In the Book of Mormon we read some of the things Jesus taught the Nephites after He appeared unto them. He told them not to judge others, for they would be judged by that same judgment. Sometimes people can see small flaws in others while overlooking huge flaws in themselves. If we want good things from the Lord, we need to ask Him. Just as a loving father wants to give good things to his children, so our Father in Heaven wants to bless us with good things, if we'll but ask Him. 3 Nephi 14:1-11 "And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
In the Old Testament we read a recap of the story of how the Lord sent people to inspect the promised land and report back. What they saw frightened them and they lost their resolve to do as the Lord directed. This made the Lord angry so he made them wander in the desert for 40 years so that none of those 20 years and older who had rebelled against Him would be allowed to enter the promised land. Only Caleb and Joshua, who had remained faithful survived the 40 years in the desert and were allowed to come into the promised land. Numbers 32:8-13 "Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them. And the Lord's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord. And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us that we not only need to live worthy of calls from the Lord, we need to be willing to accept those calls when they come. This verse tells of how Isaiah was willing to answer the call of the Lord by saying "Here am I, send me." Have you ever tried to call a business and got a recording saying, "No one is available to take your call" or "Your call is very important to us, please hold for the next available agent." After being on hold for what seems like forever, you tend to doubt how important your call really is. How do we answer the Lord when He calls us to do something? Do we make ourselves available or do we put the Lord on hold? Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
In the Old Testament we read a recap of the story of how the Lord sent people to inspect the promised land and report back. What they saw frightened them and they lost their resolve to do as the Lord directed. This made the Lord angry so he made them wander in the desert for 40 years so that none of those 20 years and older who had rebelled against Him would be allowed to enter the promised land. Only Caleb and Joshua, who had remained faithful survived the 40 years in the desert and were allowed to come into the promised land. Numbers 32:8-13 "Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them. And the Lord's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord. And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us that we not only need to live worthy of calls from the Lord, we need to be willing to accept those calls when they come. This verse tells of how Isaiah was willing to answer the call of the Lord by saying "Here am I, send me." Have you ever tried to call a business and got a recording saying, "No one is available to take your call" or "Your call is very important to us, please hold for the next available agent." After being on hold for what seems like forever, you tend to doubt how important your call really is. How do we answer the Lord when He calls us to do something? Do we make ourselves available or do we put the Lord on hold? Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
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