Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read how Israel prayed for the Second Coming of Christ when mountains would flow down at His presense and the righteous would be remembered and be saved. Isa. 64: 1-5 "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved."

In the Book of Mormon I read that many signs and miracles took place among the people and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled, but in spite of this most of the people began to harden their hearts and depend on their own strength and their own wisdom. They said that Christ's coming was not reasonable--that the prophets may have guessed a few things right among their many prophecies, but all the things they said would happen could not occur. Satan was able to stir their hearts up to do iniquity continually and was able to spread rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, getting great hold upon the hearts of the people. Hel. 16: 13-18, 22-23 "But it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled. And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled. Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them, both of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon their own strength and upon their own wisdom, saying: Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of which has been spoken. And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem? And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come. And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did, Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land."

A verse with a thought booklet talks about how Jesus healed the servant of the centurion because he believed. Miracles are done according to our faith. When we pray in faith, we release any anxious feelings and pray with a sense of peace, knowing that the Lord will answer our prayers in the best way for us. Matt. 8: 13 "And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."