"What is truth?"' asked Pontius Pilate. The Savior had just declared that His purpose was "to bear witness unto the truth" (John 18:37-38). Pilate's rhetorical question suggests a deep cynicism. Can anyone know the truth? Does it even exist? Perhaps he had lived in a political world so long, where powerful people manufacture their own... Continue Reading →
Truth
Our relationship with the truth is a fundamental part of our moral character. The prophet Jacob defined "truth" as "things as they really are, and...things as they really will be"(Jacob 4:13). (See also Doctrine and Covenants 93:24.) The Lord revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith that "All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed... Continue Reading →
“To Me He Doth Not Stink” – Alma 19:5
How do we know what we know? To what degree is our knowledge based on our personal experience and to what degree is it based on what other people tell us? We all know that our own personal experience provides insufficient information to direct all of our decisions. That's why we read books, ask advice... Continue Reading →
“I Have Told You the Truth” – Mosiah 13:4, 7
It's not just about the message; it's also about the messenger. Alma was convinced of the truthfulness of the gospel when he heard Abinadi preach in King Noah's court. Abinadi's words were true, but he was persuasive not only because of his message. He was persuasive because of the personal sacrifice he was willing to... Continue Reading →
“Thus Saith the Lord” – Mosiah 11:20, 25, Mosiah 12:2
King Noah received two sets of messages. One set came from Abinadi, a prophet of God. The other set came from his own priests, whom he had chosen. Here are some of the messages he heard: Topic Abinadi The priests of King Noah The behavior of King Noah and his people "Thus saith the Lord—Wo... Continue Reading →
Sherem – Rhetoric vs. Reality
Today, as I read the story of Sherem in Jacob 7, I was struck by Sherem's reliance on his own persuasive abilities. In contrast Jacob was focused on "things as they really are and...as they really will be" (Jacob 4:13). Jacob introduces Sherem as a person who "had a perfect knowledge of the language of... Continue Reading →
What Is Truth?
When the Savior stood before Pontius Pilate, accused of treason, He explained to the Roman governor that His kingdom was not about worldly power: To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean That the Savior Is “Full of Grace and Truth?”
After explaining to his son Jacob the importance of the law, Lehi testified that redemption would come through the Messiah, "for he is full of grace and truth" (2 Nephi 2:6). What is it about those twin attributes—grace and truth—which qualified Him to be our Savior? Grace is a gift freely given because of love and... Continue Reading →
The Law in Me is Fulfilled – 3 Nephi 15:2-8
2 And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. 3 And he... Continue Reading →
The Guilty Taketh the Truth to Be Hard – 1 Nephi 16:1-3
1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear. 2 And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 