Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about how the Lord had Jeremiah go and watch a potter to teach him a lesson about how we are as clay in a potter's hands. If the clay is marred, the potter can start over and make another pot that is good. If we repent of the evil we do, the Lord will not give us the punishment that He thought to give us. We need to return from our evil ways and do what is right. Jer. 18: 1-11 "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord ; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good."

In the Book of Mormon I read about the blessed and wonderful time after Christ's coming to the Americas when there was no contention in the land because of the love of God which ws in the hearts of the people. There were no envyings, strifes, lyings, murders, or other evils. There was not a happier people among all those who were created by God. What a wonderful time this must have been to live in! And I think the key was that the people loved God. When we truly love the Lord, we lose the desire to contend with others or commit sins. And when we live righteous lives, we indeed are happy.

Some verses with a thought booklet tells us that we don't have a high priest (Jesus Christ) who is unable to sympathize with or weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, but was without sin. Jesus Christ is our perfect example! Heb. 4: 14-15 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." 4 Ne. 1: 15-16 "And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."
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