In the Book of Mormon we read that Mormon hated to describe the awful scenes of blood and carnage, but knew that these things must be recounted for future generations, so he wrote a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account. He knew that future people who would read his writings would sorrow for the wickedness of his people who refused to repent. He hoped that these future people would be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ and come to believe His gospel. Mormon 5:8-15 "And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops— And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people. And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come. For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people; they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus. Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time. And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold, they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom. And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant; And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry."
In the Old Testament we read a story of great devotion of Ruth to her mother in law, Naomi. Naomi's husband and sons had died, leaving her with no family in the land of Moab where they had traveled. All she had left were her two daughters-in-law. She told them to go back to their families and she was going to go back home to Bethlehem by herself. Her one daughter-in-law returned to her parents, but the other one, Ruth, adamantly refused to leave her. Ruth 1:1-17 "Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 5 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
Some verses with a thought booklet remind us that life is like a vapor, that appears for a little period of time and they vanishes away. We can't really say that today or tomorrow we'll go to such and such a place and stay there a year and buy this or sell that or make such and such amount of money. We can only fulfill our future plans if God wills it. We don't really know how much time we have left before we die. Each day is a gift from God. And we need to realize that God can interrupt our plans at any time. We need to be willing to yield ourselves to the will of God. It's good to have righteous goals and to make plans for good things, but we need to be open and willing if interruptions occur. Maybe we have our day all planned out but then the elderly widow next door needs us to help her with something or maybe a friend needs a ride to the doctor. Sometimes the best laid plans need to be set aside to render aid to someone in need. Whatever God's plans for us are, we need to be willing to place ourselves in His hands. We not only need to pray and ask for God's guidance in making our plans, but we need to express our willingness to allow Him to interrupt at any time and use us to do whatever He has in mind for us. James 4:13-15 " Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
In the Old Testament we read a story of great devotion of Ruth to her mother in law, Naomi. Naomi's husband and sons had died, leaving her with no family in the land of Moab where they had traveled. All she had left were her two daughters-in-law. She told them to go back to their families and she was going to go back home to Bethlehem by herself. Her one daughter-in-law returned to her parents, but the other one, Ruth, adamantly refused to leave her. Ruth 1:1-17 "Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 5 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
Some verses with a thought booklet remind us that life is like a vapor, that appears for a little period of time and they vanishes away. We can't really say that today or tomorrow we'll go to such and such a place and stay there a year and buy this or sell that or make such and such amount of money. We can only fulfill our future plans if God wills it. We don't really know how much time we have left before we die. Each day is a gift from God. And we need to realize that God can interrupt our plans at any time. We need to be willing to yield ourselves to the will of God. It's good to have righteous goals and to make plans for good things, but we need to be open and willing if interruptions occur. Maybe we have our day all planned out but then the elderly widow next door needs us to help her with something or maybe a friend needs a ride to the doctor. Sometimes the best laid plans need to be set aside to render aid to someone in need. Whatever God's plans for us are, we need to be willing to place ourselves in His hands. We not only need to pray and ask for God's guidance in making our plans, but we need to express our willingness to allow Him to interrupt at any time and use us to do whatever He has in mind for us. James 4:13-15 " Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
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