Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a new covenant with us. He wants this covenant to be "written in our hearts." That's because covenants are all about relationships. We need to view our covenants as relationships, not merely a set of requirements.
Apostasy and Restoration
Patterns of apostasy and restoration are an example of God's grace. Left to ourselves, we tend to drift, both collectively and individually. But God loves His children, and He provides infusions of knowledge and invitations to act, because He loves us.
“With the Spirit…and With the Understanding Also”
Paul told the Corinthians that it was important to worship with the spirit and with the understanding. Passion is inspiring, but it's insufficient. We also need to clearly explain true principles which people can apply to real decisions.
That Rock Was Christ
We expect rocks to be solid, reliable, and strong. We don't expect them to quench our thirst. But the Savior provides both a firm foundation and "living water." That's why a rock which produces water is a meaningful symbol of Jesus.
Only by His Grace
In his epistle to the Romans, Paul testifies that we are justified only by God's grace. Lehi, Jacob, and Nephi taught the same principle. When we recognize that we need Him, we will seek to align ourselves with Him, so that we can receive His power.
None Other Name
Peter taught that there is "none other name" by which we can be saved, except the name of Jesus Christ. When we use His name properly, and when we take His name upon ourselves, we receive His power.
God Gave Them Knowledge
It's tempting to think of physical health, mental/emotional health, and spiritual health as separate categories of well-being, with separate practices required to maintain each. But we know it's not that simple. All of those categories of health are interconnected. For example, it may be impossible to hear the voice of the Spirit, which speaks to... Continue Reading →
The Book of Psalms and the Book of Mormon
The brass plates which Lehi and his family carried from Jerusalem contained a lot of content which overlaps with the Old Testament. Nephi describes three categories of writings, which correspond with three of the four groupings of books in the Old Testament: "The five books of Moses" - The Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy)"A record of... Continue Reading →
What I Learned from Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua, May 2022
Today I reviewed what I've written this month about the last three books of Moses and the first of the historical books in the Old Testament. Here are some concepts that have become clearer to me during that time: 1. We must worship in the Lord's way, and we must teach in a way that... Continue Reading →
“When Thou Sittest in Thine House”
Teaching doesn't just happen in a classroom. In fact, some of the most important teaching happens spontaneously, as a by-product of other activities. At the end of Moses' life, he delivered three discourses to the children of Israel in preparation for their entry into the promised land. Near the beginning of the second discourse, he... Continue Reading →