Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Jews were a stiff necked people and despised the words of plainness that the prophets gave to them.  They sought to kill the prophets who tried to bring them the Word of God. Because they rejected the Word of God, they stumbled and fell. Jacob 4:14-18 "But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.  And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.  But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build.  And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their corner? Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for you."

In the Old Testament we read that Levite singers and musicians were assigned their duties by lot. Music played a great part in prophesy, and giving thanks and praise to the Lord.  1 Chronicles 25:1-8 "Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord. Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:  All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.  So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight. And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that it's not enough to claim we love other people, we need to put our words into action and show our love by how we treat them and what we're willing to do for them.  The story is told of a truck that said on it "We deliver love" with pictures of flowers, candy, and balloons. It sent a very happy message that would make a person smile.  However, driving the truck was a man who looked like he'd been eating sour pickles.  He would make you think twice about having that company deliver "love" to someone you cared about. We need to do more than must speak the words, we need to show our love in our actions and countenance.  1 John 3:17-18 " But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."