A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 19:1-11 In this group of  verses, King Lamoni has been overpowered  by the influence of the Holy Spirit and has laid prostrate for 2 days. The queen summons Ammon to inquire of him the state her husband's well-being so that she could know what to do. The queen explains to Ammon that the servants of her husband regarded him as "a prophet of a holy God " and that he had "power to do many might works in his name. " On this premise, on the testimony of the servants of her husband, the queen asks Ammon for guidance. Verse 6 reads as such: Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting l...

Alma 18:18-43 There are a couple of items that are assumed here. Ammon is working by power. And now King Lamoni is recognizing that power: the power to discern the thoughts of his heart, the power to slay the enemies of the king. Lamoni tells Ammon that if he will explain to him how he has this power, that he would in turn give him up to half of his kingdom. This power that Lamoni recognizes, he sees as extremely valuable. In verse 20 , King Lamoni demands, "tell me by what power ye slew and smote off the arms of my brethren that scattered my flocks." The king goes on in the following verse to explain that he would give armed guard to protect Ammon, but that he recognized Ammon as more powerful than his armies, "But I know that thou art more powerful than all they;" ( vs. 21 ). Now to put what follows into proper context, I have been brought to consider a talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland given as instruction to new mission presidents regarding the importance of teac...

Alma 12:1-7 Verses 3 to 6 offer important insight into the devil's tactics and motives. While first directing his comments to just Zeezrom, Alma makes clear that all the community around Zeezrom was also being taken advantage of through the devil's efforts. What's more, these verses explain that the adversary actually had a plan for their destruction. His efforts were crafted to be subtle and imperceivable so that he may gain control of the community and the individual. This is a reality that the adversary has power to exercise control over us. That is the only power that he has, but that is the whole thrust of his campaign of evil: so that he can bind us during this season of mortality to prevent us from experiencing the peace and happiness of a good life and ultimately, to obtain salvation. At the end of verse 7 , the writer makes this insightful observation: "for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy ....

Alma 8:29-32 After many days, the word of the Lord came to Alma: "Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away." In subsequent verses, we learn that Alma and Amulek accomplished this commandment of the Lord through "the spirit and power which the Lord had given them." ( vs 32 ) So it is, that those that go about the work of the Lord when called of the Lord to do so , they are empowered to do it through the influence of the Holy Ghost. In other words, they are endowed with power, or they have power given them. Verse 31 takes pains to explain the evidence of that power, in that they weren't able to be confined or thrown in dungeons, nor could anyone kill them. Now later in the account we learn that Alma and Amulek were thrown into prison (and verse 31 makes reference to this), and...

Mosiah 27:8-17 These verses contain the account of an angel that came to stop Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah on their course of destruction against the Church. The main question that I have as I read these verses is: what about this scenario merited the intervention of an angel? Angels are not the usual form of communication from heaven. There are several reasons that I feel angelic intervention was merited in this instance. Verses 8 through 10 explain how they were rebelling against the church in secret. Given the family dynamics, that both parents of Alma and the son of Mosiah were the heads of the church and the state, it gave them all the more power to destroy what their fathers were trying to build and protect.  Verse 14 offers another reason when the angel explains that Alma, the elder, had been praying for his son that he might "be brought to the knowledge of the truth." It wasn't just Alma that had been praying for this though, and just because Alma was ...

Mosiah 3:5-13 Having the recent General Priesthood Meeting fresh in my mind, the phrase "that with power" stands out in my mind. I'm thinking about my son who is a few years off yet from receiving the Aaronic priesthood. I'm thinking of Christ as a young man of twelve years old being found in the temple of God already aware of what his mission was and what his relationship to God was. I am reminded of what a young Aaronic priesthood holder can do at just 12 years old and the ministering of angels. Christ's blood atoned for the sins of those who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them (see verse 11 ). Then those that do know the will of God, what of them? "But wo, wo unto him that knoweth that he rebelleth against God! Salvation cometh unto none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ," ( verse 12 ). This group of verses specifically is centered on Christ, and consequently I find myself wondering can we ever t...

2 Nephi 15:15 We begin with this statement, "And the mean man shall be brought down..." The footnote on "brought" references similar passages from earlier in Isaiah where he says, "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day, " ( Isaiah 2:17 ). In Spanish, the word "mean" is translated to mean "vile". This has the feel to me of a man who through lies and deceit has built up his pretended kingdom around him. His tactics are by force. All this shall crumble and be made to lie low in the dust. "And the mighty man shall be humbled," These next two statements both end with "shall be humbled." I call on the true definition of "humble" or "humility". It is to acknowledge the hand of God in our work. For the wicked to be humbled, those who have up to that point not acknowledged God, and had thought to becom...

1 Nephi 17:44-55 Now after having shown how the children of Israel were guided by the hand of God to the land of promise, Nephi turns his comments directly to their present situation and in bold terms testifies of truths pertinent to the moment. Lehi was commanded of the Lord to leave Jerusalem. Lehi's life was in danger at Jerusalem. Lehi's own sons had conspired to murder him and Nephi. Laman and Lemuel had seen angels and experienced the Lord's intervention first hand. It is stark boldness in the presence of his brothers that stands out to me. Nephi is aware of this as well. This is when he explains in verse 47 , "Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame hath no strength." This effect that being full of the Spirit of God has upon Nephi is what most draws my attention this morning. So strong was God's presence, that it almost consumed Nephi in his mortal frame. This consuming of the flesh is yet another way in which the Lord manifests ...

1 Nephi 14 Chapter 14 reminds me that Christ shall come at the end of time to perform one final work among the inhabitants of the earth. Verse 7 calls it a great and a marvelous work, which shall have an everlasting outcome and shall divide men between salvation and damnation. This work has already begun. It began with Joseph Smith and it continues today. We now have the Book of Mormon, as Nephi saw that it would come forth, to assist in this great and marvelous work. Repentance is prescribed for those that will joined to the Church of the Lamb of God. This is where a clear distinction is drawn between the church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil. Though the saints of God are relatively few, they are "armed with righteousness and the power of God in great glory," (vs. 14). At the end of Nephi's account, he gives a simple witness that what he saw and wrote was true. Though he did not account for it all, what he had written was true. He saw what his father saw....

1 Nephi 13:16 Nephi saw in his vision "that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord." That strikes me as pivotal to their position. I think of the religious heritage of the United States of America. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is printed on our currency. Great was that blessed faith of our Founding Fathers. Nephi then notices, and this is a direct result of their humility, "and the power of the Lord was with them."

1 Nephi 13:10-19 In prophetic terms, Nephi is describing the colonization of America and the Revolutionary War. In this group of verses, there are two forces, both originating from God. the Spirit or power of God( I don't think the two are equal) and the wrath of God. Nephi also refers to the Spirit of the Lord and the power of the Lord. All these powers Nephi says that he saw working upon or with the events that transpired. Why was the wrath of God upon the seed of Nephi's brethren? Why did the Spirit of the Lord favor the Gentiles that came to America? From any historical stand point, it doesn't seem fair to derive an accurate conclusions. From scriptural accounts, we know that the ancestors of the Lamanites that remained had long ago rejected the true religion. The exiled Gentiles that came to find peace in America also were striving as best as they could to live the Christian faith as best they understood it. Then as we look forward only a few years, we see that among a...

1 Nephi 11:31 I've followed the footnote at the end of the verse this evening for the word "healed". But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. ( Malachi 4:2 ) This is the reason why we need not be subjected to crass media or any form of objectionable content. Because we can be healed by the power of the Lamb of God, why should we create new wounds? Jesus said to the woman with an issue of blood, "Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole,"( Matt 9:22 ). And when the men of that place had a knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole, ( Matt 14:35-36 ). He healed the ruler's daughter (see Mark 5:35-43 ). He healed the two blind men in their home as ...

1 Nephi 2: 14-16 Yesterday I had mentioned characteristics that Lehi prized in his own life. There is nowhere in the record that gives us any insight into Lehi before this time. Yet I am assuming that Lehi prized these characteristics because they where a part of his own personal character. Thus demonstrating his own integrity and virtue. Verse 14, however, is the best evidence so far of his personal discipline. Now his faith was being taxed by his own sons. That he was able to harness spiritual power to chastise them is proof of his worthiness, proof of his integrity, proof that God trusted him enough to know that Lehi would not break out in a fit of rage and abuse his position as a father and spiritual leader to his sons. The juxtaposition (or contrast) of this verse where Lehi exerts such spiritual power to the next verse is beautifully simple. This is a reminder that in all things, Lehi was willing to submit himself to the will of the Lord, even to the point of living in a tent. N...