On the first day of the Savior's ministry on the American continent, He invited all of the children to come forward. After offering a sublime prayer which filled His listeners with joy, "he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them" (3 Nephi 17:21). The next... Continue Reading →
“The Heritage of the Servants of the Lord” – 3 Nephi 22:17
When we become "the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters" (Mosiah 5:7), we also become "heirs of God" (Romans 8:17). An heir is a person who inherits something. The inheritance may consist of property or other advantages. Another word for inheritance is "heritage," but that word has additional connotations. Your heritage includes not... Continue Reading →
“For a Small Moment…” – 3 Nephi 22:7
The Savior quoted several passages from Isaiah during His ministry on the American continent. In one of those passages, God speaks to Israel, promising that, even if they feel abandoned now, it won't last long: For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.In a little wrath I hid my... 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 →
How Does Isaiah Point Us Toward Christ?
Nephi tells us that he read to his brothers from the books of Moses, "but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah" (1 Nephi 19:23). Just before quoting thirteen chapters in a row by Isaiah,... Continue Reading →
Which of Isaiah’s Writings Are Quoted in the Book of Mormon?
About a third of the book of Isaiah (21 out of 66 chapters) is quoted in the Book of Mormon. Here is a list of those chapters with a brief description of each: Isaiah 2 (2 Nephi 12) - There will be a great division in the last days: Many people will ascend to God's... Continue Reading →
Why Is Isaiah Quoted So Much in the Book of Mormon?
After Lehi's family left Jerusalem and began to travel toward the promised land, the Lord commanded him to send his four sons back to Jerusalem to retrieve a set of sacred writings engraved on brass plates. Lehi's son Nephi tells us that these plates contained the five books of Moses, additional historical records, and the... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Anger?
As we've discussed the last couple of days: We feel sadness when something bad happens to us or to someone we love. We feel fear when we think something bad is likely to happen to us or to someone we love. Anger is also triggered by a negative experience. But unlike sadness and fear, anger... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Kindness?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi prophesied that the Savior be scourged, smitten, and spit upon. He would willingly endure all of this "because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men" (1 Nephi 19:9). Near the end of the Book of Mormon, we read the same description... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean for Jesus to Be Our “Redeemer?”
The Hebrew word "go'el" is sometimes translated "redeemer" and sometimes "near kinsman." When we enter a covenant relationship with Jesus, He becomes the "near kinsman" who will deliver us from bondage, even bondage of our own making.