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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Daily Thoughts

In the P of GP we read about the continued persecution of Joseph Smith and his family and all the falsehoods which were spread regarding them. Joseph and Emma then returned to her father's home where Joseph began to translate the plates.  Also at this time they meant Martin Harris who was very helpful to them.   Joseph Smith History 1:61-62 "The excitement, however, still continued, and rumor with her thousand tongues was all the time employed in circulating falsehoods about my father's family, and about myself. If I were to relate a thousandth part of them, it would fill up volumes. The persecution, however, became so intolerable that I was under the necessity of leaving Manchester, and going with my wife to Susquehanna county, in the State of Pennsylvania. While preparing to start—being very poor, and the persecution so heavy upon us that there was no probability that we would ever be otherwise—in the midst of our afflictions we found a friend in a gentleman by the name of Martin Harris, who came to us and gave me fifty dollars to assist us on our journey. Mr. Harris was a resident of Palmyra township, Wayne county, in the State of New York, and a farmer of respectability. By this timely aid was I enabled to reach the place of my destination in Pennsylvania; and immediately after my arrival there I commenced copying the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them, which I did between the time I arrived at the house of my wife's father, in the month of December, and the February following."

In the New Testament we read about the faith that Moses had--enough faith that he choose to suffer affliction with the Israelites rather than live as the son of Pharaoh's daughter who had adopted him when he was a baby.  He showed faith when he forsook Egypt and didn't fear the wrath of the king, having the faith to part the Red Sea and pass through on dry ground.  Hebrews 11:23-29 "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned."

Some familiar verses with a thought booklet tell us that the Lord is our Sepherd and we shall not want.  He makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside the still waters, restoring our soul and leading us in the paths of righteousness.  He'll even walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death.  Goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives and then we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalms 23:1-6 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

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