The Book of Mormon begins with a family. Not a blissful, idyllic family, but a troubled one. A family with sibling rivalry, parent-child discord, and even marital conflict. In other words, a real family. With God's help, this family achieved miraculous things: they escaped certain destruction in Jerusalem, traveled through the wilderness and across the... Continue Reading →
“Great and Marvelous” – 1 Nephi 1:14
The Book of Mormon opens with a vision experienced by Lehi. We don't know much about what he saw, but we do know that he saw a personage who shone brighter than the sun, with twelve others following Him, a clear reference to the Savior. We also know that he read from a book that... Continue Reading →
What Is the Role of Music in the Gospel?
In his description of church meetings, Moroni listed a number of activities which leaders were inspired to include: "As the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done" (Moroni 6:9). Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has urged... Continue Reading →
How Can I Become More Holy?
Holy - Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy as his heart is more or less sanctified, or... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be a Both a Defender of Truth and a Peacemaker?
Disciples of Jesus Christ have an obligation to tell the truth, even when others don't want to hear it. Our promise to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) is a promise to speak up, to share our convictions with others, to say what... Continue Reading →
How Do Different Forms of Revelation Support One Another?
As I prepare to participate in general conference this weekend, I've been thinking about how different forms of revelation interact with one another and support one another. By revelation, I mean messages from God. Here are some forms of revelation that I have been thinking about: Dreams and visions Face to face conversations with angels... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Education?
This week marks the beginning of a new school year. As my children return to school, I've been thinking about what the Book of Mormon teaches about education. Here are a few key principles: Principle #1: Education begins at home. In the very first sentence of the Book of Mormon, Nephi praises his parents and... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be a Better Father?
Today is Father's Day, and I'm thinking about what I can do to be a better father. Here are ten principles the Book of Mormon teaches about being an effective father: 1. Give your children assignments, and trust that they can complete them. Behold I have dreamed a dream, in the which the Lord hath... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Being an Effective Parent?
From the first phrase in the Book of Mormon, the importance of parents is emphasized (1 Nephi 1:1). What can we learn from the Book of Mormon about how to be a good parent? 1. "With all the feeling of a tender parent" Lehi and Sariah loved their children. Even though some of their children... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Repentance?
Some version of the word "repent" appears 360 times in the Book of Mormon. In comparison, in the King James Version of the Bible, the word appears 46 times in the the Old Testament and 66 times in the New Testament. Clearly, repentance is a major theme in the Book of Mormon. Nephi opens the... Continue Reading →