In describing the Nephites' rapid fall from righteousness to sin, the narrator paraphrases a metaphor from the book of Proverbs about dogs and vomit. Progress isn't linear, and we all experience setbacks, but God is always willing to forgive when we repent
Bridle and Repent
To Shiblon, Alma counseled, "Bridle all your passions." To Corianton, he said, "Repent and forsake your sins." It's better to prevent than to detect and correct it, but identifying sins and repenting quickly is better than leaving them unattended.
Sin and Law
Law is good, because it helps us see what we should do. It can also be discouraging, as we recognize how far we fall short. But if that recognition leads us to reach out to the Savior and receive His mercy, then our awareness of the law has been fruitful.
Backsliding
The Hebrew word meshubah (מְשׁוּבָה) means "turning away." It appears twelve times in the Old Testament: once in Proverbs, nine times in Jeremiah, and twice in Hosea. In the Jeremiah and Hosea appearances, the King James translators rendered it as "backsliding." Other translations use words like "apostasy," "faithlessness," and "waywardness." I like the word "backsliding,"... Continue Reading →
“The Least Degree of Allowance” – Alma 45:16
At the end of Alma's life, he held a final interview with his son Helaman. He asked Helaman to reaffirm his belief in Jesus Christ and the words of the scriptures and to recommit to obey the commandments which Alma had taught. He prophesied of dark times ahead, including the complete destruction of the Nephite... Continue Reading →
“When They Saw Your Conduct…” – Alma 39:11
Throw a pebble into the water, and you'll see ripples expanding in concentric circles around the point of impact. Our actions are like that. We may only be aware of the first-order consequences of our decisions, but they surely have additional consequences that we cannot see. Alma pointed out to his son Corianton one of... Continue Reading →
“Which Easily Doth Beset You” – Alma 7:15
The word euperistatos (εὐπερίστατος) only appears once in the Greek New Testament. The word means "to easily surround," "to encircle," or to "thwart." It carries the connotation of something that overpowers you, grabs hold of you and prevents you from moving forward. In the King James Version, this word is translated "beset." Here is the... Continue Reading →
Isaiah’s Six Woes – 2 Nephi 15:8-23
After sharing a discouraging parable about an unresponsive vineyard, Isaiah delivered six warnings to his readers, each beginning with the word "wo." He must have observed these imprudent behaviors among his own people, but they are just as relevant in our day. Here are the six warnings: Don't prioritize things over people (2 Nephi 15:8-10).... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Refute?
This is the third of six posts answering a series of questions raised by President Russell M. Nelson in the October 2017 general conference. So far, I have discussed what the Book of Mormon is and what it affirms. Today, I am listing some of the fallacies it refutes. It refutes the concept of original sin,... Continue Reading →
Morianton – Ether 10:9-12
9 And it came to pass after the space of many years, Morianton, (he being a descendant of Riplakish) gathered together an army of outcasts, and went forth and gave battle unto the people; and he gained power over many cities; and the war became exceedingly sore, and did last for the space of many... Continue Reading →