When something is important to you, you want to do it right away. You prioritize it over other things. The Hebrew word shachar (שָׁחַר) means "dawn" or "morning." Twelve times in the Old Testament, it appears as a verb instead of a noun. What does it mean to "dawn" something? It means to do it... Continue Reading →
Prayers, Public and Private
As Alma and Amulek preached to the Zoramites, they characterized prayer as a ubiquitous part of a disciple's life. Alma quoted a passage written by the prophet Zenos, in which he spoke of praying in the wilderness, in his field, in his house, in his closet, in the midst of congregations, and after being cast... Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving
The prophet Amulek taught the poor among the Zoramites to be thankful. These people had approached Amulek and Alma specifically because they were oppressed. Not only were they poor, but they were also "despised of all men because their poverty." They had been excluded from the houses of worship which they had built with their... Continue Reading →
Wise in Time
How do we choose to spend our time, and what do those choices say about our character? In December 1831, the Lord gave the following promise to a group of church leaders gathered in Kirtland, Ohio: He who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father.Doctrine and Covenants... Continue Reading →
Watchful
Amulek exhorted the people of Ammonihah to be "watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil" (Alma 34:39). Moroni later used the same phrase to describe the role of the church in the lives of believers: They were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and... Continue Reading →
A House of Prayer
Through the prophet Isaiah, God made the following promise to all those who reverence sacred things: "Them I will bring unto my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer" (Isaiah 56:7). Years later, the prophet Jeremiah stood at the doorway to the temple and denounced the wickedness of the people, who... Continue Reading →
How Can I Recognize the Voice of the Lord?
In his first talk as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson pleaded with us to "increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation" ("Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives," General Conference, April 2018). Two years later, he said, "I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes... Continue Reading →
“The Time Is Past”
I've been thinking this week about a stern message the Lord gave to Oliver Cowdery in an 1829 revelation. Oliver had sought the gift to translate and had been given permission to try. When he failed, the Lord instructed him to resume his role as scribe. The problem, apparently, was that Oliver hadn't realized the... 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 →
How to Plant the Seed – Alma 33:1
When the poor Zoramites first approached Alma, they had a simple question: How can we worship God when we are not able to go to church? In response, Alma taught them about humility and faith. He also shared an elaborate analogy, comparing the word of God to a seed and saying that, if they planted... Continue Reading →