Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees, which the prophet Zenos taught. The House of Israel was likened to a tame olive tree which a man nourished in his vineyard, but it grew old and began to decay. So the master of the vineyard tried to nourish it and prune it, hoping to keep it from perishing.  Jacob 5:1-5 "Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of Israel, saying:  Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord.  For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame olive tree, which a man took and nourished in his vineyard; and it grew, and waxed old, and began to decay. And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw that his olive tree began to decay; and he said: I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not.  And it came to pass that he pruned it, and digged about it, and nourished it according to his word."

In the Old Testament we read how David had wanted to build a house of the Lord, but had been constrained from doing so because he had been a man of war.  However, he appointed his son Solomon to be king and to build the temple.  He charged Solomon to keep the commandments and serve the Lord with a perfect heart.  He told him that if he would seek the Lord, he would find Him.  But if he would forsake the Lord, he would be cast off forever.  1 Chronicles 28:2-10 "Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:  But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.  Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:  And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.  And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.  Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.  Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.  Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet remind us that if God is for us, it doesn't matter who might be against us.  If God was willing to sacrifice His own Son for us, how can we doubt that He would freely give us all that we need? There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God! Nothing!  We can be secure in His loving arms.  Romans 8:31-32, 35, 38-39 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."