Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read how the Lord told Frederick G. Williams that if he is faithful in his ministry that the Lord has appointed to him, lifting up the hands that hang down and strengthening the feeble and weak, he will receive immortality and eternal life in the mansions that the Father has prepared for him.  I think this is true for all of us.  If we live our lives trying to serve and help others and do our best to fulfill whatever the Lord calls us to do, we'll receive eternal life.  D&C 81:5-6 "Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. And if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father."

In the Old Testament we read about how the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel telling him that he was to be a watchman to the House of Israel, to warn them to forsake their wicked ways.  If he gave them warning and they repented of their wickedness, their lives would be saved.  If he warned them and they refused to listen, their blood would be on their own heads because they had been warned but would not heed the warning.  However, if Ezekiel refused to warn them, their blood would be upon his own head.  Ezekiel 3:16-19 "And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."

In some scriptures with a thought booklet we read the familiar story of David and Goliath.  The young man who had no armor went to fight the huge formidable giant who everybody was afraid of.  But David was not afraid because he knew he had the Lord on His side.  And he was able to slay Goliath with a single stone. When we have gigantic problems in our lives they might appear as Goliath, formitable foes that anyone should be afraid of.  But if we have the Lord on our side, He will fight our battles for us and strengthen us so that we can triumph over all our foes. 1 Samuel 17:40-50 "And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.  And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.  And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David."