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Saturday, March 1, 2014

FW: Daily Thoughts


From: Debbie
Sent: ‎2/‎24/‎2014 11:05 AM
Subject: Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that we need to think of our brethren like unto ourselves.  Even if we have more worldly wealth than they do, they are our equals in the sight of God and our money does not make us superior to them. In fact, if our money causes us to be prideful, we are in a worse state in the eyes of God than the humble poor.We should seek first the Kingdom of God and the only reason we should seek riches at all is so that we can help the poor and allow them to be rich like we are.  We should use our money to do good and help other people. Jacob 2:17-21 "Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.  But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.  And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.  And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it?  Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever."

In the Old Testament we read that some sons of Ephraim were killed and he mourned many days for them, and his brethren tried to comfort him.  This is what we do when loved ones die--we mourn.  And others try to comfort us.  1 Chronicles 7:20-22 "And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son, And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.  And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him."

But some scriptures with a thought booklet give us hope when we lose a loved one.  They tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus.  Mary wen to His tomb weeping and mourning for Him.  She was so grief stricken that when she saw His empty tomb, all she could think of was that someone has stolen His body and when she saw Him, she mistook Him for a gardener.  But when she realized that it was indeed Jesus and He had risen from the dead, she was filled with joy and ran to tell His disciples the good news.  We mourn for those we love who die, but just as Jesus was resurrected, we can know that they too will be resurrected, and so will we.  Jesus conquered death, and one day our grief will turn into joy!  John 20:11-18 "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her."

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