Daily Thoughts

In the P of GP we read about how the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith two addition times, emphasizing to him that he should not be tempted to use the gold plates for monetary gain, but only for the purposes that God would command him.  He also repeated the same things he had taught him in the previous visits. After Moroni left a third time, the cock crowed and Joseph found that it was now morning and these visits had taken the entire night.  This is a good example of why repetition is often necessary when we are trying to learn something.  Frequently, when we hear something taught once or twice, it doesn't really sink in.  But after it's been repeated, we finally get it. This is why it's important to continue reading the scriptures over and over again, even if we're already read them once.    Joseph Smith History 1:44-47 "I lay musing on the singularity of the scene, and marveling greatly at what had been told to me by this extraordinary messenger; when, in the midst of my meditation, I suddenly discovered that my room was again beginning to get lighted, and in an instant, as it were, the same heavenly messenger was again by my bedside. He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done at his first visit, without the least variation; which having done, he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these things, he again ascended as he had done before.  By this time, so deep were the impressions made on my mind, that sleep had fled from my eyes, and I lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what I had both seen and heard. But what was my surprise when again I beheld the same messenger at my bedside, and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me the same things as before; and added a caution to me, telling me that Satan would try to tempt me (in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my father's family), to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich. This he forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building his kingdom; otherwise I could not get them.  After this third visit, he again ascended into heaven as before, and I was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what I had just experienced; when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me for the third time, the cock crowed, and I found that day was approaching, so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night."

In the New Testament we read Paul's statement toward the end of his life in which he was ready to meet his maker--having fought a good fight and finished his course, keeping the faith.  He could therefor expect to receive his crown of righteousness, as can all those who likewise love the Lord and look forward to His coming.  We might ask ourselves how well we are doing at faithfully living our lives so tat we can also say, at the end of our lives, that we have fought a good fight and finished our course, having kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

In a verse with a thought booklet we're told that we need to praise and give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His steadfast love and mercy endures forever.  Psalm 106:1 "Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."