Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that some of the people began to have pride due to their riches and there began to be disputes among them. People began to be distinguished by ranks, according to how much money they had, or how much education they had received. Some people were proud and would seek for revenge, while others were humble and penitent.  The church began to be broken up, except among a few Lamanites who were firm and steadfast in their faith, and diligent in keeping the commandments. Satan was able to gain great power over the people, puffing them up with pride and stirring them up to commit iniquity. They sought for power and authority and the vain things of the world. They allowed Satan to lead their hearts away. They were in an awful state of wickedness.  And they didn't sin ignorantly, for they willfully rebelled against God.  3 Nephi 6:10-19 "But it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year there began to be some disputings among the people; and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;  For there were many merchants in the land, and also many lawyers, and many officers. And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.  Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.  And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.  Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.  And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years.  And thus, in the commencement of the thirtieth year—the people having been delivered up for the space of a long time to be carried about by the temptations of the devil whithersoever he desired to carry them, and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should—and thus in the commencement of this, the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful wickedness.  Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God. And now it was in the days of Lachoneus, the son of Lachoneus, for Lachoneus did fill the seat of his father and did govern the people that year."

In the Old Testament we read that we must keep ourselves holy, for the Lord is our God.  We need to keep His statutes and obey His commandments. We should not curse our parents, nor commit adultery.  Those who did these things back then were actually put to death!  Even though they are no longer reasons for capital punishment, they are still very serious sins in the eyes of the Lord. Leviticus 20:7-10 "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.  And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you. For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that it is better to trust in the Lord than put confidence in princes.  His word is a lamp for our feet and a light to our path. It can show us the way we should go.   Psalms  118: 9; 119: 105 "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."