Amaleki's father knew "of no revelation." How did Amaleki come to write such a powerful testimony? He had no children, and his brother was gone. Was he alone? Like Amaleki, we can contribute meaningfully, regardless of our background and circumstances.
About Isaiah and Plainness
Nephi was extremely careful about the content he included in his record. A large amount of that content comes from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah's writings are difficult but with some effort can be extremely rewarding. Here are some ideas to help.
Learning from General Conference
Twice a year, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather for a global two-day conference. Here are some principles from the apostle Paul to help us prepare to participate in general conference.
The Sons of Jacob
Jacob had twelve sons. Each of them was unique, with his own strengths and weaknesses. In the Genesis narrative, as each son is born, we learn not only their name but also the significance of the name to Rachel or Leah (Genesis 29:32-35, Genesis 30:1-24, Genesis 35:18). Some of these boys were their literal children,... Continue Reading →
John Whitmer, Record-keeper
Why does the Lord ask us to keep written records? One reason is to communicate our experiences to others, including future generations. But another reason is more immediate: the process of writing forces us to think things through more carefully. We learn and we grow as we write. In March 1831, John Whitmer was called... Continue Reading →
“It Mattereth Not”
The heavenly messenger who appeared to Joseph Smith as he went to procure wine for the sacrament taught him an important principle: We can completely miss the most important aspects of our experiences when we are focused on less-important details. Quoting Jesus Christ, the messenger said: It mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall... Continue Reading →
Record-keeping
The first sentence in the Book of Mormon is about the importance of keeping records. Nephi tells us that, because the Lord had blessed him with "goodly parents," who taught him, and because he had been "highly favored of the Lord" in spite of enduring many afflictions, "therefore I make a record of my proceedings... Continue Reading →
“A Hundredth Part” – Jacob 3:13
Near the beginning of Nephi's record, he instructed those who would add to the record after him not to "occupy these plates with things which are not of worth" (1 Nephi 6:6). He emphasized that his father had seen and heard and taught many things which could not be included in his record (1 Nephi... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Abraham?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi's sons risk their lives in order to obtain a set of brass plates which contains, among other things, the five books of Moses. A central character in those books is the prophet Abraham. Even though he had lived nearly 2,000 years earlier, his influence is felt... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Come Unto Christ?”
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi tells us that his only purpose in writing is to persuade people to "come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved" (1 Nephi 6:4). Nephi later explains to his brothers that the purpose... Continue Reading →