Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we're told to repent of our covetous desires, for what is property unto the Lord?  D&C 117:4 " Let them repent of all their sins, and of all their covetous desires, before me, saith the Lord; for what is property unto me? saith the Lord."

In the New Testament we read about how when there was a great multitude in the wilderness who needed to be fed, Jesus took seven loaves of bread and a few little fishes, gave thanks for them, broke them into pieces and gave them to His disciples to distribute to the people--4,000 men plus women and children!  They all had enough to eat and there were seven baskets of leftovers.  We're all familiar with this story, but one thing that we may have overlooked was that before this miracle took place, Jesus GAVE THANKS.  When we don't have sufficient for our needs, we still need to give thanks and have gratitude for what little we have.  How can we expect the Lord to perform a miracle in our lives to give us more if we're not appreciative of what we already have?  Matthew 15:32-38 "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.  And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?  And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.  And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children."

In some scriptures with a thought booklet we read about how Moses was wearing himself out trying to counsel all the people and answer their questions.  His Father-in-law came to him and told him that what he was doing was not good.  He needed to delegate some of his responsibilities to others--able, God-fearing men of truth.  Sometimes we likewise try to do everything ourselves and we end up burning out and exhausting ourselves.  If we can delegate some of our responsibilities to other competent people, the job will get done better without wearing ourselves out in the process. And besides that, other people need to be able to serve as well, and learn and grow from the experience.  Exodus 18:13-26 "And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?  And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:  When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.  And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:  And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.  If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.  So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves."