Insights from my daily study of the scriptures
1. Jesus fulfilled the law in several different ways 2. We can accomplish more when we let God govern us 3. God loves His children and answers when they call 4. Religious practices change, but principles do not 5. The gospel can help us see eye to eye
When the Savior visited the people at the temple in Bountiful, He introduced Himself concisely and powerfully. He provided context for His arrival, identified what He does for us, and explained the atoning sacrifice He had offered on our behalf.
After three days of darkness, when the light returned, the mourning of the Nephites and the Lamanites was turned into joy. Some of our "nights" may last weeks or months, but the promise remains: Morning will come; there will be joy.
After the natural disasters which coincided with the death of Jesus Christ, and after hearing His voice, the survivors sat in silence for many hours. What would we experience if we took the time to reduce the noise in our lives and sit in silence?
At the temple in Bountiful, the people who had already been invited to see and hear the Savior were now invited to approach Him and touch His wounds. When we wholeheartedly worship Him, we can experience a similar feeling of closeness and of wonder.
The people in Bountiful only understood the voice of God when they opened their ears and looked toward the sound. His message to them was to "behold" and "hear" His Son. It takes effort to understand messages from God. We need to look and listen.
The ninth plague was darkness so thick it could be felt. The Nephites experienced a similar darkness after the death of Jesus. But they heard Him declare that He is the light of the world, and their mourning was replaced by joy when the light returned.
1. Jesus is the Son of God, the light and life of the world and Alpha and Omega. 2. Silence can prepare us to hear the Holy Ghost. 3. God shares His power with us so that we can serve and bless each other. 4. The spirit of contention is not of God.
In describing the Nephites' rapid fall from righteousness to sin, the narrator paraphrases a metaphor from the book of Proverbs about dogs and vomit. Progress isn't linear, and we all experience setbacks, but God is always willing to forgive when we repent
Trust is always a leap of faith. When the Gadianton robbers were defeated, those who promised to stop fighting the Nephites were not only set free, they were also given the resources to build a better life. Enduring peace begins with generous trust.