Daily Thoughts Thursday

In the Book of Mormon we read only the power of God which threatened them with destruction convinced Nephi's brothers to finally untie him. They refused to soften their hearts until they were faced with certain destruction unless they repented. After they finally untied Nephi, the compass began to work again and the storm calmed down. Nephi was able to guide the ship and they again headed toward the promised land. 1 Nephi 18:20-22 "And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.  And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord spoke to Moses from the mercy seat, between the cherubim, upon the ark. All down through the ages, the Lord has spoken to His prophets.  Numbers 7:89 "And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him."

In some verses with a thought booklet we read that Amos didn't start out as a prophet, nor was he a prophet's son.  He was a herdsman and gathered fruit from the sycamore tree.  But God had other ideas for his life.  He took Amos from among his flock and told him to go and prophesy unto the people of Israel.  When God calls, we need to listen.  We may not plan to be a prophet, or a missionary, or a bishop, or a primary teacher, but whatever the Lord has in mind for us to do, we need to be willing to obey.  God's plans are not always our plans, but as we follow where He leads us, we'll find that His plans are greater than our own.  Amos 7:14-15 "Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."