Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read about the great destruction which had come upon the people--many thousands were killed while many thousands of others mourned for their loss.  Those who died in wickedness would be consigned to a state of endless woe, while those who were righteous would receive the promises of the Lord that they would dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness.  So there is a great inequality of man due to their own choices, whether they are righteous or wicked.  Alma 28:11-14 "And the bodies of many thousands are laid low in the earth, while the bodies of many thousands are moldering in heaps upon the face of the earth; yea, and many thousands are mourning for the loss of their kindred, because they have reason to fear, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are consigned to a state of endless wo. While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness. And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men. And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life."

In the Old Testament I read about how Joshua was called and set apart to lead Israel.  Numbers 27:18-23 "And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses."

Some verses with a thought booklet remind us of the importance of paying our tithing and offerings.  If we don't, we'll be cursed because we are robbing God.  But if we do pay our tithing, the Lord will pour us out blessings that there won't be room enough to receive them. I have found this to be so true in my own life and in the lives of others.  As long as we pay our tithing, the Lord will take care of us. Everything we have comes from God.  The least we can do is return a tenth of it to Him.  Malachi 3:8-11 "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts."