Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Ether prophesied unto the people but they would not listen to him and cast him out, threatening to kill him.  So he hid in the cavity of a rock by day and came out at night to view the destructions of the people.  During the second year of him being in hiding, the Lord commanded him to go and testify to Coriantumr that if he did not repent, all his people would be destroyed and he alone would survive to see the fulfillment of these prophesies and to see another people receiving the land for their inheritance.  He would be buried by those people.  But Coriantumr refused to repent or listen to Ether.  Instead, he sought to kill him.  Ether 13: 13-22 "And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether; but they esteemed him as naught, and cast him out; and he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people. And as he dwelt in the cavity of a rock he made the remainder of this record, viewing the destructions which came upon the people, by night. And it came to pass that in that same year in which he was cast out from among the people there began to be a great war among the people, for there were many who rose up, who were mighty men, and sought to destroy Coriantumr by their secret plans of wickedness, of which hath been spoken. And now Coriantumr, having studied, himself, in all the arts of war and all the cunning of the world, wherefore he gave battle unto them who sought to destroy him. But he repented not, neither his fair sons nor daughters; neither the fair sons and daughters of Cohor; neither the fair sons and daughters of Corihor; and in fine, there were none of the fair sons and daughters upon the face of the whole earth who repented of their sins. 8Wherefore, it came to pass that in the first year that Ether dwelt in the cavity of a rock, there were many people who were slain by the sword of those secret combinations, fighting against Coriantumr that they might obtain the kingdom. And it came to pass that the sons of Coriantumr fought much and bled much. And in the second year the word of the Lord came to Ether, that he should go and prophesy unto Coriantumr that, if he would repent, and all his household, the Lord would give unto him his kingdom and spare the people— Otherwise they should be destroyed, and all his household save it were himself. And he should only live to see the fulfilling of the prophecies which had been spoken concerning another people receiving the land for their inheritance; and Coriantumr should receive a burial by them; and every soul should be destroyed save it were Coriantumr. And it came to pass that Coriantumr repented not, neither his household, neither the people; and the wars ceased not; and they sought to kill Ether, but he fled from before them and hid again in the cavity of the rock."

In the Old Testament we read about how the people covenanted with the Lord to keep the commandments, not marry outside of Israel, honor the Sabbath Day, and to pay their tithes.  Nehemiah 10: 29-31, 38 "They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons: And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house."

Some verses with a thought booklet warn us not to use vain repetitions when we pray.  Do we often find ourselves saying the same words over and over when we pray, not even really paying attention to what we're saying?  If so, this is not good.  We need to pray from our heart and speak as if we were speaking to a loving Father who we're grateful to and who wants to help us with our needs.  In fact, He loves us and knows our needs so well that He knows of them before we even ask.  Matthew 6:7-8 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."