In the Book of Mormon we read that the Lord promised Nephi that the things he had written would be preserved to come down to his seed and that the seed of Joseph would not perish as long as the earth would stand. Nephi labored diligently to write in order to persuade his children and brethren to believe in Christ and to be reconciled to God. We are saved by grace, after all we can do. 2 Nephi 25:21-23 "Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand. Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written. For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
In the Old Testament we read the advise David gave to Solomon as he turned over rulership to him. David was about to die so this was his final message to his son. He charged Solomon to keep the commandments and walk in the ways of the Lord. Then David died and Solomon reigned in his stead. 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10, 12 "Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet warn us that when we give alms we should not loudly broadcast what we have done in order to get the praise of men. If we do this then the praise we've received will be our only reward. We should do good in secret, and the Lord who sees will reward us openly. We need to examine our own hearts. When we give to others or serve others, what is our motivation? Is it because of the love we have and the desire to help. or do we just want other people to see how good we are and pat us on the back? It is possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons. Do we try to draw attention to ourselves so everyone will notice the good we do, or do we quietly go about serving the best we can? Matthew 6:1-4 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
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