Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that Nephi called the people to repentance for all their wickedness and told them that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed.  Helaman 7:17-22 "O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you? It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you. And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts. O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you? But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity. And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies."

In the Old Testament we read about how even though Saul had been seeking to kill David, when David found Saul sleeping in a cave and could have easily killed him, he refrained form doing so.  But he but off the skirt of his robe and later showed it to Saul so that Saul could see for himself that he'd had an opportunity to kill him but did not do it.  Saul could see that David was more righteous than he, treating him kindly even though Saul had wanted to kill him.  How do we treat our enemies?  Do we take every opportunity for revenge against them, or do we use restraint and reward their evil with good?  1 Samuel 24:2-10 "Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?  Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet talk about our motives behind giving or doing good things.  Do we do these things to be seen of men and loudly try to draw attention to our actions? If so, the notice we draw to ourselves from other people will be our sole reward.  Or do we quietly go about doing good and give to others because we love them and want to help them, rather than seeking for other people to see what we're doing and think we're great?  If we do good things out of love and a desire to serve rather than a desire for other men's praise, our Heavenly Father will reward us openly. So if we go out of our way to help someone else and nobody seems to notice, that's okay!  We don't need thanks and recognition from other people.  Heavenly Father sees what we did, and that's all that really matters. Matthew 6:1-4 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
--------------------------------------------------------

Daily Thoughts

n the Book of Mormon we read that the Spirit of the Lord withdrew from the Nephites because of their wickedness, but the Lamanites were more willing to believe the word of the Lord, so He poured out His Spirit among them.  The Lord blesses whatever people will hearken unto His words.  Helaman 6: 35-36 "And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts. And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words."

In the Old Testament we read about how David inquired of the Lord what he should do regarding fighting against the Philistines.  The Lord told him to go ahead and fight them and He would deliver them into his hands.  When we're faced with obstacles and trials, do we pray to the Lord about what we should do?  The Lord can help us prevail over our troubles if we'll trust in Him.  1 Samuel 23:1-5 "Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah."

Do you have a tendency to worry?  I do!  But a verse with a thought booklet tells us what to do about our worries and fears--seek the Lord's help!  He will hear us and deliver us from all our fears. I've also noticed that if I concentrate on things I'm grateful for and thank the Lord for those things, it takes my mind off my worries and fears.  It's difficult to have negative and positive thoughts at the same time.  Psalms 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that Satan is the author of sin and it has been his evil influence down through the ages that caused Cain to kill Abel, the tower of Babel to be built, and the Gadianton robbers to carry on works of darkness among the Nephites.  If people allow him to take hold of their hearts, they will trample the commandments of God under their feet and turn to their own ways instead of the Lord.  Helaman 6: 27-31 "Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth. And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell. Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time. And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men. And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver."

In the Old Testament we read of Saul's desire to kill David, due to jealousy.  However, Michal (David's wife and Saul's daughter) helped him escape unharmed.  1 Samuel 19:11-18 "Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us to be willing to sacrifice all things for Christ, because nothing else is of much worth compared to Him.  Are we willing to give up things that we think are important for Christ's sake?  Are we willing to put Him No. 1?  Philippians 3:7-8 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that after the Lord blessed the people with riches they began to seek to get gain so that they could be lifted up above other people, and they were willing to resort to robbing and murdering to get what they wanted. Helaman 6:17 "For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get gain."

In the Old Testament we see how jealousy took hold of the heart of Saul as he heard women singing and dancing with joy saying that David had slain tens of thousands while Saul had only slain thousands.  From that day forward, Saul eyed David in an unkind way.  When we see others getting recognition, how do we react?  Are we happy for them or jealous of them?  1 Samuel 18:6-9 "And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell is that if we abide in the Lord, He will abide in us and has promised us eternal life. When we die, that is not the end!  And if we abide in the Lord, we can live eternally with Him.  1 John 2:24-25 "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read about how the people who were overshadowed with darkness cried unto the Lord in repentance and the cloud of darkness was dispersed from them and they were encircled with a pillar of fire and were filled with unspeakable joy.  Helaman 5:40-45 "And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us? And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you. And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed. And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire. And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words."

In the Old Testament we read the story of David and Goliath.  As we read yesterday, all Israel was afraid of the giant Philistine who challenged them to fight him.  But David, who was just a youth, was unafraid.  He knew that with the Lord's help he had been able to fight off a lion and a bear, and he trusted in the Lord to help him likewise prevail against Goliath.  When we're faced with Goliath-sized problems in our lives, do we run away in fear?  Or do we trust in the Lord and know that with Him to help us, we can overcome any obstacle?  1 Samuel 17: 32-51 "And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.  And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled."

A verse with a thought booklet reminds us that the afflictions that we suffer in this life are as a moment when compared to eternal glory.  2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer who came to save us from our sins, but not save us in our sins.  In order to be forgiven, we need to repent.  If we build our lives on the foundation of Christ, we will have a firm foundation which will stand against all the storms and mighty whirlwinds that might come against us.  The devil will have no power over us to drag us down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, as long as we are built upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ.  Helaman 5:10-12 "And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins. And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls. And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

In the Old Testament I read about how the giant Goliath defied Israel, challenging any Israelite to personal combat.  Saul and all Israel heard him and were greatly afraid.  1 Samuel 17:4-11 "And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.  And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.  When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid."

A verse with a thought booklet talks about a day when we won't need to teach our neighbors about the Lord because everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know Him and He will forgive their iniquities and remember their sins no more. Jeremiah 31:34 "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that there is no other ways nor means whereby man can be saved excepted through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who came to redeem the world.  Helaman 5: 9 "O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world."

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience and his failure to keep the commandments.  1 Samuel 15: 10-11 "Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that we cannot serve two masters.  We can't love the world and love the Lord at the same time.  We need to choose which we will serve.  Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."