Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read about how the Lord's people will be gathered and comforted. All things that the prophets have prophesied will be fulfilled.  D&C 101 : 12-19 "And in that day all who are found upon the watch-tower, or in other words, all mine Israel, shall be saved. And they that have been scattered shall be gathered. And all they who have mourned shall be comforted.  And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned. Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.  Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.  They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion— And all these things that the prophets might be fulfilled.

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and call the people to repentance.  But instead of obeying, Jonah tried to run away from the Lord by boarding a ship and sailing off. Do we sometimes act this way when we're asked to do something we'd rather not do?  When we're asked to go help clean the church building on a Saturday morning do we run off to the golf course instead?  Do we look the other way when it's announced in church that help is needed with a welfare assignment?  Do we make up excuses when the bishop asks us to serve in a calling that seems distasteful or frightening to us?  Maybe we stand in judgment of Jonah for running away when the Lord asked him to do something, but aren't we often guilty of doing the same thing?  Jonah 1:1-3 "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet are familiar ones--reminding us that anyone who lacks wisdom can ask God and it will be given to him.  But he needs to ask with unwavering faith. How much faith do we demonstrate when we pray?  I remember hearing a story of a whole town who fasted for rain and had a meeting where they would all pray together, asking the Lord to send rain.  But only one little girl had enough faith to show up for the meeting carrying an umbrella.  That is faith!  James 1:5-8 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
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