Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about about how the people corrupted themselves and turned to idols which were not gods. Jer. 2: 11-13 "Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."


In the Book of Mormon I read about how Christ spoke to the Nephites who remained after the great destructions that he come upon the land. He told them that many cities had been destroyed because of the wickedness of the people and because they had cast out and killed the prophets that had been sent among them to call them to repentance. Those who were spared were the more righteous. They no longer needed to offer animal sacrifices, as had been the case with the Law of Moses, but now they needed to offer the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit. They needed to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. And if they would repent and come unto Christ they would receive salvation through Him. He had come to redeem those who would come into Him with contrite spirits and a willingness to repent. 3 Ne. 9: 1-3, 10-22 "And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying: Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen! Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof. And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations. And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them. And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations. O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not. Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin. Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."

Some verses with a thought booklet proclaim a wonderful testimony of Job--that his Redeemer lives and will stand at the latter day upon the earth. Job also knows that even after he dies and worms destroy his body, he'll be resurrected and in his flesh he will see God. What a wonderful witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, centuries before He was born on the earth. And something most remarkable is that this powerful testimony came from someone who had just gone through the most trying afflictions a person could have happen to them. Not only had he lost his possessions and his children, but he had suffered with terrible illness that had caused him much pain and misery. But all these trials had not caused him to lose his faith in God. He continued to believe with all his heart. We would do well to follow the example of Job--being steadfast and immovable in our faith, no matter what our circumstances. Job 19: 25-27 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."
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