A Study of the Book of Mormon

 Alma 38:13-15 Three simple verses at the end of this chapter that teach me how to pray and be humble. It seems likes such a small set of instructions, especially compared to what Alma gave to Helaman, but I find the points that he chooses to emphasis here, extremely important in teaching prayer and one's proper attitude towards prayer. None of us really have the advantage before God. (That's not to say that he that keeps the commandments, and doeth the will of the Father, isn't approved of Him.) But there is this simple issue of humility that is required of all men when they approach the throne of the Almighty. Thus Alma counsels Shiblon: Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. ( vs.14 ) Christ taught similarly: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a public...

Alma 38:7-12 Alma counsels Shiblon to "bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love." ( vs. 12 ) Not only is this a key insight to happy living, but this is a significant explanation as to why commandments, and why obedience matters. Being passionate about something is good, being driving and motivated to accomplish good works is important, but being filled with love, that is best. In yesterday's study, we established how spiritual knowledge is a gift of God. In today's readings though, there is agency front and center as Alma explains that "never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins." ( vs. 8 ) It strikes me as significant that though God's grace is a gift given, it means nothing to us until we actively turn to receive it. We still have to choose it. We have to want it. ---- Come back to verse 9 tomorrow. I read this verse, and I realized this is why I have pursued the path...

Alma 33:18-23 This is the second time that this theme is repeated in the Book of Mormon. Nephi was the first to mention it back in 1 Nephi 17:40-41 . The idea of over-complicating truth is one of the main ideas that I get from this. Many would not believe that looking on the brazen serpent that Moses lifted up because it was too simple a thing to believe in. (The account in Numbers 21 does not point out that there were those who did not believe, and consequently died because of their disbelief.) Alma points out that the reason that some of the Israelites perished was because they would not believe. Then he asked the Zoramites if they would choose to be healed by just looking, would they not do so quickly. But as he continues to inquire of them, I come to realize that Alma isn't saying: it worked for them, wouldn't that be neat if that were available to us? NO! What Alma is saying is: this type was available to them to help them understand how easy it was to be healed. Th...

Alma 32:7-20 This group of verses, a discussion on humility unto repentance, reminds me that much more blessed is the man who compels himself to be humble because of the word of God than because of his own poverty or other personally humbling circumstances. As I've studied these verses, I've cross referenced over to Matthew 5 and re-read this first chapter of the Sermon on the Mount. "I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye." ( Alma 32:8 ) These people come to Alma with something of a "victim's mentality." They fully believed that they could not worship God because of their poverty. (see vs. 9-11 ) I've spent a little time trying to understand how God acts when he affixes a curse. Re-reading the follwing verses this morning has caused me to reflect on my own life, and what a significant influence these verses have had in my life from the time that I was in my adolescence. 13 And now, because ye are compelled to b...

Alma 27:27-30 This description of the Ammonites or the people of Ammon at the end of this chapter causes me to consider a couple of awesome facts: First, that when repentance and the Atonement of Christ has full sway on an individual or community, their final state is more pure, more refined, and more improved than had they never sinned at all. Don't get me wrong in thinking that I'm excusing sin of any degree in the least by making this statement, but the reality is that, we all need to be cleansed and improved upon in this life, sinners and saints alike. But as I read this description of discipleship in these verses, I cannot help but think that this people sound to be among the most choice of God's people to have ever walked the earth. Second, even though His name appears three times in these four verses, I some how am still glossing over the reality that this is the effect that Jesus Christ and faith in His name can have upon me. Perhaps it alludes me because of...

Alma 26:8-16 Verse 9 is a statement that stands opposite to the "if-only" sentiment. And it starts with this phrase: "if we had not". It is a phrase and a statement that is encased in gratitude and recognizes the inherent value of hard work. But the thought that is engendered here is a sober one:  For if we had not come up out of the land of Zarahemla, these our dearly beloved brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God. ( vs. 9 , emphasis added) What is so miraculous about this particular account was that thousands of Lamanites were brought to the light. Without such unprecedented faith in God, this would have never been realized. They sought to do something that had never been done before, and succeeded. --- The Book of Mormon is an exceptional text for illustrating the challenges that arise from success or prosperity. In verse 10 , as Ammon is making note of...

Alma 7:10-14 I have for many years taken for granted that when the scriptures talk about Mary as a virgin, that this was just a given. I simply assumed that was just who she was. When in reality this is who she chose to be. It was a deliberate choice to keep herself clean and pure, that then qualified her for the role that she was blessed to receive. The same realization must be made of our Savior. When the scriptures talk of his "suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind," what we must see is that, indeed,  He chose to "take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people." ( vs. 11 ) Another thought, that I find to be almost as paradoxical as it is true (and it is this way with most everything in the Gospel of Christ), is that we are to try to comprehend the infinite Atonement of Christ, when our minds are limited to the finite. The reality is that we will never be able to fully understand it in our present mortal state. We cannot comprehen...

Mosiah 29:1-38 A unique milestone in the history of the Nephite nation is addressed in an epistle to the people from King Mosiah, for they were desirous to continue under the leadership of a king.  King Mosiah, though being the third king from King Mosiah (his grandfather, see Omni 1:12-13 ) to lead the people under righteousness, presents the people with an alternative form of government. An interesting side thought is the reason for this change. The rightful heir to the throne, Aaron -- the son of Mosiah, has rejected the throne because of his desires to serve as a missionary. The decision to reject the throne was a radical decision based on righteous motives. The blessing that resulted to the benefit of the people was of greater good than anything that he could have done for the kingdom as king. Missionary work blesses both those directly and indirectly involved in it. In verse 11 , after presenting an interesting yet not entirely improbable scenario of rebellion,  Mosiah p...

Mosiah 4:24-30 In these verse, King Benjamin has a few more words to say in regards to caring for the poor. These words however are curious in that he is addressing those who are poor (in material goods) and how they ought to approach charitable giving. He concludes that group of verses by say that "all things should be done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man run faster than he has strength." He goes on to say that diligence is required, concluding that "all things must be done in order." ( verse 27 ) At the end of the chapter, King Benjamin makes an impassioned plea to avoid sin in all its forms. The responsibility is ultimately individual. "Watch yourselves." The footnote leads to Deuteronomy 4:9(6-9) , wherein Moses is reminding the children of Israel the distinct advantage that they have over all other nations. He asks them, "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all thin...

Mosiah 3:20-27 This is about faith and repentance. The time will come when everyone will be required to exercise faith on the Lord Jesus Christ or perish... there will be no more blameless , except those that King Benjamin had already addressed earlier in this chapter. Because the words which King Benjamin had shared with his people, they had become subject to the demands of justice. And every one of them were to be judged according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil. ( see 22-24 ) Verses 25 to 27 address the horrible state of they that are evil. It impresses me that it is the choice to do evil, to be evil that consigns them (the wicked) to become keenly aware of their guilt and wicked works. Such a course of choice will disqualify anyone from the claims of mercy. Therefore, what we choose to do in this life does matter.

Jacob 4:14-18 There are several interesting thoughts presented in these final verses that could be each treated individually. For example, verse 14 talks about God ultimately allowing all of his children to do what they will do, even if it will lead to their destruction. "...And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble." Not that God will take away the consequences of bad behavior, but He does work according to our desires. On the the flip side, if our desires are God's desires, then how great are the blessings that will result. Another interesting thought: the stone, or the sure foundation, which God had given the Jews to build upon. When Jacob gave this prophecy, he was anticipating that the Jews would reject "the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation." ( vs. 15 ) Jacob goes further to say that this stone is the only way that God will provide for their redemption. Jacob also knows that God will redeem His people. So...