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Sunday, August 16, 2015

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that we should not forbid anyone from meeting together with us, but we should pray for them. But also, we should not knowingly allow anyone who is unworthy to partake of the sacrament. If an unworthy person partakes of the sacrament, it will be damnation to their souls. However, if he repents with full purpose of heart, he should be numbered among God's people. Jesus touched His disciples, given them authority to give the Holy Ghost.  Then Jesus departed and ascended into heaven.   3 Nephi 18:22-39 "And behold, ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not; But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name.  Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.  And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.  And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he turned his eyes again upon the disciples whom he had chosen, and said unto them:  Behold verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you another commandment, and then I must go unto my Father that I may fulfil other commandments which he hath given me.  And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it;  For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him. Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood. But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.  Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.  Therefore, keep these sayings which I have commanded you that ye come not under condemnation; for wo unto him whom the Father condemneth. And I give you these commandments because of the disputations which have been among you. And blessed are ye if ye have no disputations among you.  And now I go unto the Father, because it is expedient that I should go unto the Father for your sakes.  And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of these sayings, he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them. And the multitude heard not the words which he spake, therefore they did not bear record; but the disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost. And I will show unto you hereafter that this record is true.  And it came to pass that when Jesus had touched them all, there came a cloud and overshadowed the multitude that they could not see Jesus.  And while they were overshadowed he departed from them, and ascended into heaven. And the disciples saw and did bear record that he ascended again into heaven."

In the Old Testament we read that the only thing the Lord asks of us is to revere His name, walk in His ways, love Him and serve Him with all our heart and being, and keep His commandments. All this is for our own good!  Deuteronomy 10:12-13 "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,  To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that there were no poor among the early church members because those who were wealthy and had great possessions sold their property so that it could be distributed among the needy.  If we have more than we need, what can we do to help the poor?  Do we show kindness and compassion toward those who have less than we do, or do we hoard what we have and close our eyes to the needs of others?  Acts 4:34-35 "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."
 
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