Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord asked Job where he was when the foundations of the earth were laid, when the morning stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy. Job 38: 4-7 "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

In the Pearl of Great Price I read about the great wickedness of men in the days of Noah and how the world was full of corruption and violence. Even though Noah preached repentance to the people and warned them that the floods would come upon them if they didn't repent, they refused to listen. So God destroyed them from off the earth. Moses 8: 22-24, 28-30 "And God saw that the wickedness of men had become great in the earth; and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually. And it came to pass that Noah continued his preaching unto the people, saying: Hearken, and give heed unto my words; Believe and repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, that ye may have all things made manifest; and if ye do not this, the floods will come in upon you; nevertheless they hearkened not. The earth was corrupt before God, and it was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its away upon the earth. And God said unto Noah: The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is filled with violence, and behold I will destroy all flesh from off the earth."

Some verses with a thought booklet remind us to keep our priorities straight and focus on the things of most importance--letting go of giving our time and attention to things that are not really that important. Do we focus on having a spotlessly clean house at the expense of spending quality time with our children? Do we spend hours shopping for the best possible price for a gift for a family member who is at home being neglected by us? Does that unused bedroom really need to be vacuumed weekly or could we better spend that time serving someone in need? While we're fussing over things that really won't matter ten years from now, are we neglecting our scripture study or our prayer time, or our attendance at the temple? We need to set our priorities staight and place the most value on the things that really matter in the eternal scheme of things. Luke 10: 38-42 "Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."