Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that there was a tremendous battle in which tens of thousands were slain and many people mourned. It was a time of fasting and prayer.   Alma 28:1-7 "And now it came to pass that after the people of Ammon were established in the land of Jershon, and a church also established in the land of Jershon, and the armies of the Nephites were set round about the land of Jershon, yea, in all the borders round about the land of Zarahemla; behold the armies of the Lamanites had followed their brethren into the wilderness.  And thus there was a tremendous battle; yea, even such an one as never had been known among all the people in the land from the time Lehi left Jerusalem; yea, and tens of thousands of the Lamanites were slain and scattered abroad.  Yea, and also there was a tremendous slaughter among the people of Nephi; nevertheless, the Lamanites were driven and scattered, and the people of Nephi returned again to their land. And now this was a time that there was a great mourning and lamentation heard throughout all the land, among all the people of Nephi— Yea, the cry of widows mourning for their husbands, and also of fathers mourning for their sons, and the daughter for the brother, yea, the brother for the father; and thus the cry of mourning was heard among all of them, mourning for their kindred who had been slain.  And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.  And thus endeth the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi;"

In the New Testament we read the parable of the soils.  Seeds planted on different types of ground yield different increases.  And this is likened to those who hear the Word of God.  Just like seed that falls on the path is eaten by birds, so when people hear the Word of the Lord and don't understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches it away before it can take root. Seed planted on rocky ground sprouts quickly but then because its rots are shallow, it withers in the sun.  This is like a person who hears the Word of God and receives it joyfully but i doesn't really take root in their hears.  So when persecution or distress comes, they don't endure but fall away.  Seeds that fall among thorny plants that choke them is like a person who hears the Word but the worries of this life or the false appeal of wealth choke the Word and it bears no fruit.  But just like the seed that falls on good ground yields fruit to different degrees, so the person who hears and understands the Word of God and allows it to take root deep in their heart will yield good fruit, some 30, 60, or a hundred fold.  Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that if we want a long life full of peace, we need to keep the commandments of the Lord.  Proverbs 3:1-2 "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."