Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read Mormon's words to his son Moroni, lamenting about the wickedness of the people who rejected great knowledge and refused to repent to the point that the Spirit ceased to strive with them.  He told his son to pray for them, but didn't have much hope for them, and said that their pride was proving to be their destruction.  Moroni 8:27-29 "Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soon against the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction except they should repent. Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost. And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which were spoken by the prophets, as well as the words of our Savior himself."

In the Old Testament we read about the beginning of Job's trials.  One thing after another hit him, losing his property and his children.  Can you imagine what that would feel like?  I think all of us at times have felt like we were going from one disaster to the next and that everything in our lives were going wrong.  What was our reaction?  We can all benefit from the example of Job who blessed the name of the Lord, through all his trials, and did not sin or charge God foolishly, in spite of everything that was going on in his life.  Job 1:13-22 "And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."


In some verses with a thought booklet we read how the Lord heard the prayers and cries of the children of Israel who were in bondage in Egypt and He was going to deliver them.  But notice that instead of just delivering them directly, the Lord called Moses to bring forth the people out of Egypt.  This is often how the Lord works--through other people.  I've had my prayers answered through other people many times.  I've prayed about problems and the Lord has sent people to help me.  Likewise, we can be the answer to other people's prayers if we'll pray and offer a willing heart to be of service and then pay attention and be sensitive to the needs of others that we might be of assistance to.  Exodus 3:7-10 "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt."