Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we're given instructions about forgiving those who trespass against us and our families.  If they repent, we are to forgive them, even multiple times.  And if they don't repent, we are still to forgive them three times.  However, if they trespass against us a fourth time and refuse to repent, the Lord will deliver them into our hands.  D&C 98:23-30, 38-48 "Now, I speak unto you concerning your families—if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded; But if ye bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you as being meted out as a just measure unto you. And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your reward shall be an hundred fold.  And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you four-fold; And these three testimonies shall stand against your enemy if he repent not, and shall not be blotted out. And now, verily I say unto you, if that enemy shall escape my vengeance, that he be not brought into judgment before me, then ye shall see to it that ye warn him in my name, that he come no more upon you, neither upon your family, even your children's children unto the third and fourth generation. And then, if he shall come upon you or your children, or your children's children unto the third and fourth generation, I have delivered thine enemy into thine hands; And then if thou wilt spare him, thou shalt be rewarded for thy righteousness; and also thy children and thy children's children unto the third and fourth generation.  Behold, this is an ensample unto all people, saith the Lord your God, for justification before me. And again, verily I say unto you, if after thine enemy has come upon thee the first time, he repent and come unto thee praying thy forgiveness, thou shalt forgive him, and shalt hold it no more as a testimony against thine enemy— And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against thee, thou shalt forgive him, until seventy times seven. And if he trespass against thee and repent not the first time, nevertheless thou shalt forgive him. And if he trespass against thee the second time, and repent not, nevertheless thou shalt forgive him. And if he trespass against thee the third time, and repent not, thou shalt also forgive him. But if he trespass against thee the fourth time thou shalt not forgive him, but shalt bring these testimonies before the Lord; and they shall not be blotted out until he repent and reward thee four-fold in all things wherewith he has trespassed against thee. And if he do this, thou shalt forgive him with all thine heart; and if he do not this, I, the Lord, will avenge thee of thine enemy an hundred-fold; And upon his children, and upon his children's children of all them that hate me, unto the third and fourth generation. But if the children shall repent, or the children's children, and turn to the Lord their God, with all their hearts and with all their might, mind, and strength, and restore four-fold for all their trespasses wherewith they have trespassed, or wherewith their fathers have trespassed, or their fathers' fathers, then thine indignation shall be turned away;  And vengeance shall no more come upon them, saith the Lord thy God, and their trespasses shall never be brought any more as a testimony before the Lord against them. Amen."

In the Old Testament we read that in the great and terrible day of the Lord there will be wonders in the heaven and the earth, with the sun turned into darkness and the moon into blood.  But those who call upon the Lord will be delivered.  No matter how scary the situation in the world is, the Lord will be there for us if we'll pray to Him. Joel 2:31-32 "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."

And going right along with this, some verses with a thought booklet tell us that the godly can pray unto the Lord and the flood waters won't come near them.  The Lord will preserve them in times of trouble and instruct them and teach them the way to go.  Many sorrows will come to the wicked, but mercy will surround those who put their trust in the Lord.  So the righteous can rejoice and be glad, and shout for joy! One summer day a neighborhood full of children decided to have a bike contest.  They took a long board about 7 inches wide and placed bricks under each end, then tried to ride their bikes across it.  No one succeeded in staying on the board as they tried to ride their bikes across, until one boy made it without incident.  The other children wanted to know how he did it.  He told them that he just looked at a tree and rode toward it.  The other children had been focusing on the wheels of their bikes and the board.  When they took the boy's suggestion and aimed for the tree in the distance, they all were able to stay on the board. When troubles surround us, what do we focus on?  The problems and difficulties, or the Lord?  If we stay focused on our Savior and pray for help, we can get through anything. Psalms 32:6-11 "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart."