Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that as the people gained riches, they began to be lifted up in pride. This greatly grieved Alma and the leaders of the church, as they saw the people's wickedness. As the people began to set their hearts on the riches of the world, they began to persecute and be scornful towards others. Contention and strife resulted. The wickedness of the church members became a stumbling block to those not belonging to the church, and the church began to fail in its progress.  Alma 4:6-11 "And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly apparel.  Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people whom Alma had consecrated to be teachers, and priests, and elders over the church; yea, many of them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to be among their people.  For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure.  And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God.  And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.  And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people."

In the Old Testament we read that in the love and pity of the Lord, He redeemed His people and carried them.  But they rebelled against Him and turned Him into their enemy.  The Lord has done so much for each of us.  In yet sometimes we rebel against Him the way those of old did.  Isaiah 63:9-10 "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them."

Some verses with a thought booklet talk bout the foolishness of trusting in idols that are made by men's hands.  Idols made from wood, gold, or silver are useless.  They cannot teach us anything.  Habakkuk 2:18-20 "What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?  Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the people mourned because of the loss of their loved ones and also their flocks and herds.  They became humble and were awakened to a remembrance of their duty. Alma baptized  many of them and established the church more fully among them. 3,500 souls united themselves with the church and were baptized.  There was continual peace at that time.  Alma 4:1-5 "Now it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla; But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trodden under foot and destroyed by the Lamanites.  And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.  And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma.  And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time."

In the Old Testament we read that any nation or kingdom that will not serve the Lord will perish and be utterly wasted.  This is something we need to take heed of in our nation today.  Isaiah 60:12 "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that the Lord was well aware of the sufferings of the children of Israel.  He knew their sorrows and He had heard their cries and wanted to deliver them. Likewise when we are going through difficult times, we can know that the Lord knows what we're going through. He sees our afflictions.  He understands and He cares.  And He will hear our prayers. He will always be with us and never leave or forsake us.  Exodus 3:7-9 "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;  And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them." 

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that another army of Lamanites came upon the Nephites.  An army was sent to drive them out of the land and peace was established for a period of time. In that one year tens of thousands of souls were sent to the eternal world where they could receive their rewards or punishments according to what they deserved as a result of their righteousness or wickedness, whichever the case was. And this is true of all of us--we will one day be judged according to whether we obeyed the commandments or choose to listen to Satan.  Alma 3:20-27 "Now it came to pass that not many days after the battle which was fought in the land of Zarahemla, by the Lamanites and the Amlicites, that there was another army of the Lamanites came in upon the people of Nephi, in the same place where the first army met the Amlicites.  And it came to pass that there was an army sent to drive them out of their land.  Now Alma himself being afflicted with a wound did not go up to battle at this time against the Lamanites; But he sent up a numerous army against them; and they went up and slew many of the Lamanites, and drove the remainder of them out of the borders of their land. And then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, being troubled no more for a time with their enemies.  Now all these things were done, yea, all these wars and contentions were commenced and ended in the fifth year of the reign of the judges.  And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.  For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth. And thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord's hand isn't shortened that it cannot save and His ear isn't heavy that it cannot heart, but it is our iniquities that separate us from God and our sins that get in the way of His hearing us.  Isaiah 59:1-2 "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that charity, or the pure love of Christ, never ends.  Other things may fail and vanish away, but love will not.  1 Corinthians 13:8 "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Amlicites marking themselves was a fulfillment of prophesy. They had reveled against God so it was expedient that a curse should fall upon them. They had brought upon themselves the curse, just like every man who is cursed brings upon himself his own condemnation. Alma 3:13-19 "Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves, yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads.  Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed, and I will set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them.  And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed with thy brethren, that they may be cursed also.  And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed.  And again, I say he that departeth from thee shall no more be called thy seed; and I will bless thee, and whomsoever shall be called thy seed, henceforth and forever; and these were the promises of the Lord unto Nephi and to his seed.  Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them.  Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation."

In the Old Testament we read a reminder that there is no peace unto the wicked.  Isaiah 57:21 "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

In some verses with a thought booklet we are told that the Sons of God will become like Christ.  Those who have hope in Him will purify themselves as He is pure.  1 John 3:2-3 " Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that whoever believed in the records and tried to keep the commandments of God were called Nephites. They continued to keep a record of their people. Alma 3:11-12 "And it came to pass that whosoever would not believe in the tradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which were brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also in the tradition of their fathers, which were correct, who believed in the commandments of God and kept them, were called the Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time forth— And it is they who have kept the records which are true of their people, and also of the people of the Lamanites."

In the Old Testament we read that if the wicked forsake their evil ways and unrighteous thoughts and return to the Lord, He will have mercy on them and abundantly pardon them.  We need to seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.  His ways are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways.  But just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are the Lord's ways higher than our ways.  Isaiah 55:6-9 "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet remind us to press forward toward our goals, leaving behind and forgetting things from the past that would stand in our way. The story is told of a baby zebra whose mother had died.  The baby kept nudging her trying to revive her.  A male zebra kept prodding the baby to rejoin the herd.  Time was running out for the zebras to reach their destination where there was water if they were going to survive.  Finally the baby left his dead mother and went with the other zebras.  If he had not, he would have died. Sometimes we keep trying in vain to revive something that is "dead" and the results hinder our progress in life. Maybe we try to rekindle a relationship that has ended. Maybe we keep dredging up memories of past mistakes and refuse to let them go to the point that we feel worthless and unable to do what we need to be doing in the present. Whatever is in the past that is hindering our present life, we need to let it go and move forward. When we find ourselves bogged down with past memories, think of the baby zebra and move on.  Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Amlicites marked themselves and the Lamanites were cursed for their rebellion.  Alma 3:4-10 "And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites. Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they were naked, save it were skin which was girded about their loins, and also their armor, which was girded about them, and their bows, and their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so forth. And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.  And their brethren sought to destroy them, therefore they were cursed; and the Lord God set a mark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish women.  And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction.  And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed.  Therefore, whosoever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites was called under that head, and there was a mark set upon him."

In the Old Testament we read that if we are righteous servants of the Lord, no weapon formed against us will prosper and the Lord will condemn every tongue that rises up in judgment against us.  Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

In a verse with a thought booklet we're told that when we come to the Lord in prayer, first we need to forgive anyone we have a grudge against.  If we expect the Lord to forgive us, we need to forgive others.  That's usually easier said than done. The story is told of someone who lost their dog and was distraught.  They visited an animal shelter who said they had a dog of similar breed there, but it was not the right dog.  They were posting signs about their lost dog when they saw a sign for a lost dog that was of the same breed as their dog.  They called that dog owner and mentioned that they'd seen a similar dog at the shelter.  Later that dog owner called to thank them.  The dog at the shelter had been his!  And he then mentioned that he'd just noticed a dog like his in the alley behind his house.  Sure enough it was their dog!  When they got outside themselves to be concerned about somebody else's dog, it had resulted in them finding their own dog. This same principle may help us forgive others when we find it impossible.  If we stop thinking about ourselves and think of others it just might take our focus off what we're angry or upset about and allow us to forgive. We don't necessarily have to do something kind for the person we're upset with (although that would be ideal!) but even if we can do a kind deed for a neighbor, or go out of our way for a family member, that will help us start thinking of others and not of our own hurts.  It's worth a try.   Mark 11: 25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that after the Nephites had finished burying the dead that had been slain in battle, they returned to their homes and families. The dead of the Lamanites and Amlicites wre cast into the waters of Sidon.  Alma 3:1-3 "And it came to pass that the Nephites who were not slain by the weapons of war, after having buried those who had been slain—now the number of the slain were not numbered, because of the greatness of their number—after they had finished burying their dead they all returned to their lands, and to their houses, and their wives, and their children. Now many women and children had been slain with the sword, and also many of their flocks and their herds; and also many of their fields of grain were destroyed, for they were trodden down by the hosts of men.  And now as many of the Lamanites and the Amlicites who had been slain upon the bank of the river Sidon were cast into the waters of Sidon; and behold their bones are in the depths of the sea, and they are many."

In the Old Testament we read that even if the mountains and the hills depart, the Lord's kindness never will, and neither will His His covenant of peace. Isaiah 54:10 "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

I read several scriptures in a thought booklet that have to do with banishing fear.  Why should we waste our time fretting about a tomorrow that we cannot control and may never come?  We have enough to concern ourselves with today.  And no matter what tomorrow brings, we can trust that the Lord will be there to help us deal with it.  With Him, we can tackle anything!  Romans 8: 31, 35, 38-39 ;  Psalm 23:1-6;  Philippians 4:6-7;  Matthew 6:25-34 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

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