Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the plates were passed from Abinadom to his son Amaleki. He said that Mosiah had been made king and had been warned by the Lord that he should flee out of the land and depart into the wilderness.  He was told to take as many people with him as would hearken to the voice of the Lord. They were admonished by the word of the Lord and were led by His power through the wilderness to the land of Zarahemla. There they discovered a people who greatly rejoiced because the Lord had sent people who had the plates of brass which contained a record of the Jews. These people had come out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah was carried away captive to Babylon. They had been brought across the ocean by the land of God. Because they had carried no record with them, their language had become corrupted and had no understanding of God. But Mosiah taught them.  Omni 1:12-18 "Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—  And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.  And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.  Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.  And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.  And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them. But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and they are written, but not in these plates."

In the Old Testament we read the names of those who helped build and repair the walls and gates of Jerusalem.  I'll only quote a few of the names here, but the list goes on for many, many more verses.  What can we learn from all these names?  We learn that the Lord knows each of us by name and keeps track of what we all do.  What tasks will be listed next to your name in the record of heaven?  Will they be good things that helped build up the Kingdom of God?  Nehemiah 3:1-11 "Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.  And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.  But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.  And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.  And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.  Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.  And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.  Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.  And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.  And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.  Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that even though in the world we will experience tribulation, we can be of good cheer because the Lord has overcome the world and through Him, we can have peace.  Difficult days may come, but the Lord will help us get through them and give us peace, no matter what our circumstances.  John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."