Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that when Nephi had finished speaking to his brethren, exhorting them to do the things the Lord had commanded them, they became angry with him, bound him with cords, and sought to kill him.  Nephi prayed that he would be given the strength to break the cords that they'd bound him with, and the Lord granted his petition. He again stood before his brethren and spoke to them, which made them angry again. However, some of Ismael's family members pleaded for Nephi and this softened the hearts of Laman and Lemuel who stopped trying to kill Nephi and asked him to forgive them.  Nephi did frankly forgive them and exhorted his brothers to pray for forgiveness also, which they did.  Then they continued travling toward Lehi's tent in the wilderness.  Nephi is a wonderful example of how we should forgive those who trespass against us.  He quickly forgave them, told them to pray and ask for forgiveness from the Lord, and then continued on with what he was doing and didn't bring up the subject of their wrongs again.  1 Nephi 7:16-21 "And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.  But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.  And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again. And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life. And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.  And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father."

 

In the Old Testament we read about how Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh's dream and predict that after 7 years of plenty, there would be 7 years of famine, so they should store up food to last through the lean years.  Pharaoh was so pleased with Joseph for being able to interpret his dream and he not only released him from prison but made him a ruler over all Egypt.  Genesis 41:14-42 "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:  And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:  And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:  And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.  And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:  And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:  And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me. And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.  The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.  This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:  And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;  And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.  Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.  And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.  And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;"

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that we can know and believe that God loves us.  God is love. We love God because He first loved us.  Perfect love casts out fear and will allow us to approach judgment day with boldness. What reassurance it should give us to know how much God loves us.  The story is told of a grandmother singing "Jesus loves me" to her little 2 year old granddaughter.  The child listened intently as her grandmother repeatedly sang "Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me" and then the little girl thrust her face right into her grandmothers and announced, "Hey, Jesus loves ME too!" She was right.  Jesus has plenty of love for all of us.    1 John 4:16-19 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us."