Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that woe will come upon those who call evil good and good evil, and who confuse light with darkness, and who are wise in their own eyes. Think of the world today--isn't this what many people do? If you watch movies or TV you can clearly see people doing wicked things that are portrayed as being good. And people who stand up for right are often persecuted and called horrible names. Isa. 5: 20-21 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"

In the Book of Mormon we read about how the curse was not removed from Korihor and word got around about what had happened to him, which caused the people to repent. Korihor went about from house to house begging for food and was finally trodden down until he was dead. And thus we see the end of someone who had perverted the ways of the Lord, and we see that the devil does not support his children at the last day, but speedily drags them down to hell. Alma 30: 56-60 "And it came to pass that the curse was not taken off of Korihor; but he was cast out, and went about from house to house begging for his food. Now the knowledge of what had happened unto Korihor was immediately published throughout all the land; yea, the proclamation was sent forth by the chief judge to all the people in the land, declaring unto those who had believed in the words of Korihor that they must speedily repent, lest the same judgments would come unto them. And it came to pass that they were all convinced of the wickedness of Korihor; therefore they were all converted again unto the Lord; and this put an end to the iniquity after the manner of Korihor. And Korihor did go about from house to house, begging food for his support. And it came to pass that as he went forth among the people, yea, among a people who had separated themselves from the Nephites and called themselves Zoramites, being led by a man whose name was Zoram—and as he went forth amongst them, behold, he was run upon and trodden down, even until he was dead.0 And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell."

A verse with a thought booklet tells of Habakkuk crying out to the Lord and wondering why his prayers are not answered. Do we sometimes feel that way? Can we trust that even when God seemingly does not answer our prayers, He is answering them in the way that is best. The story is told that when St. Augustine's mother, Monica, fervently prayed all night long for her son's conversion, praying that he would be prevented from going to the wicked city of Rome. He went anyway. But it was on that trip that he became a Christian. Later, St Augustine liked to tell people that God denied his mother's prayer once so she could be given what she had prayed for always. Sometimes by denying us a good thing we're praying for, more good comes to pass. We don't always see the whole picture. Hab. 1: 2 "O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!"


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