A key characteristic of the Savior's ministry was that He responded to evil with good. He expects the same from His disciples: "If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?"... Continue Reading →
The Poor Among Men Shall Rejoice
After identifying a severe societal problem—rampant hypocrisy—Isaiah prophesies that God will address this issue by doing a "marvellous work" which will cause "the wisdom of [the] wise men [to] perish" (Isaiah 29:13-14, 2 Nephi 27:25-26). Included in this marvelous work will be the arrival of a "sealed book," which will be rejected by the learned.... Continue Reading →
Givers
Adam Grant, a professor of organizational psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, has studied the affect of interpersonal styles on professional success. He divides people into three categories, according to how they approach interactions with others at work: Givers are willing to help others without expecting anything in return.Matchers help others selectively. They try to... Continue Reading →
The Teacher
"Rabbi," said Nicodemus to Jesus, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God" (John 3:2). Good teachers are responsive to the needs of their students. They ask questions and make observations that stimulate thought. Consider, for example, how the Savior turned the following events into teaching opportunities: When His disciples were quibbling about... Continue Reading →
The Sanctity of Life
A disciple of Jesus Christ has a reverence and respect for living things. "Thou shalt not kill," God commanded on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17, Mosiah 13:21). And Jesus extended that commandment to less violent offenses: don't get angry; don't say unkind things. (See Matthew 5:21, 3 Nephi 12:21.) When we recognize that all... Continue Reading →
Peacemakers
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9, 3 Nephi 12:9). And the apostle Paul made this plea in his epistle to the Romans: "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). The prophet Mormon applied that teaching to... Continue Reading →
Shine Forth
The Hebrew word or (אוֹר) means light. When used as a verb, it means to be light or to become light. Speaking to a future generation of Israelites who would be gathered home, Isaiah said: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.Isaiah 60:1 They could share light with... Continue Reading →
Be a Light
Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). To His disciples on the American continent, He phrased it as an imperative: "I give unto you to be the light of this people" (3 Nephi 12:14). God had previously given a similar message to the prophet Isaiah: I will also give thee for... Continue Reading →
“The Pure in Heart…Shall See God”
King David asked the following soul-searching question: Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? Then, he provided the following answer: He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.Psalm 24:3-4 The Savior taught the same principle as one of the Beautitudes: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.Matthew... Continue Reading →
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
On Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). The prophet Abinadi reiterated this commandment as he spoke to the priests of King Noah. (See Mosiah 13:22.) A number of years later, priests led by Alma denounced "adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to... Continue Reading →