In ancient Israel, an essential element of worship was giving gifts to God. Worshippers would bring animals or grain to the temple—the very best they had—to offer as a sacrifice. The King James Version of the Bible most frequently refers to these gifts as "offerings," but it sometimes calls them "oblations." An oblation is a... Continue Reading →
“Lest Ye Become as the Nephites of Old”
Prosperity without pride is a worthy goal. After Lehi and his family abandoned their home in Jerusalem, leaving behind their gold, silver, and precious things (1 Nephi 2:4), the Lord promised them that, if they would keep His commandments, they would prosper in their new land (1 Nephi 2:20). After arriving on the American continent,... Continue Reading →
“In the Very Hour”
It is more important to be prepared than to have a plan. Plans rely on assumptions about things we can't control. The most brittle plans rely heavily on these assumptions, while more resilient plans allow for adaptation under changing circumstances. A good plan recognizes that the participants will be actors, not merely executors, and will... Continue Reading →
“Blessed Art Thou”
It is easy to be hard on ourselves. When we feel God's approval, anxiety can be replaced by confidence. When the Lord directed Lehi to take his family into the wilderness, He prefaced the commandment with the following words of reassurance: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done.1 Nephi 2:1... Continue Reading →
“Cut Off from Among the People”
Relationships are essential for happiness. When Nephi's brothers trivialized his spiritual experiences, the Lord explained to him that those who keep His commandments will prosper, while those who rebel will be "cut off from the presence of the Lord" (1 Nephi 2:18-21). Later, Nephi quoted a prophecy of Moses to his brothers to emphasize the... Continue Reading →
“Press Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ” – 2 Nephi 31:20
When Lehi and his family left Jerusalem and set up camp in a valley near the Red Sea, he named the valley after his son Lemuel, saying, "O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!" (1 Nephi 2:10). Lehi later shared with... 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 →
Lehi and Sariah’s Family
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 →
“They Knew Not…Neither Did They Believe” – 1 Nephi 2:12-13
When we complain, we are usually focused on what we know. We see that something is wrong, and other people either aren't aware of the problem or aren't motivated to fix it. But Nephi said that his older brothers complained because of what they didn't know and because of what they didn't believe: And thus... Continue Reading →
What Should I Be Thankful For?
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States. In preparation for that holiday, I have been thinking about some of the things I am thankful for. Here are some ideas that occurred to me as I studied the Book of Mormon today: I'm grateful to be alive (Mosiah 2:20-21, Mosiah 7:12). I'm grateful for food and... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 