Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament it talks about the people drawing near to the Lord with their mouths but their hearts being far from him, and then the Lord proceeding to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the people. What is this marvelous work and a wonder that Isaiah prophesied? While the Book of Mormon may be accurately described this way, this prohesy includes more. Here's what LeGrand Richards had to say: What would really constitute a marvelous work and a wonder? Why should not honest lovers of truth welcome the pronoucement of such a work? Should any generation reject revealed truth when sent from heaven, even as they rejected the Christ when He came among men? Why does it seem so much easier to accept and believe in the dead prophets than in living proophets? In the accomplishment of this promised marvelous work and a wonder, the Lord had in mind a restitution of all things and moved upon Peter to so prophesy to those who had crucified his Lord (Acts 3:9-21). Thus the entire restoration of the priesthood--the Church, the ordinances, the gospel truths--constitute the marvelous work and a wonder that Isaiah foretold. Isa. 29: 13-14 "5Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."


In the Book of Mormon I read that dissenters who have been instructed in truth and knowledge seem to become more hardened and wicked than those who never had a knowledge of the gospel to begin with and they entirely forget the Lord their God. I have seen this in people I have known as well. People who once have the gospel and then fall away seem to be more hardened against it than those who have never known the truth. Some of them seem to spend their lives fighting against it. It's like they can leave the church but they cannot leave the church alone. What a sad situation! Alma 47: 36 "Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. If we draw near to God, He'll draw near to us. We need to purify and humble ourselves, and the Lord will lift us up. James 4: 7-10 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."