Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Alma was weighed down with much sorrow, due to the wickedness of the people of Ammonihah. Then an angel appeared to him and commanded him to return to Ammonihah and tell the people that if they didn't repent, the Lord would destroy them. Alma obeyed and speedily returned to the city.  Note that he didn't hesitate to do what he'd been commanded to do.  He did it quickly.  Alma 8:14-18 "And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:  Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.  And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them.  For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people.  Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah."

In the Old Testament we read that if we break our covenants with the Lord, He will likewise break His part of His covenants with us.  If we disobey, we have no promise.  Jeremiah 33:19-21 "And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tells us that even though sparrows are sold five for two farthings, not one of them is forgotten before God.  So we have no reason to fear, for we are of more value than any sparrows, and the very hairs of our head are all numbered to Him.  The story is told of a teenage boy who felt completely worthless. He was overweight, wore thick glasses, had braces on his teeth, and was covered with freckles.  The kids made fun of him. One day he slammed his bedroom door and fell onto his bed in despair.  As he did so, he knocked his Bible on the floor.  As he picked it up, he noticed it had fallen open to the page with Luke 12 on it and he read these verse which changed his perspective and his life.  Suddenly he realized that he was of great worth to God.  And so are you!   Luke 12:6-7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."