A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 31:24-38 I've read through this once. I will comment tomorrow. Today's action item - Pray to perceive the reality of my situation with my own children and family members. Day Two: I'm struck by how torn up and afflicted Alma is because of the iniquities of the Zoramites. Verse 31 is the apex of Alma's petition. O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people. (emphasis added) Today's action item - Pray to find ways to help my children understand better that our stability is critically dependent upon our faith in Christ. Teach them that their success in life will be dependent upon their faith in Christ. Day Three: In the middle of Alma's prayer, amidst his request for comfort, in verse 32 he adds a request for success. O Lord, wilt tho...

Mosiah 24:8-15 This group of verses deals with the captivity of the people of Alma under the rule of Amulon in the land of Helam. For context, Alma and Amulon at one point in history where fellow high priest under the wicked reign of King Noah. Alma repented of his wickedness, fled from the king, and eventually moved on with a group of believers to establish the land of Helam where they were found presently. Amulon, on the other hand, narrowly escaped his own death by running deeper into the wilderness when King Noah was burned at the stake. He and the remainder of those wicked priests went on to kidnap a group of Lamanite daughters, causing war between the Lamanites and the people of Limhi (King Noah's righteous son), and now in a cruel twist of events, Amulon has won favor with the Lamanites so that upon discovering the land of Helam, Amulon is made to rule over the people of Alma. Bondage would have been hard enough under the Lamanites, but to have their appointed ruler hold a p...

1 Nephi 5:1-5 Father Lehi comforted his wife, Sariah, who was mourning the possible loss of her sons with his testimony. He didn't remain silent, he wasn't domineering, he didn't beat around the bush. Humbly he expresses his convictions to his wife in a progression of events, ending with this reassurance, "I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness." These assurance surely must have been at some point concerns in Lehi's own heart. I suspect Lehi was like my own father and spent much time praying in behalf of his children. Such prayers bring strength and peace of mind.

1 Nephi 4: 18-38 When the servant of Laban discovers that he had been deceived and that his master was in fact dead, he was filled with fear and attempted to flee from Nephi and his brothers. Nephi, after exerting his physical strength upon Zoram, comforts him by explaining to Zoram their situation, covenanting with him, and then ultimately assuring him that they are being obedient to the Lord. These things gave Zoram courage to take his journey with them. That Nephi and his brothers were successful at persuading others to come along with them, Zoram and later on Ishmael and his family, is evidence of the reality of their situation at Jerusalem.