Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read even though Laman and Lemuel called their father foolish because of his vision and did not listen to him, he still tried to encourage his sons, even naming rivers and valleys after them and saying he hoped they would be righteous, firm and steadfast in keeping the commandments.  It is difficult when we have beloved family who forsake the truth, but we need to continue to love and encourage them. 1 Nephi 2:8-11 " And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof. And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!  And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!  Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart."

In the Old Testament we read about how the people wanted to build a great city with a tower that reached to heaven, but God confounded their language so they could not understand each other and they were scattered over all the earth.  Genesis 11:1-9 " And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.  And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.  So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth."

Some verses with a thought booklet extol the greatness and majesty of God, who is good to all.  And we are told that one generation should commend the works of God to another as they tell of His mighty acts.  Are we shy about sharing with others what God has done for us?  Our stories of God's faithfulness an carry great power in influencing others and increasing their faith.  We can show others how God loved us even when we didn't do a very good job of serving Him, and how He helped us through the difficult times in our lives and was with us in our darkest hours.  We may not have a dramatic story to tell like some of the people in ancient scripture, but we can tell about a caring God who was there for us. Don't miss opportunities to teach others from your personal experiences.  And write them down.  Future generations may be inspired and strengthened by your words.  Psalms 145:1-7 "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.  Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.  They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness."