When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, He didn't introduce Himself as the Creator of the Universe or as the Father of all people. He didn't say where He lives or what He is trying to accomplish. Instead, He introduced Himself in terms of three of Moses's ancestors: I am the God of thy father, the God... Continue Reading →
The Abrahamic Covenant
God repeated a set of promises to Abraham over and over again. When some of the promises seemed unlikely to happen, God reaffirmed to Abraham that they would all literally be fulfilled. These promises appear for the first time in Genesis 12:2-3. Here is that passage, as it appears in the King James Version of... Continue Reading →
Why Were the Children of Israel Scattered?
When the children of Israel arrived in the promised land, Moses told them that they would one day be scattered because of persistent disobedience. But he also told them that, when they humbled themselves and repented, God would remember His covenant with their ancestors (Leviticus 26). By the time Lehi and his family left Jerusalem,... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Abraham?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi's sons risk their lives in order to obtain a set of brass plates which contains, among other things, the five books of Moses. A central character in those books is the prophet Abraham. Even though he had lived nearly 2,000 years earlier, his influence is felt... Continue Reading →