Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Nephi's wicked brothers began to act up with much rudeness while sailing
for the promised land. Nephi tried to chastise them which just made them angry and they tied him up. Then the
liahona stopped working and a great storm arose, and it was only when they feared for their lives that they finally
untied Nephi. His reaction was interesting. Even though his ankles and wrists were swollen and sore from being tied
up, instead of getting angry with his brothers, he praied God all day long and did not murmur against the Lord
because of his afflictions. How do we reaction when things are going badly for us? Do we murmur and complain or
do we praise the Lord all day long? What a great example Nephi is to all of us! 1 Ne. 18: 9-16 "And after we had
been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness. And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us. And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked. And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work. Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be rightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me. And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore. And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."

Yesterday we read about how Jesus wept with the loved ones of Lazarus who had died. Today we read that He did more than just weep, He called him forth to rise from the dead. Jesus has power over death and someday all our loved ones will be resurrected and we will see them again. We can weep because we miss them, but we can also rejoice because death is not permanent. Our Savior conquered death! John 11:38-44 "Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that an angry man stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgression. How important is it for us to control our tempers and how much damage can be done when we don't? Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger?" Sounds like it's very important indeed to gain control over our tongues and the words we speak. And to get to the root of the problem, we need to control our angry feelings. One thing I've noticed in my own life is that when I'm feeling angry, I cannot feel the Spirit. Anger seems to drive the Spirit away and make it withdraw. That's all the more reason to overcome this problem. And if we'll turn to the Lord to help us, He will. Proverbs 29:22 "An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression."


-----------------------------------------------------