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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read yesterday that the Lord told the Brother of Jared to come up with a solution about having light in the vessels.  So the Brother of Jared did molten out of rocks 16 small stones that were transparent like glass. Then he asked the Lord to touch the stones so that they would give off light. The Brother of Jared had so much faith that he was able to see the finger of the Lord and He touched the stones. Then Christ showed him His spirit body.  Ether 3:1-16 "And it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying:  O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.  Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.  And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.  Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.  And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.  And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen? And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.  And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?  And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.  And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?  And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.  And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.  Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.  And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.  Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh."

In the Old Testament we read that the Amalekites spoiled Ziklag, burning it down and taking everyone prisoner.  When David and his soldiers came into town and discovered that their wives and children had been taken, they were greatly distressed.  David's troops talked about stoning him, but he turned to the Lord for help.  David asked the Lord if he should go after the raiding party and catch them and the Lord told him to go, and that he would suceeed in his rescue. When we're in deep distress and don't know what to do, we too can turn to the Lord for guidance and counsel. 1 Samuel 30:1-8 "And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;  And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.  Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.  And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.  And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all."

Some verses with a thought booklet say that a great multitude would stand before the throne of God, singing praises unto Him. This multitude would consist of all nations, kindreds, tongues and people.  Notice that it doesn't say only rich people, or only white people, or only men, or only Americans who speak English.  It says those who would come before the throne of God would be of ALL nations, would speak ALL languages, and be of ALL races.  We are all God's children and no one will be excluded from coming unto the Lord because of what country they come from or what language they speak.  However, we may be excluded  because of an unloving attitude toward other children of God, or because we think we're superior to them or look down on them.  Something to think about.  Revelation 7:9-10 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."

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