Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that after the Nephites had been defeated three times, they humbled themselves before the Lord and cried unto Him. The Lord was slow to hear their cried because of their iniquities, but he did hear hear them and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens.  However, the Lord at that time did not see fit to deliver them from bondage.  Sometimes this is the way the Lord works--he does not remove our burdens right away, but eases them.  He comforts us and helps us bear them.  Mosiah 21: 13-15 "And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies.  And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.  And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage."

In the Old Testament we're told to choose our friends carefully.  If we associate with wise men, we'll tend to be wise as well.  But if we choose fools as our companions, we'll reap destruction.  Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet are very familiar verses.  First they tell us that even if we have great faith and do good works, if we don't have charity, or the pure love of Christ, we have nothing.  Charity is the all important ingredient that is essential in our lives.  The verses go on to describe the qualities of charity, and what is really entails.  We would all do well to emulate these qualities in our daily lives and in our dealings with those around us.  1 Corinthians 13:1-13 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."