Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Lachoneus appointed chief captains over all the armies of the Nephites, and the head captain was named Gidgiddoni. He was also a great prophet and a chief judge. The people told Gidgiddoni to gather their armies together so they could go against the robbers, but Gidgiddoni told them that needed to wait in the central part of the land for the robbers to come against them, and the Lord would deliver them. So the people gathered themselves together, along with their flocks and grain. They fortified themselves and built weapons of war and armor.  They prayed to the Lord and repented of their sins.  3 Nephi 3:17-26 "And it came to pass that Lachoneus did appoint chief captains over all the armies of the Nephites, to command them at the time that the robbers should come down out of the wilderness against them.  Now the chiefest among all the chief captains and the great commander of all the armies of the Nephites was appointed, and his name was Gidgiddoni.  Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the chief judge. Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the Lord, and let us go up upon the mountains and into the wilderness, that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in their own lands.  But Gidgiddoni saith unto them: The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands.  And it came to pass in the seventeenth year, in the latter end of the year, the proclamation of Lachoneus had gone forth throughout all the face of the land, and they had taken their horses, and their chariots, and their cattle, and all their flocks, and their herds, and their grain, and all their substance, and did march forth by thousands and by tens of thousands, until they had all gone forth to the place which had been appointed that they should gather themselves together, to defend themselves against their enemies.  And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla, and the land which was between the land Zarahemla and the land Bountiful, yea, to the line which was between the land Bountiful and the land Desolation.  And there were a great many thousand people who were called Nephites, who did gather themselves together in this land. Now Lachoneus did cause that they should gather themselves together in the land southward, because of the great curse which was upon the land northward.  And they did fortify themselves against their enemies; and they did dwell in one land, and in one body, and they did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch that they did repent of all their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle.  And they were exceedingly sorrowful because of their enemies. And Gidgiddoni did cause that they should make weapons of war of every kind, and they should be strong with armor, and with shields, and with bucklers, after the manner of his instruction."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord commanded Moses to take Aaron and his sons with him and assemble the whole community at the tabernacle's entrance.  Moses did as the Lord commanded and told everyone who had assembled that he was going to tell them what the Lord wanted them to do.  This is still had the Lord speaks to us today.  He has us assemble for general conference (which nowadays includes watching via satellite or over the Internet) and then the prophet and other servants of the Lord speak to us about what the Lord wants us to do.  Leviticus 8:1-5 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us to inquire where the ancient path is and ask where the good way is and then walk that way.  If we do this, we will find rest for our souls. The old paths that God set for us to follow from ancient times point the way to salvation. But even in days of old people tended to wander from the correct way.  By keeping the commandments and hearkening to the words of the Lord and His prophets, we stay on the right course that leads us back to our Heavenly Father.   Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."