Daily Ponderings: Firm Before the Lamanites

Alma 57:19

But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately. Yea, they were firm before the Lamanites and did administer death unto all those who opposed them.

I should stand firm and true in the knowledge that I have.

Daily Ponderings: Receiving Provisions and Strength

Alma 56:29

And the Lamanites thus seeing our forces increase daily and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful and began to sally forth, if it were possible, to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.

I should come to Him regularly to receive the strength I need throughout the day.

Daily Ponderings: Had They Awakened, Behold They Were Drunken

Alma 55:18

but had they awoke the Lamanites - behold, they were drunken - and the Nephites could have slain them;

I should have two plans against predictable problems.

Daily Ponderings: Only Sought to Defend Ourselves

Alma 54:13

Behold, I am in my anger - and also my people. Ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend our lives. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more, we will seek to destroy you. Yea, and we will seek our lands, the lands of our first inheritance.

I should never lash out, but only seek for peace.

Daily Ponderings: Ever Had Been Protected

Alma 53:12

And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.

I should follow His promptings so that He can lead me to a place of safety and joy.

Daily Ponderings: Decoy the Lamanites out of Their Strongholds

Alma 52:21

And it came to pass that that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strong holds.

When battling the doubts and fears of the adversary, I don't have to play fair or work by myself. I can ask Him for all the help I need.

Daily Ponderings: Hewn Down by the Sword

Alma 51:19

And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those dissenters which were hewn down by the sword. And those of their leaders which were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no time for their trials at this period.

I should let go of my urges to hurt self and others in anger and ask for His help to embrace the light.

Daily Ponderings: These Promises Have Been Verified

Alma 50:21

And we see that these promises have been verified to the people of Nephi; for it has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their murderings and their plunderings, their idolatry and their whoredoms and their abominations which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions.

Faith means I should do what I would do if I knew that what I'd been promised would work.

Daily Ponderings: Moroni Had Appointed Lehi

Alma 49:16

And behold, Moroni had appointed Lehi to be chief captain over the men of that city. And it was that same Lehi which fought with the Lamanites in the valley on the east of the river Sidon.

I should delegate needed tasks.

Daily Ponderings: Firm in the Faith of Christ

Alma 43:13

Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ. And he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights and his country and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.

I should be firm in my faith, and ask Him to strengthen me when I struggle

Daily Ponderings: The Lamanites Appointed Amalickiah

Alma 47:19

Now when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.

If I choose to follow a man, I should choose to do so because of his qualifications, not his position or title.

Daily Ponderings: They Would Not Forsake the Lord Their God

Alma 46:21

And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armors girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God. Or in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God - or fall into transgression - and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them, even as they had rent their garments.

I should seek Him in all circumstances.

Daily Ponderings: The Lord Had Again Delivered Them

Alma 45:1

Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies. Therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God. Yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceeding great joy.

I should be grateful for every adversity He helps me through. Both for the growth afforded by the adversity and for his loving assistance and grace.

Daily Ponderings: Spies Round About

Alma 43:28

And Moroni placed spies round about that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.

I should be vigilant and aware of my vulnerabilities and watch for the adversary's attacks.

Daily Ponderings: The Plan of Happiness

Alma 42:16

Now repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was as eternal as the life of the soul, should be affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul.

If I follow His plan, I don't have to worry about the punishment opposite it.

Daily Ponderings: Walk Therein and Be Saved

Alma 41:8

Now the decrees of God are unalterable. Therefore the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.

I should walk within His path and find the strength I need therein.

Daily Ponderings: The Righteous in Paradise

Alma 40:14

Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked - yea, in darkness and a state of awful fearful looking for of the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them. Thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

As I strive to be righteous, my life will be paradisiacal.

Daily Ponderings: Ye Stand in Need to Be Nourished

Alma 39:10

And I command you to take it upon you to counsel your elder brothers in your undertakings - for behold, thou art in thy youth and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers - and give heed to their counsel.

I should have the courage to ask for help with whatever I stand in need of.

Daily Ponderings: Peace to My Soul

Alma 38:8

And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul. And never until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.

I can find peace if I ask Him for it and listen to what He tells me.

Daily Ponderings: Prepared That the Word of God Might Be Fulfilled

Alma 37:24

And now my son, these directors were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled which he spake, saying:

I should do whatever I need to do to prepare myself to hear Him, then do what He asks of me.

Daily Ponderings: For Three Days and Three Nights

Alma 36:16

And now for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.

He will only extend a trial to me until I have learned all I can from it.

Daily Ponderings: The People of Ammon Did Not Fear

Alma 35:9

And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words. Therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them. And they did nourish them and did clothe them and did give unto them lands for their inheritance. And they did administer unto them according to their wants.

If I know who my Lord is and of His power, I have no need of fear.

Daily Ponderings: Needy, Naked, Sick, Afflicted

Alma 34:38

And now behold, my brethren, I say unto you: Do not suppose that this is all. For after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy and the naked and visit not the sick and afflicted and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those which stand in need - I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites which do deny the faith.

We are all needy, naked, sick, and afflicted, to some degree, spiritually. Everyone needs my help.

Daily Ponderings: Morning, Midday, and Evening

Alma 34:21

Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, midday, and evening.

There is never a wrong time for me to pray.

Daily Ponderings: Do Ye Belive Those Scriptures

Alma 33:12

And now Alma saith unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?

I believe the scriptures have the power to invite the Holy Ghost to tell me what I need to know and do.

He Would Have Us Give Up, Quit, Rebel

From Marvin J. Ashton's October 1990 "A Pattern in All Things"

"[Satan] would have us give up, quit, rebel when setbacks come."

I should be courageous and ask for help in the face of setbacks.

Daily Ponderings: Remember That God Is Merciful

Alma 32:22

And now behold, I say unto you - and I would that ye should remember - that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name. Therefore he desireth in the first place that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.

God will grant unto me whatever I ask for that will bring me lasting joy.

Daily Ponderings: Leading the Hearts of the People

Alma 31:1

Now it came to pass that after the end of Korihor, that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord and that Zoram, which was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols etc., his heart again began to sicken because of the iniquity of the people.

I should encourage those I lead to do good.

Daily Ponderings: Rise Up in Great, Swelling Words

Alma 30:31

And he did rise up in great swelling words before Alma and did revile against the priests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers for the sake of glutting in the labors of the people.

I can speak truth in clear, simple language.

Seekers After the Rewards of Faith

From Elder Neal A. Maxwell's April 1991 "Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds":

"...seekers after the rewards of faith are often disapointed whenn they are told to study, serve, pray, and worship."

If I perform simple acts of faith daily, I will progress spiritually.

Daily Ponderings: Praise Him Forever

Alma 29:17

And now may God grant unto these my brethren that they may sit down in the kingdom of God, yea, and also all those which are the fruit of their labor, that they may go no more out but that they may praise him forever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen.

Not just Him. Any time I am grateful for one of His works, I am praising Him.

Daily Ponderings: Remember What the Lord Has Done for Me

lma 29:10

And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer. Yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

I should call to mind often the powerful experiences I have had with Him.

Daily Ponderings: Perhaps I May Be an Instrument

Alma 29:9

I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me. Yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

I should try to discern and do what I'm commanded.

Daily Ponderings: And Their Incomprehensible Joy

Alma 28:8

And this is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings into the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows and their afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy, and the reception and safety of the brethren in the land of Jershon. And now may the Lord, the Redeemer of all men, bless their souls forever.

No matter the hardship, it is always accompanied by an equal or greater opportunity for joy.

Daily Ponderings: This Was a Joyful Meeting

Alma 27:16

And it came to pass that as Ammon was going forth into the land that he and his brethren met Alma over in the place of which has been spoken. And behold, this was a joyful meeting.

I should spend time catching up with the people I care about.