Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read Ammoron's angry reply to Moroni's epistle from yesterday's reading  He said he didn't fear Moroni's threatenings and would avenge the blood of his brother. He claimed that the Nephites had robbed the Lamanites of their rights and demanded that the Nephites lay down their arms and become subject unto the Lamanites. He agrees to exchange prisoners. Alma 54:15-24 "Now it came to pass that Ammoron, when he had received this epistle, was angry; and he wrote another epistle unto Moroni, and these are the words which he wrote, saying:  I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah whom ye have murdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies for I fear not your threatenings.  For behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did rob them of their right to the government when it rightly belonged unto them.  And now behold, if ye will lay down your arms, and subject yourselves to be governed by those to whom the government doth rightly belong, then will I cause that my people shall lay down their weapons and shall be at war no more.  Behold, ye have breathed out many threatenings against me and my people; but behold, we fear not your threatenings.  Nevertheless, I will grant to exchange prisoners according to your request, gladly, that I may preserve my food for my men of war; and we will wage a war which shall be eternal, either to the subjecting the Nephites to our authority or to their eternal extinction.  And as concerning that God whom ye say we have rejected, behold, we know not such a being; neither do ye; but if it so be that there is such a being, we know not but that he hath made us as well as you.  And if it so be that there is a devil and a hell, behold will he not send you there to dwell with my brother whom ye have murdered, whom ye have hinted that he hath gone to such a place? But behold these things matter not. I am Ammoron, and a descendant of Zoram, whom your fathers pressed and brought out of Jerusalem.  And behold now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold, this war hath been waged to avenge their wrongs, and to maintain and to obtain their rights to the government; and I close my epistle to Moroni."

The New Testament tells us to warn those who are disorderly, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.  We should not repay a wrong with another wrong, but should always pursue good for one another. We should rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in every situation.  This is God's will for us.  1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

A verse wit a thought booklet tells us the Lord will lead the blind by ways they have not known, and guide them along unfamiliar paths. He will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.  He will not forsake them.  Are we ever blind in not being able to see which way to go or how to follow the path the Lord wants us to travel?  If so, we can rest assured that the Lord will not forsake us.  He will lead and guide us as we trust in Him and ask for His help.  Isaiah 42:16 "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."