Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Lord again spoke to Lehi and told him that it was not good that he should depart with his sons without them having wives, so they could have children in the land of promise.  So they should go to Ismael who had daughters and have them join them on their journey.  The Lord softened the heart of Ismael so that they were willing to accompany them.  Notice that Laman and Lemuel, who usually murmured and complained at everything they were asked to do, didn't complain about having to go back to Jerusalem to obtain wives for themselves!  1 Nephi 7:1-5 "And now I would that ye might know, that after my father, Lehi, had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters to wife, that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of promise.  And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I, Nephi, and my brethren, should again return unto the land of Jerusalem, and bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of Ishmael, and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we did speak unto him the words of the Lord.  And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father."

 

In the Old Testament we read that because of the envy that Joseph's brothers had for him they conspired to kill him.  But Reuben and Judah didn't want to shed his blood and convinced the other brothers to first cast him into a pit instead of killing hi and then selling him into slavery instead of shedding his blood. He was sold to some merchantmen and taken into Egypt  His brothers put blood on his coat of many colors to take to their father so that he would think Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. Their father was greatly distressed by this news and refused to be comforted by his other children.  Genesis 37:18-35 "And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.  And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.  And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;  And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.  And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?  And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.  And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that God made trees that were both good for food and pleasant to the sight.  He could have provided us food that came in drab gray boxes.  But instead He made beautiful trees that bloom with colorful flowers in the spring, have bright green leaves that rustle in the wind during summer, and change to gorgeous displays of red, orange and yellow in the autumn.  Why did He create trees to be so beautiful instead of just useful for food?  I think He delights in providing us a beautiful world to live in so that we can enjoy it.  Let's not take this wonderful world for granted, but enjoy every tree, flower and mountain we see.  Genesis 2:9 "And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."