Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about the horrible death of the wicked Jehoram, who had sore diseases and his bowels fell out. 2 Chr. 21: 17-19 "And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. And after all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers."

In the D&C I read that we need to be tried and chastened in order to be sanctified. If we're slow to hearken to the voice of the Lord, He will be slow to hear our prayers. However, the Lord is filled with compassion and mercy for us. He'll send things to challenge us so that we will feel after Him in the days of our troubles. D&C 101: 4-9 "Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified. Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me. Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that if we sin, we will become a servant to sin. So if you want to be free, keep the commandments! John 8: 34 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."



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