Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read the continued conversation between Alma and Korihor in which Korihor denied the existence of God and demanded to be shown a sign.  Alma told him that all things denote there is a God. The very earth and its existence shows that there is a God who created it.  And all the prophets down through the ages have testified to the existence of God.  But Korihor had hardened his heart so much and allowed Satan to take such hold of him that he could not see or understand any of this and still demanded a sign.  So the sign that he was given that he was struck dumb so he could no longer speak such lies.  Alma 30: 37-50 "And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? And he answered, Nay. Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true? Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God. And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words. But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign. And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed. But behold, it is better that thy soul should be lost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words; therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more. Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe. Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have utterance. Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not have utterance, according to the words of Alma."

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord commanded the children of Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the land so they could possess the land themselves for their inheritance. If they refused to do this, the inhabitants of the land would vex them and cause their downfall and the Lord would do to the children of Israel what he'd intended to do to the inhabitants.  When we have something in our lives that is a bad influence on us and causes us to stray from what is right, we need to get that influence out of our lives.  This may mean ending unhealthy relationships, changing the type of music we listen to, or unplugging the TV or computer. Whatever it is in our lives that causes us to lose the Spirit or drive us farther from God, needs to go!   Numbers 33:53-56 "And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it. And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them."

A verse with a thought booklet reminds us that the Word of the Lord lights our path, which shows us the way to go.  Psalms 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
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