A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 22:27-35 What appears to be mostly a lesson in geo-political borders during the time of the Nephites and Lamanites, has me searching for something deeper. The author (Mormon) takes a moment to explain in words the layout of the land so that the we can get an appreciation for how far out the proclamation of the king of Lamanites was circulated. But I have to believe there is more here. As I approach my study of the Book of Mormon, there is this fundamental assumption: that everything included in the Book of Mormon is written to give a witness or testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. So if that is true (and it is), what do I learn about Christ from these verses? As the geography is described here, I get an image in my mind that the inhabitants of both the Nephite an Lamanite civilizations are located on the same continent. (Recent thoughts shared with me about the probability that the Lamanites and Nephites didn't literally have different skin colors, also supports the greater n...

Alma 5:20-25 In a more serious tone, Alma reminds his brethren of the need to be saved and the requirements of salvation. These verses pick up with the topic of purity and its necessity to enter into God's kingdom: ...For there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white ; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins. ( vs. 21 , emphasis added) Alma in verse 22 poses a question that causes me to consider my own personal worthiness. "How will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?"   Alma then goes on to accuse them of having blood stained garments, calling them murderers and being guilty of all manner of wickedness. On the one hand, this seems like an extreme accusation.  Where these people of Zarahemla actually guilty ...

2 Nephi 25:9-20 Nephi earlier in this chapter set out his intentions to be plain spoken and direct, and these verses are the evidence of his subsequent effort to do such. In very simple terms, Nephi explains why the Jews had been carried away into Babylon, and the cause of all their subsequent afflictions. Nephi states, "Behold, they will reject [Jesus Christ], because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks," ( vs. 12 ). It is a sobering thought that the answer is just that simple. Verse 16 talks about the elongation of this curse, "And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation, until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement which is infinite for all mankind--" Furthermore, there is a standard that Nephi describes in this same verse that must be met for the ...

2 Nephi 9:44-49 These verses have been in my mind for the last several days. They've caused me to reflect upon my responsibilities before God and in the successful execution of my church callings and assignments. I appreciate that value that Jacob places on wanting to be clean and pure before God. To remain clean from the blood and sins of his day, he understood his obligation as a leader to his people to teach them the consequences of sin. Jacob concludes this grouping of verses with these words: "Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God," ( vs 49 ).