Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that Hezekiah was sick unto death but pleaded with the Lord that his days could be lengthened. The Lord granted him 15 more years and as a sign that this would happen, the sun returned ten degrees. Isa. 38: 1-9 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken;Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down. The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:"

In the Book of Mormon Helamen talks about the 2,000 stripling warriors, which he was a leader over, and how they were a great strength to the army. He said they were like sons to him. Alma 56: 9-10 "But behold, here is one thing in which we may have great joy. For behold, in the *twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman, did march at the head of these two thousand young men to the city of Judea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land. And I did join my two thousand sons, (for they are worthy to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, in which strength Antipus did rejoice exceedingly; for behold, his army had been reduced by the Lamanites because their forces had slain a vast number of our men, for which cause we have to mourn."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that a cheerful heart is like a good medicine. And it can not only be a good medicine for us, but for all around us as well. Sometimes just one cheerful smile and lift another person, and they in turn may smile and lift others who pass their way. It can be contageous! Prov. 17: 22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."