Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read a verse that says that when we're merciful it does good to our own souls, but when we're cruel, it troubles our own flesh. In other words, how we treat other people not only effect them, but it actually has a bigger impact upon ourselves--it makes us the people that we are. By being kind to others, we're actually being kind to ourselves. Prov. 11: 17 "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh."

In the Book of Mormon I read King Benjamin's prophecies about Jesus Christ--how He would be born into the world, perform mighty miracles, be crucified for our sins and rise again the third day. Mosiah 3: 5-10 "For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men. And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary. And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him. And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us the story of how Naaman came to the prophet Elisha seeking to be healed from his leprosy. However instead of Elisha healing him in the way Naaman expected (standing over him, calling upon God, and striking his hand over the place), Elisha sent a message to Naaman to go dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. At first Naaman was so angry he was just going to go away in a rage, but a servant persuaded him to do as Elisha had directed, and he was healed. The Lord doesn't always do thing the way we expect, nor answer our prayers the way we think we want them answered. But if we trust in Him and do what He and His servants direct us to do, we'll be blessed and have our prayers answered in the way that's best for us. 2 Kgs. 5: 9-14 "So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."