Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Lamanites who had been converted were firm in their faith, being willing to suffer death rather than commit sin. When their enemies came upon them they went out to meet them. prostrated themselves to the earth, and called upon the Lord as they were being killed. A thousand and five of them were killed in this manner, without meeting any resistance.  Alma 24:19-22 "And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.  And it came to pass that their brethren, the Lamanites, made preparations for war, and came up to the land of Nephi for the purpose of destroying the king, and to place another in his stead, and also of destroying the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi out of the land. Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword.  And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord, through His prophet Zechariah, commanded the people to show mercy and compassion on others, and to live godly lives.  But they didn't want to hear any of this.  They stuck their fingers in their ears so they wouldn't need to listen, and they hardened their hearts against he word of the Lord.  This brought on the wrath of the Lord and because they refused to listen to Him, H would not listen to them, and He scattered them and made their land desolate.  Zechariah 7:8-14 "And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts:  But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet go along with this, instructing us to preach the word of the Lord and exhort people with all long suffering, even though many of them will reject what we have to say, turn their ears away from the truth, and prefer to believe falsehoods.  But we need to endure these afflictions and fulfill our ministry.  2 Timothy 4:2-5 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."