Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that after a year or so o the robbers not bothering the Nephites, they began to hem in the Nephites on all sides, seeking to cut them off from provisions.  However, the Nephites were well stocked with provisions and the robbers were unable to lay siege for a long enough time to have any effect on the Nephites. The robbers, on the other hand, had very scanty provisions and lived on meat they hunted in the wilderness. The wild game in the wilderness became scarce so the robbers were about to starve to death.  And the Nephites  continued to fall upon their armies, butting them off by the tens of thousands. Because of all this the leader of the robbers decided to withdraw his siege and march into the land northward.  3 Nephi 4:15-23 " And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites did return again to their place of security. And it came to pass that this nineteenth year did pass away, and the robbers did not come again to battle; neither did they come again in the twentieth year. And in the twenty and first year they did not come up to battle, but they came up on all sides to lay siege round about the people of Nephi; for they did suppose that if they should cut off the people of Nephi from their lands, and should hem them in on every side, and if they should cut them off from all their outward privileges, that they could cause them to yield themselves up according to their wishes.  Now they had appointed unto themselves another leader, whose name was Zemnarihah; therefore it was Zemnarihah that did cause that this siege should take place.  But behold, this was an advantage to the Nephites; for it was impossible for the robbers to lay siege sufficiently long to have any effect upon the Nephites, because of their much provision which they had laid up in store,  And because of the scantiness of provisions among the robbers; for behold, they had nothing save it were meat for their subsistence, which meat they did obtain in the wilderness; And it came to pass that the wild game became scarce in the wilderness insomuch that the robbers were about to perish with hunger. 1 And the Nephites were continually marching out by day and by night, and falling upon their armies, and cutting them off by thousands and by tens of thousands.  And thus it became the desire of the people of Zemnarihah to withdraw from their design, because of the great destruction which came upon them by night and by day.  And it came to pass that Zemnarihah did give command unto his people that they should withdraw themselves from the siege, and march into the furthermost parts of the land northward."

In the Old Testament we read that that two of Aaron's sons made an unauthorized offering before the Lord which He had not commanded.  The penalty for this was death.  The Lord sent fire out before Him to devour them. Apparently it is a very serious offense to exercise the priesthood in unauthorized ways. Leviticus 10:1-2 "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.  And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us to continually offer praise to the Lord and openly profess His name.  And we need to remember to do good and share with others, for the sacrifices we make to do these things are pleasing unto God. Hebrews 13:15-16 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."