Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament we're told that wisdom and understanding are more valuable than gold and silver. Prov. 16: 16 "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Abinidi refused to take back his words to King Noah and his people regarding their need for repentance. So they burned him to death. As he was being killed, he continued to testify against them and warned them of the punishments from God that would come upon them because of their wickedness. Mosiah 17: 9-10, 13-20 "Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands. Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day. And it came to pass that they took him and bound him, and scourged his skin with faggots, yea, even unto death. And now when the flames began to scorch him, he cried unto them, saying: Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God. And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities. Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and shall be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts. And in that day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be taken by the hand of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by fire. Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God, receive my soul. And now, *when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death."


Some verses with a thought booklet admonish the people to repent and return to the Lord, not being stiffnecked like their fathers. They are to yield themselves to the Lord and serve Him. If they do this, the fierceness of God's wrath will be turned away from them and they will find compassion. 2 Chr. 30: 8-9 "Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him."