Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about how Israel would be destroyed because of their idolatry. Ezek. 6: 1-7 "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the Lord."

In the D&C we read that we need to heed the words of the prophet and receive what he says as if it was directly from the mouth of the Lord. We need to do this in all patience and faith. D&C 21: 5 "For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that a person who thinks they're righteous and better than other people is really less justified before God than a person who humbly acknowledges that he is a sinner and cries out in repentance. Are we humble or haughty? Do we look down on other people and think, "Boy, I'm glad I'm not like him. I'd never do the horrible things he does. I'm so much better than he is." Our prideful attitude might actually be worse in the sight of God than that person's sins, especially if they humble themselves and repent. When we focus on another person's weaknesses, we hardly notice our own. But we need to take care of our own weaknesses rather than critizing or looking down on someone else. Luke 18: 9-14 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."