The tenth and final plague which afflicted the Egyptians and which resulted in the liberation of the Israelites was the death of the oldest child in each family. Israelite families were spared, but only if they followed Moses' instruction to kill a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. The lamb had to be... Continue Reading →
Anointed
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;Isaiah 61:1 To anoint is to "smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony," and is often associated with a person taking on a significant... Continue Reading →
No End
A few months ago, I heard a presentation by Simon Sinek, author of The Infinite Game. He explained that many games we play, like football or chess, have clearly defined rules, consistent participants, and most importantly, endings. He called these "finite games." But other activities that we participate in might be better labeled as "infinite... Continue Reading →
Elias
I've been thinking today about two Old Testament prophecies, both of which are associated with John the Baptist, but both of which have much broader applicability. Isaiah prophesied that, following the Babylonian captivity, there would be a voice in the wilderness, crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a... Continue Reading →
John the Baptist
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a prophet who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.Isaiah 40:3 After studying the brass plates, which contained the writings of Isaiah, and while living in the wilderness himself, the... Continue Reading →
One Eternal Round
After losing the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith was devastated. "All is lost!" he exclaimed to his family. "What shall I do?" (Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, page 131). Shortly after, the Lord reassured him that His work would continue to move forward. God emphasized this point by saying that... Continue Reading →
Lost
Why is it so hard for us to admit when we are lost? For some reason, we find comfort and stability in knowing where we are. There is something unnerving about not knowing our location. And we certainly don't like other people suggesting that we are in that situation. To be lost is to be... Continue Reading →
What Are the Mysteries of God?
A knowledge of the mysteries of God was important to Nephi. He knew that he was "highly favored of the Lord" because he "had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God" (1 Nephi 1:1). His first recorded spiritual experience came because he had "great desires to know of the mysteries of... Continue Reading →
Seeking the Lord Diligently – 1 Nephi 10:17-19
Moses prophesied that his people would eventually forget the Lord and would be scattered among all nations. But he made a promise about what would happen next: If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 4:29,... Continue Reading →
Lehi’s Prophecies – 1 Nephi 10:2-14
After describing a spiritual dream to his family and urging two of his sons to repent, Lehi went on to prophesy about a number of future events. Because he had recently obtained the brass plates, which contained the words of many prophets, it's likely that his awareness of these events was enhanced by his study... Continue Reading →