Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that King Lamoni believed all the words which Ammon taught him, cried unto the Lord for mercy, and fell into a trance as if he was dead.  Alma 18:39-43 "But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them. And it came to pass that after he had said all these things, and expounded them to the king, that the king believed all his words. And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people. And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead. And it came to pass that his servants took him and carried him in unto his wife, and laid him upon a bed; and he lay as if he were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and his wife, and his sons, and his daughters mourned over him, after the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting his loss."

In the Old Testament I read a wonderful blessing that the Lord spoke unto Moses for the benefit of the children of Israel.  Numbers 6:22-27 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell about how Paul and Silas suffered much as they were stripped of their clothing and beaten with many strips, and then cast into prison with their feet put into stocks. So what did they do in these circumstances?  They prayed and sang praises to God! And what was the result?  A mighty earthquake rocked the foundations of the prison and shook it so badly that all the doors opened and everyone's bands were loosed. They were free!  Can we turn to the Lord in praise when we're going through difficulties? The Lord does hear and answer our prayers!    Acts 16:22-26 "And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."