In the Book of Mormon we read that those who belonged to the true church of Christ were persecuted because of their humility and their belief in Christ. They were despised because of the many miracles which occurred among them. The three disciples of Jesus who tarried were cast into prison, but could not be held there. They continued to go forth performing mighty miracles. But in spite of the miracles, the people hardened their hearts and still wanted to kill them. But no matter what they did to them, they received no harm. The people continued to harden their hearts and dwindled in unbelief. 4 Nephi 1:29-34 "And again, there was another church which denied the Christ; and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them. Therefore they did exercise power and authority over the disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did cast them into prison; but by the power of the word of God, which was in them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth doing mighty miracles among them. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding all these miracles, the people did harden their hearts, and did seek to kill them, even as the Jews at Jerusalem sought to kill Jesus, according to his word. And they did cast them into furnaces of fire, and they came forth receiving no harm. And they also cast them into dens of wild beasts, and they did play with the wild beasts even as a child with a lamb; and they did come forth from among them, receiving no harm. Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness, from year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had passed away."
In the Old Testament we read that the Lord fulfilled all His promises to the children of Israel and did everything for them that He covenanted to do. He gave them all the land that He'd pledged to them and they were able to settle there. The Lord gave them rest from surrounding danger and gave all their enemies into their power. Not one of all the good things the Lord promised them failed to happen. The Lord keeps His word! Joshua 21:43-45 "And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."
Some verses with a thought booklet recount how Israel, while serving hard time in exile, felt that God had forsaken them. However, God repsonded by using the image of a mother nursing her infant. It's outrageous to imagine a caring mother forgetting her own newborn child. But it's even more unthinkable to imagine God forgetting His children. God's incredible love for us is even more tender than a mother's love for her nursing baby. Isaiah 49:14-15 "But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."
In the Old Testament we read that the Lord fulfilled all His promises to the children of Israel and did everything for them that He covenanted to do. He gave them all the land that He'd pledged to them and they were able to settle there. The Lord gave them rest from surrounding danger and gave all their enemies into their power. Not one of all the good things the Lord promised them failed to happen. The Lord keeps His word! Joshua 21:43-45 "And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."
Some verses with a thought booklet recount how Israel, while serving hard time in exile, felt that God had forsaken them. However, God repsonded by using the image of a mother nursing her infant. It's outrageous to imagine a caring mother forgetting her own newborn child. But it's even more unthinkable to imagine God forgetting His children. God's incredible love for us is even more tender than a mother's love for her nursing baby. Isaiah 49:14-15 "But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."
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