God is both just and merciful. Multiple Book of Mormon prophets testify of this, including Lehi (2 Nephi 2:12), Nephi (2 Nephi 11:5), Jacob (Jacob 4:10), King Benjamin (Mosiah 5:15), Alma (Alma 42:15), and Mormon (3 Nephi 26:5, Mormon 6:22). We ought to be just and merciful as well: See that you are merciful unto... Continue Reading →
Justice and Mercy
Today I've been pondering the relationship between two of God's attributes: justice and mercy. Multiple Book of Mormon prophets teach us that God is both just and merciful, including Lehi (2 Nephi 2:12), Nephi (2 Nephi 11:5), Jacob (Jacob 4:10), King Benjamin (Mosiah 5:15), Alma (Alma 42:15), and Mormon (3 Nephi 26:5, Mormon 6:22). It's... Continue Reading →
How Can the Words of Isaiah Bring Us Joy?
Nephi explained why he quoted so much from Isaiah: "My soul delighteth in his words." He introduced thirteen consecutive chapters of Isaiah by saying that he hoped the words would make us "lift up [our] hearts and rejoice for all men" (2 Nephi 11:2, 8). Immediately after, we begin to read, and we find phrases like... 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 Is the Plan of Redemption?
The word "plan" doesn't appear in the King James Version of the Bible. But it appears 51 times in the Book of Mormon. Book of Mormon prophets, particularly Jacob and Alma, teach clearly that God created a plan for us, and that by following His plan, we can overcome every challenge we face and achieve... Continue Reading →
How Does Isaiah Point Us Toward Christ?
Nephi tells us that he read to his brothers from the books of Moses, "but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah" (1 Nephi 19:23). Just before quoting thirteen chapters in a row by Isaiah,... Continue Reading →
Who Were the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon?
While Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, he was not allowed to show anyone else the metal plates containing the original record (Joseph Smith--History 1:42). His scribes sat near him, recording the words he spoke, but Joseph kept the plates hidden from their view. But near the end of the translation process, in... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean for Jesus to Be Our “Redeemer?”
To redeem something is to repurchase it, to buy back something we have given away or sold. When applied to a person, the word implies rescue from captivity or bondage. (See "redeem," Webster's Dictionary, 1828.) Isaiah uses the imagery of redemption to remind us that we don't deserve the relief we receive from God. "To... 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 →
Why Does the Book of Mormon Quote from the Bible?
Prophets quote other prophets. That's part of how they teach. This serves two purposes: It emphasizes the unity of the word of God. It allows the Lord to build upon things we've already learned to reveal more truth to us. During His mortal ministry, the Savior frequently quoted from the scriptures available in His time,... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 