A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 34:1-17 Amulek picks up the baton in this chapter as a second witness to the people of the Zoramites. In the first seven verses he is summarizing what had already been shared by Alma. I appreciate this approach to teaching that is often employed by master teachers which helps me to understand the significance of what others have taught. Then in verse 8 , Amulek adds his testimony. Amulek talks of Christ both taking upon him the transgressions of his people, and atoning for the sins of the world. Why this distinction? The footnotes on transgression point to Redeemer. There is a distinction between those that want Christ to be their God, and those who do not. The reality is that Christ atoned for the sins of the world. Everyone. But only those who will accept him as their God does the real redemption come. The door is always opened. But only those who will walk through it and claim the Lord's redeeming help, to them is revealed the full scope of his redemptive power. It...

Alma 11:40-41 After explaining the truly prominent and omnipotent position that Christ possesses in the grand plan of life, Amulek goes on to explain how Christ's mission is to "redeem his people and... take upon him the transgressions of those who believe upon his name." ( vs 40 ) There is a chilling declaration in vs. 41 , "Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made." A footnote on the verse asks this question: For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift. ( Doctrine and Covenants 88:33 ) One cannot appreciate the Atonement of Christ until one has received of its power and tasted of its influence, and been healed. But oh what joy and peace that gift does bring! 

Alma 7:10-14 I have for many years taken for granted that when the scriptures talk about Mary as a virgin, that this was just a given. I simply assumed that was just who she was. When in reality this is who she chose to be. It was a deliberate choice to keep herself clean and pure, that then qualified her for the role that she was blessed to receive. The same realization must be made of our Savior. When the scriptures talk of his "suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind," what we must see is that, indeed,  He chose to "take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people." ( vs. 11 ) Another thought, that I find to be almost as paradoxical as it is true (and it is this way with most everything in the Gospel of Christ), is that we are to try to comprehend the infinite Atonement of Christ, when our minds are limited to the finite. The reality is that we will never be able to fully understand it in our present mortal state. We cannot comprehen...

Alma 7:3-6 I am appreciating today the difference in wholesomeness, cleanliness, or worthiness that is presented in these verses as a contrast to the more sinful state of those at Zarahemla. It causes me to consider the question of whether it is better to have experienced the hardship and difficulties of sin and then gone through the process of repentance, or whether it is better to have the experience of endurance in righteousness. That this comparison would even be considered brings to light two general false assumptions: That the Atonement of Christ can only be seriously experienced and realistically accessed through the process of turning from serious, grievous sin.  Similarly, the sufferings and hardship of the righteous who endure in righteousness are not the same, nor comparable, nor as significant as the pain and anguish that is suffered by the godless as the result of sin.  Now this second point is a hard one to measure or assess. There seems to be an inherent need to...

Mosiah 15:1-10 Immediately after quoting this extended passage from Isaiah, Abinadi explains that "God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people." This one statement puts to an end the ambiguity, and confusion of religion and gives me a clear and direct line of belief. This is the what and the why of my belief. Verses 2 - 5 cannot be lightly passed over because they offer profound context for one of the greatest theological mysteries of our times. Especially helpful are the footnotes which reference a multitude of other scriptural sources that state the same thing: that Christ is one God, the Son of God and the Eternal Father of heaven and earth.  The verses leading up to verse 8 demonstrate how Christ was able to overcome and break the bands of death. It impresses me that this is as much in reference to the spiritual death as it is to the physical death. Verse 9 puts it in these terms: "having broken the bands of death, taken upon ...

Mosiah 14 I am memorizing this entire chapter. I already had it committed to memory at one point in my past. Having done so, has made it very familiar to me as I read through it again. As I have read though the chapter again those feelings of familiarity seem to also be reminders of Savior's friendship and concern for each of us. It is an interesting thing to contemplate that in the equity of the Lord's plan, relatively very few ever had the opportunity to know Christ during His mortal ministry. Perhaps a lie of the adversary is that thought that had we been alive and know Christ personally, intimately, then we would believe and have as much conviction as the apostles of Christ did. However, I wonder how I would have responded to Christ if my first interaction with Him would have been to meet him personally in mortality. Without any knowledge of the plan of God, or being subject wholly to the tendencies of the natural man, I fear that I would (as would probably many others) dis...

Mosiah 13:27-35 This is to me a very striking revelation, and leaves me appreciating the purpose for the law of Moses: to keep the people in remembrance of their God and their duty towards Him. So striking to me is this at this moment in time where I'm considering Priesthood duties and responsibilities, that it almost causes me to wonder why it was ever taken away. The remembrance of our God and our duties towards Him are of paramount importance in matters of salvation and enduring to the end. However, without a knowledge and proper understanding of the atonement of Christ, these reminders and the whole law has no significance. Moses understood this though when he gave the law. For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things? ( vs. 33 )   Now perhaps I've come across as...

Mosiah 4:4-12 In verse 6 , king Benjamin talks of an Atonement which had been prepared from the foundation of the world. There are two other prophets in the Book of Mormon that also make reference to this: "...the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world," ( Mosiah 15:19 ) "...through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world."( Mosiah 18:13 ) How does this change my attitude or feelings towards the Atonement, knowing that it was prepared from the beginning of the world? In chapter 18, instead of saying the Atonement, Alma says it was Christ who was prepared to redeem us. How does this change my attitudes towards my Savior, knowing that he was the one who was prepared and did prepare to accomplish the Atonement on my behalf, and on behalf of all? Verses 11 and 12 lead up to a prize which is beyond mortal comprehension. Throughout this group of verses, king Benjamin contra...

Mosiah 3:13-19 The purpose of a prophet is to afford the people the opportunity to exercise faith in Jesus Christ, and repent so that they may receive a remission of their sins. Their teaching makes it as if Christ himself were there among the people where a prophet is found. ( see vs 13 ) The law of Moses was calculated to remind the people of God of the coming of Christ. Additionally, the Lord sent signs, wonders, types, and shadows of his coming. Also, he sent prophets to testify of Christ and his coming. Yet, what was not understood was that there was no salvation  in the laws, rites, and rituals associated with the law of Moses, but salvation was to come through the atonement of  Jesus Christ. (see vs 14-15 ) The focus of this chapter keeps coming back to Christ and his atoning blood. Christ's blood atoned for those who have ignorantly sinned ( vs 11 ). It is the atonement, not the law of Moses, through which salvation comes ( vs 15 ). Little children are redeemed from th...

Enos 1:1-8 As testament to his father Jacob, Enos begins his short account with a simple statement of tribute to his father: " knowing my father that he was a just man." ( verse 1 , emphasis added) How appropriate and how beautiful is the acknowledgment of a son of his father's goodness and righteousness. It might seem backwards that the testimony of a son towards his father would be such compelling evidence of his father's goodness, but on the other hand, who better to make such a statement. Enos's account is different than Nephi's and Jacob's. Here is the first prophet in the Book of Mormon to make reference to his own repentance and conversion to Christ. He describes it in simple terms by saying, "I will tell you of the wrestle that I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins." ( verse 2 ) Enos's repentance process was, when it finally came, an all day ordeal. He was found in a quiet place, were betwixt him and God they cou...

Jacob 4:7-13 I have been somewhat remorse as of late because of my personal failures to draw closer to my Lord. Knowing that I've received some significant spiritual instruction as of late, I think that the thing that has concerned me the most is my own obvious ingratitude towards Christ. I guess what I'm trying to express is that I feel that I have been taking for granted my Advocate before the Father, because He seems to always be there, whether or not I fully recognize His help. Reading these verses in Jacob has helped me to remember how absolutely essential Christ and His atonement really are. What's even more interesting is the way in which Jacob words it. "For why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him..." ( vs. 12 ). What strikes me about this passage is the use of the word "perfect " suggesting that a knowledge of Christ's involvement in my life can be much more than just a passing awareness. The questi...

2 Nephi 9:21-27 The latter verses in this grouping stand out this morning. In verse 26 , "The atonement satisfies the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them...". This reminds me of Nephi's resilient observation that the Lord will not give commandments to his children, except he has prepared a way for the commandment to be fulfilled (see 1 Nephi 3:7 ). God is a merciful and just being. He has not prepared commandments with the intention of condemning us, but to exalt us. It impresses me that the Lord God Omnipotent performed the atonement on behalf of all. It impresses me that God will not condemn those who never had the opportunity to received his law. It impresses me that God does expect those who have the law, such as I, to live in obedience according to the standards of His law.

2 Nephi 9:19-20 I've found two scripture in the Book of Mormon this morning that state God's omniscience and mercy in the same thought. Here in 2 Nephi 9:19 & 20 , Jacob states that first God is merciful. In the next short verse he adds to his argument that God is all-knowing. In Alma 26:35 , Ammon concludes similarly that God, as a being who comprehends all, is merciful to all those who will repent and believe in the name of Jesus Christ. Back in 2 Nephi, these verses are the premise that Jacob sets up for explaining the atonement and the condition of salvation in plain terms. There is something else that stands out in verse 20: the footnote for holiness . There's a Hebrew translation for the word holiness which means committed or consecrated. I think on the standard of righteousness that is set before us by our God, how he expects us to be like Him even a perfect being. The thought is overwhelming except for the fact that He has also provided the tools to enable us ...