A Study of the Book of Mormon

Mosiah 12:1-8 This is a good case study in what it means to have a hardened heart. This is important to properly understand the relationship between us and the Lord, because to have a hardened heart is essentially to have withdrawn from the presence and the Spirit of the Lord.We cut off the lifeline of Life, our relationship to the Divine, and attempt to take salvation into our own hands, which is hopelessly impossible. The Lord doesn't offer more than a second chance to these people who are already deeply engulfed in sin. Pestilence, plagues, and destruction are prophesied of in these verses. Then at the end of this prophecy, Abinadi explains that if there is no repentance that the only thing that will be left of their people is a record which will stand as a witness of their destruction. The first footnote in this chapter is on the word "prophecy" but it leads to the Topical Guide entry for "Missionary Work." At first glance, I asked myself, "What does th...

2 Nephi 6:8-10 "After they had hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold, the judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them..." ( vs 10 ). These judgments are real, because God is real. There are consequences for rebellion against God. That God can talk to us and give us personal instruction is real. If we go against that instruction, then the consequences for go against that are real. Where a blessing from God is extended and then not received, the wrath of God is upon them. So even though, the Jews never had accepted the Savior when he came, never even acknowledged that this was the one. The reality was that God was there, so that the opportunity was there and missed. The challenge then is to be where God is. Do what God is doing. Being in harmony with God's work and timing. The Jews on the contrary looked for someone other than the God that had covenanted with their fathers, a different God.