A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 19:12-13 At the appointed time, king Lamoni awakens from his deep sleep, and there is his wife, the queen, waiting for him. The first words out of his mouth are these: "Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou." The first part of this statement makes sense. King Lamoni had just received a powerful witness of the reality of God, but he then gives the same blessing to his wife. Why? I am reminded of the statement of Nephi's brother Jacob, "Behold, the Lamanites your brethren... their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children... and one day they shall become a blessed people." ( Jacob 3:5-7 ) King Lamoni goes on to testify that he had seen his Redeemer, and then emphasis three points: "and he shall come forth," "and be born of a woman," "and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name." ( vs. 13 ) These are curious points of testimony for ...

Mosiah 25:1-13 Upon the arrival of the people of Alma to the land of Zarahemla, king Mosiah caused that the records that had been kept by the people of  Zeniff, and also the account of Alma, should be read among all the people of Zarahemla, which at this point in time now consisted of Nephites, Mulekites, and the newly joined people of Limhi and Alma (though they too were also descendants of Nephi). As I've contemplated the purposes for which king Mosiah would cause to read this history, there are a couple of thoughts that impress me about this. I am reminded also of President Hinckley's emphasis on our own pioneer history. Strategically, here king Mosiah had received a notable influx of new citizens among their own, the natural human tendency, without understanding of where they were coming from and what hardships they had endured, would probably have given way to gossiping and other forms of potentially harmful misunderstandings. To completely eradicate such a tendency, and t...

Mosiah 24:1-7 This is to me a very interesting group of verses. We have here the account of Amulon and the other former priests of King Noah and their subsequent rise in power among the Lamanite people. What is interesting about this situation is not the quest for power among these wicked men, but rather how it is that the Lord was able to use them as instruments of preparation without them knowing it. In saying this, what we might be tempted to conclude is that there needed to be this wickedness in order for righteousness to move forward. I would have to say that is not so. In no way, shape, or form was the salvation of God obtained by these wicked priest through their wickedness. Nor, interestingly enough, was it obtained for their children or their children's children.( Alma 24:14 ) However, what does come to mind here is that scripture that states: " Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men;" ( Doctrine and Covenants 3:...

Mosiah 4:13-15 There are indicators in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that allow us to gauge our spiritual progress. These verses from Mosiah are particularly useful for such measurement. What is difficult, however, is to find the motivation to change what doesn't line up with these standards. The Savior's beatitude in Matthew 5:6 is a starting point.  "Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Those that desire it, that hunger and thirst for righteousness, they are they that are filled and find even that which they were not looking for. As I have visited with those around me and as I consider my own exertions to change and repent, I realize that this is indeed very hard to do. However, in the realization that most often we are naturally inclined to turn away from repentance and change, I am coming to realize how a young high councilor once was able to encourage me to make sure I was working as hard as I could. It seemed to ...

Jacob 3:3-9 The more that I am experiencing this reality of the world that I am currently a part of, and the more that I consider the direction of the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days, it all makes perfect sense. For example, the revelation of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" that emphasized the importance of family in all countries and societies. We are only fifteen years from the time that that came about. Never has its warnings and instruction been more needed than now. Yet family, and the preservation of family has always been important to God and his prophets. The preservation of the Lamanites was based in part on the fact that they honored among themselves the basic structure of family. This they did by not violating commandments of fidelity and chastity among husbands and wives. Jacob observes in verse 7 how among the Lamanites, their husbands and wives love each other, and both husbands and wives love their children. Perhaps those he was speaking...

2 Nephi 18:18 reads like this: Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion. "Behold," a call for attention to this statement which is one of the few times there is mention of family in the words of Isaiah. "I and the children," A father to children relationship --the entity of the family. Mother was probably not included in this statement either out of respect (or reverence) for her place in the family, or perhaps, because of social customs that had evolved out of a patriarchal society. Though she is referenced at the beginning of the chapter as a "the prophetess". "the children whom the Lord hath given me," Psalms 127:3 also reads, " Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord : and the fruit of the womb is his reward. " These verses are a recognition of the truth that our children are not really ours, but are on loan from...

2 Nephi 1:24-32 In these verses at the end of the chapter, I get a sense of the finality of Lehi's words. He puts into proper perspective the relationship between Nephi and his brothers. To have been Nephi in this situation was one of those rare and humbling moments of affirmation, that only a true disciples of Christ would be permitted to experience. After Lehi sets straight Nephi's position, he gives (what is much more than an endorsement) instruction that if they listen and obey the councils of Nephi then they would be blessed in their new land of promise. What Lehi had witnessed in Nephi is the resting of the prophetic mantel upon Nephi. Lehi had the absolute assurance that Nephi was prepared to take on the full leadership responsibilities of his family. The Lord had blessed Nephi, and Lehi promised his other children that they too would be blessed if they followed Nephi.

2 Nephi 1:13-23 The natural course for one who has experienced the joy of redemption is to extend those blessings to others. In fact, it becomes their "obsession" to see that the opportunities for salvation are extended to all. This is where Lehi is found: having partaken of the glories of God -- receiving the assurance of salvation for himself -- and now he longs (with that affection that only a parent could feel for a child) that every member of his family be the recipients of the same blessings and promises. Lehi uses phrases like "Awake"and "arise from the dust" to illustrate to his sons their failure to partake of the glories of God--vivid descriptions of the perilous course that his older sons had chosen to follow.

1 Nephi 18:4-8 The results of Nephi's ship building was that it caused his brothers to humble themselves again before the Lord. The footnote on this verse reminds us back in Chapter 16, after Nephi had explained to his brothers the meaning of their father's vision, that they humbled themselves so much so that Nephi had great hopes that finally they were changing. This experience again seems to have worked a similar response from his brothers. Nephi couldn't have hoped for more. Humility is the very essence of righteousness and the proper way to align oneself before the Lord. So at the time that they, as a family, prepared to board the ship, it appears that they were all in the paths of righteousness. Together they gathered their seeds, meats, and all other provisions that would be necessary for them to make the voyage across the sea. Its also noteworthy that though Nephi constructed the ship, Lehi was the one, as the family patriarch, that received the directions from the ...

1 Nephi 5:6 The footnote to "comfort" in this verse is "TG-Comfort; Family, Love within." Under the listing "Family, Love within" are found some of the following: 1 John 2:10 - "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him." (This is a powerful promise of perfection.) Moroni 8:17 - "And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love... wherefore I love little children with a perfect love..." "Where love is, there God is also."

1 Nephi 3:1-4 Upon returning from speaking with the Lord, Lehi meets Nephi and gives him instructions to return to Jerusalem for the scriptural record. Why didn't the Lord prompt them to have the foresight to gather the records before they left? There are several considerations. Lehi's exiled status may have made it difficult to impossible to accomplish this thing on his own. Perhaps this was a way of emphasizing the importance of having the scriptures in their possession. (Sacrifice helps us to appreciate what we have sacrificed for. ) Nephi had just spoken with the Lord, where the Lord had given him a promise that if he kept all the Lord's commandments he would be made a ruler and teacher ( 1 Nephi 2:22 ). Much quicker than he had anticipated, the Lord was going to prove to Nephi the fulfillment of His promises. This new commandment came by way of Lehi, yet Lehi was not to come with his sons back to Jerusalem. This is thus setting up the perfect catalyst for Nephi to test...

Ether 7 Vs. 5 - Captivity came quickly among the people. Within two generations, it happened. Jared's great-grandson revolted. I believe [that] to understand this chapter, we ust establish black and white, the good and the bad. (There were kings who ruled in righteousness, but did they have the scriptures? There is no mention of them, is there?) First there was Orihah , (righteous, walked humbly before the Lord - GOOD), who begat Kib (It doesn't say how Kib was, but his son rebelled against him), who begat Corihor (He rebelled against his father and brought him into captivity) and later Shule (He was born in captivity and rebelled against his brother [Corihor], restoring the kingdom to Kib [his father]. Kib then, because of his old age, gives it to Shule. He ruled in righteousness. Corihor [Shule's brother] repents of his sins, and received power in his brother's kingdom.). Corihor begat Noah . (He rebels: Noah and Cohor [brothers], these guys rebelled and gave bat...