Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read that our preaching needs to be a warning voice to every man, with meekness and mildness  We need to be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord and go out from among the wicked.  D&C 38:41-42 "And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness. And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Even so. Amen."

In the Old Testament we read the importance of the words we speak.  Saying the right thing to someone at the right time can make all the difference in their lives--more valuable than gold and silver.  Even words of reproof as worth as much as gold to an obedient ear.  Proverbs 25:11-12 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear."

In some scriptures with a thought booklet we read how Christ taught His disciples that He would be rejected by the chief priests and scribes and be killed by them, but He would rise again the third day.  Peter rebuked Jesus for saying such things, and then Jesus turned around and rebuked Peter, saying he cared more for the things of the world than the things of God.  Christ being put to death was not something Peter wanted to think about, but it was necessary for the Atonement to take place.  If we look at things from a worldly prospective, there are many difficult things that happen in people's lives, things we'd like to avoid or wish away.  But sometimes it takes hard things and difficult trials in order to refine and polish people or make them stronger.  We don't always understand the ways of the Lord, but we need to trust in Him.  He knows what is best.  Mark 8:31-33 "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."