121. Unto the Hills 122. Let Us Go into the House of the Lord 123. Unto Thee Lift I Up Mine Eyes 124. If It Had Not Been the Lord 125. As the Mountains 126. Turn Again Our Captivity 127. Children Are an Heritage 128. A Happy Household 129. Many a Time 130. De Profundis
Remember Me, O My God
Nehemiah corrected his people when they failed to follow God's commandments, sometimes harshly. Afterward, he pleaded with God to approve of his efforts. He might have been wise to seek God's guidance about how to encourage obedience, as Alma did when he faced transgression within the church.
I Am Doing a Great Work
As Ezra and Nehemiah led a rebuilding of Jerusalem, they had to navigate the tensions between two principles taught in the Book of Mormon: God loves all of His children, and not everyone can be trusted. They had to rebuild a covenant people while learning to interact with their new neighbors.
Multiplying Bread
Elijah and Elisha miraculously expanded food supplies. So did the Savior, as recorded in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We can learn two lessons from these miracles: (1) God can provide for our needs, and (2) just as the Savior can provide physical food, He is the source of our spiritual sustenance.
Bread from Heaven
God promised Israel "bread from heaven." The Israelites called it "manna," which means "what is it?" It sustained them for forty years, but as Jesus explained, this bread was symbolic of the true Bread, which offers us eternal life. Each week, as we partake of the sacrament, we remember Him, our Bread from heaven.
Speak Often One with Another
Jesus prophesied of the gathering of Israel and instructed church members to meet together often. Those two concepts are more closely connected than we might realize. When we accept the gospel, we become part of a community of saints who strengthen one another by talking often about our faith.
Cast Not Any Out
Jesus commanded us not to exclude anyone from church meetings, urging His disciples to pray for visitors. He reiterated this principle in modern revelation. We follow this guidance by greeting newcomers and getting to know them, explaining unfamiliar terms and practices, and opening our minds to learn from people with different backgrounds.
Gathering → Unity
It's hard to be united without spending time together. That's why the Lord has instructed His church to "meet together oft." Weekly worship services strengthen unity within a congregation, and semiannual global general conferences strengthen the unity of the global Church community.
Preface to Four Revelations, April-May 1829
Four revelations received by Joseph Smith on behalf of different people have nearly identical openings. These openings are derived from combinations of biblical passages, all of which appear in some form in the Book of Mormon. Here is how I would paraphrase the message of this recurring introduction: Big things are about to happen, so pay close attention to what I'm about to say: People are ready to hear the gospel and if you work hard, you will find success in sharing it. I will answer your prayers, so ask me for help.
Meeting Together Oft
Jesus instructed church members to meet together oft. Moroni explained that church members followed that practice. They seemed less concerned about the logistics of those meetings and more about strengthening relationships through frequent interactions.