Near the end of King Benjamin's sermon, after he taught his people about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, after they prayed and received a remission of their sins, and after he gave them counsel about what they should do to retain that remission of their sins, he gave them some guidance about how to maintain... Continue Reading →
How Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Mormon?
This week, I'm going to ask some questions about translation. Here are a few of the questions I'm planning to tackle: Why is it important for people to hear the gospel in their own language? What is the Urim and Thummim, and what role does it play in translation? Why is the Book of Mormon... Continue Reading →
I…Did Cause My People to Be Industrious – 2 Nephi 5:15-17
15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance. 16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I... Continue Reading →
Lessons from Sermons to Modern Readers
Some of the chapters in the Book of Mormon are addressed directly to us, the modern readers of the book. Moroni wrote, "I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing" (Mormon 8:35). During the month... Continue Reading →
Moroni Was a Strong and a Mighty Man – Alma 48:11-13
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; 12 Yea, a man whose heart... Continue Reading →
“We Have a Labor to Perform” – Moroni 9:4-6
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them. 5 For so exceedingly do... Continue Reading →
Ye Ought to Have Stirred Yourselves More Diligently – Alma 60:8-10
8 Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them, and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword. 9 But behold, this is not all—ye... Continue Reading →
I Have Not Required It of Them – 1 Nephi 3:5
5 And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord. (1 Nephi 3:5) A core message of Nephi's writings is that we can do difficult things when the Lord... Continue Reading →
Nevertheless, Having Been Highly Favored of the Lord – 1 Nephi 1:1
1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the... Continue Reading →
Prospered by the Hand of the Lord – Ether 10:28
28 And never could be a people more blessed than were they, and more prospered by the hand of the Lord. And they were in a land that was choice above all lands, for the Lord had spoken it. (Ether 10:28) In Ether 10, Moroni describes the prosperity of the Jaredites under the reign of... Continue Reading →