Daily Thoughts

A verse from the Old Testament tells us that this is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Not every day is free from challenges (in fact, the vast majority of my days are not!) but that doesn't mean we can't be happy and rejoice. Even though we might have trials and tribulations, we can still find much to be happy about. I once did volunteer work for an elderly black lady who quoted this verse on her answering machine, so I'd hear her repeating this scripture whenever I'd call her when she couldn't come to the phone. Even now as I read this verse, I can hear in my mind her reading these words with her beautiful Southern drawl. Even though she had severe health problems and was in a wheelchair, every time I'd go over to her house she'd be smiling and always have a cheerful word for me. She was a living example of how to follow the counsel in this verse. Ps. 118: 24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

A verse from the Book of Mormon reminds us that we have agency, or the freedom to make choices for ourselves. We can choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. It's all up to us. 2 Ne. 10: 23 "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the parable of the pounds. It tells about how a nobleman who was traveling to a far country gave ten servents ten pounds to take care of while he was gone. When he came home, he had them give an accounting of what they had done with their pounds. Some had put the pounds to good use and increased them tenfold. But one servent had slimply laid the pound in a napkin and returned it to the nobleman as it was. The nobleman was not pleased with him for not putting it to good use. Likewise, the Lord expects us to make good use of the resources he has given us, and expects us to make the best use of them. Luke 19: 11-27 "And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."