A Study of the Book of Mormon

 Alma 38:13-15 Three simple verses at the end of this chapter that teach me how to pray and be humble. It seems likes such a small set of instructions, especially compared to what Alma gave to Helaman, but I find the points that he chooses to emphasis here, extremely important in teaching prayer and one's proper attitude towards prayer. None of us really have the advantage before God. (That's not to say that he that keeps the commandments, and doeth the will of the Father, isn't approved of Him.) But there is this simple issue of humility that is required of all men when they approach the throne of the Almighty. Thus Alma counsels Shiblon: Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. ( vs.14 ) Christ taught similarly: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a public...

Alma 37:33-37 I love how in five verses Alma preaches the Gospel of Christ and the Plan of Salvation to his son, Helaman. I also love the connection between obedience to commandments and personal revelation through prayer.  Then at the end is the assurance that "if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." Verses 36 and 37 are were my heart has stayed this morning. It is a reminder at a time when I am really struggling with this very pattern, but I also know that there is no other way. So with a new day, my soul is a little more humble and calm, and I move forward, trusting that He will not lead me astray. --- So it's been a few morning since I started this study. This is the second morning now that I've come to the topic of Israel, its gathering and other related scriptures. This morning, however, the Lord wanted me to know specifically that the Gathering of Israel was long and abundantly prophesied of among the ancient prophets, especially ...

Alma 32:22-29 As I read these next few verses, I'm contemplating the relationship between the seen and the unseen, God's commands given to prophets  to write the word of God, and how that becomes something that can be seen, so that we can believe in those things which are not seen. And then light, the light of God, the light that Joseph saw in the grove after he exercised his faith! Alma had to teach these poor and impoverished people how to believe. He had to give them instructions on how to have faith. The first step is humility.  The next is a desire to believe.  The final step is to plant the seed of faith in the word of God.  There is a parallel here in the Savior's teaching about the sower and the seeds found in Matthew 13:3-23 . It's also noteworthy that one of the first things Alma says is this: ...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 ...

Alma 32:7-20 This group of verses, a discussion on humility unto repentance, reminds me that much more blessed is the man who compels himself to be humble because of the word of God than because of his own poverty or other personally humbling circumstances. As I've studied these verses, I've cross referenced over to Matthew 5 and re-read this first chapter of the Sermon on the Mount. "I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye." ( Alma 32:8 ) These people come to Alma with something of a "victim's mentality." They fully believed that they could not worship God because of their poverty. (see vs. 9-11 ) I've spent a little time trying to understand how God acts when he affixes a curse. Re-reading the follwing verses this morning has caused me to reflect on my own life, and what a significant influence these verses have had in my life from the time that I was in my adolescence. 13 And now, because ye are compelled to b...

Alma 32:1-6 An often overlooked component of teaching the word of God, preparation is key to reception of the word of God. Sometimes, the circumstances of life prepare us to be sufficiently prepared, or humbled, to hear the word of God. Most often though, we have the privilege of choosing whether or not we will be in a position to hear the Word. See also Job 5 (vs.7)

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 26:23-30 This particular set of verses I have come to at a time when I am struggling with a particular challenging child. While the philosophies of the world shout in my ears to punish and harshly discipline in the face of such behaviors, I look at all that these missionaries suffered with the hopes of saving some soul. The parallel of such is not lost upon me. There are two verses that give me a particular hope in my current situation from this passage. First, in verse 27 , Ammon says "behold, the Lord comforted us." Despite the poor decisions that my children make, I am not denied the privilege of the Lord's peace in my own life when I seek it. Second, in verse 29 , as Ammon goes on to describe all the varied exertions and hardships that they faced in their work, this brings a degree of assurance that perhaps in all these afflictions, we may eventually be the means of saving some soul. This wording is also noteworthy. Twice in this passage Ammon states that ...

Alma 26:8-16 Verse 9 is a statement that stands opposite to the "if-only" sentiment. And it starts with this phrase: "if we had not". It is a phrase and a statement that is encased in gratitude and recognizes the inherent value of hard work. But the thought that is engendered here is a sober one:  For if we had not come up out of the land of Zarahemla, these our dearly beloved brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God. ( vs. 9 , emphasis added) What is so miraculous about this particular account was that thousands of Lamanites were brought to the light. Without such unprecedented faith in God, this would have never been realized. They sought to do something that had never been done before, and succeeded. --- The Book of Mormon is an exceptional text for illustrating the challenges that arise from success or prosperity. In verse 10 , as Ammon is making note of...

Alma 21:15-17 What surprises me about this set of verses is that in a sense, nothing had changed. Their external circumstances had not changed. After Aaron and his brethren had been released from prison, they went back to the synogogues of the Amalekites and into any assembly of the Lamanites that would let them come in. The venues did not change. What did change was this: "And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord," ( vs. 16 ). I went back and looked for any reference to the Spirit of the Lord guiding their previous efforts, and there was none. Imprisonment and the subsequent sufferings that resulted seems to have been the humility catalyst needed to prepare this particular set of missionaries for the work that lay ahead of them. Now verse 17 states that: ...the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins , and of the traditions of their fathers, which were...

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...

Alma 7:1-2 Verses 1 and 2 seem like something of a formality only if we choose to see them that way. However, recent prayers and events in my own life have caused me to consider the significance of a few key points. Alma starts his remarks by stating that he had been permitted to come to them by rearranging the affairs of the government and freeing up his time and responsibilities so that he could attended to such. He points out that this is the first time that he had been permitted to travel to meet this particular group of saints in person. Thus Alma concludes that "the Lord in much mercy hath granted that I should come unto you." ( verse 2 ) This seems noteworthy that Alma did not take for granted the restructuring of the government of the land as something that he accomplished in and of himself. There are two different reminders that I take away from this introduction:  First, on a personal level, I do well to remember the great blessings that have been extended to me in ...

Alma 1:16-33 We learn here in the remainder of this chapter that priestcraft did not come to an end among the people of Nephi at this time. Yet there was a distinct separation between those who were steadfast in the church verses those who separated themselves from the church and followed after preistcraft. It is that separation or distinction between the people of the church and those that did not belong to the church that occupies these verses. There actually appears to be two points of division that take place. First, it is a distinction between those inside, and those outside the church -- those that were more humble being persecuted by those who did not belong to the church or would not take upon themselves the name of Christ.( vs. 19 )  What was the cause of their persecution? Or what motivated those outside of the church to be so concerned about what those inside of the church were doing? Those of the church were not proud, and they would impart the word of God without mone...

Mosiah 26:34-39 Studying the previous verses in both English and Spanish, I was impressed with the truth that only a disciple of Christ could be asked to makes judgments on behave of others. That is, only someone who truly understands and sees that it is Christ that leads this great work and not themselves (that will walk circumspectly and humbly before God) has the perspective to deal with such weightier matters as judgment and mercy (see Matt 23:23 ). These verses don't directly state that such was the case with Alma, but it is absolutely impossible to conclude otherwise and the reminder is so very important on this topic in particular. To be excommunicated or cut off from the Church and kingdom of God on the earth is not a trivial matter. I have always understood it to be a tool designed to aide in the repentance process. In these verses, it not only allowed those who would not repent to be separated from the Church, it created a distinction by which others could recognize that ...

Mosiah 22:10-16 I was just reviewing the tags I had placed on the last post. I find it extremely intriguing that we can talk about integrity of character, service, and strategy all in the same breath. There are many stories along these lines then that have not yet been explored. Again a couple of interesting points of observation in these simple passages. Once the people of Limhi set out on their course, the scriptures say "they pursued their journey." ( vs. 12 ) Though they were many days on this exodus from the land that they had labored diligently to establish, they pushed forward fixed on the course of their freedom.  Upon arrival in the land of Zarahemla, the people of Limhi became subjects to King Mosiah. ( vs. 13 ) This is particularly notable because Limhi's role and position as monarch of his people is dissolved. Truly, Limhi's great concern was for his people, not for his power.

Mosiah 21 (See also Mosiah 12:1-8 , blog post ) This chapter now deals with the bitter realities of Abinadi's prophecies being fulfilled. After outlining some of the difficult events which the people of Limhi were now encountering, verse 4 explains, "Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled." (A quick review of what the prophecy of Abinadi entailed can be found back in chapter 12 as noted above.) There is an observation made in the blog post for chapter 12 that also describes what is happening in this chapter. ...To have a hardened heart is essentially to have withdrawn from the presence and the Spirit of the Lord.We cut off the lifeline of Life, our relationship to the Divine, and attempt to take salvation into our own hands, which is hopelessly impossible. As this current chapter (21) attests to, the way in which we so often attempt to take salvation into our own hands is by brute force or violence. It is human nature to think that we can ...

Mosiah 11: 1-19 This simple phrase that explains the deviation of King Noah from the truth is a double-edged accusation. A footnote in verse 2 compares King Noah to Jeraboam of the Old Testament who caused the children of Israel to sin. Noah's deviation is just that. Clearly, we must assume that King Noah is not ignorantly sinning. He was the son of Zeniff and grew up in his household. Beyond this, he took a people, who previous to this had learned to fear God and to recognize the strength of the Lord in protecting them from their enemies, and had altered the affairs of the kingdom to support his wickedness. Perhaps the most telling part of this account are the verses that relate their attitude towards the conflict with the Lamanites, when they came back victorious from fighting the Lamanites this time, they were boastful of their own strength, and blood thirsty. ( Verse 19 attributes this fully to the wickedness of the king and the priests.) Boasting and blood thirsty, both are ...

Jarom1:1-7 Jarom's primary reason for making his record was to preserve the genealogy of his people, according to the commandment that he had received of his father, Enos. He also understands that the primary benefactors will be the Lamanites at some future date.( verse 1 ) Though he had prophecies and revelations of his own, one of the marks of Jarom's humility is that he points to what had already been written by Nephi, Jacob, and Enos, explaining that the plan of Salvation had already been revealed by them. ( verse 2 ) After explaining the difference between the Nephites (a God-fearing people, vs 5 ) and the Lamanites (a blood-thirsty group, vs 6 ), Jarom explains how the leadership of the Nephites caused their people to prevail against the Lamanites. "Our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord;" ( verse 7 ). Mighty men of faith teach the ways of the Lord to the people, and thus the people are strengthened...

2 Nephi 26:14-33 The footnotes to verse 20 are quite insightful as to where true power lies: in humility.  The Lord places stumbling blocks in our paths when we know the right way and turn from it. The work of the Lord is accomplished by the humble and weak things of the earth. The poor in Spirit are greater than the mighty ones for they have access to the grace and Spirit of God. Christ, the Lord, placed himself among the humble and poor things of the earth. "But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish,"( vs. 31 ). See also Doctrine and Covenants 38:39 which says, "but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old." Coming back to this entry after having let it sit for a couple of days, I appreciate the title even more: "Concerning the Last Days."  At no other time in the history of the world, has the work of the Lord been so uninhibited. It is interesting to note that as part of this prophe...

2 Nephi 15:15 We begin with this statement, "And the mean man shall be brought down..." The footnote on "brought" references similar passages from earlier in Isaiah where he says, "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day, " ( Isaiah 2:17 ). In Spanish, the word "mean" is translated to mean "vile". This has the feel to me of a man who through lies and deceit has built up his pretended kingdom around him. His tactics are by force. All this shall crumble and be made to lie low in the dust. "And the mighty man shall be humbled," These next two statements both end with "shall be humbled." I call on the true definition of "humble" or "humility". It is to acknowledge the hand of God in our work. For the wicked to be humbled, those who have up to that point not acknowledged God, and had thought to becom...

2 Nephi 13:16-26 These verses list the destruction that will come upon the lofty daughters of Zion "in that day." The time period refers to the day of the Lord, or, as far as I can tell, this is a direct reference to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In no uncertain terms, all the fine decorations, all the worldly ornamentation that the daughters of Zion put their trust into will be eventually stripped from them. There is a direct correlation here with unrighteousness as well. This curse of humiliation falls upon them because of their haughtiness, their wanton eyes and stretched-forth necks. The personal application for me is to avoid the luxurious, and in my walk among men, I should be humble and simple.