Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that after Gideon died, the people returned to idolatry and did not remember the Lord their God who had delivered them from the hands of their enemies. How sad it is that people seem to be so quick to forget God and all He does for them. Judges 8: 32-34 "And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:"


In the Book of Mormon I read the words of Alma calling the people to repentance and asking them if they were going to persist in their wicked doings, such as pride, setting their hearts on the things of the world, and withholding their substance from helping the poor. They were told that if they persisted in these things and refused to repent, they would be hewn down and cast into the fire. Alma 5: 36, 51, 53 "For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn. And also the Spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this people—Repent, for except ye repent ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven. And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches? Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance— Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them? And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent."

Some verses with a thought booklet go right along with some of the ideas of the Book of Mormon verses mentioned above. They talk about how riches can be a temptation and a snare to people who set their hearts on them. If we lust after money and covet worldly things, it can cause us to err from the faith. If we have food and clothing, we need to be content. We came into this world with nothing and we'll leave it with nothing of a wordly nature. We need to set things into proper perspective and love the things of the Lord more than love money. The love of money (not money itself) is the root of all evil. 1 Tim. 6: 6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."