Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about how Ezekiel saw in vision the great wickedness and abominations in Jerusalem. The people were worshipping the sun while turning their backs to the temple, committing violence, and committing all kinds of abominations. They claimed that God had forsaken the earth and that they could do whatever they wanted and the Lord would not see them. But the Lord was provoked to anger by all this wickedness and would deal with them in His fury. Ezek. 8: 12-18 "Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth. He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them."

In the D&C I read that we need to be patient in our afflictions, for we'll have many, but the Lord will be with us and help us endure, even to the end of our days. What a comfort this is to know that no matter what we go through in life, the Lord will help us get through it. D&C 24: 8 "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell two stories--that of the rich young man and that of the tax collector. They were both rich and they both sought out Jesus. The rich young man had kept the commandments from his youth up. Zacchaeus, the tax collector, had not. He had cheated people and charged more taxes than he should. When Jesus told the rich young man to sell all he had and give to the poor, he went away sorrowful--unwilling to part with his wealth. However, the tax collector forsook his previous lifestyle, paying back four times what he had stolen and giving his possessions to the poor. One man trusted in his riches and refused to give them up; the other man was truly doing everything he could to be a disciple of Christ. Luke 18: 18-23; Luke 19: 1-10 "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

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