A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 18:18-43 There are a couple of items that are assumed here. Ammon is working by power. And now King Lamoni is recognizing that power: the power to discern the thoughts of his heart, the power to slay the enemies of the king. Lamoni tells Ammon that if he will explain to him how he has this power, that he would in turn give him up to half of his kingdom. This power that Lamoni recognizes, he sees as extremely valuable. In verse 20 , King Lamoni demands, "tell me by what power ye slew and smote off the arms of my brethren that scattered my flocks." The king goes on in the following verse to explain that he would give armed guard to protect Ammon, but that he recognized Ammon as more powerful than his armies, "But I know that thou art more powerful than all they;" ( vs. 21 ). Now to put what follows into proper context, I have been brought to consider a talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland given as instruction to new mission presidents regarding the importance of teac...

These remarks may be construed as boastful, but they are inspired out of a spirit of profound gratitude. I am very grateful this morning for the council that has lead me to start each day out with a period of study in the scriptures. I am grateful to start each study with a prayer to my God, who is also my Father. This morning as I concluded my prayer, I felt the same regard, respect, appreciation, and love towards my Heavenly Father that I have had towards my own father and other men whom I have held in close personal regard. The reality of God as my Father personally, whom I can love with all the same endearing affections as I have my own mortal father, has been impressed upon my mind this morning. 2 Nephi 8:13-25 As I have read through the remainder of 2 Nephi 8 , verses 13-25 , the Lord is explaining to His people His personal commitment to them. In verse 16 , He concludes with this simple statement, "Behold, thou art my people." Throughout the remainder of this chapter, ...

2 Nephi 2:9-13 As it is not so much my intention to offer an comprehensive study of the scriptures, but to make a record of impressions that I receive along the course of my study, I proceed with this entry under this pretext. Following the footnotes for opposition, I come to Matthew 5:45 where the Savior taught to pray for everyone, especially for those with wicked intentions, to the end that we may become children of our Father in Heaven. Not that we will become set apart to some other, more elevated sphere of ecstasy. By praying for our enemies, we humble ourselves to caring about the depraved and godless. We make them our concern, our hearts are turned toward them. Then perhaps we see them more as our Father sees them. Then we become children of God, because we begin to see others the way that God sees them. We feel for them like our Father feels for them. We become like God in this sense. Thus the Savior of man says at the end of chapter 5 in Matthew, "Be ye therefore perfe...