The first sentence in the Book of Mormon is about the importance of keeping records. Nephi tells us that, because the Lord had blessed him with "goodly parents," who taught him, and because he had been "highly favored of the Lord" in spite of enduring many afflictions, "therefore I make a record of my proceedings... Continue Reading →
Why Is Family History Important?
Heavenly Father wants us to build strong relationships with each other, and those relationships are not limited to people who are currently living. After Lehi left Jerusalem with his family, He sent his sons back on a dangerous mission. They were to acquire a valuable spiritual record engraved on brass plates which were in the... Continue Reading →
How Did Elijah Turn the Hearts of Fathers and Children Toward Each Other?
In the last two verses of the Old Testament, Malachi prophesied that, "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord," the prophet Elijah would come to "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers." He indicated that, if this didn't happen,... Continue Reading →
What Offering Will the Sons of Levi Make in Righteousness?
The last prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi, prophesied that "the messenger of the covenant" would "suddenly come to his temple." This sounds like a reference to the Savior's Second Coming, especially when Malachi asks, "Who may abide the day of his coming?" He tells us that this messenger will refine and purify the sons... Continue Reading →
Lessons from Sermons to Believers
During the month of June, I studied sermons in the Book of Mormon which were delivered to believers. Besides writing posts about those sermons, I also wrote a brief summary of each sermon in outline form. Here is a list of the sermons that I studied: Jacob's first sermon to the people of Nephi, delivered... Continue Reading →
Look unto the Rock from Whence Ye Are Hewn – 2 Nephi 8:1-3
1 Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness. Look unto the rock from whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him. 3 For the Lord... Continue Reading →
A Genealogy of His Fathers – 1 Nephi 5:14-17
14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of... Continue Reading →
I Have Given You the Names of Our First Parents – Helaman 5:6-7
6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when... Continue Reading →
He Remembered the Great Things the Lord Had Done – Ether 6:30, 7:27
30 And it came to pass that Orihah did walk humbly before the Lord, and did remember how great things the Lord had done for his father, and also taught his people how great things the Lord had done for their fathers.(Ether 6:30)27 And there were no more wars in the days of Shule; and... Continue Reading →