Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Nephi and Lehi were cast into prison. However, they were encircled about as if by fire but were not burned. This caused the Lamanites to be struck with amazement and they were afraid to lay hands on them. The earth shook and the walls of the prison seemed like they were going to tumble to the earth, but they didn't.  Helaman 5:20-27 "And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did proceed from thence to go to the land of Nephi.  And it came to pass that they were taken by an army of the Lamanites and cast into prison; yea, even in that same prison in which Ammon and his brethren were cast by the servants of Limhi.  And after they had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them that they might slay them.  And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned.  And when they saw that they were encircled about with a pillar of fire, and that it burned them not, their hearts did take courage.  For they saw that the Lamanites durst not lay their hands upon them; neither durst they come near unto them, but stood as if they were struck dumb with amazement.  And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did stand forth and began to speak unto them, saying: Fear not, for behold, it is God that has shown unto you this marvelous thing, in the which is shown unto you that ye cannot lay your hands on us to slay us.  And behold, when they had said these words, the earth shook exceedingly, and the walls of the prison did shake as if they were about to tumble to the earth; but behold, they did not fall. And behold, they that were in the prison were Lamanites and Nephites who were dissenters."

In the Old Testament yesterday we read about Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, even though he was stopped from doing so at the last minute.  Today we read about how the Lord blessed Abraham for his obedience.  When we sacrifice for the Lord and obey what He asks us to do, we are repaid many times over in blessings.  Genesis 22:15-18 "And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that we should not allow sin and lust to reign in our bodies, nor allow ourselves to yield to  unrighteousness.  Instead we should yield ourselves to God and be instruments of righteousness unto Him.  Romans 6:12-13 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."