Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament we're told that no matter how righteous we are, we can't build up "rightous reserves" that will make up for it if we decide to sin later on. It doesn't work that way! We need to endure to the end and remain righteous our whole lives. But if we've lived a sinful life, we can repent and become righteous. The important thing is to put our life on the right track, and then keep it there. We need to repent of our sins and cast them away. The Lord doesn't take pleasure in punishing us; He wants us to turn our lives around and live. President Spencer W. Kimball taught: Having received the necesssary saving ordinances--baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, temple ordinances, and sealings--one must live the covenants made. He must endure in faith. No matter how brilliant was the service rendered by the bishop or stake president or other person, if he falters later in his life and fails to live righteously "to the end" the good works he did all stand in jeopardy. Ezek. 18: 21-32 "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

In the D&C a verse tells us that we should not be idle, and that he who is idle should not eat the bread or wear the garments of the laborer. In other words, we need to work for what we get and not expect other people to provide for us just because we're too lazy to do so ourselves. Of course this refers to people who can work, but just don't want to. All those who are able need to pull their own weight. D&C 42: 42 "Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that the Lord will wonderously show His loving kindness to those who take refuge at His right hand. Ps. 17: 7 "Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them."