Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that Abinini ws martyred because he refused to deny the things he had spoken to the people. As he was being killed, he prophesied that those who were killing him would likewise suffer the pains of death by fire and that God would execute vengeance upon them. Mosiah 17:7-20 "And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people.Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day.And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him.But the priests lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain.And it came to pass that they took him and bound him, and scourged his skin with faggots, yea, even unto death.And now when the flames began to scorch him, he cried unto them, saying:Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God.And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities.Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and shall be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts.And in that day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be taken by the hand of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by fire.Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God, receive my soul.And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death."

In the Old Testament I read about how the Lord appeared to Jacob and told him that his name would now be called Israel instead of Jacob and that he would be blessed to have kings come out of his loins. He would be given the land that God had promised to Baraham and Isaac, his father and grandfather. Genesis 35:9-12 "And God ppeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us to avoid envying and strife because they lead to confusion and every evil work. The cure for envy is contentment and appreciation for the blessings we have. And if we can have a grateful attitude, as opposed to coveting what others have, we'll be much happier in our lives. James 3:14-16 "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
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