Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we're reminded that those who keep the commandments will be blessed but those who choose iniquity will be cursed. This land would be a land of inheritance for Lehi's seed and they would be kept separate from other nations that would overrun them as long as they were willing to keep the commandments of the Lord. However, when the time would come when they would dwindle in unbelief and reject the true Messiah, in spite of being taught the works of the Lord, the judgments of God would rest upon them. The Lord would allow other nations to come and gain power over them, and they would be smitten and scattered.  2 Nephi 1:7-11 "Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever. And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.  Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.  But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord—having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this precious land of promise—behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.  Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten."

In the Old Testament we read that if someone kills another person and more than one person witnesses that this is the case,  they hall be put to death.  Numbers 35:30 "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that Jesus is the vine and we, His disciples, are the branches.  If we're connected to Him, we can bring forth much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing.  The other day I proceeded to vacuum my house, but noticed that the vacuum didn't seem to be picking up well at all.  I checked the bagless container and noticed there was nothing in it.  Nothing had been vacuumed up!  I thought maybe my vacuum was broken but then noticed that the hose had somehow become disconnected.  No wonder it wasn't working, it wasn't even connected!  It was making lots of noise like it was working, but was accomplishing nothing.  Once I re-connected the hose everything worked just fine and I ended up with a whole container of dust and dirt to empty into the garbage can.  Just like the vacuum didn't work with the hose not connected, we aren't able to accomplish what the Lord wants us to do if we aren't connected to Him.  He gives us the power we need to do what we need to do.  Otherwise, we'll just be making a lot of noise but not doing anything.  John 15:5 " I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."