There is power in a name. When Jesus taught His twelve disciples how to baptize, He instructed them to call each individual by name as part of the baptism (3 Nephi 11:24). When He subsequently authorized His disciples to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, He laid His hands on each of them and... Continue Reading →
“I Know My Sheep, and They Are Numbered” – 3 Nephi 18:31
The Hebrew word paqad (פְקַד) has multiple meanings. It means "to count" or "to number," and the word appears many times in conjunction with the Israelite census recorded in the Book of Numbers. It also means "to visit" or "to attend to." After promising Abraham that his wife Sarah would bear a son, "the Lord... Continue Reading →
“Watch and Pray Always” – 3 Nephi 18:18-24
Jesus taught the Nephites and the Lamanites the importance of prayer. "Ye must watch and pray always," He said, "lest ye be tempted by the devil.... Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name" (3 Nephi 18:18-19). He promised that prayer would help them overcome temptation and that Heavenly Father would answer their... Continue Reading →
“Shine Forth” – Alma 5:50
Moses instructed Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel using these words: The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26) The image of the Lord "shining"... Continue Reading →
“Come Unto Me” – 2 Nephi 26:25
In 2 Nephi 26, Nephi asks a series of rhetorical questions to illustrate the universality of the Savior's love: "Doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me?" (2 Nephi 26:25) "Hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship?" (2 Nephi 26:26) "Hath he... Continue Reading →
What Can We Learn about Children from the Savior?
During His ministry on the American continent, the Savior taught us about children by His words and by His example: In a passage which also appears in the Sermon on the Mount, He taught us that our Father in Heaven wants to give us good gifts, just as we want to give our children good... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Cast Out Devils?”
Twenty-four times in the New Testament we read about devils being "cast out" of people. All of these passages appear in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The gospel of Mark even ends with the Savior promising that those who believe in Him will have power to cast out devils (Mark 16:17). The... Continue Reading →
How Much Power Does the Devil Have?
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how to overcome temptation. A friend of mine asked me to consider the following question: How much power does the devil have over us? Does he have any power at all if we choose not to listen to him? It's a good question, and the Book of Mormon... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
Forty days after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He met one last time with his apostles at the Mount of Olives. They asked him if the time had come for the gathering of Israel, to which He responded, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father... Continue Reading →
How Can I Follow the Savior with “Full Purpose of Heart?”
Nephi tells us near the end of his writings that we can receive the Holy Ghost by following the Son "with full purpose of heart." He goes on to clarify his meaning: "acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent" (2 Nephi 31:13). In subsequent passages, Jacob and Limhi use the... Continue Reading →