When Jesus was on the earth, He chose twelve apostles and commissioned them to help Him do His work. (See Matthew 10.) But following His resurrection and ascension, the apostles faced an administrative problem. One of their number, Judas Iscariot, had betrayed the Savior and had subsequently taken his own life. So they now numbered... Continue Reading →
“All These Things” – 3 Nephi 13:33
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior teaches a critical time-management principle using examples from nature: Birds find food without a lot of advance planning. Flowers look magnificent without focusing excessively on their own appearance. If God feeds and clothes them, then why do we dedicate so much time and energy to things outside... Continue Reading →
Gifts and Callings
We all have capabilities (gifts), and we all have opportunities to serve (callings). The apostle Paul encouraged the members of the church in Ancient Rome to be patient with their friends who were non-believers. Perhaps these friends were not currently using their gifts and fulfilling their callings, but "the gifts and calling of God are... Continue Reading →
“The Work to Which I Have Been Called” – Alma 29:6
Contributing to a greater cause is fulfilling, but it requires us to set aside our ego, be modest in our expectations, and recognize the contributions of others. Alma was so committed to bring others to Christ that he wrote, "O that I were an angel!" He wanted to "speak with the trump of God, with... Continue Reading →
The Gift of Aaron
To every man [and woman] is given a gift by the Spirit of God.To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.Doctrine and Covenants 46:11 When God called Moses to free his people from slavery in Egypt, the task seemed unfathomable. Although Moses had been raised by... Continue Reading →
“He Shall Do a Work…Which Shall Be of Great Worth” – 2 Nephi 3:7
The ancient patriarch Joseph foresaw the work of his future namesake, the prophet Joseph Smith: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a... Continue Reading →
“The Gift of His Calling” – Moroni 7:2
Are we grateful for our responsibilities? As Mormon began a sermon to a group church members, he acknowledged that he was only able to speak to them because of God's grace and His will, manifest in "the gift of his calling unto me" (Moroni 7:2). In an earlier chapter, Moroni spoke of "the gifts and... Continue Reading →
Gazelem – Alma 37:23
The record of the Jaredite people was engraved on twenty-four plates (Ether 1:2). The Lord gave the brother of Jared two stones to store with the plates. He explained that those stones would enable future readers to understand the words he would write. For behold, the language which ye shall write I have confounded; wherefore... Continue Reading →
“I Am Able to Do Mine Own Work” – 2 Nephi 27:20-21
God told Moses that His work is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39). He also told Moses, "I have a work for thee" (Moses 1:6). And He assured Moses, "I am with thee" (Moses 1:26). God's work is beyond the capabilities of the best among us. We can only do... Continue Reading →
The Arm of Flesh – 2 Nephi 4:34
Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.... Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is (Jeremiah 17:5, 7). As Nephi lamented his own sins and weaknesses, he recognized the need to turn to God and... Continue Reading →