Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord would save His people and bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem where they would be His people and He would be their God. Zech. 8: 7-8 "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness."

In the D&C I read that Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and many others were taught in the Spirit world before they were born, and prepared to come forth at the time they did to help spread forth the gospel. Also, when faithful elders depart this life they continue their labors of preaching the gospel in the world of spirits, bringing light to those who died without a knowledge of these things. The dead who are willing to repent and receive ordinances of the gospel done in their behalf will be heirs to salvation. D&C 138: 53-59 "The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work, Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world. I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men. I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead. The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God, And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet remind us that we brought nothing into this world when we came and we can't take anything with us when we go--kind of puts wordly wealth into prospective. We need to be content with having food and clothing instead of wishing for luxuries that will only bring us temptation and can be a snare to us. The love of money is the root of all evil and has caused many people to stray from the faith and reap many sorrows upon themselves. And notice that this is the love of money, not money itself. If we have money and use it to bless others and do good that is different from using money to buy costly things and try to make ourselves look better than others. It's not the money itself that is evil, it's how we place our hearts upon it and the things it can buy. 1 Tim. 6: 3-10 "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

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