Near the end of Joshua's life, he called his people together and challenged them to commit to follow God. They made a covenant to obey and serve God. In order to remind them of their covenant, Joshua "took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord." He told... Continue Reading →
“Keep Thy Soul Diligently”
Remembering spiritual experiences and staying faithful to them doesn't just happen. It requires intentional effort on our part. As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land, Moses gave them a warning: Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy... Continue Reading →
Jeshurun Waxed Fat
Just before the children of Israel entered the promised land, Moses shared with them a song. In the song, he expressed sorrow for the fate of future generations: But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and... Continue Reading →
Signs and Wonders – 3 Nephi 2:1-3
I wrote last week that we all have signs in our lives—reasons to believe that God lives and loves us. The question is whether we are willing to recognize those signs or whether we choose to ignore them. As Samuel the Lamanite revealed to the Nephites in Zarahemla the signs which would correspond with the... Continue Reading →
“My Sons [and My Daughters], Remember, Remember” – Helaman 5:6-12
This morning, I studied Helaman's words to his sons, Nephi and Lehi. His message is that he wants them to remember some important truths. In fact, he uses the word "remember" thirteen times in just seven verses. I studied these words because I have several children going off to college this week, one of them... Continue Reading →
“Remember the Captivity of Thy Fathers” – Mosiah 27:16
The angel who appeared to Alma the Younger gave him a specific instruction: Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has... Continue Reading →
How Can I Participate More Meaningfully in the Sacrament?
When something significant happens to us, we may refer to it as an "unforgettable experience." But we all know that nothing is inherently unforgettable. We may always be aware that it happened, but its impact on our daily lives will fade unless we do something to keep it on the forefront of our minds. When... Continue Reading →
Always Remember Him – Moroni 4:3, 5:2
3 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that... Continue Reading →
Lessons from Sermons to Family Members
During August, I studied sermons in the Book of Mormon that were given to family members: siblings or sons. Some of these sermons had an audience of one. Yet they stand today in the Book of Mormon alongside sermons delivered to large gatherings. There's a message in this. Heavenly Father loves all of His children... Continue Reading →
They Have Enlarged the Memory of This People – Alma 37:8-10
8 And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls. 9 Yea, I say... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 