Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Nephi and his brothers hid in a cavity of a rock after escaping from Laban. Laman and Lemuel because angry with Nephi and beat him with a rod.  However, an angel came and chastised them and said that Nephi would be a ruler over them because of their iniquities. After the angel left, they continued to murmur, saying Laban was a powerful man and they'd never get the plates from him. From this we see how people with hard hearts return quickly to their evil thoughts and murmuring, even after they've had spiritual manifestations.   1 Nephi 3:27-31 "And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock. And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also with my father; and also was Lemuel, for he hearkened unto the words of Laman. Wherefore Laman and Lemuel did speak many hard words unto us, their younger brothers, and they did smite us even with a rod.  And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.  And after the angel had spoken unto us, he departed.  And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?"

In the Old Testament we read that Abraham did not want his son marrying one of the daughters of the Canaanites among whom they lived, but sent his servant back to his country to find a wife for Isaac among his relatives. Who we marry is very important and we need to make sure that we make the right decision in this.  Genesis 24:1-4 "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:  And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to set our affection on things above rather than worldly things.  Where do we place our priorities--on loving and serving the Lord and our fellowmen or on acquiring wealth and power?  What is really important to us?  What have we really set our hearts on? Colossians 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."