Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about how the people had made a covenant not to take up weapons of war or shed blood, but they were about to break their oath when that saw the afflictions of the Nephites and had a great desire to help defend them.  However, 2,000 of their sons who were to young to have taken the oath were willing to assist in defending the Nephites, and they marched forth to battle with Helaman as their leader.  Alma 56:5-9 "Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country. And now ye also know concerning the covenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood. But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to break the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defense. But I would not suffer them that they should break this covenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the oath which they had taken. But behold, here is one thing in which we may have great joy. For behold, in the twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman, did march at the head of these two thousand young men to the city of Judea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land."

In the Old Testament I read about how the Lord rebuked the children of Israel, reminding them of how He had delivered them from their enemies many times but they had forsaken Him and turned to other gods and served them. He told them to go cry unto the other gods to deliver them in their time of tribulation.  This caused the children of Israel to admit they had sinned, put away their strange gods, and serve the Lord.  Judges 10:11-16 "And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel." 

A verse with a thought booklet tells about how Jesus rose up very early in the morning, while it was still dark, and went off to a solitary place where He could pray.  Do we take time to commune with God?  Do we get away from the noise and confusion of the world so we can have sacred time alone with the Lord?  If it was important enough for Jesus to rise up very early to find solitude in which to pray, how much more important is it for us?  Mark 1: 35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."