Twice in the Book of Mormon, we are urged not to procrastinate. When Alma and Amulek teach the people of Ammonihah, Alma ends their joint sermon with a call to action: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh;... I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with... Continue Reading →
Who Were Zenos and Zenock?
The authors of the Book of Mormon quoted a number of prophets who lived in Israel before Lehi's family left Jerusalem (about 600 B.C.). Some of those prophets, like Moses and Isaiah, also appear in the Bible. But others do not. Two of these prophets are Zenos and Zenock. Here's what we know about them:... Continue Reading →
“Now Is the Time” – Alma 13:21, Alma 34:33
After teaching the people of Ammonihah about the Fall of Adam and Eve and about how to receive the grace of God, Alma issued a call to action. Extending his arm toward his audience, he proclaimed, “Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh” (Alma 13:21). He urged the people... Continue Reading →
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 →
When Should I Express Gratitude?
The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that we should always be grateful: Alma taught his people at the waters of Mormon that they should observe the sabbath day once a week, but that "every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God" (Mosiah 18:23). Amulek urged the Zoramites to "live in thanksgiving daily"... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be “Ripe in Iniquity?”
In this life, there is a space between choices and consequences. That’s what makes it a period of probation. We are not trained animals, taking actions with the expectation of immediate rewards or punishments. Instead, we are often left alone, to see what we will choose to do in the absence of either positive or... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about Sacrifice?
Early in the Book of Mormon, the concept of sacrifice appears. Lehi and his family had certainly given up much to follow the Lord's command, abandoning their comfortable living in Jerusalem to travel in the wilderness. But Lehi's son Nephi saves the word "sacrifice" for a more specific usage. When he and his brothers return... Continue Reading →
How Can I Avoid Being an “Unholy Temple?”
Four times in the Book of Mormon, we are taught a fundamental principle: God doesn't dwell in unholy temples. If we make choices which make us unholy, we cannot have His Spirit with us. Today, I examined these four passages looking for insights on how I can avoid cutting myself off from the Spirit of... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Pour Out Your Soul to God?
Several times in the Book of Mormon, people pray with such intensity that they are described as "pouring out [their] whole [souls] unto God." After Enos's sins were forgiven, he "began to feel a desire for the welfare of...the Nephites." As a result, he says, "I did pour out my whole soul unto God for... Continue Reading →
Why Is It Important Not to Procrastinate Repentance?
Three times in the Book of Mormon, prophets warn people not to procrastinate their repentance. Alma tells the people of Ammonihah, "I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of... Continue Reading →