The prophet Isaiah said, "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees" (Isaiah 35:3). The apostle Paul paraphrased this admonition in his epistle to the Hebrews: "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12). And in March 1832, as the Lord called Jesse Gause to serve in a leadership role in the... Continue Reading →
“He Cast His Eyes Round About” – 3 Nephi 15:1, 17:5
Jesus was walking down a city street surrounded by people. He was going to the home of an anxious father whose daughter was dying. Suddenly, He stopped and asked, "Who touched me?" His disciples were bewildered: "Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" A woman came forward and revealed that... Continue Reading →
The Two Great Commandments
After delivering the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, the Lord gave them many commandments through the prophet Moses. Here are two of them: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:5)."Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Leviticus 19:18). A couple of observations about these two commandments: The... Continue Reading →
“Fools Mock”
Included in Alma's list of soul-searching questions to the people of Zarahemla was the following: "Is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?" Alma added, "Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot... Continue Reading →
Every Nation, Kindred, Tongue, and People
In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John repeatedly uses four words to convey the expansiveness of God's saving work: He sees heavenly beings worshipping Jesus Christ and acknowledging that He has redeemed them "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9).He later sees a huge crowd, "of all nations, and kindreds,... Continue Reading →
“This Is God” – Alma 18:24-28
We can respect and build upon the beliefs of others, even people with whom we disagree. When Ammon asked King Lamoni if he believed in God, the king replied, "I do not know what that meaneth." Ammon, recognizing that the king was not devoid of belief, asked a follow-up question: "Believest thou that there is... Continue Reading →
“Charity Never Faileth” – Moroni 7:46
After describing the characteristics of charity, including suffering long and enduring all things, Mormon followed up in the same way that the apostle Paul did in his first epistle to the Corinthians. He said, "Charity never faileth" (Moroni 7:46). (See 1 Corinthians 13:8.) Paul contrasted charity with several gifts of the Spirit— prophecies, tongues, and... Continue Reading →
Faith, Hope, Meekness, and Love: Interdependent Virtues – Moroni 7:39-44
Christlike virtues do not exist in a vacuum. We might talk about them in isolation; we might even work on them individually. But as we develop one virtue, others naturally grow. Mormon emphasizes the interdependence of several virtues near the end of his sermon in the synagogue: "I judge that ye have faith in Christ... Continue Reading →
Moroni Wrote to the Lamanites
"I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me" (Moroni 1:1)."I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord" (Moroni 1:4). Jesus said, "Love your enemies" (3 Nephi 12:44, Matthew 5:44). As a... Continue Reading →
“He Called Them by Name” – Moroni 2:2
There is power in a name. When Jesus taught His twelve disciples how to baptize, He instructed them to call each individual by name as part of the baptism (3 Nephi 11:24). When He subsequently authorized His disciples to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, He laid His hands on each of them and... Continue Reading →
