In the Book of Mormon we read about the hardness of the hearts of Nephi's brothers, which caused Nephi great anguish of soul, fearing that they would be cast off forever. When he tried to speak to them, they became so angry with him that they wanted to kill him. He forbade them to touch him and said that if they laid hands on him, God would smite them. 1 Nephi 17:46-48 "And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts? Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength. And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea; and as they came forth to lay their hands upon me I spake unto them, saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him."
In the Old Testament we read that the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the order and leaders of the tribes and armies of Israel and where they should pitch their tents. Everything was to be done in order. Numbers 2:1-5 "And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar."
Some verses with a thought booklet are a cry for repentance, asking the Lord to create in us a clean heart and renew right spirit within us, that we not be cast away from His presence nor lose His Holy Spirit. This will restore to us the joy of salvation. We can turn our lives around, with the Lord help, and find joy again. Psalms 51:10-12 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."
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