Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Nephi found Laban, drunken with wine and the Lord commanded him to slay him with his own sword.  Nephi didn't want to shed his blood, but was told that the Lord had delivered Laban into his hands and that if was better that one man should perish than that an entire nation should perish in unbelief.  This demonstrates how important our scriptures are, which teach us the words of the Lord.  1 Nephi 4: 7-13 "Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine.  And when I came to him I found that it was Laban. And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.  And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.  And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property. And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;   Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."

In the Old Testament we read that Jacob covenanted to pay tithing, giving one tenth to the Lord.  The law of tithing is still in effect today.  Genesis 28:22 "And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to provoke one another unto love and good works.  What influence do we have on those around us?  Our influence can be for either good or bad, provoking people to anger and contention or to love and righteousness.  We need to think before we speak and act, making sure that our influence will be one for good.  Hebrews 10:24 " And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"