Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read a verse that reiterated the iniquity of the House of Israel and how they claimed God had forsaken the earth and they could not see what they were doing. The land was full of blood and the city full of wickedness. What a sad state to find themselves in!  Ezek. 9: 9 "Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not."

In the D&C we're admonished to put on the whole armor of God so that we can withstand the evil day and the fiery darts of the wicked and we'll have truth, faith and salvation. We need to be faithful until the Lord comes and we'll be caught up that where He is, we'll be also. So many blessings will be ours if we can hold on and endure. D&C 27: 15-18 "Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you; Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet recount the parable of the pounds. Different servants were given different numbers of pounds and then asked to account for how wisely they had put them to use. The Lord was pleased with those who had increased them, but not happy with the servant who just hid his pound away in a napkin and not increased it. How well do we use what the Lord has blessed us with? Do we put our talents to good use blessing others? Do we spend our time wisely? The story is told of a man who got a phone call informing him that $1,440 was deposited into his bank account, but he had to spend it all that day or it would be deducted out again. So he spent it. The next day he got another phone call saying another $1,440 was put into his account that he had to spend that day. Every day he got a similar phone call so every day he spent the money. Our lives are like this. Every day we're given 1,440 minutes to use or we'll lose them. How wisely do we spend them? Luke 19: 11-27 "And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."
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