Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Ammon and three others went down into the land of Nephi where the king of the land had them put into prison. After a couple of days they were brought before the king for questioning. The king introduced himself as Limhi and asked them why they had approached his city. Ammon explained that had come out of the land of Zarahemla to inquire concerning his brethren whom Zeniff brought out of that land. This made Limhi rejoice because now he knew that his brethren in the land of Zarahemla were still alive.  Mosiah 7:6-14 "And Ammon took three of his brethren, and their names were Amaleki, Helem, and Hem, and they went down into the land of Nephi.  And behold, they met the king of the people who were in the land of Nephi, and in the land of Shilom; and they were surrounded by the king's guard, and were taken, and were bound, and were committed to prison.  And it came to pass when they had been in prison two days they were again brought before the king, and their bands were loosed; and they stood before the king, and were permitted, or rather commanded, that they should answer the questions which he should ask them. And he said unto them: Behold, I am Limhi, the son of Noah, who was the son of Zeniff, who came up out of the land of Zarahemla to inherit this land, which was the land of their fathers, who was made a king by the voice of the people. And now, I desire to know the cause whereby ye were so bold as to come near the walls of the city, when I, myself, was with my guards without the gate?  And now, for this cause have I suffered that ye should be preserved, that I might inquire of you, or else I should have caused that my guards should have put you to death. Ye are permitted to speak.  And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to speak, he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak; and I will endeavor to speak with boldness;  For I am assured that if ye had known me ye would not have suffered that I should have worn these bands. For I am Ammon, and am a descendant of Zarahemla, and have come up out of the land of Zarahemla to inquire concerning our brethren, whom Zeniff brought up out of that land.  And now, it came to pass that after Limhi had heard the words of Ammon, he was exceedingly glad, and said: Now, I know of a surety that my brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla are yet alive. And now, I will rejoice; and on the morrow I will cause that my people shall rejoice also."

In the Old Testament we read a comparison of man's weakness and ignorance with God's mighty works.  Job 39:1-30 "Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?  They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.  Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.  He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.  The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?  Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?  Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?  Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?  Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,  And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.  She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;  Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.  Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?  Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.  He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.  He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.  The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.  He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.  He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?  Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?  She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.  From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.  Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell about how the Lord saw how the Israelites were being mistreated and had heard their cries so He was going to deliver them from the Egyptians and bring them to the promised land.  So He sent Moses to bring them out of Egypt.  Moses questioned who he was to accomplish such a task, but the Lord assured him that He would be with Him. When the Lord has great work that needs to be done, He often calls people to do it--people who often feel inadequate.  But the important thing to remember is that if we've been called to do something for the Lord, He will be with us.  He'll guide us and help us.  And with Him by our side, we cannot fail.  Exodus 3:7-12 "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;  And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain."