A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 39:1 On family dynamics: Alma starts into his council towards his son, Corianton, by what appears to be a comparison to his older brother. This isn't a comparison though.  Rather this is guidance and a testimony of the power of "a good example". There is a footnote here that I will delve into deeper tomorrow. --- I have spent a small amount of time reviewing scripture that talk of example. I like how it is also equated with light, leadership, standard of righteousness, and pattern.  We are commanded to be an example of what we believe. In John 13 , the Savior says, "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Then two verses later, He adds " If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." The relationship between testimony and conversion is thus put into its proper place here. Why are we commanded to be an example of the believers? Why should we let our light shine before men that they can glorify...

Mosiah 26:1-13 A serious and difficult situation is addressed in this chapter of the Book of Mormon. We learn in the opening verses that the rising generation, those who where not old enough to understand the words of King Benjamin, had not shared in the faith of their fathers. The narrator of this chapter even goes so far as to say that "they were a separate people as to their faith." ( vs. 4 ) The cause of this separation was noted simply: And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened. ( vs. 3 ) Both of these emphasized words also have footnotes attached to them in the original. Thus we see that knowledge of the things of God is predicated upon faith. For it is impossible to acquire a true understanding of those things that are true without first believing that they are true. This becomes an issue of serious concern for two reasons: 1) these children of the rising generation were not joining themselves to the c...

Omni 1:14-19,27-30 The difference between a righteous leader and one who is lead by their own ambitions is inadvertently addressed in this verses. It still impresses me how one righteous leader can make such an impact and influence for good on others. How is it that a righteous leader leads? By persuasion and by instruction. In these verses, King Mosiah and his people discover a land that is inhabited by another people, who language had become corrupt and who had lost all knowledge of any existence of their Creator. Verse 18 is pivotal. "But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language." The way to end the corruption was to teach them. The situation is an interesting one. King Mosiah and his people are the refugees, yet they have with them the plates of brass, and have maintained their language and their faith in God.  In very next verse, Mosiah is appointed king over the land. There was no hostile invasion; no show of arms. Quiet and peacefu...

Jarom1:1-7 Jarom's primary reason for making his record was to preserve the genealogy of his people, according to the commandment that he had received of his father, Enos. He also understands that the primary benefactors will be the Lamanites at some future date.( verse 1 ) Though he had prophecies and revelations of his own, one of the marks of Jarom's humility is that he points to what had already been written by Nephi, Jacob, and Enos, explaining that the plan of Salvation had already been revealed by them. ( verse 2 ) After explaining the difference between the Nephites (a God-fearing people, vs 5 ) and the Lamanites (a blood-thirsty group, vs 6 ), Jarom explains how the leadership of the Nephites caused their people to prevail against the Lamanites. "Our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord;" ( verse 7 ). Mighty men of faith teach the ways of the Lord to the people, and thus the people are strengthened...

2 Nephi 15:13 These verses are so very rich in descriptions as they relate to the conditions under which the House of Israel crumbled. We continue in this verse to build on the "Wo" pronounced upon Israel in verse 11 , where we learn that the resources that were allocated to Israel (in the form of blessings) for the purpose of advancing the Lord's work were wasted on luxury. Verse 13 begins, "Therefore, my people are gone into captivity..." I've been with the notion of blessings being abused for several days. Now, as I consider it, I don't know that I've ever really considered in my own life the proper use of blessings. I acknowledge to the best of my ability the blessings that I do receive from God, yet I've never thought that there is a reason for receiving them. In other words, blessings are not the end, but as we are observing here, they are a means received because of our righteousness to enable us to achieve even greater ends. Israel...

2 Nephi 6:1-7 Near the beginning of what is the longest grouping of verses quoted from Isaiah in the Book of Mormom, we get just a brief taste of what is in to come. Jacob, the brother of Nephi, takes a few moments at the head of this chapter to define his authority in terms of his responsibilities and obligations to those that he teaches. It is interesting to note the repetitive nature of his message, which he acknowledges to those that he is addressing ( see vs 3 ). This is one pattern of leadership that I see to be similar in the modern church. Another such pattern is that he is on assignment from his brother, their prophet leader, to address a specific set of scripture taken from Isaiah. This too is common at all levels in the Church today, to receive instruction from their priesthood leaders to act accordingly. What impresses me about Jacob's approach, however, is how engrossed he was in the topic at hand. It seems that he only offers the remark that Nephi had requested this ...

1 Nephi 21:1-4 , compare to Isaiah 49:1-4 The first thing that stands out here is the addition of the introductory line in verse 1 . And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. As is the case with so much of the writings of Isaiah, it is how I feel when I read these verses that emphasizes their importance to me. And reading what had otherwise been left out of the Biblical version of Isaiah, stirs within me again, the Lord's loving reminder to return to Him. He address a particularly difficult circumstance in this verse, that of wicked leadership in the Kingdom of God, and those who had been affected by that. The Lord recognizes that in ancient Israel, there were those who were lead astray, or even more directly, driven out, because of unfaithfulness by those in positions of authority w...

1 Nephi 8:3 With the passing of President Hinckley, I've had opportunity to step back and have been reminded that this is the Church of Christ, not of President Hinckley, not of President Monson (who most likely will become his successor). It's really in the timing of little things by which this reminder comes. Little administrative things that point to Christ, instead of drawing attention to the current leadership. Lehi, too, found reasons to rejoice in the Lord--because of Nephi and Sam. I can hardly put into words this morning the reassurances that I feel that this is the Lord's work and that He is with this Church, and that this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its leadership are on course for His return, whenever that is.

1 Nephi 7:6-22 It is amazing to consider the unwaivering faithfulness of Nephi. Herein he is required to reprimand his older brothers--moved upon by the Spirit. He prays to be delivered after being bound with cords. He instructs his brothers to pray to God for forgiveness and is frank to forgive them any offense that they had against him. How did he manage to maintain such perfect alignment with the Lord? The capacity to reprove "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost" ( Doctrine and Covenants 121:43 ) is a manifestation of an extremely disciplined individual. Nephi was aware of his position before God. He definitely had a sense of mission that defined what God expected of him. This enabled him to be prepared, perhaps even motivated him to be prepared for the challenges that leadership and fulfillment of a righteous cause demand of the righteous. This also reminds me that no amount of sinning can render the same preparation that obedience to principle can. Nephi was extremely youn...

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...