Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament we read that after Jonah was cast into the sea, that was not the end of the story. The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow him up. And Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish (just like Jesus spent three days and three nights in the grave). Jonah 1: 17 "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."


In the D&C we read about how Jehovah appeared in glory to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple and accepted it as His house. He told them that He was their advocate with the Father and their sins were forgiven them. They should let their hearts rejoice! Can you imagine the wonder of having such a vision opened up to you and how they must have felt? D&C 110: 1-8 "The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened. We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father. Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice. Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet recount the story of the woman takn in adultery. The scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus saying that the law of Moses prescribed that she be stoned. What was Jesus going to do about it? He told them that he who was without sin among them should cast the first stone. Then he stooped down to write upon the ground and each person, pricked by their own conscience, crept away ashamed. How quick are we to judge others? In yet, if we look deeply into our own lives, we'll find that we also have committed sins. We, too, are guilty! It's not our place to condemn others. We are to be loving and forgiving of other people and work on repenting of our own sins. We have enough sins of our own to worry about without concerning ourselves with the sins of other people. John 8: 1-11 "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."


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