Daily Thoughts

Have you ever known somebody who was so eager to talk that they didn't seem to be listening to what you were trying to say? Before you could even finish getting your thoughts out, they were already answering you. This verse from the Old Testament tells us this kind of attitude is a folly and a shame. Let's be careful to really listen to what other people are saying, rather than be so eager to put in our own two cents worth that we don't even let them finish. Prov. 8: 3 "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."

In the Book of Mormon it tells us that as often as we repent, the Lord will forgive us. And likewise, we need to forgive one another. If we don't forgive others, we'll bring ourselves under condemnation. Mosiah 26: 30-31 "Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the story of Manasseh who was very evil and made Israel sin. When the Lord tried to speak to Manasseh and his people, they refused to listen to Him. So then the Lord caused Manasseh to be taken captive into Babylon where in his great affliction, he finally sought the Lord and humbled himself in prayer. Do we likewise refuse to listen to the Lord when things are going okay for us? Does it take trials and tribulations to bring us to our knees and seek the Lord? Sometimes these trying experiences that humble us and cause us to turn to the Lord are exactly what we need. But how much better if we could turn to the Lord without such harsh circumstances forcing us to do so? 2 Chr. 33: 1-13 "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God."