Disciples of Jesus Christ have an obligation to tell the truth, even when others don't want to hear it. Our promise to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) is a promise to speak up, to share our convictions with others, to say what... Continue Reading →
When Is Violence Justified?
"Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). The sixth of the Ten Commandments which the Lord gave to Moses on Mount Sinai is clear and uncontroversial. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expanded the commandment: Not only is it wrong to kill. It's wrong to be angry. It's wrong to call people names. These small... Continue Reading →
What Should I Teach My Children?
In the Book of Mormon we read what fathers like Lehi and Alma taught their children. We also read about men and women—including Enos, Alma, and Abish—benefitting from things they had learned years before from their parents. Today, I pondered some instructions from a prophet about what parents should teach their children. After the people... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Inclusiveness?
Nephi taught that God invites all people "to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him" (2 Nephi 26:33). When the Savior visited the American continent, He demonstrated this inclusiveness by His actions. Immediately after descending from heaven and announcing who He was, He said: Arise and... Continue Reading →
How Can I Heal a Relationship with Someone Who Doesn’t Want the Relationship Healed?
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about healing a broken relationship. I focused particularly on the Savior's counsel in the Sermon on the Mount that we should take the initiative to be reconciled with other people before approaching God. He said to leave our gift at the altar and come back when... Continue Reading →
How Can I Heal a Broken Relationship?
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior taught an important principle: Our relationship with God is heavily influenced by our relationships with other people: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be “Past Feeling?”
Sensitivity is good. Callousness is not. The Book of Mormon is very clear on that point: After sharing a spiritual dream with his children, Lehi "did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent" to keep the commandments of God (1 Nephi 8:37). At the end of his life, Lehi spoke to... 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 Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Racism?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi declares God's standard regarding racism, sexism, and other types of unrighteous discrimination: He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the... Continue Reading →
