Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Nephites returned to their own lands, with their families, flocks, herds, provisions, gold, silver, and precious things. Peace was established in the land and the people began to prosper. There was nothing to hinder the people from prospering as long as they didn't fall into transgression. New cities were built and old cities were repaired. Highways were built up. There was continual peace.  3 Nephi 6:1-9 "And now it came to pass that the people of the Nephites did all return to their own lands in the twenty and sixth year, every man, with his family, his flocks and his herds, his horses and his cattle, and all things whatsoever did belong unto them.  And it came to pass that they had not eaten up all their provisions; therefore they did take with them all that they had not devoured, of all their grain of every kind, and their gold, and their silver, and all their precious things, and they did return to their own lands and their possessions, both on the north and on the south, both on the land northward and on the land southward. And they granted unto those robbers who had entered into a covenant to keep the peace of the land, who were desirous to remain Lamanites, lands, according to their numbers, that they might have, with their labors, wherewith to subsist upon; and thus they did establish peace in all the land.  And they began again to prosper and to wax great; and the twenty and sixth and seventh years passed away, and there was great order in the land; and they had formed their laws according to equity and justice. 5 And now there was nothing in all the land to hinder the people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression.  And now it was Gidgiddoni, and the judge, Lachoneus, and those who had been appointed leaders, who had established this great peace in the land.  And it came to pass that there were many cities built anew, and there were many old cities repaired.  And there were many highways cast up, and many roads made, which led from city to city, and from land to land, and from place to place. And thus passed away the twenty and eighth year, and the people had continual peace."

In the Old Testament we read that when immigrants live in our land with us, we must treat them fairly and love them as ourselves.  We should treat them as if they had been born among us. These verses remind the Israelites that they were once strangers in the land of Egypt.  We can remind ourselves that unless we are native American Indians, our fairly recent ancestors were once immigrants to the land of America.  Leviticus 19:33-34 "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.  But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."

Going right along with this is a verse from a thought booklet that reminds us to love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and dwells with God.  1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."