Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read the commandments which Alma gave to his son Helaman. He counseled with him to keep the commandments and trust in God. Alma knew these things because he had been born of God and learned them from the mouth of a holy angel.  Alma 36:1-5 "My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land.  I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions.  And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.  And I would not that ye think that I know of myself—not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind but of God.  Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things; but God has, by the mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me, not of any worthiness of myself;" In the New Testament we hear how Heavenly Father testified that Jesus was His Beloved Son in whom He was well pleased, and instructed the disciples to listen to Him. Most of the time when God the Father speaks to men it's to introduce His Son. Luke 9:35 "And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." Some verses from a thought booklet use two sections of scripture--two places that say that Jesus marveled, or was amazed.  The first tells the story of how Jesus was amazed at the faith of a Roman centurion who told Jesus that he was unworthy to have Him enter his home, but that if He would only say the word, his servant would be healed.  The second instance was when Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith in His own home town, and was unable to perform many miracles because of this lack of unbelief.  In which way do we amaze the Lord--by our great faith or lack thereof? Do we trust in Him or still doubt, even though He's done so much for us in the past?  Luke 7:1-10 "Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.  And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.  And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.  And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:  For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.  Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick."  Mark 6:1-6 "And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."