A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 7:22-27 This is a powerful conclusion to a discourse given to a righteous people. In verse 22 , Alma expresses his desire for the people is that "ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received." This is a fascinating observation and desire, that one may walk blameless before God. With such desires, we see that we are not set up to fail, but to succeed. Verses 23 and 24 contain the outline of discipleship: Humility Submissiveness Gentle Easily entreated Patient Long-suffering Temperate  Diligent in obedience to God's commandments Praying for all needs both temporal and spiritual Always giving thanks Faith Hope Charity Each of these topics is worthy of extended personal study, so that I might better understand and cultivate these principles in my life. The final three verses of this chapter seem to be about as close to "happily ever after" as you might find in the scriptures. Alma is hopeful...

Alma 5:15-19 Picking up where we left off yesterday, Alma goes through another set of probing questions designed to till the ground, turn over the dirt that had grown hard to allow for increased growth among the people. Of course, I speak figuratively, drawing a parallel to gardening. The reality that Alma is illustrating in the minds of the people is the eventual judgment before the tribunal of God. He reminds the people of their resurrected and perfected state in which they will have a perfect knowledge of all their guilt. But he doesn't start into this group of questions that way. In verses 15 and 16 , the questions that Alma poses are actually optimistic and upbeat. Yet that almost has the effect of being more condemning and of greater cause for self-interrogation. Consider these questions: " Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?" "Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corrupti...

2 Nephi 19:3-5 Verse 3 lists blessings or results of the "light" shining upon the house of Israel. Specifically, it mentions two blessings: 1) that he had multiplied the nation, and 2) that he had increased their joy. This first blessing has reference to the ancient covenant that the Lord made with Abraham (see Abraham 2:9 ) in that he would make of Abraham's posterity a great nation. By the time of Isaiah, the fulfillment of this promise had already been brought to pass. This second blessing, an increase of joy, is later described in this third verse as a joy similar to that which is experienced in a fruitful harvest, or the spoil obtained after a long fought battle. These comparisons make me to think that this joy is the result of something that had been desired for a long season, and more so which is the result of a long period of labor, comparable to all the work that goes into bringing about a fruitful harvest. Verse 4 explains the cause for this increase of joy: t...

1 Nephi 21: 16-21 These are some exciting verses that illustrates the surprise of a desolated House of Israel at the righteous posterity that will be raised up to possess the promised land. Verse 16 is profoundly moving and encouraging. The Lord describes his capacity to remember us in terms of his suffering and crucifixion by saying, "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." This is the evidence that the Lord Jesus Christ gives that he will not forsake His people and that He will honor the covenant that He has made with the House of Israel. What follows are reassuring words of hope in the promise of a righteous posterity. "Thy children shall make haste against thy destroyers,"( vs 17 ). This seems to suggests that whatever was a struggle for us in our day and time shall be much easier to overcome for the next generation that is brought up in righteousness. "Lift up thine eyes round about and behold; all these gather themselves together, and they shal...