Jacob said that he had been called and ordained according to God's holy order. The earliest meaning of "order" is "a body of persons living under a religious discipline." God's church provides a community and activities which help us draw closer to Him.
Living After the Manner of Happiness
Nephi listed a number of his people did which helped them to live "after the manner of happiness" (2 Nephi 5:27). Some of those activities involved family, work, and temple worship. God wants us to participate in activities which will bring us happiness.
Sacred Spaces
After Nephi arrived in the promised land, he and his people built a temple. I imagine him being inspired by King David's deep desire to build a house of the Lord as expressed in some of his psalms. Sacred spaces can help us grow closer to God.
About Isaiah and Plainness
Nephi was extremely careful about the content he included in his record. A large amount of that content comes from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah's writings are difficult but with some effort can be extremely rewarding. Here are some ideas to help.
Learning from General Conference
Twice a year, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather for a global two-day conference. Here are some principles from the apostle Paul to help us prepare to participate in general conference.
Paul Rebukes Elymas
Disciples of Jesus Christ are builders, not destroyers. They are healers, not wounders. They are advocates, not antagonists. Satan is our adversary, and his mission is defined by what he opposes. In contrast, we should pursue uplifting goals.
The Zeal of Thine House
Jesus felt strongly about treating the temple with reverence. When He drove out the moneychangers, His apostles remembered the words of David, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." Our reverence for the temple reflects our reverence for God.
A House Divided
God seeks to bring people together. Satan seeks to divide us, because we are easier to conquer when we're alone. Jesus taught that a house divided cannot stand. We can follow Him by bringing people together instead of separating them.
“If They Pray Toward This Place…”
The Apostle Paul chided the Athenians for limiting God by thinking too narrowly about places of worship: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and... Continue Reading →
The Book of Judges and the Book of Mormon
Did the authors of the Book of Mormon have access to the book of Judges? They did have the brass plates, which contained "the five books of Moses...and also a record of the Jews...and also the prophecies of the holy prophets" (1 Nephi 5:10-13). It seems reasonable to assume that some version of the book... Continue Reading →