My name is Paul Anderson, and I love studying the Book of Mormon. In October 2014, I decided to start publishing what I learn from studying the book each day, and this blog is the result.
A few things about me: I live in North Carolina. I’m married and have six children. I work for a multinational bank, even though I studied music in college. I enjoy running, analyzing music, and traveling. Also, I am a practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I have some core convictions which form the foundation for my study of the Book of Mormon:
- Durability – I don’t think it’s possible to run out of new things to learn from the Book of Mormon. I’ve been studying it daily for years, and I continue to learn something new every day. Years ago, I heard Neal A. Maxwell say, “When you are exhausted, feast on the inexhaustible gospel. You will never plumb its depths or measure all its metes and bounds” (“What Manner of Men Ought [We] to Be?,” Global Leadership Training Meeting, June 2003). I believe that, and I expect to continue learning from the Book of Mormon for the rest of my life.
- Revelation – I believe that scripture study can help us open our minds and hearts so that we can receive personalized messages from God. Dallin H. Oaks said, “We do not overstate the point when we say that the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to assist each of us to receive personal revelation” (“Scripture Reading and Revelation,” Ensign, January 1995). Therefore, I do not assume that what I will learn from the scriptures is limited to the words on the page.
- Unity – I believe that all revelation from God is consistent. Therefore, I expect the teachings of the Book of Mormon to complement the Bible and the words of modern prophets. In my study of the Book of Mormon, I frequently look for connections between the principles I’m learning and what I’ve learned from other sources of truth.
- Application – It’s important to make use of the principles we learn from the Book of Mormon in our daily lives. Joseph Smith said that we “would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (quoted in the Introduction to the Book of Mormon). For this reason, in every blog post, I make it a point to write what I will do as a result of what I learned that day.
For the record, this blog is not an attempt to establish a “correct” interpretation of the Book of Mormon passages I study. Even though I do believe that the principles contained in this book have universal applicability, I also recognize that the Book of Mormon is rich with meaning and that my own understanding is limited. I can only hope that my perspectives and insights are useful to other seekers of truth.
I would love to hear your feedback on the blog. Please take a moment to add a comment to any of the posts or contact me directly.
Book of Mormon Study Notes 