Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Nephi asked his brothers why they were disputing because they could not understand what their father had said concerning the natural branches of the olive tree and concerning the Gentiles.  Nephi asked them if they had inquired of the Lord but they just said the Lord had made no such thing known unto them.  How could they expect the Lord to teach them truths if they wouldn't even ask Him and they refused to keep the commandments?  If we expect the Lord to answer us, we need to ask and we need to be worthy. If we don't harden our hearts and we ask in faith, keeping the commandments of God, He will give us the answers that we seek.   1 Nephi 15:6-11 "And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations.  And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.  And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord? And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us. Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?  Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you."

In the Old Testament we read about how sacrifices of male animals without blemish are made as an atonement for sins.  This was in similitude of the sacrifice that Jesus would make.  Leviticus 1:1-4 "And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.  If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that if we ask God, we will receive.  Even we in our imperfections want to give good gifts to our children.  So how could we think that our Heavenly Father would want to do any less for us?  He wants what is best for us and wants to answer our prayers in the way that will be the greatest blessing to our lives.  We can safely trust in Him.  We should not hesitate to pray to Him and ask for the things we need.  And if He doesn't always answer our prayers the way we might want, we need to trust that He knows what is for our best good.  Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"