A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 27:15-19 Without drawing attention away from the experience here when Ammon and his brethren were reunited with Alma, an interesting side thought caught my attention today. It was the timing of the reunion. Here is Ammon with the hosts of their converts in journey to the land of Zarahemla. It had been 14 years since they had had any contact (to our knowledge) with the Nephite civilization, and here they are returning now to Zarahemla with quite a challenge ahead of them -- find a land for their converts to be safely relocated. Was the timing of the meeting with Alma by chance? Understanding more so now that nothing happens by chance in this period of probation, this is especially becomes clearer the closer and more conscientious one is about their proximity to God. Therefore, in consideration of the enormously important assignment that Ammon and his brethren had on their hands, the timing of the reunion with Alma, who's position as prophet-leader of the church among the Ne...

Alma 27:1-14 When I am struggling to find meaning in a particular passage of scripture, I will look for what that set of scriptures are teaching me about God. Here, when a critical decision needed to be made regarding the safety and welfare of the Ammonite converts, the king asks of Ammon to inquire of the Lord. Here is an interesting thing, because the will of the Lord was essentially the same as Ammon's desire for the people. However, the word of the Lord that came to Ammon allowed for greater depth and understanding. It wasn't just, "yeah, he said yes." Rather, the word of the Lord to Ammon gave explanation and reason for their needed departure plus some behind-the-scenes perspective on what was happening in spiritual terms: Get this people out of this land, that they perish not; for Satan has great hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, who do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay them; therefore get thee out of this land; and bles...

Jacob 6 In verse 5 , Jacob commands his brethren to "cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you." The association illustrates a truth that I seldom would consider: God already has an intimate, personal relationship with me. I know that this goes along the lines of a supreme being who knows all my thoughts and actions, but something strikes me as exceptionally personal in that omniscience, not as a removed, observational unit. Really, it makes sense. Why would someone want to know everything about you or me, without being intimately concerned for your well being and safety. Footnotes on cleave lead to the account of Hezekiah , king of Judah, and his interactions with Assyria. Isaiah was prophet during the reign of Hezekiah. He offered spiritual strength to Hezekiah to withstand the tenacious cries of the messenger of the king of Assyria, who repeatedly came down from Assyria threatening Hezekiah with destruction if they did not submit to their rule. What was more, the messenger f...

1 Nephi 22:13-19 These are reassuring words to those who are enlisted in the cause of truth. Building on a discovery that I made and accounted for in my last Spanish entry about the people of God being endowed with power because of their faith, this group of verses reinforces that assurance with a promise of protection against the wicked. In the last days, our days, the opposition that would seem ominous from external forces will be completely overthrown. The wicked shall destroy themselves. This simple lesson is plainly taught throughout the Book of Mormon. The Lord will preserve the righteous upon the land.

1 Nephi 16:7-12 As I have been reading through this chapter, towards the end I felt that I had missed something of what Nephi was explaining herein. So I've gone back and reviewed this set of verses. It is the sometimes reflexive references to the Lord God that stood out as being overlooked. I am reminded that the Book of Mormon is an account of the Lord's dealings with his children. The Lord's participation in these verses is as real as were Nephi's and Lehi's. In other words, the Lord was always with them. What's more, the Lord works in a fairly simple way with His children. Verses 8 and 9 show that once Lehi had obeyed the first set of commandments that were extended to him, then the Lord gave him a new commandment. What is it about human nature that causes us to overlook the Lord's involvement in our daily affairs? Or more specifically. Even when we know He is with us, we fail to remember that He has all power and all answers. As they are resuming their...

1 Nephi 13:16 Nephi saw in his vision "that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord." That strikes me as pivotal to their position. I think of the religious heritage of the United States of America. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is printed on our currency. Great was that blessed faith of our Founding Fathers. Nephi then notices, and this is a direct result of their humility, "and the power of the Lord was with them."

Ether 2 From the introduction of this chapter I learn that the account here in is of a man who talked with the Lord. I might want to note what brought him up to that point. Vs. 8 - To emphasize the importance of the promise land, the Lord swore in his wrath unto the brother of Jared that those that possess it shall only serve the true and  everlasting God or should be destroyed. Vs. 10 - The promises of the land are repeated and vs. 11 explains why -- that we might repent before we become ripe in iniquity. Vs. 12 - The key to keeping this a free land is to serve the only true and living God, Jesus Christ. In desiring to be visited of the Lord, I read vs. 14 . The Lord visited Mohonri to chastise him for not praying.  Vs. 16 - The Lord showed Mohonri how to build a boat. He gave them the exact instruction to create a ship in a style so unknown by man but that was superior to anything man could make. ...Could not the Lord lead you in your own pursuits of life, if you let hi...