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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Jesus called and commissioned twelve disciples, giving them authority to baptize and give the Gift of the Holy Ghost.   3 Nephi 12:1-2 "And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.  And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins."

In the Old Testament we read that the people again complained against God and against Moses, so the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people.  The snakes bit them and many of the people died. The people admitted they had sinned in speaking out against the Lord and Moses and asked Moses to pray for them, which he did.  The Lord told Moses to make a bronze snake and place it on a pole.  Whoever would look at it would live.  This is in similitude of whoever looks to Christ will live. But some people lack the faith to even look, and they will die.  Numbers 21:4-9 "And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.  And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.  And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that through the abundant mercy of the Lord, we can have a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Because Jesus was resurrected, we and our loved one will be resurrected too. Death is not the end.  1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

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