When Nephi and his brothers returned to the camp of their family in the wilderness, their father, Lehi, examined the sacred writings contained on brass plates which they had retrieved. After searching the record and learning about its contents, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and began to prophesy: That these plates... 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 →
“Of Great Worth” – 1 Nephi 5:21
After Lehi's sons obtained the brass plates and brought them to their father in the wilderness, Lehi searched them to understand their contents. As a result, "he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy" (1 Nephi 5:17). Lehi concluded that the scriptures "were desirable; yea, even of great worth" (1 Nephi 5:21). As... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Creation of the Earth?
It's so easy to have a narrow perspective. Our brains have finite capacity, and we all have tasks that must be done today. Focusing on the here and now may seem to be imperative. But provincial thinking can result in distorted perception and poor decisions. Book of Mormon prophets understood the importance of seeing the... 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 →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about Sacrifice?
Early in the Book of Mormon, the concept of sacrifice appears. Lehi and his family had certainly given up much to follow the Lord's command, abandoning their comfortable living in Jerusalem to travel in the wilderness. But Lehi's son Nephi saves the word "sacrifice" for a more specific usage. When he and his brothers return... Continue Reading →
What Can We Learn from the Women in the Book of Mormon?
Today, I have been pondering the lessons I have learned from some of the women in the Book of Mormon. Here are a few of those lessons: "Now I know of a surety..." Sariah trusted the revelations received by her husband, Lehi. She, along with the rest of the family, abandoned her home in Jerusalem... Continue Reading →
What Is a Priest?
The Bible Dictionary explains that a priest is a mediator between his people and God. The priest fulfills this role by: Performing religious ceremonies (ordinances) Preaching the gospel Receiving revelation on behalf of the people, and Blessing the people in the name of the Lord At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, religious observance... Continue Reading →
Why Did God Command Nephi to Kill Laban?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, there is a troubling story. Nephi and his brothers have been sent by their father, Lehi, to retrieve a sacred record engraved on brass plates which are in the possession of a powerful man named Laban. Lehi testifies that this assignment came from God, and Nephi responds... Continue Reading →
How Can I Delegate More Effectively?
After leading his family away from their home in Jerusalem, Lehi sent his four sons back on a dangerous mission. They knew it would be difficult, and more than one of them complained about the assignment. But Lehi handled the situation well: He provided context for the request. "I have dreamed a dream, in the which... Continue Reading →