Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about how David asked the Lord to lead him in trugh and teach him, and remember His tender mercies and lovering kindness toward him. He asked Him not to remember the sins of his yuth, but to have mercy. Ps. 25: 5-7 "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Lehi was shown many marvelous things by the Lord, including that Jerselem would be destroyed because of the wickedness of the people. He tried to preach to the people and tell them the things he had been shown, but they mocked him and wanted to kill him, just as wicked people all down through the ages have rejected the proophets. People don't like to hear that they are wicked and need to repent. However, the Lord was merciful to Lehi and his family, commanding them to flea into the wilderness so they would be safe. Lehi did as the Lord commanded him, leaving his home and riches behind. 1 Nephi 1:18-20; 2:1-4 ".Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world. And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness."

A verse with a thought booklet reminds us to honor our parents and not despise them when they get to be old. The thought that went with this, written by Lorene Clark from Bremen, Indiana, brings home this point. She says: The old man looked ever so nice in his freshly pressed suit, "spankin' clean" white shirt, and Christmas tie he had saved for a special occasion. He as sitting right beside the door when we arrived for our Sunday visit with Don's mother. We greeted the man as we entered the nursing home, and he beamed at us. It was his birthday, he explained, and his son was coming to share it with him. It had been a long time since he had seen his son, who had a very important job back east and could seldom leave his place of business. This year he had promised to come. He should be here any minute now. We left him joyfully awaiting the arrival of his beloved son. The afternoon stretched on as we visited. Down the hall we could hear the old man's repeating his good news to all who came. Everyone was happy for him; his joy was contagious. But dusk began to descend, and still there was no sign of the busy son who had such an important job. The old man was no longer joyfully sharing his good news, and a sadness had fallen upon all of us as we witnessed the old man's disappointment. Finally we could hear the nurse gently saying, "John, let me take you back to your room now. You have been sitting here all day." Barely able to hold back his tears, the old man let himself be taken back to his room. The next time we went back to visit Don's mother, the old man was no longer there. The nurse said he had died a few days after his birthday. Dear Lord, forgive us for being thoughtless, uncaring, and hurting toward others because of our selfish ways. Help us to reach out to others before it is too late. Teach us to be kind in word and deed, and help us to comfort those in need. Prov. 23: 22 "Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old."