A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 10:7-12 After Amulek's introduction, in six verses he shares his personal witness of Alma as a prophet and a holy man. Amulek learns by what appears to be two separate angelic visitations 1) the character and office of Alma  ( vs. 7 ) and 2) the validity of Alma's teachings to the people of Ammonihah ( vs. 10 ). I've always glossed over the second angelic visitation, lumping it together as one with the first. But Amulek specifically says that this visitation came while Alma was at his house. We know that Alma dwelt at Amulek's house for many days before they returned to the public square to address the people, and what seems to have happened here while Alma was in the house of Amulek is an intense period of personal ministry and training for both Amulek and his household. While in verse 10 , Amulek cites the angel's witness as validity of the things which Alma had taught. Amulek then goes further to explain that Alma had blessed every member of his household: h...

Alma 8:19-28 On the surface, this is a fairly simple exchange wherein Alma returns to Ammonihah by a different way and is taken in by Amulek. There are a couple of notes on these verses that I find significant. Of Amulek, it was required to exercise the Christ-like virtue of compassion and to feed the hungry. That may seem an insignificant side note given that he had also received direction and inspiration from an angel to entertain Alma, and yet I think this is at the very core of why the angel appeared to Amulek, and not someone else. When Alma returns to Ammonihah, he is hungry. We later learn that Alma had actually been fasting for many days. ( vs. 26 ) Upon petitioning an unknown stranger, Amulek identifies himself to Alma as a Nephite and goes further to say that he knows Alma to be a prophet of God. Near the end of these verses , we learn two notable points in this story: 1) that Alma did not immediately return to the task of preaching the gospel, but spent some time in the hous...

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 5:26-42 I am surprised as I read in this particular part of the chapter to notice how much Alma's words sounded like those of the Savior himself. I don't know why it should have surprised me, given the clarification found in Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 , "Whether by my own voice or the by the voice of my servants, it is the same ," (emphasis added). However, it is striking how much Alma's words sound like the Savior's own words, using phrases such as: "Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life." ( vs. 28 ) Compare with Matthew 4:17 - "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." "Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;" ( vs. 34 ) Compare to John 6:58 - "This is that bread which came down from heave...

Alma 5:1-13 There is a lot of good doctrine to cover in this chapter. I recently have been reminded of the need for appreciation (gratitude) in my comings and goings. Alma seems focused similarly in his introduction to the people of Zarahemla. The history of the previous generation of the Church, of their oppressions and deliverance, is the topic of Alma's introduction. Alma first discusses their physical captivity, but then goes on to ask if the people had also remembered that the Lord had delivered their souls from hell. ( vs. 6 ) Then in verses 7-9 , Alma explains how it was that their redemption (deliverance from hell) was made possible: The Lord "changed their hearts"  The Lord did awaken them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.  "Their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word" The bands of death were broken, and the chains of hell loosed, and their souls did expand to sing songs of redeeming love.  Alma then states that their s...

Mosiah 17:5-20 See also Jeremiah 26 (vs. 11)  These verses have helped me to recall the mission of prophets in the plan of God. The chapter from Jeremiah is particularly useful in this regard. In the March 2012 Ensign, the First Presidency message also focuses on the topic of prophets. To fully appreciate what is given to us in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one must comprehend what the purpose and mission of a prophet is. Here is an individual who has found the way back to God, whom God then in turn uses to direct and point others in the direction that they should go.The reason for prophets is because God is a loving Heavenly Father, who has provided as many ways as he could to show us how to return home to Him without destroying this perfect test of faith. Prophets are yet another evidence of a loving, caring Heavenly Father. Abinadi knew that he needed to what he had spoken was true and that he could not deny his words. He knew that even with the fate of dea...

Mosiah 17:1-4 There is something about the final words of a man's life that serves as a sealing witness or testimony of eternal truth. For some, there is remorse for a lifetime spent in trivial and vain pursuits. For others, fear and uncertainty of what comes next and a failure to prepare for it. And then there are those who have acquired a testimony of the world beyond this one, who have spent their lives in sacrifice and service to others, and in a very real sense, are ready to move on to the next great chapter. Such seems to be the courage and testimony of Abinadi in this final chapter. Verse 2 introduces a very compelling and new dynamic to the story of Abinadi, for at this point in time we see the turning of just one of the priests of King Noah. Singular as he is, that Alma had been converted by the sacrifice and preaching of Abinadi, this shifts my understanding and reasoning for why Abinadi was compelled by the Spirit of the Lord to do as he had done. Not only did Abinadi g...

Mosiah 15:10-17 Abinadi explains how those who access Christ's atonement by making his soul an offering for their sins, these are they who become his seed, or as King Benjamin had put it, the children of Christ. I have had a struggle with these verses this morning. I read and reread verses 10 and 11 about 10 to 15 times this morning. I was trying to look at it from the roll of the believer, then I tried to understand the role of the Lord, but that wasn't what the Lord wanted me to understand this time. Feeling rather distraught about the lack of spiritual information being communicated, I realized that there is one other perspective that could be taken: the role of the prophets. For without the instructive words of the prophets, there is nothing for the children of men to exercise their faith upon, to the end that they might apply the atoning blood of Christ and become heirs of salvation. Thus Abinadi's question, or  Isaiah's question:  who shall declare his generati...

Mosiah 8 It is interesting that Ammon was called upon to relate to the people of Limhi all that had happened in the Zarahemla. Not only that, but he was also able to declare unto them the words of king Benjamin. This reminded me of a recent visit where we were talking about prophets and how it is that we have a living prophet today. The natural question that followed was, "What has the prophet said today?" It was my responsibility to relate from memory the most recent words of the prophet. Do I really recognize the great blessing that it is to have a prophet among the people of the Church? After the meeting with the people of Limhi, the chapter goes on to relate a discussion between the king and Ammon. Limhi asks him if he is able to translate some records that his people had obtained. Why did Limhi ask Ammon if he could translate? Perhaps it was because of the power of the words that had been delivered to his people concerning the history of Zarahelma and the words of king B...

Jacob 2 The full passage referenced in the title reads like so: "And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;" ( vs. 7 ). As I read through this chapter, I am brought to consider the burden of a prophet in telling people of their sins, and having to dwell upon that which is unpleasant. This is in the same vein as talks that I've heard President Hinckley and other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles give over the years about pornography and sexual immorality. They are uncomfortable and unpleasent topics. They are not particularly inspiring, but they are necessary in keeping us on the safe course. They are a sobering, constant reminder of the condition of the world in which we live and problems that plague the lives of our people. If among the church we were free from divorce and ev...

2 Nephi 19:1-2 , see also Isaiah 9:1-2 Isaiah continues to explain the calamities that are to come upon the House of Israel, as they ignore the Lord their God, his law, and the testimony of the prophets. Yet Isaiah pauses here at the beginning of this chapter to testify of the coming of Jesus Christ. He says that their gropings in darkness will not be as bad as in times past, primarily because "the Light" will come among them. It makes reference to the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. We learn from footnotes and from an account of the Savior's ministry that these were lands near or within the land of Galilee. (Galilee is also referenced here in the same verse, but it doesn't really illustrate the proximity of the regions to one another. ) In Matthew 4:14-16 , there is a direct reference to these verses of scripture as being the reason for which the Savior did set off in the specific direction that he did at that point in his ministry. This is one of many instances where...

2 Nephi 17:1-9 The title of this post is part of the council of the Lord via Isaiah to the king of Judah, Ahaz. As a backdrop, we learn from this passage that two other kingdoms, Syria and Ephraim, had joined together to wage war against the house of David ( vs 2 ). Ephraim is the head of the ten tribes of Israel that had been driven north out of the land of Canaan. There is some poignancy in this affront because of Ephraim's fall from the house of Israel. It reminds me of those that leave the fold of God, but for whatever reason cannot leave it alone. Ephraim, despite their fiery threatening, is prophesied to be completely dispersed within 65 years of the time of this attack on Judah. And thus the Lord says to Ahaz, "It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass," ( vs 7 ). I find a great deal of courage in the face of potential opposition and fear. The Lord is with his people. And so we are blessed to follow the guidance of a prophet of God.

2 Nephi 16:8-10 These verses deal with the calling of Isaiah as a Prophet to Israel, or perhaps it was only Judah, the remnant of what remained of Israel. I am impressed in verse 8 by Isaiah's willingness to go and serve the Lord. Isaiah's instructions from the Lord are a prophecy of the Messiah's mission: "Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not," ( vs. 9 ). The wording is confusing in these verses because it sounds as if the Lord would intentionally have Isaiah cloak his teachings or preach in such a way that the people wouldn't be able to understand. This is similar to the Savior's teaching in parables, where he taught eternal truths with simple stories. The reason for such teaching is to address those that are prepared in the midst of larger congregations of less attentive listeners.

2 Nephi 10:3 Jacob, discoursing on the Savior, calls him for the first time in this record Christ. Parenthetically, Jacob explains that an angel had revealed His name to him the night previous. There is a footnote on the word " angel ". Jacob was one who enjoyed communion with angels. He had had visions of the Savior as early as in is youth. He was also able to hear the voice of the Lord from time to time. Such communications were critical for Jacob, who bore the weight of their civilization's spiritual well being. It was Jacob who moved forward as prophet after his father, Lehi, and older brother, Nephi, were gone. These evidences of divine communion allow me to understand how prophets are truly servants of the most high God.

2 Nephi 2:1-4 I am enthralled with the notion that Jacob in his youth had come to know God by personal manifestation. His father, Lehi, is also aware of this and makes mention of it several times in these first verses. When we consider Jacob's position however, it was extremely appropriate that Jacob would be privileged to have such a personal manifestation. God reveals himself to his prophets, of whom Jacob eventually becomes one. Thus is the pattern of God. God then requires his prophets, those to whom he has revealed himself to testify of him. That is a weighty responsibility. Lehi gives him the perspective of that privilege by explaining that the Spirit is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thus what he had experienced put him on an equal plane as those who would walk with Christ in His mortal ministry. That is an important point.

2 Nephi 1:24-32 In these verses at the end of the chapter, I get a sense of the finality of Lehi's words. He puts into proper perspective the relationship between Nephi and his brothers. To have been Nephi in this situation was one of those rare and humbling moments of affirmation, that only a true disciples of Christ would be permitted to experience. After Lehi sets straight Nephi's position, he gives (what is much more than an endorsement) instruction that if they listen and obey the councils of Nephi then they would be blessed in their new land of promise. What Lehi had witnessed in Nephi is the resting of the prophetic mantel upon Nephi. Lehi had the absolute assurance that Nephi was prepared to take on the full leadership responsibilities of his family. The Lord had blessed Nephi, and Lehi promised his other children that they too would be blessed if they followed Nephi.

With the flood tide news of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, perhaps it's only fitting that I take an entry to express some thoughts related. President Spencer W. Kimball is the first prophet that I have recollections of in my early childhood, followed by President Ezra Taft Benson, and then briefly President Howard W. Hunter. But by far, President Hinckley is the living prophet whose teachings have had the most impact upon my life and the direction that I've taken. I was seventeen when he became the prophet. It was the decisive year of my youth. The major life changes that have affected who I am today have been made during his tenure as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I choose to serve a full-time mission at the tender age of nineteen. When I received my call to serve a mission, his signature was on the paper that sent me to spend two years of my life serving the people of Costa Rica. This was a decision that has had a more profound i...