Daily Thoughts

A verse from the Old Testament tells us that if we want friends, we need to be friendly. We need to be the kind of friend who sticks by the other person like a brother. Prov. 8: 24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

In the Book of Mormon I read about the conversion of Alma the younger and how he repented of his sins and was born again. This brought a marvelous change in his life--like the difference between night and day. We all need to be born of God, being redeemed by Him and changed from our carnal and fallen state to become His children. Mosiah 27: 24-30 "For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off. Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God. My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more. I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all."

Some verses with a thought booklet give pleas to the Lord for deliverance from troubles and from enemies that are as numerous as the hairs on a head. When we are weary and feel like we're sinking in deep mire, we likewise can turn to the Lord to help us in our times of trouble. Ps. 69: 2-4, 13-17 "I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily."