Insights from my daily study of the Book of Mormon.
After hearing his father's dream and his father's prophecies, Nephi wanted to see the things his father had seen. As a result, he experienced an expansive, interactive vision, which enabled him to explain his father's words to his brothers. Nephi's Vision: The Life of Jesus Christ (1 Nephi 11) How does the birth of Jesus... Continue Reading →
Lehi's dream opens with a depressing scene: a "dark and dreary wilderness" (1 Nephi 8:4). A heavenly messenger beckons him forward, and then for several hours he walks through "a dark and dreary waste" (1 Nephi 8:7-8). The concept of a "dreary" wilderness must have resonated with some members of Lehi's family, who had unfavorably... Continue Reading →
This week, we're studying what Lehi taught his family after obtaining the brass plates and being joined by the family of Ishmael. Key Events Lehi's dream (1 Nephi 8) Nephi explains the purposes of his two sets of plates (1 Nephi 9) Lehi teaches his family about the Savior and about the scattering and gathering... Continue Reading →
Joseph Smith had to wait a long time to obtain the plates containing the original text of the Book of Mormon. When the angel Moroni appeared to him on the evening of Sunday, September 21, 1823, even before showing him in a vision the place where the plates were buried, he indicated that it was... Continue Reading →
Each year, I have chosen a different organizing principle for my study of the Book of Mormon. In past years, I have studied sequentially, by topic, by author, by type of content, and as a series of questions. In 2020, I will use the manual "Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families" to organize my study.... Continue Reading →
Mormon identified meekness as the foundational virtue: [A man] cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart. If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and... Continue Reading →
I started my study today with the question, "How can I forgive myself?" I wanted to better understand how to avoid dwelling on mistakes made in the past and long since abandoned, which might hold me back from losing myself in service today. But I've rephrased the question. Here's why: The Book of Mormon clearly... Continue Reading →
When Ammon and his three brothers were reunited with their good friend Alma after fourteen years of separation, they were all filled with joy. Ammon, however, had an unusually dramatic reaction to this meeting: He was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell...to the... Continue Reading →
After serving as missionaries among the Lamanites, the sons of Mosiah returned home. While en route, they encountered their good friend Alma, whom they had not seen in fourteen years. "Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren" (Alma 17:2). He was delighted to see how well they had done and how much they had... Continue Reading →
