Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read that the Lord sees fit to chasten His people when they don't hearken to His commandments which He has given them.  But if they do hearken, He will be with them and help them prevail against their enemies.  They are set to be a light unto the world.  But if they become as salt that has lost its savor, they'll be cast out and trodden under the foot of man.  D&C 103:4-10 "And that those who call themselves after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore and grievous chastisement, because they did not hearken altogether unto the precepts and commandments which I gave unto them. But verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them.  Behold they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour. And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever. But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them.  For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men; And inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men."

In the Old Testament we read that woe will come unto those who work evil, who covet what belongs to others and take it by violence.  Micah 2:1-2 "Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to rejoice in the Lord always.  Rejoice!  Did you know it's a commandment to be joyful?  And when we think about all the many wonderful blessings the Lord has blessed us with, we indeed have reason to rejoice. If we keep our minds centered on thoughts of the Lord and our gratitude to Him, it will drive the dark depressing thoughts away.  It's like the child who challenged another child, "I'll bet you can't avoid thinking of pink elephants for five minutes.  I'll bet you can't keep them out of your mind!"  And of course the more you try to NOT think of pink elephants, the more they'll be in your mind.  But if you spend that five minutes focussed solidly on purple rhinos, the pink elephant thoughts will never enter your head. So when it seems you're overwhelmed with troubling thoughts, think instead of the Lord and His blessings, and rejoice! Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."