Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that after King Benjamin had finished delivering the words that the angel had given him, he saw that the fear of the Lord had come upon the people and they had fallen to the earth.  They cried out for mercy and expressed faith in Jesus Christ. They wanted to repent of their sins and be purified by the atoning blood of Christ. They received a remission of their sins and a peace of conscience because of their great faith.  Mosiah 4:1-3 "And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.  And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them."

In the Old Testament we read how Job, in spite of everything he'd gone through, expresses confidence in the Lord and says that even if He would slay him, yet would he trust in Him.  The Lord alone is his salvation.  Do we have this much faith and trust in the Lord, even when we're going through difficult times?  Job 13:15-16 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.  He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him."

In some scriptures with a thought booklet we read the story of Cornelius.  He was a devout man who prayed and gave generously to charity.  The Lord blessed him by allowing an angel to appear to him in a vision, giving him instructions to send for Simon Peter who would be able to teach him further.  When we desire more knowledge, it's important to turn to the Lord in prayer, and it's also important to do our best with the knowledge we already have.  Acts 10:1-8 "There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.  And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa."