Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that when Ammon and Lamoni had Ammon's brethren released out of prison, they were very sad at the poor condition they were in and how much they had suffered at the hands of wicked and hardened people.  But they had been patient in all their sufferings.  How patient are we when we are going through difficult circumstances?  Alma 20:28-30 "And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison. And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings. And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon."

In the Old Testament we read about how the Lord commanded the children of Israel, through Moses, to make two trumpets. These were to be used to call them to assembly and for journeying and also to sound an alarm if they went into war against their enemies that oppressed them, as a reminder that the Lord had saved them from their enemies. And in their days of gladness and solemn days, they should blow the trumpets over their burnt offerings and sacrifices, that they would be a memorial before God that He is the Lord.  Sounds like these trumpets were to be blown on various occasions for various reasons, but was sometimes used to remind them of things they needed to remember.    Numbers 10:1-10 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God."


Some scriptures from a thought booklet tell us that sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and will follow him, rather than the voice of a stranger.  We need to become so well acquainted with our Savior, the Good Shepherd, that we recognize His voice and willingly follow Him. If we get a phone call from a friend we know well, we don't need to ask who they are.  We know immediately.  Do we know our Savior well enough that we likewise can recognize His voice?  John 10:1-5 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."