In the middle of Nephi's psalm, after lamenting his susceptibility to temptation and after commanding himself to do better, Nephi begins to talk directly to God. To me, this is the turning point in the psalm—the moment when he acknowledges that he can't do this on his own, that he needs help. Notice how his... Continue Reading →
The Arms of Mercy
All 26 verses of Psalm 136 end with the same phrase: "For his mercy endureth forever." Here is one of the verses from that psalm, which celebrates the Lord's power to deliver the children of Israel from captivity in Egypt: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for... Continue Reading →
“He Suffereth It” – 1 Nephi 19:9
I've been thinking today about one of Nephi's prophecies. After lamenting that people often ignore or even reject things of great worth, Nephi explained that the Savior would be persecuted during his mortal life but would willingly suffer rejection and abuse because of His love for us: And the world, because of their iniquity, shall... 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 →
“Their Language Had Become Corrupted” – Omni 1:17
My nephew, who is currently serving as a missionary in Idaho, wrote today about Omni 1:17. In this verse, the prophet Amaleki describes the state of a group of people called the Mulekites when King Mosiah and his people found them. The Mulekites had left Jerusalem at about the same time that Lehi and his... Continue Reading →
Easter: “He Shall Rise…with Healing in His Wings” (March 30-April 12)
For the next two weeks, instead of having a specific reading assignment, we will prepare for Easter Sunday by studying the life, death, resurrection, and atoning power of Jesus Christ. Here are some passages from the Book of Mormon which teach about these topics: 1 Nephi 10:4-11 - Lehi prophesies about the Savior's life 1... Continue Reading →
“I Do Not Know All Things” – Words of Mormon 1:7
When Nephi was asked a difficult question, he responded first with something he knew—"I know that [God] loveth his children"—but then followed up with an acknowledgement of his limitations—"nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). When Ammon asked King Lamoni if he believed in God, Lamoni answered, "I do... Continue Reading →
“I Did Pour Out My Whole Soul” – Enos 1:9
"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him" (Psalm 62:8). After Enos prayed for his own soul and received forgiveness from God, his thoughts turned to his people. He says, "I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them" (Enos 1:9). What does it mean to pour... Continue Reading →
Enos-Words of Mormon: He Works in Me to Do His Will (March 23-29)
Imagine if you were responsible for a sacred record created by your ancestors. Your duty is to protect it and to add to it. The earlier keepers of the record have filled many of the pages with miraculous stories and powerful spiritual experiences. What would you write? This week, we are studying the words of... Continue Reading →
