A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 32:1-6 An often overlooked component of teaching the word of God, preparation is key to reception of the word of God. Sometimes, the circumstances of life prepare us to be sufficiently prepared, or humbled, to hear the word of God. Most often though, we have the privilege of choosing whether or not we will be in a position to hear the Word. See also Job 5 (vs.7)

Alma 13:20-31 Alma now brings all this message home, by declaring repentance to the people of Ammonihah ( vs. 20 ). Vs. 22 - This verse is an interesting reminder of the work of angels in preparing the way for salvation to be ministered among all nations. Vs. 23 - The Nephites had it different than the Jewish nation. Amongst the Nephites the terms of salvation were plain to be understood. This privilege was extended to them because of their being made wanderers in a strange land. Sacrifice frequently brings spiritual advantages. Vs. 24 - All the land of the Nephites (and even the Lamanites, I would suppose) were being prepared through the ministering of angels for the time of Christ's coming, that the people would be prepared to receive his word. I find it curious that Alma, the spiritual head of the Church during his time, was made aware of this ministering from beyond the veil -- as if efforts were being coordinated between heaven and earth. How much we don't know! I feel ...

Alma 12:20-24 The statement found in verse 24 , which the prior verses lead up to, is a pivotal, defining doctrine of the purpose of life. "What is this that thou hast said, that man should rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal to an immortal state, that the soul can never die... there was no possible chance that they should live forever?" ( vs. 20-21 ) One of the rulers of the people of Ammonihah referenced "that God placed cherubim and a flaming sword on the east of the garden of Eden, lest our first parents should enter and partake of the fruit of the tree of life, and live forever." He was without a correct understanding of the events that took place in the garden of Eden, a serious defect that kept them from understanding the plan of redemption. Alma in the following verses goes on to explain how this action had to be taken to prevent Adam from partaking of the tree of life. He had already partaken of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (t...

Alma 8:19-28 On the surface, this is a fairly simple exchange wherein Alma returns to Ammonihah by a different way and is taken in by Amulek. There are a couple of notes on these verses that I find significant. Of Amulek, it was required to exercise the Christ-like virtue of compassion and to feed the hungry. That may seem an insignificant side note given that he had also received direction and inspiration from an angel to entertain Alma, and yet I think this is at the very core of why the angel appeared to Amulek, and not someone else. When Alma returns to Ammonihah, he is hungry. We later learn that Alma had actually been fasting for many days. ( vs. 26 ) Upon petitioning an unknown stranger, Amulek identifies himself to Alma as a Nephite and goes further to say that he knows Alma to be a prophet of God. Near the end of these verses , we learn two notable points in this story: 1) that Alma did not immediately return to the task of preaching the gospel, but spent some time in the hous...

Mosiah 24:1-7 This is to me a very interesting group of verses. We have here the account of Amulon and the other former priests of King Noah and their subsequent rise in power among the Lamanite people. What is interesting about this situation is not the quest for power among these wicked men, but rather how it is that the Lord was able to use them as instruments of preparation without them knowing it. In saying this, what we might be tempted to conclude is that there needed to be this wickedness in order for righteousness to move forward. I would have to say that is not so. In no way, shape, or form was the salvation of God obtained by these wicked priest through their wickedness. Nor, interestingly enough, was it obtained for their children or their children's children.( Alma 24:14 ) However, what does come to mind here is that scripture that states: " Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men;" ( Doctrine and Covenants 3:...

Mosiah 18:11-12 I currently am serving in a presidency for a church calling. I have been blessed to observe the preparation of other members of the presidency as they have taken seriously their assignments, and are working to have the Spirit of the Lord with them. I wonder if my own approach has been perhaps a bit too casual.  Alma began the work of baptizing those that were found with him at the waters of Mormon with this sober plea: "O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart." ( vs. 12 ) I am in need of this instruction this morning because, though I am willing to do the work of the Lord, I am perhaps too casual in my approach, expecting that the work and will of the Lord will be done, merely for "attending" to my duties without sufficient preparation or prayer and supplication in connection with these duties. We read in the scriptures, and in the testimonies of the prophets about spiritual gifts that accompany t...

Mosiah 10 Work leads to prosperity. In the first few verses of this chapter, Zeniff explains how he gave his men the assignment of farming the land, while the woman had the assignment of producing clothing. Because of this work, they were led to "prosper in the land."(vs. 5) The bulk of the chapter has to do with their preparations for war and the war that was fought. Now it is fair to note that during the 35 years or so that have been accounted for of Zeniff's reign that there had only been two conflicts with the Lamanites. As I read this even from Zeniff's own account, I keep thinking to myself, if only they had stayed in Zarahemla, they would have had peace. I don't know if this a productive line of thought though. What was done was done. However, it is only two generation later that the ultimate solution to their conflicts with the Lamanites is to leave and make the trip back to Zarahemla. On the other hand, there are great leaders for the future church, and f...

 2 Nephi 21:4-5 In this context, I find it difficult to quantify righteousness. If I were asked to explain righteousness, I can only point to God and say: He is righteousness. There is no set prescription of tasks that can fully embody the righteousness of God. So it does become something of a dilemma to be able to fully comprehend what it means to be righteous as Christ and God the Father are righteous beings. Yet the dilemma is worth investigation, inasmuch as we are commanded to become like Them. The first set of footnotes in verse 4 on the term righteousness points to God Himself as the definition of righteousness. Whatever God does is righteousness. The remainder of this verse describes what Christ does with His righteousness. It is the source of power which enables Christ to judge, reprove, punish, and destroy. And to what end? Christ executes righteousness to clear a path for the meek and poor of His people. I see in these verses how Christ is able to prepare the way for ...

1 Nephi 8:1 I'd never given it much pause for thought that the chapter featuring Lehi's vision of the tree of life is prefaced with this seeming obscure little verse about the family gathering seeds. They gathered all types of seed to take with them--diversity in their selection. And yet I still can not find much correlation between this verse and the rest of the chapter. However there is a footnote to later in 1 Nephi (see 1 Nephi 16:11 ) that also references them taking their seeds with them into the wilderness. This preparation to take with them the things which they would need gave the Lord the resources to bless them. The themes of seeds, trees, and fruits run through out the Book of Mormon.

Mormon 3 Vs. 12 - Mormon loved these people with a love like that of Christ, he literally overlooked their wickedness with the hope that if he led them they might repent. He constantly prayed for them. Here is the mystery. He says he prayed for them, but that it was without faith, because of the hardheatedness of the people. How could their hardness weaken Mormon's faith? Is that what's being said? Yes, that is right. Insight: Mormon 5:2 , "...I was without hope , for I knew the judgments of the Lord." -- Faith is not knowledge, it is a hope of things to come.  See Alma 32:34 , Faith is dormant because there is a perfect knowledge of this thing. What [was happening] with Mormon was he knew that the people had rejected repentance after being delivered from death, and they had sworn by things forbidden them. Mormon had also heard the voice of the Lord concerning these people. He had knowledge. Though his desire and prayer was that they be saved, there was no faith beh...