A Thought for the Day

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

"School Thy Feelings"

“School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm, impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom’s voice control.

School thy feelings; there is power

In the cool, collected mind.

Passion shatters reason’s tower,

Makes the clearest vision blind.

“School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm, impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom’s voice control.

“School thy feelings; condemnation

Never pass on friend or foe,

Though the tide of accusation

Like a flood of truth may flow.

Hear defense before deciding,

And a ray of light may gleam,

Showing thee what filth is hiding

Underneath the shallow stream.

“Should affliction’s acrid vial

Burst o’er thy unsheltered head,

School thy feelings to the trial;

Half its bitterness hath fled.

Art thou falsely, basely, slandered?

Does the world begin to frown?

Gauge thy wrath by wisdom’s standard;

Keep thy rising anger down.

“Rest thyself on this assurance:

Time’s a friend to innocence,

And the patient, calm endurance

Wins respect and aids defense.

Noblest minds have finest feelings;

Quiv’ring strings a breath can move;

And the gospel’s sweet revealings

Tune them with the key of love.

“Hearts so sensitively molded

Strongly fortified should be,

Trained to firmness and enfolded

In a calm tranquility.

Wound not willfully another;

Conquer haste with reason’s might;

School thy feelings, sister, brother;

Train them in the path of right.”

(Charles W. Penrose, “School Thy Feelings,” Hymns, 336)

"Pride is a deadly cancer...."

“Pride is a deadly cancer. It is a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In fact, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride. This sin has many faces. It leads some to revel in their own perceived self-worth, accomplishments, talents, wealth, or position. They count these blessings as evidence of being “chosen,” “superior,” or “more righteous” than others. This is the sin of “Thank God I am more special than you.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Pride and the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 2010)

I Am a Child of God

Forgiveness

"Forgiveness [of others] . . . may be the greatest virtue on earth, and certainly the most needed. There is so much of meanness and abuse, of intolerance and hatred. There is so great a need for repentance and forgiveness. It is the great principle emphasized in all of scripture, both ancient and modern." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Forgiveness," Ensign, November 2005)

"Love one another"

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

"Fear not...."

In a revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord said, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88; emphasis added). This assuring promise that God will not leave us alone to face the challenges of life gives me hope and comfort. 

The brief account of the Syrian invasion of Israel found in the sixth chapter of the Book of Second Kings illustrates the reality of this promise. Confronted by the invading Syrian army, the prophet, Elisha, told the king of Israel of the Syrian plans, thus enabling the Israelites to avoid facing the Syrians in battle. The king of Syria grew frustrated with the Israelites ability to know his armies movements and thought a spy was giving this information to the Israelites. His servants told him that there were no spies, but that Elisha told the Israelites of the Syrians plans. The king of Syria learned where Elisha was staying and sent forces at night to capture him. In the morning when Elisha’s servant looked around, he saw the hosts of Syria surrounding the city. He asked Elisha, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). Elisha answered him, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16; emphasis added). His message was to let faith replace the fear. Elisha then prayed, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17), whereupon, “The Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17; emphasis added). There was no need to fear for the Lord’s host of angels was far great and more powerful than the forces of the king of Syria. 

From another time and setting, the following account illustrates the same reality that angels can and will attend us and “bear us up”:

“Thirteen-year-old Sherrie underwent a 14-hour operation for a tumor on her spinal cord. As she regained consciousness in the intensive care unit, she said: ‘Daddy, Aunt Cheryl is here, … and … Grandpa Norman … and Grandma Brown … are here. And Daddy, who is that standing beside you? … He looks like you, only taller. … He says he’s your brother, Jimmy.’ Her uncle Jimmy had died at age 13 of cystic fibrosis.

“For nearly an hour, Sherrie … described her visitors, all deceased family members. Exhausted, she then fell asleep.

“Later she told her father, ‘Daddy, all of the children here in the intensive care unit have angels helping them.’” (Kent F. Richards, “The Atonement Covers All Pain,” Ensign, May 2008).

For me the message is clear, we have no need to fear in times of need for a loving Heavenly Father will send His angels to support us and bear us up. All we need to do is have faith.

Hope

 “ Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” (Ether 12:4)

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

“Thy faith hath made thee whole”

 

“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

“ Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

“And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

“ And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

“And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” (Luke 8:43-48)