Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that when Alma could pursue the Amlicites no more, they pitched their tents for the night. Alma sent spies to follow what remained of the Amlicites to find out what they were up to so he could try to prevent his people from being destroyed. The spies came back with the astonishing report that the Amlicites had joined forces with a numerous host of Lamanites. They said that unless they made haste back to the city of Zarahemla, their people would be slain and they'd lose possession of the city So they took their tents and started bck to Zarahemla.  Alma 2:20-26 "And it came to pass that when Alma could pursue the Amlicites no longer he caused that his people should pitch their tents in the valley of Gideon, the valley being called after that Gideon who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword; and in this valley the Nephites did pitch their tents for the night.  And Alma sent spies to follow the remnant of the Amlicites, that he might know of their plans and their plots, whereby he might guard himself against them, that he might preserve his people from being destroyed.  Now those whom he had sent out to watch the camp of the Amlicites were called Zeram, and Amnor, and Manti, and Limher; these were they who went out with their men to watch the camp of the Amlicites.  And it came to pass that on the morrow they returned into the camp of the Nephites in great haste, being greatly astonished, and struck with much fear, saying: Behold, we followed the camp of the Amlicites, and to our great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla, in the course of the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous host of the Lamanites; and behold, the Amlicites have joined them;  And they are upon our brethren in that land; and they are fleeing before them with their flocks, and their wives, and their children, towards our city; and except we make haste they obtain possession of our city, and our fathers, and our wives, and our children be slain.  And it came to pass that the people of Nephi took their tents, and departed out of the valley of Gideon towards their city, which was the city of Zarahemla."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord comforts us.  Why should we fear man who will die and forget God who is all powerful.  He created us and everything in the world.  When we have Him on our side, nothing else should matter.  Isaiah 51:12-15 "I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;  And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?  The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.  But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to let our lights shine before men, that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in Heaven. Have you every visited a cave where they turned out the lights to allow you to experience total darkness?  You couldn't even see your own hand in front of your face.  If the lights weren't turned back on, could you have found your way out of the cave, avoiding the steep drop off and the tall stalagmites? We depend on Jesus to light our ways through this darkened world.  We need Him to find our way on the path of life. And if we are His followers, we can share His light with others, helping them to find their way.  Matthew 5:16 " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."