Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read the words of Samuel to the people as he was old and about to die. He testified to them that he had always dealt justly with them--never stealing from them or defrauding them or oporessing them. And they agreed that this was true. This is a great example for us to follow. Will we be able to say, at the end of our lives, that we have treated everyone justly and have nothing to make right with them? 1 Sam. 12: 1-5 "And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and gray-headed; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Ammon and Lamoni went to Middoni to have Ammon's brethren released from prison. They had fallen into the hands of a hardened and stiffnecked people and had suffered much--thrown into prison, bound, suffering hunger and thirst and all kinds of afflictions. Nevertheless, they had been patient in all their sufferings. Alma 20: 28-30 "And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison. And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings. And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon."

A verse with a thought booklet reminds us that even though some things might seem impossible for men, all things are possible with God. Mark 10: 27 "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."