A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 25:13-17 One final group of Lamanites is recorded here as having been converted to the Lord after their warring. After the fight had all gone out of them, they too decided to join themselves to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, bury their weapons of war, and to walk in the ways of the Lord. ( see vs. 13-14 ) Verses 15 and 16 go on to explain their relationship to the law of Moses in connection with their faith in Christ. As the author, Mormon, explains it here (as it has been in other parts of the Book of Mormon as well -- Jacob 4:5 , Jarom 1:11 , Mosiah 3:14-15 , and Mosiah 16:14 among others), the law of Moses served to point them to faith in Christ. I cannot help but draw a connection between modern-day standards for the youth that the Church has established through our living prophets. Verse 16 might very easily read as follows in talking about our days: Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the [standards of the Church; e.g., "For the Strength of Youth"]; ...

Alma 8:29-32 After many days, the word of the Lord came to Alma: "Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away." In subsequent verses, we learn that Alma and Amulek accomplished this commandment of the Lord through "the spirit and power which the Lord had given them." ( vs 32 ) So it is, that those that go about the work of the Lord when called of the Lord to do so , they are empowered to do it through the influence of the Holy Ghost. In other words, they are endowed with power, or they have power given them. Verse 31 takes pains to explain the evidence of that power, in that they weren't able to be confined or thrown in dungeons, nor could anyone kill them. Now later in the account we learn that Alma and Amulek were thrown into prison (and verse 31 makes reference to this), and...

2 Nephi 9:40-43 I have been reprimanded and reminded this morning about seasons past that I had been closer to my God. The footnote for " come unto the Lord" in verse 41 lists a long line of scriptures found in the Book of Mormon alone, a powerful reminder of this testament's witness of Christ. These verses in this chapter also remind me that there is a standard in the Lord God that we are to be measured against. "Remember the words of your Maker," ( vs. 40 ). "Remember that his paths are righteousness," ( vs. 41 ). "Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him," ( vs. 41 ). "He cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name," ( vs. 41 ). What has impressed me about these verses is that Christ has come as an one knowing, who fulfilled his potential; which divine potential is also an inherent part of our immortal makeup. The standard that I am given the potential to rise up to is the example of...

1 Nephi 21:22-26 Verse 22 picks up as an answer to the question posed in verse 21: how is it that Zion had any children if everyone of her natural children had been destroyed? The answer is pivotal to understanding the purposes of the Lord in the last days and how exactly it is that the Lord will redeem His people. The answer: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. (see vs 22 ) Footnotes on "standard"include additional references to this final work (see footnotes ). The standard is also called an ensign. Important doctrines related to the establishment of this final standard or ensign: The work is to be initiated among the gentiles, and it is of such as scope that it will reach the ends of the earth. This is a global work. Yet it is extremely individual. This particular final point is strongly impressed upon my mind. We are de...