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Thursday, March 12, 2015

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men but the remainder of his men were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and taken back to Zarahemla. Those who refused to covenant to support the cause of peace were put to death. Most decided to make a covenant of freedom. Moroni planted the standard of liberty throughout the land and there was peace and rejoicing for four years. Many died with faith in Christ and they were happy in Him.  Alma 46:33-41 "And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of Zarahemla. Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them. And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.  And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.  And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.  And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church.  And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.  And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate—  But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose."

In the New Testament we read what Paul had to say for himself in his trial before Felix. He said that he went up to worship in Jerusalem and they didn't find him arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up the crowd, whether in the synagogue or anywhere else in the city.  Nor could anyone prove the allegations they were bringing against him. He did admit that he is a follower of the Way and that he worshiped the God of their fathers and believed everything set out in the Law and written in the Prophets. He had hope in God and believed in the resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.  He had committed himself to maintaining a clear conscience before God and with all people.  Acts 24:10-16 "Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:  Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.  And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:  Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tells us that those who keep the commandments will be blessed and will enter in through the gates of the city.  But murderers, idolaters, liars, and other sinners will be left outside.  Revelation 22:14-15 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."

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