Abinadi rebuked King Noah's priests for not applying their hearts to understanding. As we study the law of Moses, we can apply our hearts by extracting the key principles. Specific rules about stray livestock, borrowed tools, and farm fields turn out to teach restitution, empathy, care for the vulnerable, and even love for our enemies.
Genesis 3 in the Book of Mormon
Lehi, Benjamin, Abinadi, and Alma explore Genesis 3 by applying it to their current circumstances, seeking inspiration to understand it more fully, and reading it in light of what they already knew about God. Their interpretations are both flexible and disciplined—creative while remaining anchored to the text.
Four Foundational Strategies
Book of Mormon authors modeled four strategies which can enhance our study of the Old Testament: (1) search for precious things in plain sight, (2) prioritize holistic over selective reading, (3) synthesize themes across the books, and (4) find Christ in the writings of all the prophets.
Contents of the Brass Plates
Eight of the 39 books in the Old Testament were definitely in the brass plates, and another 16 may have been included. For Book of Mormon prophets, the brass plates were an essential part of their identity: connecting them to intergenerational covenants, testifying of the Savior, and bringing them closer to God.
The Old Testament: Origins and Structure
Following the example of Jesus, His apostles frequently referenced the accepted Jewish scriptures as they taught about His life, mission, atoning sacrifice, and resurrection. As Christianity spread, these scriptures were preserved, named, and organized into a single collection. The Old Testament’s structure reflects how early Christians read Israel’s scriptures as sacred history testifying of Christ.
The Hebrew Bible: Origins and Structure
The Hebrew Bible consists of three collections of books: the Torah (the Five Books of Moses), the Neviʾim (the Prophets), and the Ketuvim (the Writings). We can be grateful to generations of Jewish scholars and religious leaders who carefully preserved, edited, and transmitted these sacred texts, enabling us to study them today.
Josiah and Lehi: The Power of Sacred Texts
During Lehi's lifetime, the city of Jerusalem experienced a profound spiritual reawakening when their king read the words of scripture and urged his people to follow God's instructions. This experience formed an important part of Lehi's spiritual heritage. Like Josiah, he viewed scripture as a tool to lead him and his family closer to God.
Lehi and the Brass Plates
The Hebrew Bible appears early in the Book of Mormon. Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem to obtain the Brass Plates. These writings connected Lehi to both ancestors and descendants and taught him profound truths about the Messiah, the gathering of Israel, agency, and redemption. Like Lehi, we can find spiritual treasures in the Old Testament.
4,000th Post
Just over eleven years ago, I started blogging what I learn from the scriptures each day. Here are a few fun facts about these posts and a few lessons I've learned by repeating this process 4,000 times.
Likening Doctrine and Covenants 111: A Case Study
Nephi taught that we should liken the scriptures to ourselves. For Elder L. Tom Perry, a couple of verses from a revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants reinforced some personal revelation he had received. "Tarry ye in this place," the verses said, supporting a decision to turn down a job offer and remain in Massachusetts.