A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 20:28-30 ( I appreciate the forced focus that this segmented study of smaller groups of verses causes me to have. What otherwise might just appear as a concluding note to this particular chapter, these final three verses on their own convey some important truths.) "And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people;" ( vs. 30 ) The wording in this verse causes me to consider this situation, and many others like it, differently. I am confident as I read this that in different circumstances, the missionaries that fell into the hands of such depraved individuals could have experienced as much success as did their brother Ammon. This reminder is important: to not condemn the poor or unfortunate for their circumstances. To me it seems that the larger message is one of succor and relief. These two disciples of the caring Christ go to rescue their brethren who "had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of a...

2 Nephi 15:1-7 Vs 1 - A parable about "God's mercy and Israel's unresponsiveness,"(see the chapter heading). Israel is described in this verse as being located on a "very fruitful hill." Vs 2 - God prepares a choice vineyard, attending to every needful element in its preparations to bring forth good grapes. So diligent were His preparations, that He looked expecting grapes, but instead He found wild grapes. Herein is the premise for the remainder of the chapter. Vs 3 - Jerusalem and the men of Judah are asked to think about this thing and determine if there was anything more that God could have done, in all reality, for his people, that he didn't do, so that they might have brought forth good fruit. Vs 4 - This verse reinforces verse two where it says the Lord expected to find grapes, good fruit, as a result of His labors. He drives home the point with a question: "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?"...

1 Nephi 21:5-14 The truths expressed in this group of verses illustrates that the purposes of God are more profound and all encompassing than what we are able to see. The consequences of such prohibit us from seeing the full picture immediately. The initial conversation here revolves around the Savior's role as such to the house of Jacob. Verse 6 says that it is a "light" thing that He should raise up the tribes of Jacob. The verse then goes on to explain how the salvation of our Lord will reach to the ends of the earth. Or in other words, the salvation of house of Israel pales in comparison to the full scope of the mission of our Lord -- to save all of mankind! Following this, the Lord explains his reasoning for the approach he takes. While it appears that the Lord is simply delaying the fulfillment of a promise, these verses help to illustrate the patience, long-suffering, and faithfulness of our Lord. These important principles could not be understood had the covenants...