The Lord told Isaiah to preach the gospel whole-heartedly, holding nothing back. "Cry aloud," He said, "spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet" (Isaiah 58:1). In another passage, he instructs the children of Israel to prepare for massive growth and prosperity: Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the... Continue Reading →
Confounded
After prophesying of difficult days ahead, the prophet Isaiah foretold a time of prosperity and peace, when the children of Israel would be protected from both physical and verbal abuse: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of... Continue Reading →
Stripped of Pride, Stripped of Envy
There are some things we need to acquire as we prepare to meet God. There are also things we need to abandon. As Alma spoke to the people of Zarahemla, he specifically identified two things they needed to eliminate from their lives in order to be ready to be with God: Behold, are ye stripped... Continue Reading →
“Fear Ye Not the Reproach of Men” – 2 Nephi 8:7
Faith in God includes prioritizing His words over the words of other people. To ancient Israel, through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord counseled, "Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings" (2 Nephi 8:7, Isaiah 51:7). Then He asked the following rhetorical question: Who art thou, that thou shouldst... Continue Reading →
“I Will Ease Your Mind Somewhat” – Alma 39:17
King Benjamin taught his people that they should administer to the relief of others "both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants" (Mosiah 4:26). Alma gave the same commandment to the members of the newly organized church at the waters of Mormon (Mosiah 18:27-29). What does it mean to administer relief spiritually? One example might... Continue Reading →
“Swallowed Up” – Alma 27:28
Isaiah prophesied that God would "swallow up death in victory" (Isaiah 25:8). Aaron borrowed this terminology when he taught the king of the Lamanites that Christ would "[break] the bands of death,,,and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory" (Alma 22:14). This was more than a theoretical concept.... Continue Reading →
How Should I Deal with Anxiety?
Anxiety can be helpful or harmful. Multiple prophets in the Book of Mormon acknowledge feelings of anxiety, and those feelings are generally caused by their love for others. When Lehi spoke with his sons near the end of his life, he shared with them the confidence he felt: "The Lord hath redeemed my soul from... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Fear?
Fear is an unpleasant feeling caused by the anticipation of a negative event (Oxford English Dictionary). We feel sadness when something bad has already happened; we feel fear when we think something bad is going to happen . Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi and his brothers find themselves in a treacherous... Continue Reading →
Lessons from the Savior’s Visit to the American Continent
I finished the year of studying types of content in the Book of Mormon by studying the visit of Jesus Christ to the American continent following His death and resurrection as recorded in 3 Nephi. I learned the following principles from my study this month: 1. We must choose to receive the gifts God offers... Continue Reading →
Be of Good Cheer – 3 Nephi 1:13-14
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the... Continue Reading →