Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that none of the sons of Mosiah were willing to become king, as their father had been. Mosiah sent out a writing among his people saying that there were dangers involved with having a king, which could cause contentions among them. If the king should turn to pride and vain things he could cause the people to commit sin.  Mosiah 29:1-9 "Now when Mosiah had done this he sent out throughout all the land, among all the people, desiring to know their will concerning who should be their king. And it came to pass that the voice of the people came, saying: We are desirous that Aaron thy son should be our king and our ruler.  Now Aaron had gone up to the land of Nephi, therefore the king could not confer the kingdom upon him; neither would Aaron take upon him the kingdom; neither were any of the sons of Mosiah willing to take upon them the kingdom.  Therefore king Mosiah sent again among the people; yea, even a written word sent he among the people. And these were the words that were written, saying:  Behold, O ye my people, or my brethren, for I esteem you as such, I desire that ye should consider the cause which ye are called to consider—for ye are desirous to have a king.  Now I declare unto you that he to whom the kingdom doth rightly belong has declined, and will not take upon him the kingdom. And now if there should be another appointed in his stead, behold I fear there would rise contentions among you. And who knoweth but what my son, to whom the kingdom doth belong, should turn to be angry and draw away a part of this people after him, which would cause wars and contentions among you, which would be the cause of shedding much blood and perverting the way of the Lord, yea, and destroy the souls of many people.  Now I say unto you let us be wise and consider these things, for we have no right to destroy my son, neither should we have any right to destroy another if he should be appointed in his stead. And if my son should turn again to his pride and vain things he would recall the things which he had said, and claim his right to the kingdom, which would cause him and also this people to commit much sin."

In the Old Testament we read that Israel would be scattered and strong cities forsaken because the people had forgotten the God of their salvation.  They had not been mindful of the rock of their strength.  Isaiah 17:9-10 "In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:"

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell about how Nehemiah decided to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, but immediately other people laughed him to scorn and tried to discourage him from embarking on this work.  However, Nehemiah would not be dissuaded because he knew this was something the Lord wanted him to do and that the Lord would prosper him in trying to do this task.  Likewise, we may feel promptings from the Lord to do something. And people or circumstances may discourage us from trying.  But we need to be firm in our resolve, just like Nehemiah was, and proceed forward in doing what we need to do, knowing the Lord will help us succeed. Nehemiah 2:17-20 "Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.  Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.  But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem."