Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the haughty who rejoice in their pride and who transgress against the Lord will be taken away out of the midst of the people. Zeph. 3: 11 "In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain."

In the D&C I read the words of John Taylor who described the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, and also tells about the great things that Joseph Smith accomplished in his short life, in restoring the gospel to the earth. D&C 135: 1-3 "To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o'clock p.m., by an armed mob—painted black—of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: O Lord my God! They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls. John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the providence of God, escaped, without even a hole in his robe. Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!"

A verse with a thought booklet says that God put man in the Garden of Eden so he could dress it and keep it. Now here was God who had just created the earth and everything on it. If He had wanted to, He could have taken care of the Garden of Eden Himself. So why did He expect Adam and Eve to work in the garden and tend it? God could have avoided creating weeds and could have created crops that would take care of themselves and fall into our mouths without having to be harvested. He is all powerful. He could have made life much easier for us. So why didn't He make a world where we wouldn't have to do anything? It was for our benefit! Work is good and actually helps us grow. It is a good thing for us to do productive things and accomplish goals. God did not create a world for us to sit around and be lazy in. He gives us things to do. And it's for our benefit that we do them. Gen. 2: 15 "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."