Jesus didn't come to destroy the law; He came to fulfill it. He said that the law, His covenants, and all prophecies will be completely fulfilled. As His disciples, we need to emulate that conscientiousness as we strive to fulfill His law with His help.
Mourning
Jesus said, "Blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Mourning is an expression of love. When we open our hearts to others, we feel their sorrow, and we miss them when they are gone. Mourning is an integral part of love.
“Then Shall the Righteous Shine Forth”
Jesus and Alma both described the righteous in the resurrection "[shining] forth in the kingdom of God." The Savior has also called on His disciples to shine forth today, so that the light we share can guide others to Him.
Exquisite
Alma described his pain and his joy using the same word: exquisite, which means "in the highest degree." Lehi taught that we cannot feel joy if we feel no misery. Maybe our sorrows expand our hearts, making room for us to feel more joy.
Poor in Heart
Mormon characterized a group of people who were receptive to Alma's teaching as "poor in heart" because of temporal poverty. We don't have to be poor to be humble, but we can be grateful when challenging circumstances make us receptive to God's grace.
Despised
To despise someone is to "look down on" them. So despisers may have an inaccurate view of their own status and position. Abinadi and Jesus were both despised, so when you are despised, you are in good company.
Like a Flint
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would "set [his] face like a flint" and would endure untold suffering without retaliation. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy, willingly enduring humiliation and violence at the end of His life.
James and the Sermon on the Mount
At least 14 times in his epistle, James teaches principles found in the Sermon on the Mount. He never quotes from the sermon, but its influence is unmistakeable. He internalized the word of God and was therefore able to share it naturally and spontaneously.
Perfected Through Suffering
The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was made perfect through suffering. How can a Being who was already flawless and divine become perfect? I don't fully understand, but I do believe that our suffering is helping us become more complete.
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.