Based on: Psalm 148 Core message: The more fully we embrace our identity as sons and daughters of God, the more of a connection we feel with His other creations. Related Book of Mormon passages: Mosiah 28:3, Alma 18:28-36, Alma 22:10-13
Gleaning
The law which God gave to the Israelites included a provision for caring for the poor among them: When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave... Continue Reading →
Givers
Adam Grant, a professor of organizational psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, has studied the affect of interpersonal styles on professional success. He divides people into three categories, according to how they approach interactions with others at work: Givers are willing to help others without expecting anything in return.Matchers help others selectively. They try to... Continue Reading →
The Image of God
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.Genesis 1:27 How much are we like God? We see daily evidence of how far we—and the people around us—fall short of perfection. So how can we think we have anything in common with a perfect Being? The... Continue Reading →
Spirit
Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.Luke 24:39 Thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a prophet known as the brother of Jared saw and spoke with Him. After pointing out that He looked like a human being, Jesus explained: Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man... Continue Reading →
Knowledge and Power
As he worked on his translation of the Bible, Joseph Smith sought guidance from the Lord many times about the meaning of specific passages. As he studied the book of Revelation, Joseph asked about the four beasts described in Revelation 4:6-9. These beasts each have 6 wings, reminiscent of the seraphim in Isaiah's vision (Isaiah... Continue Reading →
“A Portion of His Spirit”
When the sons of Mosiah and a small number of their friends embarked on a mission among their enemies, the Lamanites, they knew they couldn't accomplish their objectives alone. They would need God's help. To that end, they "searched the scriptures diligently" and "[gave] themselves to much prayer, and fasting." As a result, "they had... Continue Reading →
Stewardship
I wrote earlier this week about the importance of acting "as for years"—treating your home, your job, and your other responsibilities as if you would have them forever, and investing for the long term. I quoted Brigham Young saying that he would continue to spend money to improve his home until the very last day... Continue Reading →
“This Is God” – Alma 18:24-28
We can respect and build upon the beliefs of others, even people with whom we disagree. When Ammon asked King Lamoni if he believed in God, the king replied, "I do not know what that meaneth." Ammon, recognizing that the king was not devoid of belief, asked a follow-up question: "Believest thou that there is... Continue Reading →
“Fellow-Servants” (Alma 17:29)
What inspires you to serve? For me, it is often seeing other people serve. Several years ago, I met a young couple in Chennai, India. They were running a school for young children who lived in a leprosy colony. After talking with them for a short time, I was struck by how happy they were.... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 