Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that we need to avoid judging others, because the Lord will use the same measure to judge us that we use to judge others.  Sometimes we can see a tiny speck in our brother's eye and seek to take it out, when actually we're blinded by the beam that's in our own eye.  In other words we often criticize others for small faults when we have worse faults of our own!  First we need to take care of our own problems before we can hope to help somebody else overcome theirs.  3 Nephi 14:1-5 "And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye."

In the Old Testament we read how the mantle of a prophet passed from Elijah to Elisha and how Elisha was able to part the water just like Elijah had done.  When one prophet dies, another is called to take his place. 2 Kings 2:8-14 "And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over."  

Some scriptures with a thought booklet testify that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead, as is told in the scriptures.  If we only have hope in Christ in this life, we are most miserable.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead! Jesus is our hope.  He died for our sins and paved the way for us to be resurrected from the dead.  1 Corinthians 15: 3-4, 19-20 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."