Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament it tells us that it is pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity. Ps. 133: 1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

In the Book of Mormon I read that it is by grace we are saved, after all we can do. In other words, we need to do our part by keeping the commandments and repenting of our sins, but after we've done everything we can do, it is only by the grace of God that we can find salvation. We cannot do it on our own no matter how hard we try. It took the atonement of Christ for us to have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven of our sins. 2 Nephi 25: 23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the story of doubting Thomas who refused to believe in the risen Lord until he had seen Him for himself and touched His nail prints with his hands. When he finally did see for himself, the Lord told him that it was much more blessed to believe without having to see first. We have the words of the scriptures and prophets to help us believe. Let's have faith to believe without having to actually see for ourselves. John 20: 24-31 "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."