Zacchaeus wanted to see the Savior as He really is. Jesus, in turn, saw Zacchaeus as he really is. He can teach us to see others as they really are and as they can become. We can also learn to help them see their own potential.
Hypocrite
A hypocrite is an actor, a person who is making decisions under a false identity. Jesus warned us against hypocrisy in giving, praying, fasting, and judging. We need to focus on real accomplishments, not appearances.
Gehazi and Gifts
In the book Predictably Irrational, Dan Ariely discusses the problems that come from mixing social norms with market norms. As humans, he said, we make some decisions in purely financial terms—How much is this activity worth? Does the benefit justify the cost?—but we make other decisions in terms of relationships. Applying a market lens to... Continue Reading →
“Our Fears Did Cease”
Can we rely on one another to do what we say we will do? When Nephi made an oath to Zoram "that he need not fear; that he should be a free man...if he would go down in the wilderness with us," Zoram took courage. When Zoram responded with an oath to stay with Nephi and his... Continue Reading →
Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
To ancient Israel, the Lord declared, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20, Mosiah 13:23). He subsequently elaborated on this commandment: You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are... Continue Reading →
Machpelah: Paying Full Price
When Sarah died, Abraham wanted to give her a proper burial. Although he was wealthy and highly regarded among his neighbors, and although he had lived in Canaan for many years, he still felt like an immigrant. "I am a stranger and a sojourner among you," he said to his neighbors. "Give me a possession... Continue Reading →
Borrowing
To borrow something is to make a commitment. Inherent in borrowing is a promise to return the object to the owner in good condition. In the law of Moses, the Lord decreed that if someone borrowed an animal, "and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he [the borrower] shall... Continue Reading →
“He Hath Lied Unto Us” – Alma 10:28, Alma 12:3
The Book of Mormon teaches plainly that lying is wrong (2 Nephi 9:34, 2 Nephi 26:32, 2 Nephi 28:8, Alma 16:18, 3 Nephi 30:2, 4 Nephi 1:16, Mormon 8:31). God does not tell lies (Enos 1:6, 3 Nephi 27:18, Ether 3:12). The devil is "the father of all lies" (2 Nephi 2:18, 2 Nephi 9:9,... Continue Reading →
Sherem – Rhetoric vs. Reality
Today, as I read the story of Sherem in Jacob 7, I was struck by Sherem's reliance on his own persuasive abilities. In contrast Jacob was focused on "things as they really are and...as they really will be" (Jacob 4:13). Jacob introduces Sherem as a person who "had a perfect knowledge of the language of... 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 →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 