A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 37:1-7 On my initial reading of these verses, I've spent a lot of time reviewing the footnotes found in verses 6 and 7 . On the word "small" I was brought Doctrine and Covenants 123:16-17 , which reads: You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.  I read last evening elsewhere about the power of a smile. And the Lord this morning seems to validating this thought, while also encouraging me on in my life's great (yet simple) mission. Action Item: smile and cheerful do all things that are in your power, and leave the rest to God. On a second day of study, my searches took me to contemplate the footnotes on "wise" purpose...

Alma 36:6-16 As I study this dynamic exchange between Alma and an angel sent from the presence of God, I am reminded of Nephi's declaration about angels: Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. ( 2 Nephi 32:3 ) Therefore, we have the words of Christ writen here to Alma. There are two recorded statements here from the mouth of the angel. First, "Arise." ( vs. 8 ) Second, "If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God." ( vs. 9 ) Alma says that the angel spake many other things unto him, but this first sentence was all that he heard. It struck him with such power as to completely overwhelm him. The power of the words of Christ, perfectly timed, penetrated and convicted Alma to the very core. The harrowing description of the state of Alma's soul is one of torment and horror. (see verses 12 -16 ) It is interesting to note that this was a self-conviction.

Alma 35:1-4 I brought to consider "the Power of the Word." (I'm not quoting anything in particular here, but this phrase has popped into my mind as I've started this study this morning. One of Christ's many names or titles is the Word. Consider the following:  In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son , and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God. ( JST John 1:1 ) In the previous chapter of Alma, Amulek gives this particular testimony: And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ. And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation . ( Alma 34:5-6 ) So if I go back to the beginning of Alma 35 , and I'm looking for the testimony of Christ, I find it by replacing the use of "word" with the name...

Alma 22:19-26 In these verses, it seems to be that that which is not written which offers the greater insights. This morning, I am asking myself: where is God in these verses? What about these particularly verses points me closer to Christ? In verses 19 and 20 , there is no mention or reference to God or Christ. But as I went back and re-read those verses, it appears to be what was not said that revealed Their influence. So the queen learns of the state of her husband, and discovers Aaron and his brother standing near by. The verse says, "as though they had been the cause of his fall."  The wording says so much without saying anything at all. Or in other words, Aaron and his brothers were NOT THE CAUSE of the king's fall. This is where God is hidden in the details of this verse. The power of God, or His influence upon the king (which was through the teachings and ministering of Aaron and his brethren) was the cause of the fall. The next verse also says that the servants...

Alma 14 This is a most painful account of discipleship and the potential cost of such. Alma's ability to discern impression of the Spirit in the midst of such opposition is notable, because it instructed him when to act and how to act. It also gave him hope for those who were taken from this life prematurely. There is also a great deal to learn here about justice and the judgments of God. How incredibly patient is God with his children! Slow to execute judgment unto destruction, even against his wicked children who would murder the innocent. "...He doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just," ( vs. 11 ). In my mind, it seems that sometimes mortal judgments are executed to prevent the wicked from sinning further. Sodom and Gomorah comes to mind when the Savior said "But I say unto you, That it shall be...

Mosiah 27:18-31 An interesting exercise in these verses is take the phrase "power of God" and substitute it with the word "priesthood." Not so much to change the meaning of the passage, but to give further understanding to the nature of the priesthood. I keep doing it, almost compulsively. Presently, I am left to consider how "nothing save the power of God that could... cause it to tremble." ( verse 18 ) That thought that keeps impressing me is that the priesthood has the power to do this. Then there is the question of signs and how it is an "adulterous generation" ( Matt. 12:39 ) that seeks after signs. If we are not to seek after signs and miracles, then what part do these things play in the work of the Lord? That the priesthood has power over earthly elements has been illustrated time and time again in the scriptures, especially in the Old Testament. Their purpose is not to give signs to the wicked but rather to facilitate the work of the righ...

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...

Mosiah 4:4-12 In verse 6 , king Benjamin talks of an Atonement which had been prepared from the foundation of the world. There are two other prophets in the Book of Mormon that also make reference to this: "...the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world," ( Mosiah 15:19 ) "...through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world."( Mosiah 18:13 ) How does this change my attitude or feelings towards the Atonement, knowing that it was prepared from the beginning of the world? In chapter 18, instead of saying the Atonement, Alma says it was Christ who was prepared to redeem us. How does this change my attitudes towards my Savior, knowing that he was the one who was prepared and did prepare to accomplish the Atonement on my behalf, and on behalf of all? Verses 11 and 12 lead up to a prize which is beyond mortal comprehension. Throughout this group of verses, king Benjamin contra...

2 Nephi 6:14-18 , See also Doctrine and Covenants 97:22-26 There are several points of engagement or, better said, doctrines that I am trying to find cohesiveness between this morning. In the end of times, the Lord will return "in power and great glory," ( vs 14 ). At the Lord's return, there will be great destruction among the wicked. Zion shall be spared "if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her," ( D & C 97:25 ) All people shall eventually know that "the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel," whether by faith or by destruction (see vs 15, 18 ). President Henry B. Eyering has commented recently, "...at some moment in the world to come, everyone you met in this life will know what you know now... They will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you." ( “Let Us Raise Our Voice of Warning,” Liahona , Jan 2009, 2–7 ) There seems to be coming some eventual point in ...

Ether 6:1-11 Vs. 3 - Double meaning. The Lord prepared stones fro the Jaredite boats that they might not cross the waters in darkness. The same happens for us. The Lord has given us light that we might not travel through this life in darkness. Vs. 5-8 - What a beautiful, spiritual parallel these verses are.  The waters can be compared to the world. While we must live and pass through this world, we do not need to be swallowed up in it.  The wind that pushed them along was the Power of God which if we let it will lead us to progress along the waters. The wind (the power of God) never did cease to blow. The vessels that protected them from the waters were their preparation, having had headed to the word or council of the Lord, they were protected from the waters or the world, though at times they did get swallowed up in them. Like the early latter-day Saints, at times they were swallowed up in afflictions, but the Lord always allowed them to come out on top, because they cr...