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 →
What Is an Elder?
When Moses saw the burning bush on Mount Horeb, God commanded him to return to Egypt and lead his people out of slavery. Moses was somewhat concerned about fulfilling this assignment alone. But God explained that he wouldn't be alone: Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God... Continue Reading →
What Is the Priesthood?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines priesthood simply as "the office or position of a priest." This is the everyday meaning of the word. When Mormon tells us that Alma gave up his position as chief judge and "confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God" (Alma 4:20), he is simply... Continue Reading →
How Can I Teach My Children to Be Resilient?
In the September 2019 issue of the Ensign magazine, Elder Lynn G. Robbins expresses his concern that many young people have not developed sufficient resilience. He defines resilience as “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change,” and he encourages parents to increase their efforts to help their children develop this... Continue Reading →
What Is Pride?
Today, I reviewed the 77 appearances of the words "pride" and "proud" in the Book of Mormon. Here is what I learned: Pride means thinking too highly of yourself, failing to acknowledge your limitations. Throughout the Book of Mormon, prophets use phrases like "lifted up" or "puffed up" to describe proud people. For example, Nephi... Continue Reading →
How Can I Manage Time More Effectively?
We are all stewards of the resources God has given to us. One of those resources is time. I've been thinking today about how I spend my time and how I can make better use of it. Here are some thoughts which were inspired by the Book of Mormon: Don't try to do more than... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Consecrate Something?
To consecrate something is to make it sacred, to set it apart for a holy purpose (Merriam-Webster's Dictionary). The opposite is to desecrate something, which means literally to "divest it of [its] sacred character," or to "treat it with sacrilege" (Online Etymology Dictionary). In the Book of Mormon, the word consecrate is used several ways: Priests... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Resurrection?
Today, I reviewed all 35 passages in the Book of Mormon which use the word "resurrection." Here are some of the principles I saw: Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, we will all die (2 Nephi 9:6). There is no way for us to overcome the consequences of this without divine intervention (2... Continue Reading →
Why Are “Envyings” Associated with “Strife?”
The word "envying" or "envyings" appears ten times in the Book of Mormon. Nine of those times, it is followed immediately by "strife" or "strifes." These words are also closely associated in the New Testament. To envy another person is to resent them because of the perception that they have something that you lack. A... Continue Reading →
What Should I Do About Economic Inequality?
Earlier this week, I wrote about how wearing "costly apparel" can distract us from caring for the poor and the needy. Yesterday, we discussed the Lord's expectation that we be responsive to the needs of the people around us. The Book of Mormon also talks about these principles on a larger scale: social classes, wealth... Continue Reading →