The Book of Mormon only mentions tithing twice, both times in conjunction with Old Testament scriptures. Alma mentions tithing in passing in his sermon about the priesthood. He introduces Melchizedek as the priest to whom Abraham paid tithes. Although he didn't elaborate on this incident, Alma did clarify that these "tithes" meant "one tenth part... 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 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 →
Why Does God Command Us to Pay Tithing?
The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is trust, and it is manifest in our decisions. We make choices based on trust, and the tangible evidence that we have done the right thing follows later. The prophet Moroni taught, "Ye receive no witness until after the trial of... Continue Reading →
What Is the “Book of Remembrance” Mentioned by Malachi?
Human beings have such a limited perspective. We have a hard time seeing the big picture. We have a hard time remembering things. Our brains seem oriented toward the here and now, with only a vague and incomplete recollection of past events and with only a hazy awareness of the future implications of our decisions.... Continue Reading →
How Is Christ Like a “Refiner’s Fire” and “Fuller’s Soap?”
Last week, I wrote about how Isaiah used parallelisms to clarify his message. The prophet Malachi also used this technique in his writings. In a passage which was quoted by the Savior during His visit to the American continent, Malachi asks a question about the Savior's Second Coming: "But who may abide the day of... Continue Reading →
How Is Christ the “Messenger of the Covenant?”
We receive messages in many forms. Some are written, some are spoken, and some are delivered by actions. When the Savior appeared to a group of people on the American continent following His death and resurrection, He quoted two chapters from the book of Malachi, asking them to write the words down. The name Malachi... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Happiness?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Lehi tells his family about a spiritual dream he has experienced. The central symbol in this dream was "a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy" (1 Nephi 8:10). Lehi's focus for the rest of the dream was on inviting his family to... Continue Reading →
Why Do We Need Prophets?
Yesterday, I wrote about the importance of having firsthand spiritual knowledge. If the best way to gain spiritual knowledge is directly from the source, then why do we need intermediaries at all? Why does God send prophets? The obvious reason is because we're not there yet. A feature of this life is that we are... Continue Reading →
