After the Savior ministered to a group of people on the American continent for three days, Mormon tell us that He continued to visit them. "He did show himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them" (3 Nephi 26:13). One of those visits occurred as His... Continue Reading →
“He Expounded Them” – 3 Nephi 23:6, 14; 24:1; 26:1, 3
To expound something is to explain it in detail (Oxford English Dictionary). During His ministry on the American continent, the Savior expounded the scriptures to the people. He expounded the words of Isaiah and Micah (3 Nephi 20-22; see 3 Nephi 23:6). He expounded the words of Malachi (3 Nephi 24:1). He identified connections and... Continue Reading →
Just and Merciful
God is both just and merciful. Multiple Book of Mormon prophets testify of this, including Lehi (2 Nephi 2:12), Nephi (2 Nephi 11:5), Jacob (Jacob 4:10), King Benjamin (Mosiah 5:15), Alma (Alma 42:15), and Mormon (3 Nephi 26:5, Mormon 6:22). We ought to be just and merciful as well: See that you are merciful unto... Continue Reading →
The “Hundredth Part” – Mormon’s Prioritization of Events in the Book of Alma
The book of Alma illustrates Mormon's editorial choices. More than 40% of the book is dedicated to Alma's sermons. 20% describes the mission of the sons of Mosiah to the Lamanites. Another 20% describes the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites.
Justice and Mercy
Today I've been pondering the relationship between two of God's attributes: justice and mercy. Multiple Book of Mormon prophets teach us that God is both just and merciful, including Lehi (2 Nephi 2:12), Nephi (2 Nephi 11:5), Jacob (Jacob 4:10), King Benjamin (Mosiah 5:15), Alma (Alma 42:15), and Mormon (3 Nephi 26:5, Mormon 6:22). It's... 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 Is Wisdom?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Jacob gives us the following counsel: "O be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12). Near the end of the book, the prophet Moroni advises us, "Be wise in the days of your probation" (Mormon 9:28). The words "wisdom" and "wise" appear exactly 100... Continue Reading →
What Is the “Resurrection of Damnation?”
Early in His mortal ministry, Jesus taught a group of people about the authority the Father had given to Him, including the responsibility to judge us after we die: For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to... 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 →
What Can I Learn from Jesus Christ’s Ministry on the American Continent?
Mormon referred to Jesus Christ's visit to the American continent as a ministry (3 Nephi 10:18-19). What can I learn from the Savior's activities during that visit which can help me in my ministering efforts? Even though He was with a very large number of people, the Savior interacted with them as individuals. Immediately after... Continue Reading →