Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read the words of the Lord to Joseph Smith when he was suffering much in Liberty Jail.  The Lord mentioned all kinds of calamities that might befall him but told him that even if all these things should come to pass, they would give him experience and be for his good.  This is something for us to remember when we are passing through trials and tribulations.  Even though we might not see it at the time, these things help to strenghten and refine us and help us to become the people we need to be.  We can trust in the Lord and know that whatever we go through in life truly is for our best good.  D&C 122:5-7 " If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea; If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

In the New Testament we read that Jesus told His disciples that He would be dondemned to death, crucified, and the third day He would be resurrected. He knew all these things were going to happen to Him.  Matthew 20:17-19 "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again."

In some scriptures with a thought booklet we read about how even though Jesus did many wonderful works and healed many people, some people still tried to claim that He was of the devil and they tried to stone Him.  How very sad that down through the ages, people have rejected the prophets, and even the Son of God.  John 10:19-21, 31-32 "There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?"