The Book of Mormon contains many sermons. Some were delivered to hostile audiences, some to congregations of believers, and some to audiences of one. The interesting point to me is that the sermons to very small audiences, generally a father talking to one of his children, are not materially different from the sermons delivered to... Continue Reading →
What Can We Learn from the Crossing of the Red Sea?
The imagery of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea must have been particularly vivid for Nephi and his brothers as they traveled to their promised land. Shortly after leaving Jerusalem, their family set up camp "by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea." Thereafter, they traveled "in the wilderness in the borders which are... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Abraham?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi's sons risk their lives in order to obtain a set of brass plates which contains, among other things, the five books of Moses. A central character in those books is the prophet Abraham. Even though he had lived nearly 2,000 years earlier, his influence is felt... Continue Reading →
What Is the Significance of God’s Promise to Nephi?
Like the prophet Abraham, Nephi received a conditional promise from the Lord with an intergenerational impact. After the Lord commanded his father, Lehi, to abandon their home in Jerusalem and "depart into the wilderness" with his family, Nephi's brothers were angry. Nephi must have also been unhappy about the sudden change, but he prayed, and... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Teaching the Gospel in Families?
The Book of Mormon begins with a family. The Lord commands Lehi, a prophet in Jerusalem whose life is in danger, to "take his family and depart into the wilderness" (2 Nephi 2:2). During their journey, he teaches his children the gospel, he urges them to keep the commandments, and he warns them when their... Continue Reading →
How Can I Know If I’ve Been Forgiven?
Repentance is a fundamental part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we know that we can be forgiven for the wrongs we have committed, we choose to repent as a demonstration of our faith in Him. As President Russell M. Nelson has taught recently, everyone needs to repent every day: Nothing is more liberating,... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be a Better Father?
Today is Father's Day, and I'm thinking about what I can do to be a better father. Here are ten principles the Book of Mormon teaches about being an effective father: 1. Give your children assignments, and trust that they can complete them. Behold I have dreamed a dream, in the which the Lord hath... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Complacency?
The word "complacent" doesn't appear in the Book of Mormon, but warnings against complacency are pervasive: "Arise from the Dust" Near the end of his life, Lehi pleads with his sons to "arise from the dust...and be men." He tells them to "shake off [their] chains," "put on the armor of righteousness," and "come forth... Continue Reading →
What Are Some Examples of People Coming Unto Christ?
There are several experiences in the Book of Mormon in which people sought the Savior and found His healing power. Today, I want to look at three of those experiences and consider what we can learn from them. Enos had what he called a "wrestle...before God" before receiving a remission of his sins. His father... Continue Reading →
God Has…Made These Things Known Unto Me – Alma 36:4-5
4 And I would not that ye think that I know of myself—not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind but of God. 5 Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things; but God has, by the... Continue Reading →