A Study of the Book of Mormon

Mosiah 18:18-22 The topic of becoming the children of God is addressed in these verses. These verses contain a string of commandments that are given to the group that was baptized at the waters of Mormon. Then half way through there is this insightful observation about the reason behind the commandments, "And thus they became the children of God." This has to all be taken in the context that this was initiated by the covenant of baptism. These commandments were the means by which God was blessing his children to help them become the children of God. Additionally, Alma organized priests, now that the covenant was in place, "to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." ( vs. 18 ) It is interesting to note that the set of commandments that are listed in verses 19 to 21 are directed towards the priests who were commanded to preach unto the people. Those commandments included to teach only the words of the holy prophets, to preach only repentan...

2 Nephi 5:26-34 see also Alma 50:12:23 "Thus Moroni, with his armies, which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the power of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have no power upon the lands of their possession." ( Alma 50:12 ) “Brethren, stand close together and lift where you stand.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, quoting Hanno Luschin, "Lift Where You Stand," Liahona, November 2008) It is curious that the link between the two groups of verses above was through the word "happiness". In verse 20 of Alma 50 , the author also references a prophecy from Lehi, made shortly before Nephi's account in 2 Nephi 5. "Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they sh...