Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that when the Lord blesses people with peace and prosperity they often forget Him and are quick to turn to iniquity.  Sometimes He needs to chastise them with afflictions in order for them to humbles themselves before Him and turn to Him.  How foolish people can be!  We need to be on our guard that when things are going well for us, we don't make this same mistake and begin to forget that all our blessings come from the Lord.  Helaman 12:2-5 "Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him. O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world! Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!"

In the Old Testament we read that David decided to built a house for the Lord.  At first Nathan, without consulting the Lord tells David to go ahead with his plans and the Lord would be with him.  However, that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan and told him that David should not build the house for Him, but that after David dies his son should build the house.  Are we sometimes like Nathan in that we get ideas we think are good and just go ahead and proceed with them without first consulting with the Lord?  The understanding of men is very limited compared to the knowledge of the Lord.  We need to pray and seek guidance about everything we do.  2 Samuel 7: 2-6, 12-13 "That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that when we cry unto the Lord, He helps us with our troubles and saves us from our distresses.  We have great reason to praise Him for all the wonderful things He does for us.  Psalms 107: 13-15 "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------