As Elijah sat in a cave on Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai), he learned an important lesson about hearing God. Through the mouth of the cave, he witnessed three powerful and destructive natural forces: a "great and strong wind," an earthquake, and a fire. Elijah's observation was that the Lord was not in... Continue Reading →
Water, Spirit, and Blood
What does it take to be born again? When Jesus warned Nicodemus that we can't enter the kingdom of God without being reborn, He specified that we must be "born of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:3-5). We usually associate this instruction with the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, but is that sufficient? According... Continue Reading →
Spirit
Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.Luke 24:39 Thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a prophet known as the brother of Jared saw and spoke with Him. After pointing out that He looked like a human being, Jesus explained: Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man... Continue Reading →
Day by Day
When it was time for Lehi and his family to begin their journey in the wilderness, God gave them a tool to help them steer a straight course toward their destination. Nephi refers to it as "a round ball of curious workmanship" (1 Nephi 16:10). Alma later explains to his son Helaman that it was... Continue Reading →
The Stem, the Rod, and the Root
After prophesying that Israel would be conquered, using a metaphor of a tree being chopped down or burned, Isaiah presents an image of rebirth: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Isaiah 11:1, 2 Nephi 21:1 As he does frequently, Isaiah gives us two parallel phrases... Continue Reading →
Demonstration of the Spirit
In his first epistle to church members in Corinth, the apostle Paul emphasized that God's wisdom is greater than human wisdom and that therefore preaching the gospel is about connecting people to God's Spirit, not just convincing them of truths by eloquence and reasoning. "My speech and my preaching," he said, "was not with enticing... Continue Reading →
The Still Small Voice
During a particularly discouraging time, the prophet Elijah traveled to Mount Horeb, the same place Moses had seen the burning bush. In a cave on that mountain, he prayed, expressing frustration for his lack of success. In response, God told him to step out of the cave onto the side of the mountain. Standing there,... Continue Reading →
Enlightened
God can not only reveal information to us; He can also help us improve our ability to acquire knowledge and to use it wisely. The prophet Mormon indicated that we already have these abilities: "The Spirit of Christ is given to every man [and woman], that he [or she] may know good from evil" (Moroni... Continue Reading →
“A Portion of His Spirit”
When the sons of Mosiah and a small number of their friends embarked on a mission among their enemies, the Lamanites, they knew they couldn't accomplish their objectives alone. They would need God's help. To that end, they "searched the scriptures diligently" and "[gave] themselves to much prayer, and fasting." As a result, "they had... Continue Reading →
Edify
How do you recognize God's influence in your life? How can you hear Him amongst the many other voices in the world? Here's how Alma described the impact of God's word: If ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed...it will begin to... Continue Reading →