Words matter. Words have an impact, for good or for evil. Jesus said, "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36). And Alma warned the people of Ammonihah, some of whom were guilty of deceiving others, "Our words will condemn us" (Alma 12:24).... Continue Reading →
Your Influence – Alma 46:9
Never underestimate the influence that one person can have. Mormon opens his account of the seven-year war between the Nephites and the Lamanites by focusing on two leaders: Amalickiah and Moroni. After describing the influence Amalickiah had over many of the Nephites and the disruptive effect of his leadership, Mormon explains what we can learn... 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 →
How Can I Be a More Effective Leader?
We are all leaders, whether we have a formal position of authority or not. We all have the opportunity to influence others and to inspire them to positive action. Here are some principles of effective leadership I have learned from the Book of Mormon: "I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made." Great... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Jacob (Israel)?
Soon after Lehi led his family into the wilderness, he sent his four sons back to Jerusalem to retrieve a sacred record engraved on brass plates (1 Nephi 3:2-3). When they returned with the plates, he found that they contained the five books of Moses, a history of the Jews, and the writings of many... Continue Reading →
What Was the Title of Liberty?
Captain Moroni was appalled at the listless response of his people to a serious threat to their freedom. A year earlier, he had led the Nephite armies to victory over an enormous invading army. His forces had been victorious because they were "inspired by a better cause" than their enemies (Alma 43:45): To support their... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Anger?
As we've discussed the last couple of days: We feel sadness when something bad happens to us or to someone we love. We feel fear when we think something bad is likely to happen to us or to someone we love. Anger is also triggered by a negative experience. But unlike sadness and fear, anger... Continue Reading →
They Were Seeking for Power – Alma 46:4, 19-20
4 And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power. 5 And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah,... Continue Reading →
His People Were Doubtful – Alma 46:29
29 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites--and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken--therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who... Continue Reading →
The People Came Running Together – Alma 46:21
21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of... Continue Reading →