Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that Joshua died at the age of 110 and was buried in Timnath-serah. After his death, Isreal continued serving the Lord as they had while he was alive, and in all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua. Josh. 24: 29-30 "And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash."

In the Book of Mormon I read that some of the people were so full of unbelief that they could not understand the word of God and their hearts were hardened. They would not believe in the coming of Christ or in the resurrection of the dead. They refused to pray or to be baptized and separated themselves from the people of God. Not only that, but they used flattery and persuasion to encourage some of the people in the church to commit sin, which caused them to be admonished by the church for their wickedness. It's very sad when wicked people seek to drag others down into their wickedness. We need to make sure that we don't allow other people to be a bad influence on us and deceive us. Mosiah 26: 2-6 "They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ. And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened. And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the achurch. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God. And now in the reign of Mosiah they were not half so numerous as the people of God; but because of the dissensions among the brethren they became more numerous. For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet talk about the tender mercy of God that gives light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guides our feet in the way of peace. Indeed, if we'll allow ourselves to be guided by the Lord in all we do, we'll have light in our lives instead of darkness, and we'll have peace even when death approaches. Luke 1: 78-79 "Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."