Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about the great prosperity of the people.  They worked all manner of ore and metals, had silks and fine-twined linen in which they made clothing, and had all kinds of tools and weapons.  They were a very blessed and prospered people.  Ether 10:23-28 "And they did work in all manner of ore, and they did make gold, and silver, and iron, and brass, and all manner of metals; and they did dig it out of the earth; wherefore, they did cast up mighty heaps of earth to get ore, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of copper. And they did work all manner of fine work. And they did have silks, and fine-twined linen; and they did work all manner of cloth, that they might clothe themselves from their nakedness. And they did make all manner of tools to till the earth, both to plow and to sow, to reap and to hoe, and also to thrash. And they did make all manner of tools with which they did work their beasts. And they did make all manner of weapons of war. And they did work all manner of work of exceedingly curious workmanship. And never could be a people more blessed than were they, and more prospered by the hand of the Lord. And they were in a land that was choice above all lands, for the Lord had spoken it."

In the Old Testament we read that Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it, and also to teach Israel.  It's important to "prepare our hearts" to seek the Lord, keep His commandments, and also to teach other people.  Ezra 7:10 "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet recount the parable of the lost sheep.  Even if we have 99 other sheep, we'll seek after one that is lost until we find it, and they we'll rejoice over it.  So likewise the Lord loves us and seeks after us when we go astray, and the angels rejoice when a sinner repents and returns to the fold of God.  We're each important to the Lord!  And we need to remember how important to the Lord the people who have strayed are, and do everything we can to love them and bring them back to the fold.  Luke 15:3-7 "And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."