A stumbling block is anything that causes you to lose your balance and stop moving forward. The removal of plain and precious truths from the scriptures was a stumbling block to many. So was pride. God can help us overcome every stumbling block we face.
Nephi’s Vision and Nephi’s Prophecy
Many themes from Nephi's vision (1 Nephi 11-14) also appear in Nephi's prophecy (2 Nephi 25-30): 1. Jesus Christ would be crucified. 2. Nephi's descendants would write scripture. 3. God will do a work which will bless the whole world.
Jesus Is the Christ
The Greek word Christos means "the Anointed One." It is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach (Messiah). Lehi taught his children that the Messiah would be the Savior of the World. Nephi and Mormon testified that Jesus is the Christ.
The Title Page and Nephi
Although Moroni wrote the Title Page of the Book of Mormon, he was heavily influenced by Nephi. In this post, I show many parallel phrases between the Title Page and Nephi's words. From start to end, the Book of Mormon has a consistent message and purpose
No Darkness
John testified, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Nephi declared, "The Lord God worketh not in darkness." When the light of Christ shines in our hearts, the darkness surrounding us no longer prevents us from moving forward.
Charity
Charity means recognizing things that are valuable and treating them accordingly. Jesus gave His life for us because He had charity for us: He recognized our value. We must emulate Him in that way to receive the blessings He has prepared for us.
“From Darkness to Light”
Jesus came to bring light to those who walk in darkness. No wonder He told Paul that his mission was "to turn [people] from darkness to light." We all pass through periods of darkness, but we will receive the Savior's perfect light as we follow Him.
The Bond of Perfectness and Peace
Charity is the bond of perfectness because it holds together all other Christlike attributes, making us more complete. It is the bond of peace because it helps us become more united. No wonder Mormon and Paul taught that all things must fail without it!
Out of the Dust
What do you do when you feel like you're not being heard or understood? In the middle of a prophecy about the restoration of the gospel, just before introducing the symbolism of a sealed book, the prophet Isaiah shared an image which became meaningful to the writers of the Book of Mormon: Thou shalt be... Continue Reading →
Milk and Honey
I've been thinking about promised lands today. When God appeared to Moses on Mount Horeb, he promised not only to deliver the children of Israel from captivity but also to lead them "unto a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). So before the Israelites even began their journey, they had a destination in mind. Lehi's... Continue Reading →