Jesus said, "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36). The word "idle" in this passage suggests carelessness or thoughtlessness. The speakers may not have intended to cause harm, but should have known better than to say what they did. A little more caution and restraint could have prevented the damage.... Continue Reading →
Brimstone
When God warned Abraham that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed, Abraham pleaded with Him to spare the righteous. God agreed. If there be ten righteous people in those cities, He promised, I will not destroy them. (See Genesis 18:17-32.) Messengers from God subsequently warned Lot and and his family to leave... Continue Reading →
The Perfect Day
The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.Proverbs 4:18 Through the prophet Nephi, the Lord gave the following promise: "Unto him that receiveth I will give more" (2 Nephi 28:30). Alma taught the same principle in the city of Ammonihah: He that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word,... Continue Reading →
A Time to Prepare
In a revelation Joseph Smith received in September 1830, the Lord urged everyone who is willing to listen to Him: ...to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.Doctrine and Covenants 29:8 Alma said that, because Adam and Eve were cast out from the Garden... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon References in Moroni 6
Today as I studied Moroni 6, I found a number of phrases which referenced earlier passages in the Book of Mormon. Obviously, Moroni knew the Book of Mormon well. Still, I thought these references were striking, and I thought I'd share the connections I made today as I studied this chapter. Most of these phrases... Continue Reading →
“Hid up unto the Lord” – Mormon 1:2, 4:23, 5:12
We don't know much about Ammaron, the caretaker of the Nephite records who selected Mormon as his successor. We know that he was the brother of Amos, and therefore a descendant of Alma, who organized the church at the waters of Mormon about 450 years earlier. And we know that he was "constrained by the... Continue Reading →
Zeezrom
When Amulek stepped forward to affirm the words of Alma in the city of Ammonihah, a number of people criticized him. One of them, a lawyer named Zeezrom, questioned him extensively. But Amulek's testimony made Zeezrom tremble and Alma's subsequent words convinced him "more and more of the power of God" (Alma 11:46, Alma 12:7).... Continue Reading →
Lost
Why is it so hard for us to admit when we are lost? For some reason, we find comfort and stability in knowing where we are. There is something unnerving about not knowing our location. And we certainly don't like other people suggesting that we are in that situation. To be lost is to be... Continue Reading →
“He Hath Lied Unto Us” – Alma 10:28, Alma 12:3
The Book of Mormon teaches plainly that lying is wrong (2 Nephi 9:34, 2 Nephi 26:32, 2 Nephi 28:8, Alma 16:18, 3 Nephi 30:2, 4 Nephi 1:16, Mormon 8:31). God does not tell lies (Enos 1:6, 3 Nephi 27:18, Ether 3:12). The devil is "the father of all lies" (2 Nephi 2:18, 2 Nephi 9:9,... Continue Reading →
Knowing
As Amulek stepped forward to defend the unpopular prophet Alma, he explained to his neighbors that he had recently become aware of some obvious facts which had previously escaped his notice: "I have seen much of [God's] mysteries and his marvelous power," he said; "yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.... Continue Reading →
