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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read more of the words of Isaiah in which he prophesies that the Messiah will give His back to the smiters and would be spit upon. But He shall not be confounded.  2 Nephi 7:6-11 "I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.  And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth.  For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall condemn me, behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.  Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light?  Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand—ye shall lie down in sorrow."

In the Old Testament we read about how the walls of Jericho fell down when the people shouted and the priests blew their trumpets so the children of Israel were able to take the city.  Joshua 6:20 "So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet instruct us about what to do if someone trespasses against us.  First we should talk to that person privately to see if we can work things out just between the two of us.  If that doesn't work then we need to ask two or three people to be witnesses, or go to the church for help.  But before involving other people, we need to seek to work out our differences with the other person involved.  I've seen cases where someone was upset with their friend and went around to everyone who would listen, recounting their friend's wrongdoings.  But they hadn't bothered trying to work things out with the person involved.  Sometimes there can be a simple misunderstanding that is easily resolved if we'll just talk to the person we're upset with.  Don't involve other people in your disputes until you've at least tried to work things out with the person you're having the problem with.  Matthew 18:15-17 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

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