Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that those who die with a firm faith in the Lord Jesus Christ go out of the world rejoicing and happy.  For those who believe in Jesus Christ, there is nothing to fear in death.  Alma 46:39, 41 "And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing. But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose."

In the Old Testament we read how Joshua exhorted the people to reverence the Lord and serve only Him, putting away all other gods.  He told them that they must make a choice to serve the true God or the false gods of other nations--but as for Joshua and his house, he would serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:14-15 "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."


In some verses with a thought booklet, the Lord called upon the people to show compassion and mercy and to treat others with kindness.  However, they refused to listen.  They stopped up their ears and hardened their hearts aainst the word of God.  This brought forth the wrath of God and when they cried unto Him, He refused to listen to them.  It sounds ridiculous to think of people plugging up their ears so they wouldn't have to listen to what the Lord had to say.  But do we do something similar when we don't diligently study the scriptures or listen with intent to general conference, and when we don't try our best to obey the commandments we've been given? We need to be willing to come when God calls, listen when God speaks, and obey when God commands.  Zechariah 7:9-13 "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts:"