Amulek exhorted the people of Ammonihah to be "watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil" (Alma 34:39). Moroni later used the same phrase to describe the role of the church in the lives of believers: They were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and... Continue Reading →
Cumorah
Mormon was 73 years old when he gathered his people for their final battle (Mormon 6:5). He had begun leading Nephite armies nearly 60 years earlier, at the age of 15 (Mormon 2:2). He had seen a lifetime of battles, and he knew the likely outcome of this conflict, but he believed that his people's... Continue Reading →
Alma’s Advice to Shiblon
I love the passages in the epistles of Paul where he offers rapid-fire advice: a series of pithy statements, any one of which would be worth a sermon, but which, taken together, describe the character of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Two examples of these passages are Romans 12:9-21 and 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22. Alma's charge to his... Continue Reading →
Fruit
In Alma's analogy of the seed, we plant the word of God in our hearts. As it starts to grow, we recognize that it is good, because it begins to enlarge our soul, enlighten our mind, and be delicious to us (Alma 32:28). This is a good sign, but it is not the final goal.... Continue Reading →
“In Wisdom and Order” – Mosiah 4:27
After teaching his people to care for the poor and the needy, King Benjamin added a caution: "See that all these things are done in wisdom and order," he said, "for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength." He added that it is important to be diligent, "that... Continue Reading →
“Ye Shall Have Joy” – Jacob 5:71, 75
At the end of the allegory of the olive tree, the Lord of the vineyard implements a massive plan to recover his olive trees. He and his servant, who have been working alone, recruit more people to help with the work (Jacob 5:61). As he instructs the new recruits, the Lord of the vineyard makes... Continue Reading →
Go and Do – 1 Nephi 3:7
For many of our daily activities, we can be successful by simply doing two things: Showing up ("going") Participating ("doing") It sounds simple enough, but how easy is it to avoid attending the activity, going where the action is? And even when we do make it there, how easy is it to be passive and... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Refrain from Idleness?”
Alma counseled his son Shiblon to "refrain from idleness" (Alma 38:12). But he had just praised Shiblon for his "steadiness," "faithfulness," and "diligence." Why would he give this counsel to a son who was clearly hard-working? One possible answer: Shiblon was in a time of transition. He had just returned from a mission. Now, that... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Diligence?
Today, I studied all 56 passages in the Book of Mormon which use some form of the word "diligent." To be diligent is to "[show] care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties" (Oxford English Dictionary). The word also carries a connotation of eagerness. It comes from the Latin word diligere, which means to "esteem,"... Continue Reading →
What Should I Do When I’m Worn Out?
Nephi had served as chief judge for about nine years, and he was absolutely exhausted. This wasn't physical fatigue. It was something harder. He "had become weary because of their iniquity" (Helaman 5:4). He had witnessed the deterioration of faith among his people with a consequent erosion of peace and prosperity. He saw them electing leaders... Continue Reading →