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 →
How Can I “Use Boldess, but Not Overbearance?”
Near the end of his remarks to his son Shiblon, Alma gave him the following advice: Use boldness, but not overbearance (Alma 38:12). To be bold is to be "confident, courageous, and willing to take risks." To be overbearing is to be "unpleasantly overpowering." (Oxford English Dictionary) Boldness is the outcome of an inner battle. You... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be Saved “In and Through” the Grace of God?
A friend pointed out to me today that the phrase "in and through" appears seven times in the Book of Mormon, always in reference to Jesus Christ. He wanted to know the significance of the phrase. Here are the seven passages: Lehi: "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full... Continue Reading →
How Can I Find Peace?
The Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) appears 237 times in the Old Testament. It is usually translated as "peace," but it is sometimes rendered "safety," "welfare," "good health," or "prosperity." For example, when the sons of Jacob made their second trip to Egypt seeking relief from a devastating famine, their brother Joseph (whom they didn't recognize) tried to... 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 →
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 It Mean to Be Temperate in All Things?
While serving as high priest over the church, Alma delivered a series of sermons in different cities. He admonished the people in the city of Gideon to be "temperate in all things" (Alma 7:23). He later gave the same advice to his son Shiblon (Alma 38:10). The apostles Paul and Peter both emphasized the importance... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be Bold Without Being Overbearing?
Alma gave the following advice to his son Shiblon: "Use boldness but not overbearance" (Alma 38:12). What does that mean? boldness — Willingness to take risks and act innovatively; confidence or courage. overbearing — Unpleasantly overpowering. (Oxford English Dictionary) How can we be bold without being overbearing? We choose to be bold when we speak... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Being an Effective Parent?
From the first phrase in the Book of Mormon, the importance of parents is emphasized (1 Nephi 1:1). What can we learn from the Book of Mormon about how to be a good parent? 1. "With all the feeling of a tender parent" Lehi and Sariah loved their children. Even though some of their children... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Bridle All Your Passions?”
It would be ludicrous for a human being to attempt to subdue a horse by brute force. Yet by placing a small piece of metal against sensitive areas in the horse's mouth, a human can guide the animal with relatively little effort (See "Bit by Bit," Equestrian Magazine, November 2007). A passion is a "strong and... Continue Reading →