Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.Psalm 24:9-10 What is glory? The word appears 225 times in the King James Version of the Old Testament,... 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 →
Poured Out
As Jacob traveled to Padan-aram to live with his uncle, he had a dream in which the Lord renewed the promise He had made to Jacob's father and grandfather. Waking the next morning, Jacob built a stone pillar and poured oil on it as a form of worship. (See Genesis 28:18.) Years later, after Jacob... Continue Reading →
In Light and Truth
In May 1833, God taught Joseph Smith about several interrelated concepts: light, truth, spirit, and intelligence (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1-40). After explaining that everyone on earth has received the light of Christ (v. 2), that truth is knowledge of the way things really are (v. 24), that obedience to God's commandments invites truth and light... Continue Reading →
“And Thus We See…”
Periodically, as Mormon relates the history of his people, he interrupts the narrative to share a lesson he hopes we're learning. He often begins these editorial notes with the phrase, "and thus we see." Many of these editorial notes appear during the Lamanite mission of the sons of Mosiah. Here are some of them: "And... Continue Reading →
“To Me He Doth Not Stink” – Alma 19:5
How do we know what we know? To what degree is our knowledge based on our personal experience and to what degree is it based on what other people tell us? We all know that our own personal experience provides insufficient information to direct all of our decisions. That's why we read books, ask advice... Continue Reading →
The Role of Women in the Conversion of Lamoni’s People
I've been thinking today about the role of women in the conversion of King Lamoni’s people. Here are some observations: After Ammon taught the gospel to Lamoni, the king prayed for mercy. Immediately, "he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead." In response, "his servants took him and carried him in unto his... Continue Reading →
“Assuredly It Was Great” – Alma 17:14
The sons of King Mosiah began their mission with two powerful assets: desire and assurance. They wanted more than anything to share the gospel with the Lamanites, whom they considered to be their brothers, not their enemies (Mosiah 28:1-3, Alma 17:9). God had promised their father that they would be protected and successful (Mosiah 28:7).... Continue Reading →
“He Changed Their Hearts” – Alma 5:7
This past Sunday, Elder David A. Bednar taught us about the central role of our hearts in the gospel of Jesus Christ: The word heart is used over 1,000 times in the standard works. This simple but significant word often denotes the inner feelings of an individual. Our hearts—the sum total of our desires, affections,... Continue Reading →
What Is the Significance of the Name “Jesus?”
Every time we say the name “Jesus,” we are not only identifying Him; we are also affirming that God loves us and is willing to save us. The promise is embedded in the name.