When Aaron visited the father of King Lamoni, who was "king over all the land" (Alma 20:8), the king was initially disappointed. He had invited Aaron's brother Ammon to visit him and to teach him the gospel (Alma 20:27). He was willing to speak with Aaron, but he asked why Ammon had not come with... Continue Reading →
“If You Will Hearken” – Alma 5:60
During Abinadi's message to the priests of King Noah, he quoted the following words from Isaiah: All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. (Mosiah 14:6) One of those priests, Alma, was converted to the gospel because of Abinadi's words. Years later, as Alma's son (also named... Continue Reading →
How Can I Apply My Heart to Understanding? (Mosiah 12:27)
As Abinadi began to teach the priests of King Noah, he explained to them that their lack of knowledge was a result of their own lack of effort. "Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding," he said; "therefore, ye have not been wise" (Mosiah 12:27). Versions of this phrase appear six times in the... Continue Reading →
“Wrought Upon” – 1 Nephi 13:12-13
After observing an odious society in which the wealthy oppressed the poor, Nephi saw some people from that society cross the ocean to the "land of promise" where his family's descendants would live. The process began with a single individual: And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the... Continue Reading →
How Can I Tell the Difference Between Promptings from the Holy Ghost and My Own Thoughts?
Yesterday, I wrote about the importance of learning to recognize the Holy Ghost. Today, I'd like to explore a related question: How can I tell the difference between the Holy Ghost and my own thoughts? Elder David A. Bednar and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, discussed this question during a "Face to Face" online event... Continue Reading →
How Can I Learn to Recognize the Holy Ghost?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, as Nephi enters the city of Jerusalem to make a third attempt to acquire the brass plates, he tells us, "I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do" (1 Nephi 4:6). He later promises that "If ye will enter in... Continue Reading →
What Are the Gifts of the Spirit?
We are all different, and after we become disciples of Jesus Christ, we continue to have different strengths and abilities. When we receive the Spirit of the Lord, God gives us new spiritual capabilities, which we call spiritual gifts or gifts of the Spirit. But we don't all receive the same gifts. These gifts help... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean for Jesus to Be Our Advocate?
An advocate is someone who pleads for or promotes your cause. The term comes from the Latin word advocatus, which is a combination of ad ("to") and vocatus ("called") (Online Etymology Dictionary). An advocate is a person you would call to your side to defend you when you are under attack. The apostle John identified... Continue Reading →
What Is the Liahona?
When God commanded Lehi to leave the city of Jerusalem, he obeyed immediately. He took his family three days' journey into the wilderness and set up camp by a river in a valley. The family camped in that valley for a long time: long enough for Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem twice—once... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Holy Ghost?
Nephi promised that, if we will receive the Holy Ghost, "it will show unto [us] all things what [we] should do" (2 Nephi 32:5). The Lord told Joseph Smith that the Holy Ghost speaks to our mind and to our heart (D&C 8:2). But it can be hard to distinguish thoughts and feelings which come... Continue Reading →
