Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we're given a wonderful promise that if we forsake our sins, come unto Christ, pray, and keep the commandments, we will see the Lord's face and know that He is.  This is a promise given to everyone! We just need to do our part.  D&C 93:1 "Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;"

In the Old Testament we read the story about how the king appointed to Daniel and his friends to eat his meat and drink his wine.  But Daniel knew in his heart that that if he ate the king's meat and drank his wine, it would mean defiling himself, so he requested that they be given vegetables and seeds with water to drink instead.  The prince of the eunuchs who had charge over them feared that if he honored Daniel's request, Daniel and his friends would not be as healthy as the others and he'd get blamed by the kind for it.  So Daniel asked him to put it to the test for ten days and see how things went.  At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his friends were fairer and fatter than the others.  And not only that, their knowledge and wisdom and understanding was greater.  When we obey the Lord's laws of health, which today means obeying the Word of Wisdom, we're not only healthier physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.  Daniel 1:5, 8-17 "And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that even though we might in times past have been alienated from God by our wicked works, we can again be reconciled to Him through the atonement of Jesus Christ who died for us.  However, we need to continue in the faith, grounded and settled and not moved away from the hope of the gospel.  Colossians 1:20-23 "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"