I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable. —Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1929-1932 (1973),... Continue Reading →
The Arm of Flesh – 2 Nephi 4:34
Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.... Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is (Jeremiah 17:5, 7). As Nephi lamented his own sins and weaknesses, he recognized the need to turn to God and... Continue Reading →
Harden Not Your Hearts – 1 Nephi 15:11
The 95th psalm tells us not to harden our hearts if we want to hear God's voice (Psalm 95:7-8). Nephi tells his brothers the same thing when he hears them arguing about the meaning of their father's words. "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" he asks. "We have not," they reply, "for the Lord maketh... Continue Reading →
How Can I Avoid Being an “Unholy Temple?”
Four times in the Book of Mormon, we are taught a fundamental principle: God doesn't dwell in unholy temples. If we make choices which make us unholy, we cannot have His Spirit with us. Today, I examined these four passages looking for insights on how I can avoid cutting myself off from the Spirit of... Continue Reading →
What Should I Do When I Feel Inadequate?
Nephi wrote poignantly about his failure to live up to his own expectations. "O wretched man that I am!" he said. "I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me" (2 Nephi 4:17-18). He tried to overcome his failings by willpower alone, but in the end, it was... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be More Humble?
It’s hard to feel that you are sufficiently humble. If you did, you might not be. — Henry B. Eyring, "Come Unto Christ," BYU Speeches, 29 Oct 1989 The word "humble" (or "humbled") appears 68 times in the Book of Mormon. About 2/3 of the time (42 occurrences), the word functions as a reflexive verb:... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Harden Your Heart?
Shortly after Nephi's family left their comfortable home in Jerusalem and began camping in the wilderness, Nephi prayed to understand "the mysteries of God." In response, he tells us that God visited him "and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did... Continue Reading →
What Is A Contrite Spirit?
Contrite means "crushed." The English word descends from the Latin word contritus, which means literally "worn out" or "ground to pieces" ("contrite," Online Etymology Dictionary). When the word appears in the King James Version of the Bible, it is a translation of one of three different Hebrew words: dakka' (דַּכָּא), meaning crushed or pulverized (Psalm 34:18,... Continue Reading →
Why Is It Good to Be Submissive?
King Benjamin taught that our natural state is contrary to God's will. He further explained that God is willing to help us overcome this state and become saints through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. However, in order to receive this gift, we must be "submissive." Specifically, we must be "willing to submit to all things... Continue Reading →
