Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about the horrible scene of blood and carnage that took place when the Nephites and Lamanites battled together--both having their hearts hardened and delighting in the shedding of blood, there being so much wickedness among them.  What a terrible scene this must have been.  From this we see the sad results of turning away from the Lord. Mormon 4: 11-12 "And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually. And there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as was among this people."

In the Old Testament we read about how Solomon addresses the people after he built the house of the Lord.  He tells them about how his father David wanted to build it, but instead the Lord raised him up to do it.  2 Chronicles 6:1-11 "Then said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever. And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying, Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart: Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name. The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.  And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel."

A verse with a thought booklet admonishes us to be meek and longsuffering, forbearing one another with love.  Sometimes the word translated as meek is also translated as gentle.  Are we gentle and kind in our dealings with others?  Being humble and gentle is not a sign of weakness, but is actually a sign of strength.  Anybody can get angry and be rude.  But it takes self control to deliberately decide not to be that way.  It takes a strong person to treat other people with kindness and gentleness, even when they try our patience.  Ephesians 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
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