Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that there began to be dissensions among the Nephites which gave rise to Lamanite victories. The people who had been converted by Ammon and who had sworn with an oath to never take up arms again so had been protected by the Nephites saw that now the Nephites were in danger and they wanted to take up arms to defend them. But Helaman persuaded them not to break their oath. However, they had 2,000 sons who had not entered into the oath not to fight and these stripling warriors were willing to defend their country. Helaman too charge of these young men, who were strong and courageous. They had been taught to keep the commandments and were men of truth and soberness.  Alma 53:8-23 "And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni on account of some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst them, had gained some ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land. And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.  And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who, in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites.  And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren had had for them.  And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites. But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.  But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made. And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time. But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites.  And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.  Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country.  And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader. And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.  Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him. And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea. And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi."

In the New Testament we read that once we were alienated from God and were His enemies in our minds, which was demonstrated by our evil actions.  But through the Savior's death, we can now be reconciled to God and found faultless and without blame.  But we need to remain rooted in faith and not shift away from the hope given in the good news that we heard.  Colossians 1:21-23 "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"

Some verses with a thought booklet tells about how God used shepherds to announce Jesus' birth to His people, and all who heard them were amazed.  Even though shepherds seem like unlikely candidates to proclaim the Savior's birth, they were effective.  God often seems to call people who don't seem like natural choices for the tasks He asks them to do.  When He sought a king of Israel, He chose David who seemed so insignificant that even his own father didn't bother to invite him to the meeting.  God chose Paul, a persecutor of Christians, to bring the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles.  And He called Moses, who considered himself "slow of speech" to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.  Maybe God has called us to do things we feel inadequate to accomplish or that put us out of our comfort zones.  Maybe we can think of dozens of other people who could do a better job that we could.  But God does not wait for us to feel capable or qualified before calling us.  He often does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called! If He could use shepherds to proclaim the birth of Christ, He can use us to continue Christ's work.  Luke 2:16-18 "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."