Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that Nephi's brothers became so angry and hateful towards him that they sought to kill him. The Lord warned him that he would take his family and all those who would go with him and flee into the wilderness for safety. 2 Ne. 5: 1-6 "Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God, because of the anger of my brethren. But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life. Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people. Now I do not write upon these plates all the words which they murmured against me. But it sufficeth me to say, that they did seek to take away my life. And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me. Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words."

In the New Testament we read about the persecution that Paul suffered. More than 40 men bound themselves with an oath that they would neither eat nor drink until they had succeeded in killing Paul. Acts 23:12-13 "And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that the Lord is righteous so He loves righteousness. The upright will behold His face. When we're faced with choices to make, we need to decide what is more important--to have the approval of the world, or to have the approval of God. Would we rather set aside worldly wealth and great possessions to leave behind when we die, or to have treasures in heaven? Psalms 11:7 "For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright."

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