Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord testified against Israel and told them to repent of their evil deeds and keep the commandments of God. However, they hardened their hearts and would not listen to the words of the Lord nor believe in Him. They rejected the covenants that He made with their fathers, made images and served Baal. They caused their children to pass through the fire, used enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord. This provoked Him to anger. 2 Kings 13-17; "Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger."

In the D&C I read the Lord's instructions to Oliver Cowdery about to get answers to prayers. It isn't enough to simply pray and ask that knowledge be given to us, with no effort on our part save but to ask. We need to study it out in our own minds and come up with our own solution and then ask if it is right. If it is, the comfort of the Holy Ghost will manifest this to us. If it isn't right, we'll have a stupor of thought that causes us to forget the thing that was wrong. I've had prayers answered both ways. I've actually felt such a stupor of thought at times that I couldn't even remember what I'd just been praying about. It's a powerful tool that the Lord uses to answer our prayers. D&C 9: 7-9 "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me."

Some verses with a thought booklet recount the story of Jesus calming the storm. Then Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith. They seemed to have forgotten that He had created the wind and waves in the first place so they had no reason to fear. Sometimes we go through storms in life--things like health problems, a stormy relationship, or a financial crisis. We may call upon the Lord to remove our problems. And sometimes He does, like He did on the lake. Other times he strenghtens us and stays with us through the storm, helping us get through it. No matter how big the waves, Jesus is in control and we have no need to fear as long as we trust in Him. Mark 4: 35-41 "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"


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