Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Lord told the sons of Mosiah to go forth among the Lamanites.  He told them that they would suffer many afflictions but if they would be patient, He would allow them to be instruments in His hands of bring salvation unto many souls. They separated from each other to go forth and preach, trusting in the Lord. They went forth to preach to a wicked and hardened people. But the Lord had promised them blessings if they would repent.  Alma 17:11-17  "And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.  And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God.  And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.  And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites, and robbing and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon riches, or upon gold and silver, and precious stones; yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that they might not labor for them with their own hands.  Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance. Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption.  Therefore they separated themselves one from another, and went forth among them, every man alone, according to the word and power of God which was given unto him."

In the Old Testament we read that no strangers may enter the sanctuary of the Lord.  Ezekiel 44:6-9 "And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,  In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel."

A verse with a thought booklet reminds us that a merry heart is good for us, like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.  If we can keep a sense of humor about a situation that is otherwise disheartening, it will make a huge difference in our attitude and in our ability to cope with what comes our way.  Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."