Equality is a core principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Alma resigned as chief judge and dedicated himself to the ministry because of the inequality he saw among his people. Members of the church were becoming proud, wearing expensive clothing, being "scornful, one towards another," and persecuting those who believed differently from them (Alma... 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 →
“At the Present Our Strugglings Were Vain” – Enos 1:20
Enos wanted to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. Who were they? His cousins. They were descendants of his father's older brothers, Laman and Lemuel, and of his father's sisters who had married the sons of Ishmael. They were family, and Enos wanted to help them live more happily. They had no interest in his... Continue Reading →
“It Grieveth Me That I Should Lose This Tree” – Jacob 5:7
Eight times during the allegory of the olive tree, the Lord of the vineyard says something similar to, "It grieveth me that I should lose this tree" (Jacob 5:7, 11, 13, 32, 46, 47, 51, 66). What is the significance of this statement? It testifies of his enduring love, and it clarifies why he keeps... Continue Reading →
“Tender and Chaste and Delicate” – Jacob 2:7
When the prophet Jacob called his people to repentance, he was keenly aware of the innocent people who would surely be emotionally wounded by this recitation of evil. "It grieveth me, " he said, "that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be a Both a Defender of Truth and a Peacemaker?
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 →