Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read a prophecy that 400 years after Christ would manifest Himself to the Nephites, they would dwindle in unbelief, and because of their iniquity they would suffer wars, famines, and pestilences, until they would become extinct.  They would sin against great light and knowledge.  Alma 45: 9-12 "But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say. And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief. Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct— Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord fulfilled all His promises to the children of Israel.  He gave them all the land that he swore to their fathers He would give them.  He gave them peace and rest from their enemies, having delivered them unto their hands.  The Lord did not fail in any good thing He had promised to give them.  Indeed, the Lord always keeps His word and fulfills his promises in every detail.  We can count on that!  Joshua 21:43-45 "And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."

A verse with a thought booklet reminds us of how fleeting this earth life really is--it's like a wind that passes through and is gone.  Do we take opportunities to show love and spend time with those who are important to us, while they're still with us?  My parents are now gone, and I often think of things I wish I could do with them.  Even though I did spend a lot of time with them during their final years, I know I could have done more.  I mourn for missed opportunities that are now lost.  We need to take time with our loved ones while that time is still available.  Psalms 78:39 "For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again."