Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that what the Lord requires of us is to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Micah 6: 8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

In the D&C we're told that if we diligently do our best to do what the Lord commands us to do, but are hindered in being able to perform the work, the Lord will accept of our offering. We're not only judged on what we're able to accomplish, but also on the desires of our hearts and on our own best efforts. The scripture was given in relation to enemies of the church hindering the saints from being able to build the temple in Jackson County, Missouri, but I think this principle can apply to other things as well, such as a young man being unable to serve a mission due to health reasons or a young mother unable to spend one day a week serving in the temple due to the demands of her little children or a teenager who wants to join the church but whose parents will not grant permission for his baptism. If our heart is in the right place and we truly have a desire to serve the Lord, He'll understand and accept of our best efforts. We can only do what we are able to do. D&C 124: 49 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that the Lord is watching over the righteous and listens to their prayers. He is near to those who have a broken heart. Even though we may pass through many afflictions, in the end the Lord will deliver us from them all and will redeem our souls. As long as we trust in Him, we will not be left desolate. As we go through the trials and troubles of life, we can turn to the Lord to help us get through them and trust in Him that as long as we remain faithful, we'll receive the blessing of a wonderful reward someday. Ps. 34: 15, 17-19, 22 "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

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