Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read a prophecy about the Bible (stick of Judah) and Book of Mormon (stick of Joseph) becoming one in the Lord's hand. Ezek. 37: 15-17 "The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."


In the D&C I read that we need to call upon the name of the Lord for the Comforter which will teach us all things that are expedient for us. And we need to pray always for the strength to carry on. If we do these things, the Lord will be with us even to the end. D&C 75: 10-11 "Calling on the name of the Lord for the Comforter, which shall teach them all things that are expedient for them— Praying always that they faint not; and inasmuch as they do this, I will be with them even unto the end."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us to lay aside our sins which so easily beset us and run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We need to look to Jesus who endured the cross for us and who is the author and finisher of our faith. If we continually look to the Lord in faith, we can stay on the right path, just like if we're going on a hike and can see where we're headed, it encourages us to continue on toward the goal. This was illustrated to me in an experience that happened more than 20 years ago when I was taking a totally blind man up to Timpanogos Cave. We were almost to the mouth of the cave when he decided he was too tired and could not go another step. I told him we were almost there but he refused to budge. I knew that if he could just see how short the distance was, he'd find the strength to continue on. But he was blind. He couldn't see it. So I left him and walked to the mouth of the cave myself. Then I called down to him, "Jim, can you hear me? I'm standing at the mouth of the cave. THIS is how far away it is!" Once he could hear how close it was, he was willing to continue on to the goal. We need to be able to see where we're going in order to persevere on to our goal, especially during tough times when we don't think we can go another step. Keeping our sights set on Jesus will help us know where we're going and keep us on track. And Jim, hope you don't mind me relating this experience. (He has a talking program that reads emails to him, and he listens to my daily thought emails every day). Heb. 12: 1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."


-------------------------------------------------