Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that millions of people were slain in battle--a fulfillment of Ether's prophecy.  Coriantumr mourned greatly over this, refusing to be comforted.  Ether 15:1-3 "And it came to pass when Coriantumr had recovered of his wounds, he began to remember the words which Ether had spoken unto him. He saw that there had been slain by the sword already nearly two millions of his people, and he began to sorrow in his heart; yea, there had been slain two millions of mighty men, and also their wives and their children. He began to repent of the evil which he had done; he began to remember the words which had been spoken by the mouth of all the prophets, and he saw them that they were fulfilled thus far, every whit; and his soul mourned and refused to be comforted."

In the Old Testament we begin reading the story of Esther, which began with the kind becoming displeased with his wife Vashti because she refused to come when he wanted her to and banishing her from his presence.  Esther 1:10-12, 19-20 "On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.  But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us not to be afraid, for the Lord is with us and will strengthen us.  He doesn't always remove our burdens and take our problems away, but sometimes He helps us by giving us the strength to bear our burdens.  He'll walk beside us as we struggle and sometimes even carry us.  We can trust in Him. The story is told of a husband who came home from work and told his wife he'd just lost his job.  She sat down and cried.  Their little boy who had been playing nearby came and sat in her lap.  He told her he'd been taught a scripture verse in church the previous Sunday and asked if he could quote it to her.  She said, "Maybe, later, dear."  He looked her right in the eye and said, "But Mommy, you need this verse right now!"  He then quoted a verse in Isaiah which told her not to be afraid or discouraged, for God is with us and will strengthen and help us. Indeed, that's just what she needed to hear at that time. Even in the midst of our problems, let's never forget these precious promises from the Lord.  Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
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