The authors of the Book of Mormon quoted a number of prophets who lived in Israel before Lehi's family left Jerusalem (about 600 B.C.). Some of those prophets, like Moses and Isaiah, also appear in the Bible. But others do not. Two of these prophets are Zenos and Zenock. Here's what we know about them:... Continue Reading →
“Shine Forth” – Alma 5:50
Moses instructed Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel using these words: The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26) The image of the Lord "shining"... Continue Reading →
“Surely He Has Borne Our Griefs” – Mosiah 14:3-4
As Abinadi taught the wicked priests of King Noah, he quoted Isaiah 53 to emphasize that salvation is available to us only because of Jesus Christ. In this chapter, Isaiah called the Savior "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Then, he identified the source of those afflictions: "Surely he has borne our griefs,... Continue Reading →
“That Christ…May Seal You His” – Mosiah 5:15
After urging his people to take upon themselves the name of Christ, informing them that this is the name by which God will call them, and reminding them that they needed to serve Him in order to know Him, King Benjamin ended his final sermon by expressing his hope that the people would be "steadfast... Continue Reading →
“Blotted Out” – Mosiah 1:12, Mosiah 5:11
King Benjamin told his son Mosiah that he was going to give his people "a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression" (Mosiah 1:12). When the people gathered, Benjamin shared some things he had learned from an angel. Among the teachings of the angel was the importance of the name... Continue Reading →
“Take upon You the Name of Christ” – Mosiah 5:8
King Benjamin told his son Mosiah that he had two reasons to call the people together: to declare that Mosiah was now the king, and to give the people "a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression" (Mosiah 1:12). After the people heard his message about Jesus Christ, they repented... Continue Reading →
Hosanna
Psalm 118 contains the following poignant expression of adoration and pleading: Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success. (Psalm 118:25, New Living Translation) This pleading is followed by an expression of confidence in the one who can provide this salvation: "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord"... Continue Reading →
“He Suffereth It” – 1 Nephi 19:9
I've been thinking today about one of Nephi's prophecies. After lamenting that people often ignore or even reject things of great worth, Nephi explained that the Savior would be persecuted during his mortal life but would willingly suffer rejection and abuse because of His love for us: And the world, because of their iniquity, shall... Continue Reading →
“He Was Despised” – Mosiah 14:3
Today, I was pondering a prophecy of the Savior written by Isaiah and later quoted by Abinadi (Isaiah 53:3-6, Mosiah 14:3-6). I was thinking about the contrast between worldly power and spiritual power as illustrated by the Savior's experience. Isaiah dramatizes it by juxtaposing the Savior's experience with our natural response to it: What He... Continue Reading →
“My Jesus” – 2 Nephi 33:6
In the last chapter of his writings, the prophet Nephi refers to the Savior in a striking way which appears no where else in the scriptures. He says: I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell. (2 Nephi 33:6, italics added) I... Continue Reading →
