Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Alma met the sons of Mosiah, who had been with him when the angel had appeared unto him.  He was very happy to see them, but what added to his joy was that they were still his brethren in the Lord.  They had a sound understanding of the knowledge of God, having studied the scriptures and given themselves much to fasting and prayer, and had been preaching with power, bringing many to a knowledge of the truth. It's a wonderful thing to meet someone after many years and find that they are still strong in the gospel.  Alma 17:1-4  "And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.  Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.  But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.  And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins before him."

In the Old Testament we read that the glory of God filled the temple.  Ezekiel 43:2-5 "And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.  And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.  And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.  So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the story of how enemy forces were bearing down upon Israel and all the people and King Saul were very frightened.  The prophet Samuel had given God's instructions--to wait seven days and then Samuel would offer a sacrifice and pray for success in battle.  Well, the seven days passed and Samuel hadn't yet shown up so Saul became impatient.  He decided to take matters into his own hands and offer the sacrifice himself.  No sooner had he done so than Samuel showed up.  He told Saul that he had acted very foolishly because if he had obeyed, the Lord would have established his kingdom upon Israel forever, but now his kingdom would not continue. How often are we like Saul, trusting in our own resources instead of having faith in the Lord and trusting Him? When things look bad in our lives, do we get scared and try to take things into our own hands instead of trusting the Lord to help us?  1 Samuel 13:5-14 "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.  And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.  And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;  Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.  And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee."