As the children of Israel approached the promised land under the leadership of Moses, the king of Moab, Balak, requested a prophet in his country named Balaam to curse the new arrivals. Balaam warned the king's servants, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word... Continue Reading →
The Ordinances of the Sun, Moon, and Stars
We all interact with unreliable people. We are disappointed at times when someone fails to follow through on something they have agreed to do. If we're honest with ourselves, we can't be too hard on them, because we aren't perfectly reliable ourselves. We're all imperfect, falling short even when we do the best we can.... Continue Reading →
“A Sign Between Me and You”
One way God communicates with us is through signs. We may not see Him, but we recognize things that happen as evidence that He is mindful of us. On some occasions, those signs have been dramatic and unmistakeable, such as the plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7-12), or the signs of the Savior's birth and death... Continue Reading →
The Rising Generation
Twice in the Book of Mormon, we read of times when young people turned away from the faith of their parents: "Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not... Continue Reading →
The Star
Why is a star such a powerful symbol for the birth of the Savior? Stars represent us. The Lord referred to stars to illustrate for the vast number of descendants he would have. "Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy... Continue Reading →
“My Time Is at Hand” – 3 Nephi 17:1
Near the end of the first day of the Savior's ministry on the American continent, He announced to the people that it would soon be time for Him to leave. "Behold, my time is at hand," He said, explaining that He was returning to His Father before going to visit another group of people (3... Continue Reading →
Signs and Wonders – 3 Nephi 2:1-3
I wrote last week that we all have signs in our lives—reasons to believe that God lives and loves us. The question is whether we are willing to recognize those signs or whether we choose to ignore them. As Samuel the Lamanite revealed to the Nephites in Zarahemla the signs which would correspond with the... Continue Reading →
“The Voice of the Lord Came unto Him” – 3 Nephi 1:12
Nephi, the son of Helaman, prayed on a tower beside a highway, expressing his sorrow for wickedness of his people (Helaman 7:10-11). Twenty-two years later, his son, also named Nephi, also became sorrowful when the unbelievers among his people threatened to put to death the believers. And it came to pass that he went out... Continue Reading →
“The Time Is Past” – 3 Nephi 1:6
Samuel the Lamanite preached to the Nephites in Zarahemla during the eighty-sixth year of the reign of the judges (Helaman 13:1-2, 16:1-9). During that sermon, he said, "Five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name" (Helaman 14:2). He provided an unmistakeable... Continue Reading →
Why Is Light an Appropriate Symbol for the Birth of Christ?
In a passage quoted by Nephi, Isaiah used the imagery of light to describe the birth of the Messiah: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.... For unto us a child is born (Isaiah... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 