Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read more of what would occur at the death of Christ.  Many would rise from their graves and darkness would cover the land for three days. Everyone is free to choose good or evil and they will be rewarded or punished accordingly.  It is up to them.  Helaman 14:25-31 "And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.  And behold, thus hath the angel spoken unto me; for he said unto me that there should be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours.  And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days.  And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men—  And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them; and also if they are condemned they bring upon themselves their own condemnation. And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.  He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord would send a messenger to go in front of the Israelites to fight the various other peoples.  The Israelites were not to bow down to the gods of these people, nor worship them.  Instead, they were to completely destroy them and smash their sacred stone pillars to bits.  If they would be willing to only worship the Lord their God, the Lord would bless them with food and water and take sickness away from them.  Exodus 23:23-25 "For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.  And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that the Lord will give strength to His people and bless them with peace.  Psalms 29:11 "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."