Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read a verse that asks an important question: Is anything too hard for the Lord? And of course the answer is a resounding No! With God, all things are possible. Jer. 32: 27 "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"

In the Book of Mormon I read an account about how after the Brother of Jared asked the Lord what to do about having light in the vessels that he'd made to cross the ocean (since they were tight like unto a dish, there would be no light in them), the Lord had replied by asking the Brother of Jared what he wanted him to do about it. So the Brother of Jared came up with his own plan--to molten 16 small stones, two for each vessel, which were transparent like glass. And then he asked the Lord to touch these stones so they'd give off light. He had total faith that the Lord could do this,, and the Lord indeed did touch them so they gave off light. In fact, the Brother of Jared had so much faith that he was able to see the finger of the Lord as it touched these stones, and was privileged to see the spirit body of Christ because he had shown such exceedingly great faith. Ether 3: 1, 4-20 "And it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying: And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea. Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men. And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear. And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen? And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood. And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this? And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak? And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites. And he ministered unto him even as he ministered unto the Nephites; and all this, that this man might know that he was God, because of the many great works which the Lord had showed unto him. And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him."

Some verses with a thought booklet say that the Lord told the people to walk in the old paths, which is the good way, and they'd find rest to their souls. However, their reply was "We will not walk therein." Then the Lord said He would set watchmen over them and that they should listen to the sound of the trumpet. Their reply to this was "We will not hearken." Boy, what stubborn and disobedient people! Here was the Lord trying to show them which way to go to bring rest to their souls, and they were refusing to pay attention. To Lord's response to this was to tell them that evil would come upon them because they would not hear His words and they rejected His law. This was the fruit of their thoughts. We need to make sure that we hearken to the words of the Lord and keep His commandments so that we can find rest for our souls. Jer. 6: 16-19 "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it."

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