Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that when Ammon and his brethren saw that the Lamanites were making preparations to destroy the people of God, they held a counsel with Lamoni and his brother about what they should do to defend themselves. However, none of the people who had been converted unto the Lord would take up arms to defend themselves. And they refused to make preparations for war.  They had become convinced of their sins and the many murders they had committed.  They had repented and been forgiven. And now that their stains had been taken away by the Lord, they refused to stain their swords again with the blood of their brethren.  Alma 24:5-12 "Now when Ammon and his brethren and all those who had come up with him saw the preparations of the Lamanites to destroy their brethren, they came forth to the land of Midian, and there Ammon met all his brethren; and from thence they came to the land of Ishmael that they might hold a council with Lamoni and also with his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi, what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanites. Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not.  Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers.  And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites.  And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed.  And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.  And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain—  Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord called Zechariah to preach repentance unto the people.  Even though their fathers had sinned to the point that the Lord was displeased with them, they were not to follow the example of their father, but rather they should turn away from their evil deeds and turn unto the Lord and hearken unto Him.  Zechariah 1:1-4 "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers.  Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us tat sometimes when we've gone astray and are not keeping the commandments of God, it takes going through afflictions to humble us enough to turn to Him and turn our lives around so we're more obedient.  So sometimes going through trials and tribulations can be a blessing to us to help us get back on the right path.  Psalms 119:67, 71 "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."