A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 11:21-37 The premise for this very decisive debate between Amulek and Zeezrom, the lawyer, is found in the statement "I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord" in verse 22 . In same verse, Zeezrom, the lawyer, states that he will pay Amulek six ontis of silver (see previous post ) if he denies the existence of God. Immediately in verse 23 and 24 , Amulek makes a very bold set of accusations against the accusing lawyer. Perhaps, I shouldn't be looking at Amulek's statements as defensive accusations though. Rather, remembering that he is speaking by the power of the Spirit, these are statements of truth. (This isn't a name-calling competition.) So when Amulek declares Zeezrom to be "a child of hell" perhaps this is statement of realization, even on the part of Amulek. Maybe, the Spirit of the Lord is giving Amulek the words to say in the very moment that he is saying them, offering both instruction and perspective to Amulek as t...

Alma 10:13-32 Immediately upon hearing the testimony of Amulek, some of those that were present saw an opportunity to profit financially from the situation. These were lawyers. The scriptures here detail the motives of those that sought to oppose Alma and Amulek. Despite being able to manipulate public perception of the Lord's chosen servants according to their training and craft, what these lawyers did not know and what they did not expect was that Amulek was able to discern their thoughts and reveal their wicked intentions.(see vs. 17 ) It is then recorded Amulek's response to his discernment of the lawyers' cunning devices and wickedness. What the people don't get yet is that Amulek's response is motivated by discernment. Rather they assume that he is bent on reviling against their written law. What I find intriguing is that Amulek doesn't start out giving irrefutable evidence of his ability to perceive their thoughts. This doesn't come until much later. ...

Mosiah 28:10-20 (Such are the mercies of the Lord upon me when I do not feel worthy to receive the instruction that He sends me, yet He does it anyways.) I'm not sure how to get from point A to point B in this explanation, however there are important truths found in the footnotes of this section. I should also preface this study with a reminder that I have recently been impressed with the importance of the heart in discerning spiritual matters, for the Spirit of God communicates through the mind and the heart working together. ( Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 ) As was mentioned back in Mosiah 21 in the conversation between Ammon the scout and king Limhi, "king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret... engravings."At this point in the record, we learn that king Mosiah had no one to confer the kingdom upon because all of his sons had gone off to preach to the Lamanites. This caused him to prepare the records that he had in his possession to be transferred. The ...

Mosiah 13:1-10 King Noah commands at the start of this chapter that Abinadi be taken, bound, and put away. The king discounted the prophet as a mad man, stating that he had no more business with this "fellow." Perhaps, but really what seems to be going on here is that Noah is being reminded of things that he already knows to be wrong. What is most fascinating about these verses is the power of the priesthood authority that is manifested as Abinadi uses it to deliver the message which he was sent to give. Guards attempt to lay hands upon him to take him away. He withstands them with words, the words of God, and it is so profoundly received that they who should have taken him away will not touch him. Later, his countenance begins to shine "with exceeding luster, even as Moses’ did while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord." Once Abinadi comes to realize that he has a captive audience, or that they cannot prevail against him at that time, Abinadi helps ...

Mosiah 12:17-19 There is a footnote in verse 19 on the word "withstand," stating that Abinadi was able to withstand all the wicked priests' questions. The footnote leads to Doctrine and Covenants 100:5-6 which describes the spiritual gift used by Abinadi. In my opinion, this requires a great deal of faith to execute: Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say. How do I keep myself in such a mood of Spiritual discernment that I may be able to hear the Spirit whispering to my heart? There is more to this instruction, because I find myself this morning asking if I have ever been able to do this: to speak in the very moment that it is needed. There are a few choice experiences where in capacity as a ward missionary I have been blessed to do so. I suppose I was con...

2 Nephi 2:26-30 In these verses is one of the undergirding doctrines that supports all of humanity, not exclusively the Latter-day Saints. As the fall of man necessarily and universally removed him from God's presence, so it is that the redemption through the Holy Messiah overcomes the effects of that enough in this life to make men free agents for themselves to choose between good and evil. At the most basic level, the power to discern is a gift from God available to all men. This is similar to the idea that I had discussed in an earlier post (the post was actually made in Spanish but was in reference to verses 9 and 10 ), that Christ had interceded on behalf of all, or in other words, prepared a path of redemption for all men. Even in verse 27 , he is called "the great Mediator of all men".