A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 31:8-11 I cannot help but draw a direct  parallel between the situation among the Nephites with the people of Zoram and my own family dynamic at present. Indeed, these very words could have been penned about my own children: therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them. But they had fallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God, and his statutes, according to the law of Moses. Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation. This is both concerning and comforting. Comforting because, like the Zoramites, these children did have the word of God preached unto them. Concerning because, like the Zoramites, these children have fallen in to great error, and failed to keep the commandments of God and the performances of the Church. Today's Action Item: - Continue to work on a plan to have the Gospel of Christ preached (t...

Alma 4 (It is curious how that even in making a chronological study of the scriptures, the Lord is able to line up my life experiences with where I am at in the Book of Mormon.) The wars, of which were made mention of in the previous chapter, led to a considerably dearth of resources among the Nephites in the following year, for they had lost men (brethren), flocks and herds, and fields of grain. But this caused the people to be humble, so much so that they were made to be aware of their duty. This attending to their duty meant that "they began to establish the Church more fully," and consequently, thousands had joined themselves to the Church of God. So in the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were some 3,500 persons baptized into the Church and the people of Nephi enjoyed peace in their land. The very next year, the people, because of this freedom (blessing) given them of the Lord, began to be prideful. The cause of their pride was thei...

Mosiah 6 At the beginning of the chapter, "king Benjamin thought it was expedient... that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments." There is a footnote that leads to Doctrine and Covenants 128:8 where it speaks of the relationship between records made on earth and records made in heaven. It impresses me, then, the importance of the priesthood in the maintenance of the records and ordinances of the Church. The relationship of making covenants to keep the commandments is also noteworthy. To help the people in this covenant, Benjamin consecrated priests with the purpose of teaching the people how to continue keeping the commandments. It is curious that to assist in keeping the commandments, they made covenants. I'm contemplating the process in which one arrives at that point of wanting to make a covenant to keep the commandments. This can only happen when one has listened to the words of Christ, whether from he...