Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read more of the angel conversing with Nephi, teaching him that the tree in his father's dream represents the love of God which is most joyous to the soul.  1 Nephi 11:21-22 "And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?  And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord commanded Moses to tell the people to kill lambs and put the blood from them on the lintels and side posts of their doors.  Then the Lord would pass over those doors and not destroy the firstborn inside. But all the firstborn of the Egyptians would be killed. Indeed, after the firstborn of both man and beast of the Egyptians were killed, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron to come and told  them to leave, taking all their flocks and hrs with them. Just as the Israelites were saved by having the blood of the lamps on their doors, so we too are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God.   Exodus 12:21-23, 28-32 "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also."

In some scriptures with a thought booklet we read about how the Lord called Samuel, attempting to speak to him, but he kept thinking it was Eli calling him.  So he kept getting up and waking Eli who told him he had not called.  Finally, Eli realized the Lord was speaking to Samuel and instructed him to say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."  Samuel had not yet learned the voice of the Lord and did not yet know God.  When someone hears God's voice calling them, they are willing to make great sacrifices to obey. But hearing God's voice is something that we must learn, something we need to listen for. The more we come to know God, the easier this will be.   1 Samuel 3:3-10 "And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.  And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.  And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.  And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."