Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the deaf shall hear the words of a book and the blind shall see out of darkness. I think this refers to people who are spiritually deaf and blind--those whose spirit ears are not atune to the Spirit of the Lord, and those unable to see the hand of God in their lives. The meek and humble, however, shall find joy and rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Isa. 29: 18-19 "And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."

In the Book of Mormon I read how the king of the Lamanites reacted to their defeat in battles--he was very angry and cursed God, and swore in an oath that he would drink Moroni's blood because Moroni had kept the commandments of God and prepared his people so that they would be safe. On the other hand, the Nephites thanked the Lord for delivering them from the hands of their enemies and praised Him for His matchless power. Alma 49: 26-28 "And it came to pass that he was exceedingly angry with his people, because he had not obtained his desire over the Nephites; he had not subjected them to the yoke of bondage. Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people. And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that we'll all be raised from death and be resurrected. And then the question is asked, where is the sting of death and where is the victory of the grave? This can be a great comfort to us when we lose loved ones--knowing that death and the grave won't have the final victory because our loved ones will rise again. We'll still miss them, but some of the sting is taken away in knowing that it's just temporary. 1 Cor. 15: 52-55 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"