Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about the importance of paying tithes and offerings.  If we don't do so, we are robbing God, for this is a debt that we owe Him.  If we do pay our tithing, the windows of heaven will open to pour us down a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.  I've found this to be so true in my own life and in the lives of those I know.  As long as I've paid my tithing, I've always had sufficient for my needs.  3 Nephi 24:8-10 "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

In the Old Testament we read that Jehoiachin began to reign and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.  As a result, Jerusalem was besieged and taken by Nebuchadnezzar and all the treasures in the king's house and the house of the Lord were cut in pieces.  All the princes and mighty men of valour were carried away captive.  2 Kings 24:8-15 "Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done. At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it. And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said. And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet explain why the Lord chastens us.  Even though we find it grievous at the time, it will yield good results for us in the long run.  Just as our earthly fathers chasten their children that they love, so does our Heavenly Father chasten His children.  God doesn't take delight in our pain, but uses it to make us stronger.  Hebrews 12:7-11 "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."