A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 32:21 ...therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. In other words: Faith is a hope of things which are true, which are not seen. ( At first I had written "cannot be seen," but that's not correct. ) Why do we need to hope for things that are true? If it's true, then isn't that just a fact of reality. How can faith make of absolute truth (that which is unchangeable), how can it change truth into a variable which requires action? Actually, it's not the truth that is the variable, it is the faith that becomes the variable. The phrase "according to your faith" seems to echo this sentiment. (see Matthew 9:28-29 , D & C 8:10-11 ). Faith is the variable, and Truth is the constant against which we are given to act. God is the most invariable truth in the universe. Jesus Christ and the reality of His atonement -- these are truths that are unchangeable. In fact, they will not change. The love of God is con...

Alma 22:1-14 The start of this chapter takes pains again ( see previous chapter ) to explain that the Spirit of the Lord did lead Aaron and his brethren to the house of the king over all the land of Nephi, except that part which the king had recently separated and given to his son, Lamoni. The geo-political details are not nearly as important here as the fact that it was the Spirit of the Lord that led them there. They didn't go because they were directed to go by Ammon, though Ammon was the one who relayed the referral. They didn't go because there was nothing else for them to do, and they felt like shooting for the stars. They went because the Spirit of the Lord led them there. (see vs. 1 ) They may not even have known that this was where they were headed, like Nephi trying to get the brass plates, taking one step at a time. On the other hand, maybe they did fully know exactly where they were going and in what context they were coming. Because after all, Ammon had just rescue...

2 Nephi 15:24-25 "Therefore, as the fire..." Footnote on "fire" has at least two implied meanings: The light that emanates from Christ himself. Those faithful remnants of the house of Israel in the last days (see 3 Nephi 20:16 ). This second thought I had not considered. This suggests that the Saints will be the ones that are doing work in the latter days. While the scripture referenced above sounds rather destructive, I recall reading just last evening that the Saint's power to lead in the last days would be noted because of their unique capacity towards kindness and Christ-like compassion. So where the scripture talk of destruction of the wicked and power to consume, which in a sense is calculated to bring fear into the hearts of the wicked, the reality of the issue is that the power and capacity for good that is exhibited by the Saints will be increased. Their works will be works of kindness, love, and great mercy. Yet ironically, in the hearts of the wicked,...

2 Nephi 15:1-7 Vs 1 - A parable about "God's mercy and Israel's unresponsiveness,"(see the chapter heading). Israel is described in this verse as being located on a "very fruitful hill." Vs 2 - God prepares a choice vineyard, attending to every needful element in its preparations to bring forth good grapes. So diligent were His preparations, that He looked expecting grapes, but instead He found wild grapes. Herein is the premise for the remainder of the chapter. Vs 3 - Jerusalem and the men of Judah are asked to think about this thing and determine if there was anything more that God could have done, in all reality, for his people, that he didn't do, so that they might have brought forth good fruit. Vs 4 - This verse reinforces verse two where it says the Lord expected to find grapes, good fruit, as a result of His labors. He drives home the point with a question: "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?"...

Mormon 9 Vs. 6 - Cry for mercy and forgiveness. Here is a good description of a penitent soul: spotless, fair, and white. Vs. 7 - And to those that deny the gift of the Spirit: Knoweth not the gospel of Christ. He has not read the Scriptures (Even worse) If he has, he does not understand them.  God  does not change, never.  If God did change, He would not be a God of Miracles.  -Moroni then briefly describes the plan of God and then asks: "Has all this come to passs?" (The judgment obviously hasn't.) Vs. 22 - Another scripture about the role of the three disciples who should tarry. -Their commandment and commission is to preach the word of God/the Gospel unto every creature. It is a requirement of boldness. Vs. 23 - The importance of baptism; the requirement of belief for salvation.  Though the chapter is hard for me to understand (maybe because it is just that simple), this one thing I caught: that God doesn't work miracles among the children of men because...