Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that we need to cease to do evil and put it away from us. We need to do righteous things--helping the widows and orphans and those oppressed. If we're willing and obedient our sins will be washed away, we'll be made clean, and we'll receive the blessings of the Lord. But if we refuse to do these things and rebel, we'll receive punishment. Isa. 1: 16-20 "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

Yesterday we read about how the Anti Nephi Lehies buried their swords as a testimony that they would no longer shed the blood of others. Indeed, this was put to the test as we read today about how they suffered their lives to be taken rather than lift up their swords. However, those who lost their lives touched the hearts of those who killed them and they became converted. In fact more people came unto the Lord than who lost their lives. And those who lost their lives were righteous people and were saved. Alma 24: 21-26 "Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword. And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God. Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword— Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done. And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them. And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved."


A verse with a thought booklet tells us that we should not rejoice over the misfortunes of others or gloat when bad things happen to our enemies. We should follow the example of Jesus and live a higher law. Even when He was being crucified, He asked His Father to forgive them for they knew not what they did. Obadiah 1:12 "But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress."