Alma counseled his son Shiblon to "bridle all [his] passions, that [he] may be filled with love" (Alma 38:12). He told another son, Corianton, to "cross [himself]" and to "counsel with [his] elder brothers in [his] undertakings." And he added, "give heed to their counsel" (Alma 39:9-10). While our gut reaction to our circumstances may... Continue Reading →
Alma’s Advice to Shiblon
I love the passages in the epistles of Paul where he offers rapid-fire advice: a series of pithy statements, any one of which would be worth a sermon, but which, taken together, describe the character of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Two examples of these passages are Romans 12:9-21 and 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22. Alma's charge to his... Continue Reading →
What Is a “Remission” of Your Sins?
The word aphesis (ἄφεσις) appears 17 times in the Greek New Testament. It literally means "letting go" or "setting at liberty." When Jesus reads the prophecy from Isaiah 61 that the Messiah would "preach deliverance to the captives, and...set at liberty them that are bruised," He used the word aphesis twice. (See Luke 4:18 on biblehub.com.)... Continue Reading →
How Does the Savior Bring Us Peace?
The angels who appeared to the shepherds expressed their hopes for us with these words: "On earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). At the end of His life, the Savior said to His apostles: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto... Continue Reading →
Why Did Ammon Consider Himself Unworthy to Baptize?
One of my daughters asked me last week if Ammon had authority to baptize. Ammon was the leader of a search party sent by King Mosiah to find a group of people who had established a colony among their enemies many years earlier. When he found them, they were in bondage, forced to pay a... Continue Reading →
What Is Wisdom?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Jacob gives us the following counsel: "O be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12). Near the end of the book, the prophet Moroni advises us, "Be wise in the days of your probation" (Mormon 9:28). The words "wisdom" and "wise" appear exactly 100... Continue Reading →
How Should I Express Gratitude?
When the prophet Alma heard that that group of people called the Zoramites were "perverting the ways of the Lord," he assembled a team of missionaries to visit them and preach the gospel. When they arrived, their first stop was a worship service. Alma was horrified at what he saw: rich people gathering to congratulate... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Refrain from Idleness?”
Alma counseled his son Shiblon to "refrain from idleness" (Alma 38:12). But he had just praised Shiblon for his "steadiness," "faithfulness," and "diligence." Why would he give this counsel to a son who was clearly hard-working? One possible answer: Shiblon was in a time of transition. He had just returned from a mission. Now, that... Continue Reading →
Why Is Steadiness Important?
Alma praised his son Shiblon for his "steadiness and...faithfulness" (Alma 38:2). He later urged another of his sons, Corianton, to observe Shiblon's "steadiness..., his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God," and to follow his example (Alma 39:1). Alma had experienced firsthand the prosperity that a group of people can enjoy when... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be “Temperate in All Things?”
The prophet Alma told the people in the city of Gideon that he wanted them to be "temperate in all things" (Alma 7:23). He later gave the same counsel to his son Shiblon (Alma 38:10). To be temperate is to be restrained, moderate, self-controlled, or disciplined (Oxford English Dictionary). The apostle Paul taught the Corinthians... Continue Reading →