Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Gideon, the high priest, questioned Korihor and why he was teaching such false doctrines and interrupting the rejoicings of the people. Korihor defiantly replied that he was refusing to teach foolish traditions that we designed to keep men in ignorance. He again scoffed at God and His teachings.  Alma 30:22-28 "And it came to pass that the high priest said unto him: Why do ye go about perverting the ways of the Lord? Why do ye teach this people that there shall be no Christ, to interrupt their rejoicings? Why do ye speak against all the prophecies of the holy prophets?  Now the high priest's name was Giddonah. And Korihor said unto him: Because I do not teach the foolish traditions of your fathers, and because I do not teach this people to bind themselves down under the foolish ordinances and performances which are laid down by ancient priests, to usurp power and authority over them, to keep them in ignorance, that they may not lift up their heads, but be brought down according to thy words.  Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I say they are in bondage. Ye say that those ancient prophecies are true. Behold, I say that ye do not know that they are true.  Ye say that this people is a guilty and a fallen people, because of the transgression of a parent. Behold, I say that a child is not guilty because of its parents.  And ye also say that Christ shall come. But behold, I say that ye do not know that there shall be a Christ. And ye say also that he shall be slain for the sins of the world—  And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with the labors of their hands, that they durst not look up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges. Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their own lest they should offend their priests, who do yoke them according to their desires, and have brought them to believe, by their traditions and their dreams and their whims and their visions and their pretended mysteries, that they should, if they did not do according to their words, offend some unknown being, who they say is God—a being who never has been seen or known, who never was nor ever will be."

In the New Testament we read that when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He replied that it was to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and the second greatest commandment was to love others as we love ourselves.  If we truly have love in our hearts for God, other people, and ourselves, all the other commandments will fall into place.  Matthew 22:36-40 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Some verses with a thought booklet give us an example of how to resist temptation.  When Joseph's master's wife repeatedly tried to seduce him, he continued to refuse her.  Then when she got him alone and tried to grab him by his garment, he left his garment in her hands and ran away from her. When she first tried to tempt him, he explained to her why he would not consider doing such a thing.  But when it was obvious she wasn't going to take no for an answer, he didn't stick around to argue with her, he simply left, immediately.  When we're faced with temptation, this is what we should do--GET OUT NOW!!!  Genesis 39:7-13 "And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.  But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,"