Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that Christ teaches against priestcrafts which seek for gain and the praise of the world. The Lord commands us to have charity for one another, which s love. Those who labor for money will perish.  2 Nephi 26:29-31 "He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish."

In the Old Testament we read about how Abijam  reigned in wickedness,  but after he died his son Asa reigned in righteousness. This shows that people can live righteous lives even if their parents or others around them do not. It's wonderful if we're blessed with goodly parents who give us righteous examples to follow, but even if such is not the case, that's no excuse for us not to rise above what we've been taught (or not taught) in our homes.  We can still live good lives pleasing to the Lord.  1 Kings 15:1-3, 8-15 "Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.  Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.  And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.  And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.  And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.  But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days. And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the Lord, silver, and gold, and vessels."

Some verses with a thought booklet ask the question of who will be able to stand in the presence of God or ascend the hill of the Lord.  The answer is he who has a pure heart and clean hands and who has avoided vanity and swearing.  In other words, no unholy thing can dwell with God.  We need to repent and put our lives in order if we expect blessings from the Lord and  eternal life with Him.  Psalms 24:3-5 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."