Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read that  Brigham Young was commended for his service to the Lord and told that he would be relieved from future travel abroad so that he could spend more time with his family.  D&C 126:1-3 " Dear and well-beloved brother, Brigham Young, verily thus saith the Lord unto you: My servant Brigham, it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me.  I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name.  I therefore command you to send my word abroad, and take especial care of your family from this time, henceforth and forever. Amen."

In the New Testament we read about how Jesus healed a leper who had asked Jesus to heal him, if that was His will.  Jesus said it was His will and then cleansed him.  When we pray to the Lord for healing or help, it's important that we always pray "Thy will be done."  Our prayers will always be answered in the way that is best for us, even if we can't see it.  Sometimes the Lord answers yes to our prayers, sometimes no, and sometimes yes but later.  We need to trust that the Lord will give us the things that are for our best good.  Mark 1:40-42 "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.  And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that we are to be in the world but not of the world and we need to keep ourselves from the evils of the world.  However, the world hates those who keep the word of God, just like it hated Jesus Himself.  The word of God is truth and it will sanctify us. Sometimes we may think it would be easier to live separately and apart from other people so we could live our religion in peace with no opposition.  But by being in the world, others can see our example and we can possibly do some good in spreading the word of God.  The Lord has sent us out into the world for just such a purpose. John 17:14-18 "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."