In the Book of Mormon we read that after Nephi reminded the people of all the things the prophets had testified about, he asked them how they could deny those things except they lie. There were so many evidences of the truth that stand as a witness. In yet, the people still rejected the truth and rebelled against God. They were ripening for destruction unless they repented. Nephi then told them that their judge had been murdered by his brother while sitting in the judgment-seat. Helaman 8:21-28 "And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all— Our father Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem because he testified of these things. Nephi also testified of these things, and also almost all of our fathers, even down to this time; yea, they have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come. And behold, he is God, and he is with them, and he did manifest himself unto them, that they were redeemed by him; and they gave unto him glory, because of that which is to come. And now, seeing ye know these things and cannot deny them except ye shall lie, therefore in this ye have sinned, for ye have rejected all these things, notwithstanding so many evidences which ye have received; yea, even ye have received all things, both things in heaven, and all things which are in the earth, as a witness that they are true. But behold, ye have rejected the truth, and rebelled against your holy God; and even at this time, instead of laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where nothing doth corrupt, and where nothing can come which is unclean, ye are heaping up for yourselves wrath against the day of judgment. Yea, even at this time ye are ripening, because of your murders and your fornication and wickedness, for everlasting destruction; yea, and except ye repent it will come unto you soon. Yea, behold it is now even at your doors; yea, go ye in unto the judgment-seat, and search; and behold, your judge is murdered, and he lieth in his blood; and he hath been murdered by his brother, who seeketh to sit in the judgment-seat. And behold, they both belong to your secret band, whose author is Gadianton and the evil one who seeketh to destroy the souls of men."
In the Old Testament we read that because of Joseph's dream he knew that 7 years of plenty would be followed by 7 years of famine so he was able to prepare by storing food. Then when the famine came, people from all over came to Egypt to buy food. In fact, Joseph's own family was effected by the famine and his brothers came to Egypt to buy some. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not know him. Genesis 41:53-57; 42:1-8 "And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him."
Some verses with a thought booklet remind us not to place our hearts on the treasures of the world which are not lasting and can be lost or stolen easily. Instead, we need to store up for ourselves the treasures in heaven, which cannot be taken away from us and which are of eternal value. And how do we store up heavenly treasure? We add to it every time we speak a kind or encouraging word to a friend, or spend time pondering scriptures, or praying, or giving a gentle hug, or patiently correcting a child, or taking a meal to a new mother, or any other of numerous ways to show love and kindness to others. Each time we serve those around us, we're adding to our treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
In the Old Testament we read that because of Joseph's dream he knew that 7 years of plenty would be followed by 7 years of famine so he was able to prepare by storing food. Then when the famine came, people from all over came to Egypt to buy food. In fact, Joseph's own family was effected by the famine and his brothers came to Egypt to buy some. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not know him. Genesis 41:53-57; 42:1-8 "And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him."
Some verses with a thought booklet remind us not to place our hearts on the treasures of the world which are not lasting and can be lost or stolen easily. Instead, we need to store up for ourselves the treasures in heaven, which cannot be taken away from us and which are of eternal value. And how do we store up heavenly treasure? We add to it every time we speak a kind or encouraging word to a friend, or spend time pondering scriptures, or praying, or giving a gentle hug, or patiently correcting a child, or taking a meal to a new mother, or any other of numerous ways to show love and kindness to others. Each time we serve those around us, we're adding to our treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
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