The psalms gave Book of Mormon authors a language for spiritual life. Even as they followed the “performances and ordinances” of the law of Moses (2 Nephi 25:30; Mosiah 13:30), they used psalmic language to describe their internal spiritual lives.
Nephi waters his pillow with tears for his people (2 Nephi 33:3; Psalm 6:6). Mormon writes that as a fifteen-year-old, he “was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus” (Mormon 1:15; compare Psalm 34:8). Enos describes his day-long prayer as “[pouring] out [his] whole soul unto God” (Enos 1:9; compare Psalm 42:4).
And Nephi constructs his heartfelt prayer, commonly known as Nephi’s Psalm, with numerous allusions to Old Testament psalms, including:
- “My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard” (2 Nephi 4:16; compare Psalm 1:2).
- “My heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me” (2 Nephi 4:17-18; compare Psalm 38:3-6).
- “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted” (2 Nephi 4:19; compare Psalm 31:14).
- “O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul?” (2 Nephi 4:31; compare Psalm 49:15).
Book of Mormon prophets use psalmic language in their sermons. Benjamin declares to his people, “Ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you” (Mosiah 5:7; compare Psalm 2:7). Helaman counsels his sons to build their foundation on Christ, so that the mighty storm of the devil will have no power over them (Helaman 5:12; compare Psalm 11:2-3, 6). Jacob portrays hell as a “lake of fire and brimstone” (2 Nephi 9:16, 19, 26; Jacob 3:11; 6:10; compare Psalm 11:6), even as he testifies that God has prepared a way to escape from it (2 Nephi 9:10-13; compare Psalm 16:10).
Alma’s sermon in Zarahemla, inviting the people to make a spiritual self-assessment, draws upon several psalms, including:
- He asks if they are prepared to stand before the tribunal of God: “Can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?” (Alma 5:19; compare Psalm 24:3-4).
- He asks, “Is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother?” and “Will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy?” (Alma 5:30, 55; compare Psalm 15).
- He urges them to “hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd,” who will watch over and protect them (Alma 5:37-42, 57-60; compare Psalm 23).
Book of Mormon authors draw on the psalms to explain events in their narratives. Mormon borrows the image of chaff driven by the wind to describe the tragic fall of his people (Mormon 5:16-18; compare Psalm 1:4; 35:5). When Lamoni lies unconscious (and some of his servants think he is dead), the light of everlasting life is being lit in his soul (Alma 19:6; compare Psalm 13:3). Mormon describes the leaders in Ammonihah as “gnashing their teeth” upon Alma and Amulek in prison (Alma 14:21; compare Psalm 35:16). And Ammon, Alma, and Helaman are all filled with “exceeding joy” as they experience the blessings of God (Alma 27:18; 36:24; 57:36; compare Psalm 43:4).
Finally, expressions of gratitude and joy in the Book of Mormon echo passages from the book of Psalms. Ammon calls God “my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo” (Alma 26:36; compare Psalm 27:1). And after Alma challenges his people to be baptized at the waters of Mormon, “they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts” (Mosiah 18:11; compare Psalm 47:1).
Today I will use language from the psalms in my personal worship, in my teaching, and to express my gratitude and joy.
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