Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read Abinadom, the son of Chemish, wrote that he had seen much war and contention between the Nephites and Lamanites. He himself had fought in battles and killed many Lamanites in defence of his brethren. He knew of no new revelation or prophecy during his time, other than what was already written.  Omni 1:10-11 "Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren. And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the kings, according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end."

In the Old Testament we read that when Nehemiah receives distressing news, he weeps and mourns, but also fasted and prayed to God.  It is appropriate to feel sad and weep at times, but we also need to turn to God.  Nehemiah 1:4 "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,"

In some verses with a thought booklet we read the story of the wise men seeking Jesus because they wanted to worship Him and bring Him gifts.  We also read about King Herod who told the wise man that he, too, wanted to worship Jesus and asked them to tell him when hey found Him.  But really Herod wanted to find Jesus so he could kill Him.  So the wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but to go home another way.  The motives of the wise men for seeking Jesus were righteous, but the motives for Herod wanting to find Him were evil, even though he pretended to want to worship Jesus.  It's important that not only our words and what we profess to believe are right, but our hearts need to be right as well.  Matthew 2:1-12 "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet,  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."