Thirty generations in fifteen chapters: in the Book of Ether, Moroni provides a sweeping history of the rise and fall of a civilization. At first glance, the book appears to be the story of the Jaredite people from the perspective of their kings. But upon closer consideration, it becomes clear that the narrative follows a... Continue Reading →
Supposing by Their Numbers to Overpower Teancum- Alma 52:21-24
21 And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of meeting them upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds. 22 Therefore he caused that Teancum should take a small number of men and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and... Continue Reading →
They Knew Not the Dealings of That God Who Had Created Them – 1 Nephi 2:11-12
11 Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their... Continue Reading →
Lessons from Lehi
As I've studied the words of Lehi over the past week, the following themes have emerged for me: Perspective In Lehi's final messages to his sons, he tries to help them place their daily decisions in context and see the big picture. For example: He encourages Joseph to remember both his ancestors and his descendants... Continue Reading →
Shake Off the Awful Chains with Which Ye Are Bound – 2 Nephi 1:13
13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe. (2... Continue Reading →
We Are Not Cast Off – 2 Nephi 10:20-22
20 And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off; nevertheless, we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we... Continue Reading →
He Did Not Delight in Murder or Bloodshed – Alma 55:18-19
19 But behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from destruction; and for this cause he might not bring upon him injustice, he would not fall upon the Lamanites and destroy them in their drunkenness.(Alma 55:19)Moroni was... Continue Reading →
The People of God Were Joined…by More Than the Number Who Had Been Slain – Alma 24:26-27
26 And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved.27 And there was not a wicked man slain among them;... Continue Reading →
