Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Nephi spoke plainly so that we could not err.  Just as the Lord brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt and gave Moses power to heal those who had been bitten by poisonous serpents if they cast their eyes upon the brass serpent, so will salvation come by the name of Jesus Christ, and none other.  2 Nephi 25:20 "And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved."

In the Old Testament we read that David named Solomon as king to follow him and Zadok anointed him.  1 Kings 1:32-39 "And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.  The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:  And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.  Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too.  As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.  So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.  And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that it's not enough to just love our neighbor and be kind to those who are kind to us.  We also need to love our enemies and be good to those who hate us and persecute us.  We need to pray for them. We all have people in our lives who are difficult to get along with and who cause us pan. It's easy to be nice to people who are nice to us. But Jesus insists we must also be kind to those who make our lives miserable. That is the mark of true discipleship.  This is not an easy thing to do, but it is necessary if we are to be perfect and follow the perfect example of the Lord.  Matthew 5:43-48 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Yesterday's Daily Thoughts

This was still on my computer.  Did it not get sent out yesterday?  

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Lord would bring forth His words in the last day, for the purpose of convincing the Jews of the true Messiah that they had rejected and crucified, and teaching them that another Messiah would not come, except a false Messiah who would deceive the people.  The only true Messiah was the one spoken of by the prophets who was rejected by the Jews. The true Messiah would come 600 years after Lehi left Jerusalem and He would be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 Nephi 25:18-19 "Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them; and unto the convincing of them that they need not look forward any more for a Messiah to come, for there should not any come, save it should be a false Messiah which should deceive the people; for there is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and that Messiah is he who should be rejected of the Jews. For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

Yesterday in the Old Testament we read about how David sinned in numbering the men of war in Israel.  Today we read that the prophet Gad went to David and told him he could pick one of three punishments for doing this. David picked pestilence and 70,000 men died. How ridiculous it was to place his trust in the number of men he had to the point of counting them. The Lord could take away 70,000 men just like that. On the other hand, with the Lord on their side they could fight any battle successfully no matter how small their numbers were.  The important thing wasn't how many men they had to go to war, it was whether or not the Lord was on their side.   2 Samuel 24:11-15 "For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,  Go and say unto David, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.  So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.  And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men."

A verse with a thought booklet reminds us to make sure that everything we speak, and even everything we think about, are acceptable in the sight of God, who is our strength and our Redeemer.  This might be a good verse to memorize and recite to ourselves on a daily basis, reminding us to speak kind and encouraging words, and to have loving hearts to match what we're saying.    Psalms 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that after the Messiah would rise from the dead and would manifest Himself unto the people, to as many as would believe, Jerusalem would be destroyed again and the Jews would be scattered among the nations. They would be scourged for many generations until such a time as they would be persuaded to believe in Christ and His atonement and worship the Father in His name, with pure hearts and clean hands. Then they would cease looking for another Messiah. Then the Lord would restore His people from their lost and fallen state. He would proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.  2 Nephi 25:14-17 "And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church. Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations.  And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things. And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men."

In the Old Testament we read that David insisting on counting how many men of war were in Israel and Judah.  He sinned in doing this.  Why?  What's wrong with taking a census of how many people there are?  I think in this case it showed a lack of trust in the Lord to be able to take care of them and deliver them from their enemies.  I think David was trying to gain a feeling of security in knowing he had many men to fight his battles rather than knowing that no matter how many or how few men there were, if the Lord was on their side, it was enough.  2 Samuel 24:2-4, 9-10 "For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.  And Joab said unto the king, Now the Lord thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?  Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly."

In some verses with a thought booklet we read that sometime we can feel torn between wanting to go to heaven to be with God in a far better world, and knowing that we have a purpose for being on this earth--people we need to help, work we need to do.  When i's our time to go and God calls us home, we can rejoice in being with Him in a better world.  But in the meantime, there is a reason why we're still here and we need to fulfill it.  Philippians 1:19-26 "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Jews would reject Jesus when He would come to them in the flesh. This would be because of the hardness of their hearts and the stiffness of their necks.  They would crucify Him and after He'd been laid in a sepulchre for three days, He would rise from the dead with healing in His wings.  All those who believe in Him will be saved in the Kingdom of God. Nephi delighted in these prophecies.  2 Nephi 25:12-13 "But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks. 

 13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name."

In the Old Testament we read words of praise and thanksgiving toward the Lord.  The Lord is our rock and shield to protect us from harm.  We can turn to Him in times of trouble and He will hear our cries. We can safely trust in Him. He will reward us according to our righteousness.  2 Samuel 22:1-7,18-31 "And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:  And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.  I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;  In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.  For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.  And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.   For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.  For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us to serve the Lord with gladness, singing,  and thanksgiving.  We are His people and His goodness and mercy are everlasting.  We have much to be grateful or. And music can play a wonderful part in our praise of the Lord.  There are so many beautiful hymns that can bring the Spirit into our lives and help us draw closer to God, or help us feel joy and comfort when we are troubled.  Psalms 100:1-5 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that many generations of Jews have been destroyed because of their wickedness. But none of them were destroyed before they were first warned by prophet of God. Nephi said that those his father Lehi had warned before they left Jerusalem had hardened their hearts and refused to listen, so they have been destroyed or carried away captive into Babylon. But they will return again to the land of their inheritance.  2 Nephi 25:9-11 "And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord. Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which should come upon them, immediately after my father left Jerusalem; nevertheless, they hardened their hearts; and according to my prophecy they have been destroyed, save it be those which are carried away captive into Babylon.  And now this I speak because of the spirit which is in me. And notwithstanding they have been carried away they shall return again, and possess the land of Jerusalem; wherefore, they shall be restored again to the land of their inheritance."

In the Old Testament we read that when King David received tiding that his son Absalom had been killed, instead of being happy that someone who had sought him harm had died, he wept and mourned for his son.  2 Samuel 18:28-33 "And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.  And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.  And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.  And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.  And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

In some scriptures with a thought booklet we read that we are to praise God with our whole hearts and tell of His marvelous works, rejoicing in Him. When God helps us through our trials, answers our prayers, or performs miracles in our lives, do we rejoice and give Him thanks?  And do we tell others of the wonderful things that God has done in our lives so that their faith can also be strengthened.   Let's be careful not to take God for granted, nor to keep the news of His goodness to ourselves.   Psalms 9:1-2 "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High."

----------------------------------------

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon Nephi tells us that the prophecies of Isaiah will be fulfilled and they are of great worth to the children of men in the last day when they will understand them.  2 Nephi 25:7-8 "But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.  Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them."

In the Old Testament we read that David asked that Absalom be dealt with gently, in spite of the fact that he had acted against David in many ways. But in spite of all that, David loved his son. However,  Joab slew Absalom, against David's wishes.  2 Samuel 18:5, 9-17 "And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.  And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.  Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.  Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.  And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.  And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet remind us that we will find strength and perfect peace if we trust in the Lord ad keep our minds steadfast on Him. Do we keep our minds focused on our Savior, or do we allow ourselves to dwell on worries and problems?  When we concentrate on the storms around us, we'll find ourselves troubled and afraid. But by looking to the Lord and keeping our minds on Him, trusting in Him to take care of us, we'll find joy and peace in our lives.   Isaiah 26:3-4 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Nephi delighted in the words of Isaiah and he has tried to teach his children concerning the judgments of God.  2 Nephi 25:5-6 "Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews. But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about; and I have made mention unto my children concerning the judgments of God, which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children, according to all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write them."

In the Old Testament we read that Shimei, from the house of Saul, cursed and threw stones at David.  2 Samuel 16:5-7, 13 "And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.  And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.  And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell the story of Peter walking on water.  This took much faith to even attempt to do such a thing.  But then when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started noticing the wind and the waves surrounding him, he became afraid and began to sink.  He called out to Jesus to save him and Jesus stretched forth His hand and rescued Peter. They walked to the boat together and Jesus chastised him for not having more faith.  When we're in the midst of troubles and challenges of life, if we'll have faith and keep focused on the Savior, we'll be okay.  But if we take our eyes off the Savior and concentrate on the troubles surrounding us, we're going to sink.  But, like Peter, we can cry out to the Lord and He will rescue us.  Matthew 14:22-32 "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.  But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.  And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?  And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."