Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Nephi spoke plainly so that we could not err.  Just as the Lord brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt and gave Moses power to heal those who had been bitten by poisonous serpents if they cast their eyes upon the brass serpent, so will salvation come by the name of Jesus Christ, and none other.  2 Nephi 25:20 "And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved."

In the Old Testament we read that David named Solomon as king to follow him and Zadok anointed him.  1 Kings 1:32-39 "And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.  The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:  And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.  Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too.  As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.  So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.  And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that it's not enough to just love our neighbor and be kind to those who are kind to us.  We also need to love our enemies and be good to those who hate us and persecute us.  We need to pray for them. We all have people in our lives who are difficult to get along with and who cause us pan. It's easy to be nice to people who are nice to us. But Jesus insists we must also be kind to those who make our lives miserable. That is the mark of true discipleship.  This is not an easy thing to do, but it is necessary if we are to be perfect and follow the perfect example of the Lord.  Matthew 5:43-48 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."