Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read about the terrible martyrdom of women and children who believed in the word of God. They were burned by fire, as well as the scriptures, while Alma and Amulek were forced to watch the awful scene. Amulek suggested to Alma that he stretch forth his hands to exercise the power of God to save these people from the flames, but Alma said he felt constrained by the Spirit from doing so. Sometimes the Lord allows the wicked to do evil things against good people so that His judgments may be just. But good people who die as martyrs will receive great rewards in heaven. Alma 14: 8-11 "And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire. And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire. And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames. But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day."

In the Old Testament I read a verse that says we should love our neighbor as ourselves and not avenge them nor bear any grudges against them. Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to bear one another's burdens, which fulfills the law of Christ. If we are to be Christ's disciples, we need to have compassion and understanding toward others and be willing to encourage and help them through their difficult situations. Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."