Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that it is better not to make promises at all than make a promise and not keep it. We need to be very careful about what we agree to do because it's important to be a person of our word and fulfill whatever we've promised. Eccl. 5: 5 "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."

In the Book of Mormon I read the story of how Ammon was able to contend with a large number of men who had scattered the king's flocks. They were not afraid of him because they did not understand the Lord or know that the Lord was with him, but he was able to stand forth against them, killing some of them with a sling and cutting off the arms of all those who raised their arms against him. Those who witnessed this, carried all the arms to the king as a testimony of what had occurred. Alma 17: 35-39 "Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for they supposed that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure, for they knew not that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would deliver his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything concerning the Lord; therefore they delighted in the destruction of their brethren; and for this cause they stood to scatter the flocks of the king. But Ammon stood forth and began to cast stones at them with his sling; yea, with mighty power he did sling stones amongst them; and thus he slew a certain number of them insomuch that they began to be astonished at his power; nevertheless they were angry because of the slain of their brethren, and they were determined that he should fall; therefore, seeing that they could not hit him with their stones, they came forth with clubs to slay him. But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm. Now six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few. And when he had driven them afar off, he returned and they watered their flocks and returned them to the pasture of the king, and then went in unto the king, bearing the arms which had been smitten off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to slay him; and they were carried in unto the king for a testimony of the things which they had done."

A verse with a thought booklet tells about how after a blind man was healed he declared that the one thing he knew was that even though he had been blind, he could now see. It is a wonderful miracle for a blind man to receive sight. But isn't it even more a miracle when someone who is spiritually blind begins to clearly see things of the Lord? Are we blind to the goodness of the Lord in our lives? Are we blind to things of the Spirit? Do we not acknowledge the Lord in our lives and see His hand in all things? If we don't see spiritual things, we need to turn to the Lord and allow Him to heal us of our spiritual blindness. John 9: 25 "He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."

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