Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Lord of the vineyard and his servant went to find the trees where they can grafted in the natural branches. They found that the natural branches had become corrupt and had all brought forth bad fruit. The branches that had in the past brought forth good fruit had withered away and died. The Lord of the vineyard wept, wondering what more he could have done for his vineyard. All his trees were bringing forth bad fruit and were good for nothing except to be cast into the fire. He had even cleared away a choice piece of ground to plant a tree he had great hopes for, but it, too, was producing evil fruit. He had done everything in his power to save these trees, but it had all been in vain. The servant explained that the corrupt branches of the trees had overcome the roots, which had caused them to produce bad fruit. The Lord of the vineyard now wanted to just cut down all the trees and burn them, but the servant suggested they spare them a little longer.   Jacob 5: 38-50 "And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Let us go down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches have also brought forth evil fruit.  And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first and the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt. And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died.  And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?  Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were these, had become corrupted. And now these which have once brought forth good fruit have also become corrupted; and now all the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing save it be to be hewn down and cast into the fire.  And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.  And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof. And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath withered away.  And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit; and these I had hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self. But, behold, they have become like unto the wild olive tree, and they are of no worth but to be hewn down and cast into the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose them.  But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?  And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted? And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have done more for my vineyard?  But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little longer."

In the Old Testament we read that if people sin (which we all do) but then turn and pray to God with all their hearts, He will hear their prayers and forgive them of their sins.  We can repent and come back to God.  2 Chronicles 7:12-15 "And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.  If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that even though the devil has been sinning from the beginning, and people who sin are of the devil, the Son of God appeared to destroy the devil's work.  God is more powerful than the devil and in the end, good will prevail over evil.  No matter how wicked the world becomes and how powerful the devil might seem, his works will be destroyed.  1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."