A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 35:1-4 I brought to consider "the Power of the Word." (I'm not quoting anything in particular here, but this phrase has popped into my mind as I've started this study this morning. One of Christ's many names or titles is the Word. Consider the following:  In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son , and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God. ( JST John 1:1 ) In the previous chapter of Alma, Amulek gives this particular testimony: And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ. And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation . ( Alma 34:5-6 ) So if I go back to the beginning of Alma 35 , and I'm looking for the testimony of Christ, I find it by replacing the use of "word" with the name...

Alma 15 This chapter addresses something that I feel that I am not very good at: ministering to the sick and the poor. The story of Zeezrom also concludes in this chapter, he (having been taken gravely ill) being the key player to whom Alma administered to. (Side note: In times past, my wife and I have also discussed this chapter as evidence of how sin and one's mental and emotional state can have a direct impact on the physical well being of an individual.) After Alma and Amulek's miraculous deliverance from the prison at Ammonihah, they were commanded to leave that town. ( vs. 1 ) At Sidom, many of those who believed the preaching of Alma and Amulek had resorted there, and at Alma's arrival they learned of the fate of the wives and children, and also their own miraculous deliverance. The first case study in this chapter is Zeezrom. Zeezrom is fully convinced that Alma and Amulek were no more and that their destruction rested fully upon his own shoulders. The mental and sp...

Mosiah 28:1-9 These verses cause me to consider in greater earnest "the virtue of the word of God." (see Alma 31:5 ) The sons of Mosiah set a precedence in the history of missionary work upon their successful completion of their ministry among the Nephites. It strikes me that as these missionaries had observed the power of the word of God amongst the Nephites, there was born within the sons of Mosiah a desire to extend its influence to the Lamanite people also. But perhaps there's a slightly different reason for their motivation. No one had ever taken the word of God this far before with the hope to convert an enemy nation to the ways of God.This zealous pioneering spirit was born of out of the desire "that salvation should be declared unto every create." ( verse 3 ) I find in the sons of Mosiah's desire the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ, or in other words, that pure love which motivates one to do good. Consequently, the sons of Mosiah sought their f...

Mosiah 15:18-31 I am having a hard time following the natural flow of the chapter, as there are certain specific things that the Holy Spirit would point out for my immediate attention. Fore example, this morning I was stuck on the footnote for the word "foundation" found in verse 19, which linked to Mosiah 4:6 . This reminder of endurance to the end based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the reminder that the Holy Spirit would have me to understand this morning. Now it is another morning, and I am brought to consider the footnote on the word "peace" found in verse 18 . There are references to the books of Micah and John, reaffirming that peace will be established through Jesus Christ. Almost universally everyone understands what peace is. Yet few there are that understand that peace can only come through faith on Jesus Christ, who is the "founder of peace," through whom the redemption and salvation of the whole human family had been prepared from the ...

Mosiah 15:1-10 Immediately after quoting this extended passage from Isaiah, Abinadi explains that "God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people." This one statement puts to an end the ambiguity, and confusion of religion and gives me a clear and direct line of belief. This is the what and the why of my belief. Verses 2 - 5 cannot be lightly passed over because they offer profound context for one of the greatest theological mysteries of our times. Especially helpful are the footnotes which reference a multitude of other scriptural sources that state the same thing: that Christ is one God, the Son of God and the Eternal Father of heaven and earth.  The verses leading up to verse 8 demonstrate how Christ was able to overcome and break the bands of death. It impresses me that this is as much in reference to the spiritual death as it is to the physical death. Verse 9 puts it in these terms: "having broken the bands of death, taken upon ...

The Words of Mormon This morning I find myself thinking about the gentle Lord, Christ Jesus, and even as I read these words of commentary by the prophet historian Mormon, I find that his primary motivation for the decisions that he made as he was compiling this collection of records was whether or not the accounts would increase faith in Christ. And so he explains that while creating an abridged account of the plates of Nephi (this was from the record of the kings, containing a full account of the history of his people), that he had discovered a record containing prophecies concerning the coming of Christ from Nephi and other prophets. It ended with the Amaleki's account of King Benjamin. In verse 5 , Mormon states that he will finish making his abridgment from the plates of Nephi (the record of the kings). Mormon's singular motivation is conveyed in verse 8 : And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the rede...

 2 Nephi 21:4-5 In this context, I find it difficult to quantify righteousness. If I were asked to explain righteousness, I can only point to God and say: He is righteousness. There is no set prescription of tasks that can fully embody the righteousness of God. So it does become something of a dilemma to be able to fully comprehend what it means to be righteous as Christ and God the Father are righteous beings. Yet the dilemma is worth investigation, inasmuch as we are commanded to become like Them. The first set of footnotes in verse 4 on the term righteousness points to God Himself as the definition of righteousness. Whatever God does is righteousness. The remainder of this verse describes what Christ does with His righteousness. It is the source of power which enables Christ to judge, reprove, punish, and destroy. And to what end? Christ executes righteousness to clear a path for the meek and poor of His people. I see in these verses how Christ is able to prepare the way for ...

2 Nephi 15:20 "Wo..." The list of condemnations that Isaiah pronounces against the house of Israel in his day continues. Yet, these condemnations are so applicable to me in my day. "unto them that call evil good..." There are footnotes on both "call" and "evil". The footnote that emphasizes "call" condemns those that would take judgment upon themselves, assuming that they know better than the Lord what is good and what is evil. Moroni reminds us in chapter 7, verses 14 &18 that we should not judge wrongfully, judging the evil thing to be of God, or that which is of God to be evil. Most importantly, at the end of verse 18, Moroni states, "For with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged." This is a very interesting thought, that as I choose to treat and perceive others, so shall I be treated and perceived by God in the end. There is something of a secret in becoming like God in this simple observation. ...

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.

1 Nephi 14:1-2 I am compelled by the significance of these first two verses this morning. Once the Book of Mormon is brought forth, there is a significant promise attached to it: Christ shall manifest himself in word and power to those who "hearken" (listen and obey) to Him. And the way that we should know it is by the removal of our stumbling blocks. Stumbling blocks are the weakness that God gives us a mortals. God gives us weaknesses so that we may choose to humble ourselves before Him. There would be no need for a Savior if we where already perfected, but then there would be no progression, no learning, no opposition, no experience, etc. See also Ether 12:27. These blessings are contingent upon our humility, but are also extended to us indefinitely upon the land of promise, if we continue to listen to and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Nephi 10:1-15 This is the first prophecy specifically about the coming of the Savior. Sequentially speaking, Nephi seems to now be adding additional insights from his father's vision. At the end of chapter 8, he says that his father also prophesied many things unto them and then ceased speaking (see 1 Nephi 8:38 ). Now having emphasized again the purpose for the record, he notes the details of these prophecies. This first prophecy of the Savior seems pivotal in establishing the tapestry of prophecies about the Savior that are woven throughout the Book of Mormon. It allows me as a reader to understand the global scope of the gospel of Christ. "Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer." ( vs. 6 ) As one of the first explanations which specifically outlines these core teachings, it is interesting to note the context in which it is given. The universality of this prophecy and the historical scope of th...

1 Nephi 8:3 With the passing of President Hinckley, I've had opportunity to step back and have been reminded that this is the Church of Christ, not of President Hinckley, not of President Monson (who most likely will become his successor). It's really in the timing of little things by which this reminder comes. Little administrative things that point to Christ, instead of drawing attention to the current leadership. Lehi, too, found reasons to rejoice in the Lord--because of Nephi and Sam. I can hardly put into words this morning the reassurances that I feel that this is the Lord's work and that He is with this Church, and that this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its leadership are on course for His return, whenever that is.

One activity that I feel gives my study of the Book of Mormon more significance is to figure out how the Book of Mormon substantiates its own claims to be "Another Testament of Christ". So this morning, I'm only three chapters into it again, asking myself, "What have I learned about Christ thus far?" Or better yet, "How does what I've read thus far validate the Christ and what he teaches? " One of the prevalent themes is obedience to commandment. Lehi preached unto the people the things the Lord had commanded him to do. Then he was obedient to the Lord's commandment to take his family and leave Jerusalem. The promises that Nephi receives are predicated upon obedience to the Lord's commandments. How does this testify of the Christ? Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And be made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; ( Hebrews 5:8&9 ) Christ was obedie...