On the last full day of His mortal life, the Savior gathered His disciples for a meal. He washed their feet. He instituted the ordinance of the sacrament. He taught them and answered their questions. And then, He prayed for them and for all people who would believe their words: That they all may be one;... Continue Reading →
“His Countenance Did Smile upon Them” – 3 Nephi 19:25
May the LORD bless you and protect you.May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.The "Priestly Blessing," Numbers 6:24-26, New Living Translation The word "smile" does not appear in either the Old Testament or the New Testament in the King James... Continue Reading →
“Tongue Cannot Speak the Words Which He Prayed” – 3 Nephi 19:32
On the first day of the Savior's ministry on the American continent following His death and resurrection, He invited the multitude He was with to kneel on the ground. He offered a prayer to His Father, "and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him" (3... Continue Reading →
“That We May Be One” – 3 Nephi 19:23, 29
At the Last Supper, Jesus offered a prayer which is often called the Intercessory Prayer, because He pleaded with His Father on behalf of His apostles. In the following passage, He pleads not only for them but for all who believe in Him: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through... 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 →
How Does the Gospel Bring Us Joy?
The angel who appeared to King Benjamin declared that his message would bring joy to Benjamin and to his people: I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that... Continue Reading →
What Should I Be Thankful For?
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States. In preparation for that holiday, I have been thinking about some of the things I am thankful for. Here are some ideas that occurred to me as I studied the Book of Mormon today: I'm grateful to be alive (Mosiah 2:20-21, Mosiah 7:12). I'm grateful for food and... Continue Reading →
Why Are Ordinances Important?
Yesterday, I wrote that to be ordained is to be set in order. An ordinance is the mechanism used to create order. It is an action that is formally prescribed by God which we perform to show our devotion to Him and draw closer to Him. The prophet Nephi urged his people to "keep the... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ?
A disciple is someone who follows another person for the purpose of learning. (See "disciple," Online Etymological Dictionary.) During the mortal ministry of Jesus Christ, the term was often applied to His twelve apostles, but many other people were also called His disciples: He called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve,... Continue Reading →
What Is the Ministering of Angels?
When John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, he told them that the Aaronic Priesthood held "the keys of the ministering of angels" (Joseph Smith—History 1:69). What does that mean? In the Book of Mormon, there are many references to the ministering of angels. Nephi and his brother Jacob both tell us... Continue Reading →