Daily Thoughts

The Lord sent an angel to Gideon and told him the Lord was with him and he should go with his might against the Midianites. Gideon made excuses about why this could not be. He pointed out that the Lord was no longer doing miracles like he'd heard his fathers talk about that were done in days of old. He said his family was poor and he was least in his father's house. So who was he to save Israel? But the Lord assured him that He would be with him and he could do this. Aren't we sometimes like Gideon? The Lord calls us to do some difficult task and we make up excuses about why we can't do it. After all, aren't there other people who could do a better job than we could--people more qualified? But the fact is that the Lord helps those He calls to do a work and if we'll trust in Him, we can do anything He asks of us. Judges 6: 11-16 "And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how a man named Nehor went about preaching false doctrine to the people--telling them that it didn't matter what they did because everybody would be saved. He preached the kind of doctrine that people wanted to hear so they gave him money and he became wealthy and lifted up in pride. A righteous man named Gideon tried to admonish him with the true word of God, but Nehor slew him with the sword. He was taken before Alma for judgment and was sentenced to death. However, unfortunately, this did not end the spreading of priestcraft because many people loved the vain things of the world and continued to go about preaching false doctrines for the sake of riches and honor. Alma 1: 4-16 "And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life. And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money. And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a church after the manner of his preaching. And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to those who believed on his word, he met a man who belonged to the church of God, yea, even one of their teachers ; and he began to contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church; but the man withstood him, admonishing him with the words of God. Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering the people of Limhi out of bondage. Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of God he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his sword and began to smite him. Now Gideon being stricken with many years, therefore he was not able to withstand his blows, therefore he was slain by the sword. And the man who slew him was taken by the people of the church, and was brought before Alma, to be judged according to the crimes which he had committed. And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and pleaded for himself with much boldness. But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction. And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance. Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must abide by the law. And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor ; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti, and there he was caused, or rather did acknowledge, between the heavens and the earth, that what he had taught to the people was contrary to the word of God; and there he suffered an ignominious death. Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that if we claim to have no sin, we are liars and are deceiving ourselves. However, if we confess our sins and are willing to repent, we can be forgiven through the atonement of Christ, whose blood cleanses us from all sin. We need to walk in light and in fellowship with one another and with the Lord. If we claim to have fellowship with the Lord but walk in darkness, the truth is not in us. 1 Jn. 1: 6-10 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."