament I read that a king should study the laws of God daily and keep the commandments, not turning aside from them either to the left or right. It sounds like it's very important that government leaders be men of God who study the scriptures and keep the commandments. Wouldn't it be nice if we could elect such men today? It's sad that often none of the candidates we have the option of voting for meet this criteria. That's not a good reflection on our country or our world today. Deut. 17: 18-20 "And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel."

In the Book of Mormon I read that there should be wo unto those who call evil good and good evil, and who are wise in their own eyes but don't seek the counsel of the Lord. Doesn't this describe our own day? Things such as praying in school or saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays" are considered evil. But all you have to do is turn on the TV and you can see every evil thing imaginable portrayed as something good and acceptable. What a twisted up world we live in when good is portrayed as evil and sin is portrayed as good. This scripture certainly does speak to our day and time. 2 Ne. 15: 20-21 "Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Wo unto the wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!"

Some verse with a thought booklet remind us of something I don't think we can be reminded too much about--how we should love others. Our love should be patient and kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It isn't easily angered or provoked. Our love should not insist on its own way. And it should bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. When we compare the love we have for others against that advice in these verses, how does it measure up? 1 Cor. 13: 4-5, 7 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

In the Old Testament I read that if anyone were to worship false gods they were to be put to death. Boy, that seems like an extreme punishment, but apparently this was to be used to keep evil away. However, there needed to be two or three witnesses against the person, not just one, before this death sentence was carried out. Deut. 17: 2-7 "If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how the wicked fall because their doings are against the Lord. Even their countences witness against them. The wicked will be punished according to their deeds and likewise the righteous will be rewarded according to theirs. 2 Ne. 13: 8-11 "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongues and their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves! Say unto the righteous that it is well with them; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Wo unto the wicked, for they shall perish; for the reward of their hands shall be upon them!"

A verse with a thought booklet tells of David's prayer for the Lord to help and strenghten him and be not far from him. This is a good example of something we can also pray for in our lives. The Lord will be our helper in good times and bad and we can always call on Him. Ps. 22: 19 "But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me."

In the Old Testament I read about how we need to help the poor among us and should not harden our hearts against those who stand in need. Deut. 15:7-8, 10-11 "If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land."


In the Book of Mormon I read about some of the events that will take place at the Second Coming of Chirst. The proud and haughty will be made humble, the earth will shake terribly, and men's idols will be utterly abolished. 2 Ne. 12: 13-21 "Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the cedars of Lebanon, for they are high and lifted up; and upon all the oaks of Bashan; And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills, and upon all the nations which are lifted up, and upon every people; And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall; And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the aglory of his majesty shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which he hath made for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the majesty of his glory shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth."

A verse with a thought booklet is one we all should memorize so we can recall it at times when we feel like we're in such difficult circumstances that there is no solution to our problems. This scripture tells us that with God, nothing is impossible. In times of trouble, we need to lean on the Lord and trust in Him and realize that with His help, anything is possible. Luke 1: 37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

In the Old Testament I read that the people were commanded to pay tithing of all their seed. Paying a tenth of all we have is still a commandment that we need to obey, even in our own day. Deut. 14: 22 "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year."

In the Book of Mormon I read that we are free to act for ourselves. We can choose righteously, and according to the will of God, and by His grace we will be saved. Or we can choose instead according to the will of the flesh or the will of the devil, and we'll reap everlasting death. The choice is ours. 2 Ne. 10: 23-24 "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."

I read some scriptures in conjuction with a thought booklet that tell the story of David giving in to the temptation of Satan and numbering Israel. I remember reading this when I was a teenager and wondering why it was such a sin to take a census. But I can see now that it was showing a lack of faith on David's part. David should have taken the Lord at His word that He would be protected against his enemies. With the Lord on his side, what did it matter how many soldiers were fighting against him? But he wanted the reassurance of how numerous Israel was. He figured if he numbered them and saw that they were more numerous than his enemies, he could be assured a victory. In other words, he was a skeptic. He didn't have enough trust and faith in God. There are other examples of skeptics in the scriptures. There's fleece laying Gideon (Judges chapter 6), and Sarah who laughed when told that she'd be a mother in her old age (Genesis 17:17), Zechariah who queestioned the angel when told that his wife would bear a son in her old age, (Luke 1:18), and Moses who gave all kinds of excuses about why he couldn't lead the children of Israel out of slavery (Exodus chapters 3-4). God used all these people. Does that mean He loves skepticism? No, but he loves all people, including skeptics, and is willing to work with them and help them become believers. We need to overcome our skeptism and trust in God. He'll help us do that if we'll go to Him in prayer. 1 Chr. 21: 1-4 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem."

In the Old Testament I read a warning to the Isrealites against family members and friends who would try to lead them astray or encourage them to serve other gods. If we have people in our lives who are seeking to lead us astray or who are encouraging us to do things we know are wrong, we should not concent to what they're asking us to do and we should not heakren unto them. Deut. 13:6-8 "If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:"

In the Book of Mormon I read the prophesies of Jacob regarding the crucifixion of Christ. He said that no other nation was wicked enough to do this--that if the miracles that Jesus wrought among the Jews had been done among another people they would know that He was God and they would repent. But because of the wickedness of the people at Jerusalem and they stiffened their necks against Him and crucified Him. 2 Ne. 10: 3-5 "Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God. For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God. But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified."

A verse from a thought booklet talks about how Zacharias finally had his prayer answered that he and his wife Elisabeth would have a child. This is when they were both old and his wife was well past the years of childbearing. God always answers our prayers. Sometimes He answers them right away in the way we'd hoped He would. Other times His answer is "No" when we pray for things that aren't really what's best for us or if God has something else in mind for us. And sometimes, like in our scripture verse today, He answers "Yes" but according to His own timetable. It may be many years after we first prayed for it. But we can know that however God answers our prayers, we can trust that He knows best and will give us the things most beneficial to us at the time that is best. Luke 1: 13 "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."

In the Old Testament I read an admonition to the children of Israel that they are to walk after the Lord and keep His commandments, obeying His voice and serving Him. This is something that we today also need to do. Deut. 13:4 "Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."

In the Book of Mormon I read that when the wicked hear the truth, they find it very hard to bear. The truth is hard against all uncleanness. But when the righteous hear the truth, they are not shaken and they do not fear. The way of life is narrow and straight and the Lord Jesus Christ is the keeper of the gate. Whoever knocks, it will be opened unto him. But those who are prideful because they are rich or because they think they're wiser than other people will need to come down to the depths of humility before Christ will open the gate for them. 2 Ne. 9: 40-42 "O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken. O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name. And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We might think that we know what's best for us, but maybe God has an even better plan for our life. If we put our trust in Him, we'll be on the best possible path. Isa. 55: 8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my aways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

In the Old Testament I read that the Israelites were to destroy the gods and places of worship of the nations which they were to possess. Deut. 12:2-3 "Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place."

A short verse in the Book of Mormon tells us that if we are liars, we'll be thrust down to hell. Pretty powerful message, and very straight forward. Very important that we be honest and tell the truth.
2 Nephi 9: 34 "Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that the wicked need to forsake their unrighteous ways and return to the Lord. If they will do this, the Lord will have mercy on them and abundantly pardon them. What a wonderful promise this is! We truly can repent of our sins and return to the Lord, and He will welcome us back. Isa. 55: 7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

In the Old Testament I read that if the Isrealites kept the commandments of the Lord and loved and served Him, they would be greatly blessed. However, if they allowed themselves to be deceived and serve other gods, the Lord's wrath would be kindled against them and they could be cursed. Whether they would be blessed or cursed, it would be up to them and how much diligence they would be willing to show in keeping the commandments and being obedient to what the Lord asked them to do. Deut. 11:13-28 "And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. Therefore shall ye alay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall byour coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you. Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known."

In the Book of Mormon I read that a verse that says wo unto the rich who despise the poor and who place their hearts upon the treasures of the world. Their worldly riches become their god and they shall perish with them. 2 Ne. 9: 30 "But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also."


A verse with a thought booklet tells us that God is our helper. Even when we think it's other people who hold us up, God is with them. He is the source of all help. Every parents of a young child has heard the words, "Daddy, can I help?" or "Mommy, can I help?" Whether the child wants to help with changing the oil in a car, painting a room, or baking a cake, the parents knows that the task will take longer with clumsy young hands helping. However, since the child is more important than the project, they usually find ways to allow the child to contribute something to the task. This is the way the child learns and grows. God could do everything for us and we would not have to stretch ourselves and grow. But instead He entrusts us with tasks and helps us with projects, even though it takes us longer is more difficult for us to accomplish He cares for us as a loving parents and will help us accomplish whatever we need to do. He'll help us and He'll help us help others. Ps. 54: 4 "Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul."

In the Old Testament I read a decription of all the marvelous things the Lord had done for the children of Isreal--all the mighty miracles wrought in their behalf. Deut. 11:2-7 "And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm, And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land; And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the Lord hath destroyed them unto this day; And what he did unto you in the wilderness, until ye came into this place; And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel: But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the Lord which he did."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how the atonement of Christ prepared the way for us to escape both temporal and spiritual death. We can be forgiven of our sins if we repent and are baptized and endure to the end. And we can escape the awful monster of death and be resurrected, our spirts reuniting with our bodies. And this is all made possible because of the atonement of Christ. 2 Ne. 9: 10-24 "O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit. And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave. And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel. O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect. Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness. And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God. And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end. O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be fulfilled. But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever. O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil, and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment. O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth call things, and there is not anything save he knows it. And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that Christ was born inhe flesh, lived here on earth among us, had glory as the only Begotton Son of God, and was full of loving forgivenss and truth. John 1: 14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

In the Old Testament I read admonitions that we should love the Lord and obey Him. Deut. 11:1 "Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway."

In the Book of Mormon I read that we need to keep the law of God written in our hearts and not be afraid of the reproach of men. We need to hearken unto the Lord, and not let the revilings of other men concern us. When you look at the way the world is going at the present time and compare that with the commandments of God, there is a wide gap. But all we need to worry about is keeping our lives in line with what the Lord has asked us to do and not worry about other people's critism. Their opinion of us really doesn't matter. But it is important that we please the Lord. God will comfort us. Why should we forget Him, who is all powerful and who created the heaven and the earth, and worry about man who dies like the grass? 2 Ne. 8: 4, 7, 12-13 "Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; for a aw shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light for the people. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass? And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?"

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us to be strong and courageous. If we keep the commandments, we don't need to be afraid or dismayed. We need to meditate upon the law day and night and not depart from it either to the left or right. The Lord will be with us wherever we go and prosper us. Josh. 1: 7-9 "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

In the Old Testament I read that the only things the Lord requires of us is to love and serve Him with all our hearts and to keep His commandments. Deut. 10:12-13 "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"

In the Book of Mormon I read some words that quote Isaiah 50, saying that the Lord isn't the one who casts off the wicked, but rather the wicked have sold themselves with their iniquities. The Lord, who can do all things, doesn't have a hand that's too short to redeem. It's not that He doesn't have the power to deliver. It's the choices the evil people make that cut them off from the Lord. If we've lost a connection to God we can know without doubt that the problem lies with us, not with God. 2 Ne. 7: 1-2 "Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I called , yea, there was none to answer. O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make their rivers a wilderness and their fish to stink because the waters are dried up, and they die because of thirst."

In verses from a thought booklet I read that there is a time to keep and a time to throw away. The thought that went with this, written by the Rev. Harvey Brink from Everett, Washington says: If you want to get a lively discussion going with a group of friends, toss out this question: "What things should you keep and what things should you throw away? Some argue for hoarding all kinds of old stuff. They don't want anything of potential value cast into the dumpster. Others like to keep even their storage rooms tidy. Their motto: "If in doubt, throw it out." "Keepers" often act as though their stuff is a precious source of their security. "Throwers" often behave as though the old has little value when compared to the new. The writer of Ecclesiastes invites us to a sense of balance. "There is a time to keep and a time to throw away." We can better understand that word of wisdom in light of the stages of life. For all of us, there is an accumulation phase. Young adults, just establishing a home, are often amazed by how many things they need to run out and buy! But older adults often find that they have moved to a divesting stage, when things that hold meaning are lovingly passed on to children, grandchildren, or friends. We'll do well to seek God's wisdom as to when it's time to hold tight and when it's time to let go. God promises discernment to those who ask from him (see James 1:5). At every stage of life, a reverence for God will help guide wise decision making. Eccl. 3: 1, 6 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;"
--------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Old Testament I read about how the Lord commanded Moses to hew two tables of stone so the Lord could write the ten commandments on them, after he broke the other tables. The Lord also told Moses to make an ark to put the tables in. Moses did as the Lord commanded. Deut. 10:1-5 "At that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand. And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me. And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the Lord commanded me."

In the Book of Mormon I read that after Lehi's death, Nephi's brothers Laman and Lemuel increased in their anger toward him, to the point that they wanted to kill him. The Lord warned Nephi that he should go into the wilderness with any people willing to go with him and form their own righteous group away from their wicked brethren. They kept the commandments of the Lord and He blessed and prospered them. 2 Ne. 5: 1-11 "Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God, because of the anger of my brethren. But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life. Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people. Now I do not write upon these plates all the words which they murmured against me. But it sufficeth me to say, that they did seek to take away my life. And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me. Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents. And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi. And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the people of Nephi. And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses. And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that the Lord is full of mercy and grace and is slow to anger. This is something we need to follow as an example in our lives. How quick are we to become angry? Do we show mercy in dealing with other people? Ps. 103: 8 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."

In the Old Testament I read that when Moses saw how the children of Isreal had worshipped the golden calf, he cast down the tables of stone so that they broke. He stamped on the golden calf and ground it until it was as dust. He then fasted and prayed another forty days and forty nights on behalf of the Isralites and their sins. The Lord hearkened unto Moses and did not destroy the people. Deut 9: 16-21, 24-29 "And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the Lord your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the Lord had commanded you. And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes. And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also. And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time. And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount. Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the Lord had said he would destroy you. I prayed therefore unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin: Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness. Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm."


In the Book of Mormon I read some wonderful words of Nephi, glorying in the goodness of God to him, and putting his trust in the Lord forever. He talks about the many blessings the Lord has given him, leading him through his many afflictions and filling him with love. He talks about the battle he's had with himself. Even though he's had many marvelous manifestations, he still struggles with sin. And he asks himself why. Why would he yield to temptations or allow the evil one a place in his heart, to destroy his peace and afflict his soul? His heartfelt prayer to God is truly touching, as he pleads with the Lord to make him shake at the very appearance of sin. He expresses total trust in the Lord and knows that God will hear and answer his prayers, as long as he doesn't ask amiss. He says his voice will forever ascend to God in prayer. 2 Ne. 4: 16-35 "Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time. And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them. O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my aheart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road! O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy. O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."

Some verses with a thought booklet point out the importance of showing graditude for the blessings the Lord gives us. When Jesus healed the ten lepers, only one of them returned to thank Him. Of course He was happy that the one had expressed graditude at being healed, but I'm sure it saddened Him when He had to ask where the other nine were. When the Lord blesses us and answers our prayers, how quick are we to forget and go on our way? Or do we always stop to thank Him? Luke 17: 11-19 "And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." The thought that went with this, written by Sharon Keeling from Cassville, Missouri says: Nine year old Jerrica had just opened the last of her birthday gifts. With perfect timing, her father, who had quietly slipped out a few moments earlier, rolled a beautiful bicycle through the door. Jerrica's eyes lit up with joy at the sight of the purple bicycle decorated with flowers. But before she even examined the bike, she ran to hug her mother, then her father. It was such a blessing to me to see a child showing appreciation to those who had given her the bicycle. Our heavenly Father gives us so many wonderful gifts. How often I have focused on the gift instead of the Giver! Of course, God wants us to enjoy the things He provides for us: "God gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). But don't you think God would like for us to be more like Jerrica and run to Him first with words of thanks? Thank you, Father, for all the wonderful gifts you give me! Yet I want you to know that you are more wonderful to me than any gift. I love you, Lord.

In the Old Testament I read about how stiffnecked the children of Isreal were. When Moses fasted forty days and nights and was receiving the ten commandments on tables of stone, the people were corrupting themselves with idols. This angered the Lord very much. Deut. 9:9-13 "When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant. And the Lord said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image. Furthermore the Lord spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:"

In the Book of Mormon I read that after Lehi had given his last words to all his children and grandchildren, he died and was buried. After his death, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ismael were angry with Nephi because he had been inspired by the Lord to admonish them and they did not want to hear what he had to say. 2 Ne. 4: 12-13 "And it came to pass after my father, Lehi, had spoken unto all his household, according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, he waxed bold. And it came to pass that he died, and was buried. And it came to pass that not many days after his death, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me because of the admonitions of the Lord."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that if we want to be The Lord's friend, we'll keep His commandments. John 15: 14 "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord would go before the Israelites to destroy the people in the land so that the children of Isreal could possess the land. He would not do this because the Israelites were so righteous, but rather because the nations were so wicked. Deut. 9:3-6 "Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people."


In the Book of Mormon I read a verse that prohesied how the Bible (book written by the descendants of Judah) and the Book of Mormon (book written by the descendants of Joseph) would grow together in the latter days to confound false doctrines and bring the people to a knowledge of the covenants of the Lord. 2 Ne. 3: 12 "Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write ; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the story of the Good Samaritan. This is someone who saw someone in need and went to work to do what he could to help him. We may not often find someone laying on the ground wounded and in need of medical attention, but there are times in each of our days when, if we're sensitive to the needs of others, we can find ways to be of service. It doesn't have to be anything major but even small things can make a difference in another person's life. Does a coworker seemed swamped with work that we might be able to help with? Can we give our seat to someone on a bus? Could a smile and a "hello" brighten someone's day? Perhaps someone going through a rough time could just use a listening ear for a few moments. Let's look around and be in tune with the spirit for promptings on how we might make a difference to another person as we simply go about our day to day activities. Luke 10: 33-34 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him."

In the Old Testament I read that the children of Israel were told to obey the commandments of the Lord and they were reminded about all the things the Lord had done for them during the forty years they had wandered in the wilderness. He had done this to humble them and to prove whether or not they would keep His commandments. He gave them manna to eat, and to teach them man did not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. In forty years, their clothing didn't wear out. And their feet didn't swell. They were being chastened by the Lord the same way a beloved son would be chastened by his father. The Lord was bringing them a good land with many wonderful things in it. They would be blessed with an abundance of food and material things. But in all these things, they should not be lifted up in pride, but rather remember the Lord their God who gave it all to them. And they should not forget to keep His commandments. They should never forget the perils the Lord had brought them though, and the manna he provided them with, and that it is only through Him that they have all the blessings they've been given. If they forget through whom their blessings come and turn to other gods, they'll be destroyed. How often in our own lives to we forget who gives us our many blessings? Do we appreciate all the Lord has blessed us with or are we lifted up in pride, thinking it's only from our own labors and intelligence that we've gained all we've gained? Who gave us our intelligence? Who gave us healthy bodies that we can use to do all the things we're able to accomplish? He is the source of all the blessing in our lives and we need to always remember Him, be grateful to Him, and keep His commandments. Deut. 8: 1-20 "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that cman doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God."

In the Book of Mormon we read a verse that tells us that man is that he might have joy. We're not meant to be sad and miserable. We're supposed to have joy! 2 Ne. 2:25 "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that the race isn't always won by the swift, the battle isn't always won by the strong, and food and money don't always come to the wisest among us or those with the most skill. Sometimes things in life just happen because of time and chance. Eccl. 9: 11 "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift , nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." The thought that went with this, written by Lisa Earl from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania says: I had seen it time and again. It only took a few months of working in business to realize that those who complain the most and do the least work seem to get ahead. I routinely had to take on extra work to make up for less efficient team members--employees who still got paychecks, salary increases, and bonuses. This was difficult for me to understand. I was always striving for excellence. I was valedictorian of my undergraduate class and had a 4.0 GPA in graduate school. After a few years, I realized something: It didn't matter if I was strong, wise, brilliant, or learned, but this fact didn't mean that I shouldn't work as hard as I could. My reward is the satisfaction that comes from doing quality work. God is my ultimate boss, and it realy doesn't matter what others do. When life isn't fair, it's comforting to know that God is in control of all situations--even those that fail to reap earthly rewards. Lord, help us to work for you alone. When we're treated unfairly, help us to remember that we work for you.

-----------------------------------------------------

In the Old Testament I read that the Israelites should not be afraid to dispossess the people in the land, for the Lord would be with them and help them, the same way he helped them with Pharoah in Egypt. Deut 7: 17-19 "If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty and, and the stretched out arm, whereby the Lord thy God brought thee out: so shall the Lord thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid."

In the Book of Mormon we read that Christ offered Himself a sacrifice for sin and redemption comes only through Him, who is full of grace and truth. He laid down His life and was resurrected, and because of Him, He made it possible for all of us to be resurrected. He makes intercession for all the children of men and that who believe in Him shall be saved. 2 Ne. 2: 6-9 "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that we don't repair an old garment by putting a piece of a new garment over it--the results would be a torn garment and obvious patchwork, and it wouldn't hold up. Jesus taught that there were parts of the old covenant that no longer applied. If we tried to combine the old covenant with parts of the new covenant and weave them together, the results would be a torn covenant. Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and gave us a new covenant. Luke 5: 36 "And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old."

In the Old Testament I rad that if the Israelites would keep their covenants with the Lord, He would greatly bless them, increasing their flocks and crops and taking away sickness from among them. Deut. 7: 12-15 "Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee."

In the Book of Mormon I read the words of a dying Lehi to his rebellious sons, Laman and Lemual, telling them to awake and put on the armor of righteousness and to rebel no more against their brother Nephi, who was a righteous instrument in the hands of God to bring them to the promised land. Nephi had suffered much because of his wicked brothers. They had even wanted to take away his life. 2 Ne. 1: 23-24 "Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust. Rebel no more against your brother, whose views have been glorious , and who hath kept the commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem; and who hath been an instrument in the hands of God, in bringing us forth into the land of promise; for were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger in the wilderness; nevertheless, ye sought to take away his life; yea, and he hath suffered much sorrow because of you."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that if we overcome, the Lord will make us pillars in the temple of our God. The thought that went with this, written by Irene Guenther from San Jose, California said: I have been keeping my eye on the house down the block from ours. Two giant pillars have been erected at its entrance; painted white, they are large, majestic, and impossible to ignore. They point the way to the front door and are a foretaste of the elegance inside. Like the two pillars in front of that house, we as believers are meant to point the way to the door, who is Jesus. As we keep God's commandments, endure patiently, and overcome the world's enticements, we will become pillars in the temple of God to glorify Jesus--a challenge too magnificent to ignore! Father, give us the fortitude and staying power to live as pillars, glorying you. Rev. 3: 12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
-------------------------------------------------------------

In the Old Testment I read that the Lord commanded the Israelites to destroy the people whose lands they would inherit. They should not marry them or have dealings with them. To do so might cause the Israelites to be turned away from following the true God. They needed to destroy the idols of the people and break down their altars. The Israelites are loved and chosen of the Lord and need to keep their covenants with Him. Deut. 7: 1-9 "When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art an bholy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

In the Book of Mormon I read Lehi's words to his family, expressing gratitude that the Lord had brought them to a choice land of promise. He said he had seen a vision in which he saw that Jeruselam had been destroyed and it was only through the mercy of the Lord that they had been warned to flee before that happened. If they had remained there, they would have perished. 2 Ne. 1: 2-5 "And he spake unto them concerning their rebellions upon the waters, and the mercies of God in sparing their lives, that they were not swallowed up in the sea.And he also spake unto them concerning the land of promise, which they had obtained—how amerciful the Lord had been in warning us that we should flee out of the land of Jerusalem. For, behold, said he, I have seen a bvision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished. But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to cast away all our transgressions so that we may get a new heart and a new spirit. Sometimes we need to throw away old things so we have room for new ones. In this case, we need to get rid of our old sins so we have room for our new life in Christ. If our hearts are full of things like anger, hatred, jealously, and lust, we won't have room in our lives for love, compassion, forgivenss, joy, and peace. Sometimes our lives need a thorough housecleaning to get rid of the things that aren't right so we can have the kind of lives the Lord would have us have. Ezek. 18: 31 "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

In the Old Testament I read that the Israelites should teach their children about how the Lord brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt by showing great wonders and signs, and brought them to the promised land. The Lord preserved them alive and now they need to do all the things that the Lord commanded, and live righteously. Deut. 6:20-25 "And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us."

In the Book of Mormon I read that we need to consider the things that were written on the plates of brass. They are true and they testify that we need to keep the commandments. If we're obedient to them, and endure to the end, we shall be saved at the last day. 1 Ne. 22: 30-31 "Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God. Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us to lay up for ourselves treatures in heaven which can't be stolen or destroyed by moths or rust, which can happen with the treasures of the world. We need to set our hearts on the things of God, which are of true and lasting value, instead of the fleeting things of the world. We cannot serve two masters. We cannot love and serve God and at the same time love and serve money. We'll end up loving one and hating the other. People who love money never have enough. No matter how much they get, they'll never be satisfied and will always want more. Money cannot satisfy our spiritual needs. We need to use our money to bless the lives of others and use it to help us serve God. The way to find joy and happiness in life is to truly devote our lives to the Lord, and not worry about acquiring more money just for the sake of getting more money. Matt. 6: 19-21, 24 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."