Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Moroni continued to make reparations for war to defend his people, and he drove the Lamanites out of the east wilderness so the Nephites could possess the land. He strengthened their borders and cut off the strength and power of the Lamanites.   Alma 50:1-12 "And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites. And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.  And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.  And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them.  And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city.  Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.  And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla. And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west. And it came to pass that when Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands of their own possessions, he caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about should go forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders by the seashore, and possess the land.  And he also placed armies on the south, in the borders of their possessions, and caused them to erect fortifications that they might secure their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies.  And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the east wilderness, yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the Nephites and the Lamanites, between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi, from the west sea, running by the head of the river Sidon—the Nephites possessing all the land northward, yea, even all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure.  Thus Moroni, with his armies, which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the power of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have no power upon the lands of their possession."

In the New Testament we read about charity, or the pure love of Christ.  It is patient and kind.  It isn't jealous and doesn't brag.  It isn't arrogant or rude and doesn't seek it's own advantage.  It isn't irritable and doesn't keep a record of complaints.  It isn't happy with injustice, but is happy with the truth.  It endures all things, trust all things, and hopes for all things.  Is this the kind of love we have in our hearts for those we come in contact with?  1 Corinthians 14:4-7 "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?  And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?"


A verse with a thought booklet tells us that if we are merciful to others, we will receive mercy.  Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."