Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read that we should love one another, not be covetous, generously give to one another, stop being idle, unclean, and fault finding.  We should go to bed early and get up early.  We should pray always and clothe ourselves with the bond of charity.  There is a lot of great advice packed into these few verses--things we all could stand to improve on.  D&C 88:123-126 "See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.  Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.  Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen."


In the Old Testament we're told that the reason the Lord allowed the children of Israel to be taken into captivity was because they had trespassed against Him.  So He hid His face from them and they fell by the sword.  It was all according to their uncleanness and transgressions that He had hid His face from them.  When we sin, we distance ourselves from God and suffer the consequences of our actions.  Ezekiel 39:22-23 "So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword."

In some verses with a thought booklet, Joshua reminds the people that they need to be courageous, cleave unto the Lord, and serve Him. With the Lord on their side, one of their men could chase away a thousand of their enemies.  With the Lord fighting their battles, they cannot fail.  But they need to love the Lord their God and not worship the false gods of their enemies.  Likewise we need to hold fast to the true God and keep His commandments, putting Him first in our lives.  If we do this, He will help us through all our trials and struggles.  When we have the Lord and all His power and strength fighting our battles for us, how can we fail?  Joshua 23:6-11 "Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:  But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day. For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God."