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Sunday, June 1, 2014

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that after two years Abinidi again came among the people, in disguise, prophesying to them that if they didn't repent of their abominations, the Lord would visit them in His anger and slay them or bring them into bondage. The people would suffer sore afflictions, with famine and pestilence and burdens upon their backs. All this would be because of their iniquities and if they still refused to repent, they would be destroyed. But they would leave their records behind.  Mosiah 12:1-8 "And it came to pass that after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them, saying: Thus has the Lord commanded me, saying—Abinadi, go and prophesy unto this my people, for they have hardened their hearts against my words; they have repented not of their evil doings; therefore, I will visit them in my anger, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations.  Yea, wo be unto this generation! And the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thy hand and prophesy, saying: Thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage, and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven by men, and shall be slain; and the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yea, and the wild beasts, shall devour their flesh.  And it shall come to pass that the life of king Noah shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord.  And it shall come to pass that I will smite this my people with sore afflictions, yea, with famine and with pestilence; and I will cause that they shall howl all the day long.  Yea, and I will cause that they shall have burdens lashed upon their backs; and they shall be driven before like a dumb ass.  And it shall come to pass that I will send forth hail among them, and it shall smite them; and they shall also be smitten with the east wind; and insects shall pester their land also, and devour their grain.  And they shall be smitten with a great pestilence—and all this will I do because of their iniquities and abominations.  And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth; yet they shall leave a record behind them, and I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land; yea, even this will I do that I may discover the abominations of this people to other nations. And many things did Abinadi prophesy against this people."

In the Old Testament we read that in the day of judgment the righteous do not need to fear the vengeance of the Lord; they can rejoice, for they will be rewarded.  Psalms 58:10-11 "The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.  So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell about how we should help and encourage one another and work together.  Things go much more smoothly when there is unity among us and we each do our part and encourage others to do theirs. Sometimes a person riding a horse will use a small whip to keep the horse moving.  Others get the same result by carrying a small leafy branch and brushing it against the horse's flanks, encouraging it to walk steadily along without needless punishment. Instead of being harsh with other people, sometimes all they need are a few kind words, a pat on the back, or a reminder that they are appreciated.   Isaiah 41:6-7 "They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved."


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