An important theme in the Book of Mormon is the importance of awareness. Here are a few examples: At the age of 10, Mormon was selected to be responsible for the plates. the prior caretaker, Ammaron, chose him because he was "a sober child" and "quick to observe" (Mormon 1:2).For Ammaron to identify these characteristics... Continue Reading →
Korihor and the Closing of the Nephite Mind
When I think of a teacher, I think of someone who expands people's knowledge, who helps them open their minds to new possibilities and new paradigms. But Korihor, a popular teacher among the Nephite people about 75 years before the birth of Christ, was entirely focused on debunking myths and questioning beliefs. His view of... Continue Reading →
“I Always Knew” – Alma 30:52
We know more than we realize. After Korihor was struck by the power of God, he began to see things differently. He acknowledged that he had been teaching falsehoods. He did so "because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind." Over time, his mind was blinded by the approval he received from others: "I taught... Continue Reading →
Knowing
As Amulek stepped forward to defend the unpopular prophet Alma, he explained to his neighbors that he had recently become aware of some obvious facts which had previously escaped his notice: "I have seen much of [God's] mysteries and his marvelous power," he said; "yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.... Continue Reading →
Belief and Understanding – Mosiah 26:1-3
Which comes first: understanding or belief? As background for a serious challenge which faced Alma as the high priest over the church, Mormon describes some of the young people in the land of Zarahemla: Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king... Continue Reading →
“Their Language Had Become Corrupted” – Omni 1:17
My nephew, who is currently serving as a missionary in Idaho, wrote today about Omni 1:17. In this verse, the prophet Amaleki describes the state of a group of people called the Mulekites when King Mosiah and his people found them. The Mulekites had left Jerusalem at about the same time that Lehi and his... Continue Reading →
“I Do Not Know All Things” – Words of Mormon 1:7
When Nephi was asked a difficult question, he responded first with something he knew—"I know that [God] loveth his children"—but then followed up with an acknowledgement of his limitations—"nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). When Ammon asked King Lamoni if he believed in God, Lamoni answered, "I do... Continue Reading →
Overcoming Resistance to Change – 2 Nephi 28 & 29
When you are confident that your worldview is complete, it can be easy to ignore or reject inconvenient facts which fail to conform to your theories. That's human nature. We prefer for the data to fit neatly into our preconceived notions rather than to have to question those notions. But this resistance to change can... Continue Reading →
Knowledge and Peace
A good friend of mine says that there are only two kinds of people in the world: the people you love, and the people you don't know. If that is true on an individual level, it is also true, tragically, on a large scale. Why do many Christians fear Muslims? Why do many Republicans and... Continue Reading →
“They Knew Not…Neither Did They Believe” – 1 Nephi 2:12-13
When we complain, we are usually focused on what we know. We see that something is wrong, and other people either aren't aware of the problem or aren't motivated to fix it. But Nephi said that his older brothers complained because of what they didn't know and because of what they didn't believe: And thus... Continue Reading →