Daily Thoughts

In the D&C I read that Jesus Christ suffered for all if they would repent, but if they refuse to repent, they will suffer even as He did, which suffering caused Him to bleed from every pore.  We need to humble ourselves, confess our sins, and repent.  D&C 19:15-20 "Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit."

In the Old Testament we read about how the children of Israel turned from the Lord, spake against Him and sinned, in spite of all the marvelous things He had done for them.  He parted the Red Sea so they could cross over, made water gush out of a rock, and fed them manna from heaven.  But in spite of all this and more,  they refused to believe and they committed sins against the Lord.  If we think back in our own lives, Im sure we can find many, many things the Lord has done for us over the years--blessings He has given us, or miracles that have occurred, answers to prayers.  In yet are we like the Israelites and sometimes easily forget these things and turn away from the Lord, doing things we shouldn't or neglecting to do things we should?  We need to learn from their bad examples and be grateful for all the Lord has done for us, and strive to keep His commandments to the best of our abilities.  Psalms 78:10-32 "They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works."

A verse from a thought booklet tells us that this is the day the Lord has made and we should rejoice and be glad in it.  The Lord has commanded us to be joyful!  Every day may not be a pleasant day and some days will be full of trials and tribulations, but we can still find joy if we realize that each day is a gift from God.  I used to know a lady who had this verse as the outgoing message on her answering machine.  Even though she was in a wheelchair and had many trials in her life, she always greeted you with a smile and had a cheerful attitude to brighten your day. She lived this verse. Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."