Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that Egypt and Edom will be like a desolate wilderness because of the violence they committed against the children of Judah. But Judah shall dwell forever and the Lord will dwell in Zion. Joel 3: 19-21 "Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion."

In the D&C it says that all those who have given their lives for the name of the Lord shall be crowned. I've always thought this meant martyrs who died for the gospel's sake, and I'm sure it does mean that. But I wonder if it also might mean those who live out their lives giving service and trying to spread the gospel. If we give our lives in serving God, even if we die of old age, aren't we also giving our lives for His name? And won't we also be crowned with glory? Do we really need to die a martyr's death to give our lives to the Lord? D&C 101: 15 "And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that if we Lord the Lord we will walk as He walked and keep His commandments. If we claim to know the Lord, but break His commandments, we are liars and the truth is not in us. 1 Jn. 2: 3-6 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."


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