A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 40:15-21 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/tg/resurrection?lang=eng The New Testament, after the Resurrection of Christ, is replete with testimony by the apostles of the reality of that very thing. I took a pause from this study to reflect over in John 6 . At least twice within that passage, the phrase "the resurrection of the just" had been added back into the passage in the Joseph Smith Translation. No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just. ( JST - John 6:44 ) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up in the resurrection of the just at the last day. ( John 6:54 ) Why, among other doctrines, does the adversary or the world want to suppress...

Alma 40:11-14 Deep consideration of the realities articulated in these verses has brought a very strong spiritual confirmation to me this morning. This doctrine is familiar to me, both because of the numerous times that I have studied these verses before, but also because of the eternal realities that cause my soul to resonate with the Spirit of the Lord. Verse 11 , which I learned and memorized as a youth, especially rings deep and true. We are taken back to God after this amazing and terrible* mortal experience. And then there is a separation between wicked and righteous. In a realm dominated by the Light, there is a separation. It is also curious to note how the same Being, God, can induce such dramatically different responses in individuals based upon their choices. *I use terrible in the sense of "extremely unpleasant or disagreeable" or to illustrate the extreme hardships that are an inevitable part of this experience. --- In verses 12-14 , the states of the r...

Alma 11:41-46 These verse contain, in all of scripture, one of the most comprehensive declarations on the Resurrection, its purpose and  nature. Purpose of the Resurrection "for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works." ( vs. 41 ) "and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt." ( vs. 43 ) "and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil." ( vs. 44 ) Nature of the Resurrection "Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death;"  ( vs. 41 ) "Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this ...

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...

2 Nephi 9:10-18 These verses contain a very vivid description of the division between the wicked and the righteousness in the eternal realms and the reasons for this division. This group of verses starts with perhaps the clearest definition of death and hell in all of holy writ. Death ( vs. 11 ) - A temporal death, also known as the grave. This is what holds our bodies separate from our spirits when we die. Hell ( vs. 12 ) - Also called spiritual death. This is the holding space for those captive spirits separated from their body. Earlier in this chapter, it was already established that separated from the presence of God, our spirits would be as the devil, consigned to a fallen, disembodied state. This is hell. In verse 18 , the culmination of the blessings of the resurrection are extended to the righteous. "But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despise...

Mormon 9 Moroni wanted to address all people. He starts this chapter with content for those who do not believe in Christ. His approach to non-believers is a little more direct than most. I suppose we must understand what a non-believer is. I started  off thinking it was some one who had never heard of Christ, like perhaps Hindus or Muslims.  No, that's not who it is. How many of them would believe in Christ if He was presented to them? A non-believer is someone who's heard of Christ, perhaps even read the Scriptures but chooses not to believe in Him. - Moroni  comes straight out in facts to prove them wrong. He brings up Judgment and the Resurrection.

Mormon 6 Vs. 21 - A practical understanding of the Resurrection. Mormon mourns the loss of his people, and now he explains what will happen to them. Mormon saw the destruction of over 200,000+ of his people. There were all that remained. Mormon 7 This is Mormon's last chapter, his final words. From here on out, Mormon writes for the future. He knew what would eventually become of the Lamanites, so these verses he directs towards them. Things he wanted them to know: That they are of the House of Israel (so that they know the promises).  That they can only be saved through repentance.  That they must come to a knowledge of their father. (why?) That they must believe in Jesus Christ.  That they will be resurrected and brought before the judgment seat of Christ.