Repentance is hard. Alma was redeemed by God only "after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death" (Mosiah 27:28). His friends, the sons of King Mosiah, "suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities" (Mosiah 28:4). And the Lamanites who were converted by their preaching had to endure "sore repentance" (Alma 27:23). No... Continue Reading →
“According to the Flesh” – 2 Nephi 10:2
On at least two occasions, Nephi's older brothers asked him if the scriptures were talking about spiritual things or about temporal things. Here's how they asked the question after he read two chapters of Isaiah to them: What meaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the United States of America?
About 600 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a prophet named Nephi experienced a sweeping vision, in which he saw a number of events in the distant future. One of those events was the establishment of the United States of America. Here is how he describes it: I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who... Continue Reading →
What Do We Need to Do to Be Saved by Grace?
grace - the free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings (Oxford English Dictionary) Are we not all beggars? (Mosiah 4:19) After quoting a sermon by his brother Jacob, followed by thirteen chapters from the Book of Isaiah, all of which were intended to prove... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be Saved “In and Through” the Grace of God?
A friend pointed out to me today that the phrase "in and through" appears seven times in the Book of Mormon, always in reference to Jesus Christ. He wanted to know the significance of the phrase. Here are the seven passages: Lehi: "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full... Continue Reading →
What Is the Relationship Between Obedience and Agency?
Agency - the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power (Merriam-Webster, 2nd definition). Obedience - Compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority (Oxford English Dictionary) The terms "agency" and "agent" do not appear in the Book of Mormon, but the principle is pervasive: We are agents. God... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Consecrate Something?
To consecrate something is to make it sacred, to set it apart for a holy purpose (Merriam-Webster's Dictionary). The opposite is to desecrate something, which means literally to "divest it of [its] sacred character," or to "treat it with sacrilege" (Online Etymology Dictionary). In the Book of Mormon, the word consecrate is used several ways: Priests... Continue Reading →
What Is the Significance of the Names and Titles of Jesus in the Book of Mormon?
Last October, President Russell M. Nelson invited the women in the Church to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. He said, "I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of... Continue Reading →
How Is the Word “Atonement” Used in the Book of Mormon?
Some version of the word "atone" or "atonement" appears 39 times in the Book of Mormon in 26 different passages. Here are some key phrases from some of those passages: "Prepared from the foundation of the world" - Part of Heavenly Father's plan, before the earth was created, was that Christ would come to earth,... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Grace?
The word "grace" appears 31 times in the Book of Mormon. Today, I reviewed each of those passages and learned the following principles: Grace is an attribute of Jesus Christ. It is often listed with other attributes, including: mercy, truth, patience, equity, justice, power, and long-suffering (2 Nephi 2:6. 2 Nephi 2:8, 2 Nephi 9:8, 2... Continue Reading →
