Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Alma told the people that they had been in bondage to King Noah and his priests, but had been made free by the Lord. He told them to stand fast in the liberty they'd been given and trust no man to become their king or minister unless he be a man of God who kept the commandments. Alma taught the people to love each other and have no contention among them. Just men were consecrated to be priests and teachers among them. They watched over the people and nourished them. The people became prosperous but the Lord chastened them as He tried their patience and faith.  Mosiah 23: 12-21 "And now I say unto you, ye have been oppressed by king Noah, and have been in bondage to him and his priests, and have been brought into iniquity by them; therefore ye were bound with the bands of iniquity.  And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds; yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you.  And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.  Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them.  And now, Alma was their high priest, he being the founder of their church.  And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests and all their teachers; and none were consecrated except they were just men. Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.  And it came to pass that they began to prosper exceedingly in the land; and they called the land Helam.  And it came to pass that they did multiply and prosper exceedingly in the land of Helam; and they built a city, which they called the city of Helam. Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith."

In the Old Testament we read that it is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman.  Contention drives the Spirit away, and makes it difficult to be happy.  Proverbs 21:19 "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that even though it's possible that our earthly parents might forget us, God will never forget us nor forsake us.  He has engraven us upon the palms of His hands.  So when we're feeling alone and forgotten by other people, we can be comforted in knowing that we'll never be forgotten by God.  Isaiah 49:13-18 "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.  But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.  Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth."