There is a human tendency to see faults in others and to ignore or rationalize away our own faults. To overcome this tendency, we need to ask introspective questions like: Is it I? What lack I yet? What is keeping me from progressing?
Their Angels
Jesus warned us not to despise children, because "their angels do always behold the face of God." Who are these angels? Nephi, Jacob, and Alma all had angels minister to them. We also may receive heavenly help from angels whom we do not see.
“Doest Thou Well to Be Angry?”
Can our feelings be harmful? Absolutely. Like an undisciplined child, they may need to be trained, guided, and coaxed in the right direction. We need not be slaves to our emotions; we ought to be their master. Jonah was unhappy when God showed mercy to the people of Ninevah. Like the brother of the prodigal... Continue Reading →
Compassed
As Jonah lay in the belly of a fish, he prayed to God, acknowledging his own distress but expressing faith that God hadn't abandoned him: I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the... Continue Reading →
We Have Sinned
It’s hard to admit when we’ve done something wrong. It's so easy to make excuses, to blame other people, or to imagine that our actions have been misinterpreted. It’s so hard to say, “I messed up. I shouldn’t have done that, and I won’t do it again.” That’s why I was impressed when I read... Continue Reading →
Stages of Grief and Faith in the Third Lamentation and Nephi’s Psalm
Lamentations 3 traces the author's journey through three emotional states, each of which elicits a different kind of exclamation and a different perspective on the author's relationship with God. Stage 1: Dejection For the first seventeen verses, the author describes God as his or her enemy: "He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light"... Continue Reading →
Trust in the Lord
One of the most frequently quoted scriptures in general conference is this one, from the book of Proverbs: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 The message is straightforward. It is also rich with implications. Consider some of the conclusions that general conference speakers... Continue Reading →
Nephi’s Psalm and the Book of Psalms
There's a passage in the Book of Mormon that is commonly called Nephi's Psalm. Immediately after quoting his father's final words to each of his children and then announcing the death of his father, Nephi becomes introspective. For twenty one verses, he expresses emotions ranging from despair to resolution before imploring God to help him... 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 →
“O, My Soul”
Based on: Psalm 103:1-5 Core message: We can praise God collectively, but the choice to participate is an individual one which we must each make. Related Book of Mormon passage: 2 Nephi 4:28, 30