A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 40:22-26 Ezekiel 37:6-14 - This prophecy of Ezekiel is a key indicator of divine priority. These last few verses at the end of the chapter are a testimony of the reality and nature of the resurrection, and the consignments of the wicked and the righteous thereafter. What questions should I be asking about these verses? Continue in verse 26 tomorrow. There are a number of footnotes on "the death of the wicked," or that death which "pertains to the things of righteousness." So I have spent the morning studying this death of the wicked, by reading the footnotes on "death" as referenced in title of this post, or "an awful death of the wicked."  Doctrine and Covenants 29:41 truly illustrates the seriousness of that predicament. He first is talking about the spiritual death that came upon Adam when he was cast out of the Garden of Eden: ...wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death which is ...

 Alma 38:13-15 Three simple verses at the end of this chapter that teach me how to pray and be humble. It seems likes such a small set of instructions, especially compared to what Alma gave to Helaman, but I find the points that he chooses to emphasis here, extremely important in teaching prayer and one's proper attitude towards prayer. None of us really have the advantage before God. (That's not to say that he that keeps the commandments, and doeth the will of the Father, isn't approved of Him.) But there is this simple issue of humility that is required of all men when they approach the throne of the Almighty. Thus Alma counsels Shiblon: Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. ( vs.14 ) Christ taught similarly: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a public...

Alma 31:12-20 I'm starting this reading with the following assumptions: The Book of Mormon is an ancient text written for a modern audience. This was written for my personal benefit in the period of world history where I presently reside.  Satan takes truth and alters it for his destructive or deceptive purposes.  The account of the Zoramites as found here is depicted according to the light of Christ and inspiration of the Holy Ghost that the author had at the time of making this account. That will bring particular insights that would not be otherwise available.  It is a typical practice that when reading from the Book of Mormon, that if I find no personal application, I ask myself "Where is Christ in these verses?" Perhaps here, as a false worship practice is being depicted, the correct question to ask would be "Where isn't Christ in these verses?" Let's start our discovery. In a sense, they had crafted a prayer that said: "God, we thank...

Alma 1:16-33 We learn here in the remainder of this chapter that priestcraft did not come to an end among the people of Nephi at this time. Yet there was a distinct separation between those who were steadfast in the church verses those who separated themselves from the church and followed after preistcraft. It is that separation or distinction between the people of the church and those that did not belong to the church that occupies these verses. There actually appears to be two points of division that take place. First, it is a distinction between those inside, and those outside the church -- those that were more humble being persecuted by those who did not belong to the church or would not take upon themselves the name of Christ.( vs. 19 )  What was the cause of their persecution? Or what motivated those outside of the church to be so concerned about what those inside of the church were doing? Those of the church were not proud, and they would impart the word of God without mone...

Mosiah 27:1-7 These first verses of this chapter are given more as a setup to what follows. However, I've taken a moment to contemplate the law that was enacted and the purpose for which it was given. As a result of persecution by the unbelievers towards those that did believe, King Mosiah had been petitioned to take action. Consequently, a command was enacted to dissolve persecutions and to protect the equality of all his people. The details of that command included that there was to be no pride or haughtiness that would disturb their peace, that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, and that all should be industrious or labor with their own hands for their support. (see vs 2-4 ) The result of this command or law was that there was increased peace and prosperity. I am amazed that it appears to have been so simple, that the king issued a command after consulting with his priests and then that the effects were that of general increased peace and prosperity. Oh, how the ti...

Mosiah 11: 1-19 This simple phrase that explains the deviation of King Noah from the truth is a double-edged accusation. A footnote in verse 2 compares King Noah to Jeraboam of the Old Testament who caused the children of Israel to sin. Noah's deviation is just that. Clearly, we must assume that King Noah is not ignorantly sinning. He was the son of Zeniff and grew up in his household. Beyond this, he took a people, who previous to this had learned to fear God and to recognize the strength of the Lord in protecting them from their enemies, and had altered the affairs of the kingdom to support his wickedness. Perhaps the most telling part of this account are the verses that relate their attitude towards the conflict with the Lamanites, when they came back victorious from fighting the Lamanites this time, they were boastful of their own strength, and blood thirsty. ( Verse 19 attributes this fully to the wickedness of the king and the priests.) Boasting and blood thirsty, both are ...

2 Nephi  24 Studying 2 Nephi 24, the thought impresses me that the one to whom Lucifer is telling the biggest lie is himself. For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. ( vs. 13-14 ) There are two sides only to the battle in heaven and on earth. On the one side are those that serve the Lord, and on the opposite side are those that serve themselves, and think that of themselves they are able to attain some greater degree of glory than what God has promised to those that follow Him. This chapter begins with this reminder: "For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel," ( vs. 1 ). This is a reminder of the Covenant that God made with Abraham and his sons. In the day that this will be brought to pass, it says that "the land of the Lord wi...

2 Nephi 19:8-21 What the remainder of this chapter is dealing with has to do with Israel's complete ignorance, or deliberate lack of faith, so that they might continue in their sinful ways. The reality that seems to be echoed in my mind is this simple truth: that the closer one gets to God and becoming like God, the harder it is, and more offensive to the Lord it is to back down, ignore, or turn away from Him. The Lord does not forget the execution of his covenants. So to those whom he has blessed with his Word, he judges according to that knowledge which is given them. Men will try to rebuild in the face of such condemnation from the Lord, as if the condemnation and chastisement of God were some minor inconvenience that they could just work around. "...The sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars." ( vs. 10 ) Here are some thoughts as I contemplate these verses. I think on what wickedness there must be to incite the wrath of God. These verse include co...

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...

2 Nephi 15:14 This is a chilling description of the demise of God's people because of their failure to acquire testimony and live according to its precepts. Vs. 14 - "Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself," These are the preparations that devil has made (perhaps preparations isn't the proper term) to receive the wicked, who should have been the righteous. "...and opened her mouth without measure;" It seems that void into which they are descending at this point is so hard to escape, and so all consuming, that to define its ends seems impossible, for they are "without measure." "And their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it." It is as if one were stuck in a small paddle boat 50 feet from the edge of a great waterfall, realizing that everyone is going off a cliff into destruction. The reality of surviving such is unthinkable. Being stuck in the current of destruction, and powerful downwa...

2 Nephi 12:4-22 The remainder of this chapter is a reminder to the house of Jacob (and to me) that in the end "the Lord alone shall be exalted," ( 2 Nephi 12:17 ). All that man aspires to is of no worth in the end. These verses are very descriptive in depicting in great details that last day with abundant use of local symbolism that has great meaning in the regions surrounding Jerusalem. All the vain labors of man throughout all time will eventually be counted as nothing before the Lord in the end of times. This is thus a powerful reminder that the efforts expended in the work of the Lord are of such greater worth to man.

1 Nephi 12:16-19 In chapter 12, Nephi is permitted to view the future generation of his posterity in the promised land. When I visualize the great and spacious building that is upheld by the vain imaginations of the world, I note that there is no foundation, or that "it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth," ( 1 Nephi 8:26 ). A classic depiction of this illustrates this very well. I don't know that the scriptures mention anything about the lack of a foundation, but that it is upheld by vain imaginations suggest that these intangible nothings are the foundation of this very large building. Or in other words, there is no foundation. Then it is also interesting to note that there is no easy road between this great edifice of nothingness and the strait and narrow path of righteousness. The two are separated by a gulf of misery which consumes many.

Ether 9 Vs. 3 ) The only way to avoid destruction was to completely choose the right. The King Omer was warned in a dream by the Lord.   Vs. 5-6 ) Meanwhile, the wicked were power hungry and rebelled against one another and killed each other. Akish had his father-in-law killed and later his son, and eventually his power hungry empire imploded on itself and after it had fallen, vs. 13 ) Omer returned and established his son Emer as King. Vs. 16 ) Under the reign of Emer, the Lord blessed the land. Ether 9:19 - In the Americas, they had elephants! Vs. 22 ) Emer is immortalized in history for having had seen the Savior. This one phrase tells us so much about his character. This explains success in his reign. Vs. 26 ) King Heth, great grandson on Emer, dethroned his father. And unlike kings before him, Heth did not protect the prophets when they came out to call the people to repentance. Vs. 30-35 ) The Lord sent them a plague and poisonous serpents.