In the first half of 1829, Joseph Smith received a number of revelations on behalf of other people. Four of those revelations begin almost identically, with a set of four biblical concepts, all of which also appear in the Book of Mormon. Why did those four concepts warrant such frequent repetition, and why did the... Continue Reading →
“Behold, I Am Jesus Christ” – 3 Nephi 9:15-18, 11:10-11
The way you introduce yourself says a lot about what is important to you and about your relationship with your audience. After the Savior's death in Jerusalem, He introduced Himself twice to a group of people on the American continent: while they sat in darkness and heard His voice, and again when He visited them... Continue Reading →
“All That We Could Do” – Alma 24:11, 15
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 →
What Is the Significance of the Name “Jesus?”
The Hebrew name Yehoshua (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ) is rendered in English as "Joshua." It comes from two root words: YHVH (יְהוָֹה) - the name of God yasha (יָשַׁע) - to save, to help, or to deliver So the name means literally "God saves," "God helps," or "God delivers." The Greek form of this name is Iésous (Ἰησοῦς),... Continue Reading →
What Are the Roles of Persuasion and Punishment in Motivating Good Behavior?
This is the third of three posts in response to a question I received last week. The first post discussed God's love for us. The second discussed why God would "inflict" things on us. Today's post discusses the roles of persuasion and of punishment from God's perspective. The questioner wants to understand why a loving... Continue Reading →
Why Are Ordinances Important?
Yesterday, I wrote that to be ordained is to be set in order. An ordinance is the mechanism used to create order. It is an action that is formally prescribed by God which we perform to show our devotion to Him and draw closer to Him. The prophet Nephi urged his people to "keep the... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Diligence?
Today, I studied all 56 passages in the Book of Mormon which use some form of the word "diligent." To be diligent is to "[show] care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties" (Oxford English Dictionary). The word also carries a connotation of eagerness. It comes from the Latin word diligere, which means to "esteem,"... 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 Spirit of Prophecy?
While the children of Israel traveled in the wilderness toward the promised land, an incident happened which demonstrated Moses's understanding of prophecy. Moses held a council at the tabernacle with the seventy elders who had been selected to govern the people. All who participated in that meeting were filled with the Spirit of the Lord... Continue Reading →
Why Did the Nephites Keep the Law of Moses?
The apostle Paul told the saints in Galatia that the law of Moses had served as a "schoolmaster" to help them develop faith in Jesus Christ. After they developed faith, they didn't need the schoolmaster any more (Galatians 3:24-25). The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob also recognized that the law of Moses was intended to... Continue Reading →
