Mark tells us that when Jesus called Peter and Andrew to be His disciples, "They straightway left their nets and followed him." We likewise often need to act straightway, without unnecessary delays or detours.
“What Shall We Do Unto the Queen?”
It is generally a good idea to check in with experienced and capable people before making a significant decision. They may help you look at the problem from different perspectives, and they may recommend options you hadn't thought of. Hearing from a variety of people can enrich your experience and help you make better decisions... Continue Reading →
How Long Halt Ye?
Three years into a severe famine, Elijah asked King Ahab to gather his people. When they were all together, Elijah called out their tentativeness. "How long halt ye between two opinions?" he asked. "If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). In the King James Version, and in many other English translations of the... Continue Reading →
An Understanding Heart
After Solomon became king of Israel, God invited him to ask for a blessing (1 Kings 3:5, 2 Chronicles 1:7). Solomon could have requested so many things, including longevity, increased wealth, victory in battle, or a good reputation among leaders of other nations. But he didn't request any of these. He framed his simple request... Continue Reading →
The High Council of the Church of Christ
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.Proverbs 11:14 Alma was troubled. As the high priest over the church, he had taught church members "that there should be no contention one with another," but that they should have "their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another" (Mosiah 18:21). He taught them... Continue Reading →
“I Know” / “I Know Not”
Recognizing the boundaries of our knowledge is an important element of self-awareness and a prerequisite to wise decision-making. Nephi opens the Book of Mormon with a testimony of its truthfulness: I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.1... Continue Reading →
Dead Works – Moroni 8:23
Some things we do simply aren't worth our energy. In a letter to his son, Mormon discussed an issue that had caused some contention in the church: Do small children need to be baptized? Mormon responded that baptism is for people who are old enough to know right from wrong. "Little children are alive in... Continue Reading →
Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly
In the last general conference, Elder Dale G. Renlund encouraged us to follow this counsel from the prophet Micah in order to understand what more we can do to draw closer to God: What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?Micah 6:8 Alma gave a similar admonition to his... Continue Reading →
The Jaredite Generations
Thirty generations in fifteen chapters: in the Book of Ether, Moroni provides a sweeping history of the rise and fall of a civilization. At first glance, the book appears to be the story of the Jaredite people from the perspective of their kings. But upon closer consideration, it becomes clear that the narrative follows a... Continue Reading →
Rashly
Alma counseled his son Shiblon to "bridle all [his] passions, that [he] may be filled with love" (Alma 38:12). He told another son, Corianton, to "cross [himself]" and to "counsel with [his] elder brothers in [his] undertakings." And he added, "give heed to their counsel" (Alma 39:9-10). While our gut reaction to our circumstances may... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 