Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord shall judge the world in righteousness and shall be a refuge in times of trouble. The Lord will not forsake those who seek Him and put their trust in Him. Ps. 9: 7-10 "But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

In the Pearl of Great Price I read a continuation of Joseph Smith recounting his history. He tells about the great religious contentions that existed and about how confusing it was to make sense of it all. While studying the Bible he found a verse that told him that if any man lacked wisdom, he should ask of God. So he decided to do this. JSH 1: 8-13 "During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack bwisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to "ask of God," concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that we cannot understand the things of God except through the Spirit. And some verses from a different thought booklet today went right along with this idea, saying that if we cry out to God for insight and raise our voice for understanding, we'll find the knowledge of God. In other words, to understand God we need to pray for understanding and we'll receive the knowledge we seek through the Spirit that He sends to us. 1 Cor. 2: 11 "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." Prov. 2: 3, 5 "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."