It’s hard to admit when we’ve done something wrong. It's so easy to make excuses, to blame other people, or to imagine that our actions have been misinterpreted. It’s so hard to say, “I messed up. I shouldn’t have done that, and I won’t do it again.” That’s why I was impressed when I read... Continue Reading →
Why Will Ye Die?
The Lord assured the prophet Ezekiel that He wants what is best for His children. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live." As Elder D. Todd Christofferson has affirmed, "Far from being anxious to condemn, our Heavenly Father and our Savior... Continue Reading →
Past Performance Is Not Necessarily Indicative of Future Results
The Lord commanded Ezekiel to teach a challenging principle to the children of Israel: No matter what you have done in the past, what really matters is what you are doing today. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be... Continue Reading →
“I Shall Be Turned”
Last week I wrote about Jeremiah's striking appeal: "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed" (Jeremiah 17:14). I noted that God is willing to heal us, but that we must be willing to receive the gift. I also wrote that we must open our eyes to recognize the many ways God is healing... Continue Reading →
“I Will Not Hear”
The book of Isaiah opens dramatically. The Lord tells the children of Israel that they have forsaken Him, that they are damaging themselves by their actions, and that He doesn’t want to be a part of it any more. In words that must have been shocking to Isaiah’s listeners, the Lord tells them to stop... Continue Reading →
Restitution
The Hebrew word shalam (שָׁלַם) means to make something complete or whole. It is sometimes translated into English as "make restitution." The word appears many times in the context of our obligation to repair the damage we do. Consider the following specific examples: ReferenceActionConsequenceExodus 22:5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be... Continue Reading →
Judah’s Transformation
When Joseph's brothers found him in Egypt, they had all matured, but none more dramatically than Judah. About twenty-two years earlier, Judah had pleaded with the other brothers not to kill their younger brother Joseph. Reuben, the oldest, had tried to save Joseph's life "to deliver him to his father again," but Judah had proposed... Continue Reading →
“I Did Eat”
The first step in abandoning a sin is recognizing that it exists. If we are unwilling to admit that we have done something wrong, we are likely to continue making the same mistake over and over again. When God approached Adam and Eve after their transgression in the Garden of Eden, He gave them the... Continue Reading →
“Any of Them”
In his dedicatory prayer for the ancient temple in Jerusalem, Solomon raised a series of hypothetical situations, asking God for specific blessings in each of them. Here is one of those situations: When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and... Continue Reading →
“Clean But Not All”
At the Last Supper, when the meal was finished, Jesus washed the feet of each of His apostles, apparently without explaining why. When it was Peter's turn, he refused to allow the Savior to wash his feet. Jesus responded, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Peter responded impulsively: "Lord, not my feet... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 