Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that the Lamanites were intent on destroying the Nephites or subjecting them to bondage.  However, the Nephites only wanted to preserve their lands and their liberty and their church.  So Moroni felt that it was not a sin to defend themselves with stratagem and sent spies into the land of the Lamanites.  When the Lamanites fought them, they found like dragons with their fierce anger.  However, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, fighting for their homes, families, liberty and church, rather than trying to get power over other people.  They were doing what they felt was their duty toward God.  They were not guilty of the first or second offense, but were merely trying to defends themselves and their families.  Alma 43:29-30, 44-47 "And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to subject them and bring them into bondage that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land; And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem; therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take. And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger. Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church. And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion."

In the Old Testament we read that when Joshua was old and well stricken in years, there were still some lands that needed to be possessed.  Joshua 13: 1 "Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that the Lord is our light and our salvation so we have nothing and no one to fear.  He will be the strength in our lives. If we truly believe this, we have no reason to worry.  So why do we sometimes worry and fear and fret?  We worry that we'll be late for work.  We worry that we won't have money to pay our bills.  We worry that our hair is thinning.  We worry that our family members aren't making good choices.  We worry over health issues.  We worry gas prices will prevent us going on vacation. We worry about the weather. We worry over our relationships.  We worry and stew and lose sleep over every issue imaginable.  Is this showing faith?  Worrying is a sign that we need to turn our lives over to the Lord and trust in Him to take care of us. He is the only One who can give us inner peace.  Psalms 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
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