Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that Nephi was able to see the Son of God being born to Mary, a virgin, and was able to understand that it was through the love of God, which is most desirable above all things. What a marvelous manifestation this must have been! 1 Ne. 11: 13-22 "And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou? And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things."

In the New Testament we read about how Christ sufferes so much in the Garden of Gethsemane that He prayed to His Father, asking if the cup could pass from Him. Nevertheless, He said that not His will, but the Father's be done. What a wonderful example of how to pray when we're going through terrible trials. No matter what we're suffering, it cannot compare to what Jesus suffered. And even though we may pray for relief from our pain and tribulations, we always need to acknowledge that God's will, not ours, be done. We need to be willing to submit ourselves to the Lord, no matter what we're going through. Mark 14:35-36 "And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that the whole duty of man is to fear (or revere) God and keep His commandments. God will judge us for every act and every secret thought, whether it be good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."


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