As I wrote yesterday, we need to forgive others in order to be forgiven by God. That's because an unforgiving heart is unable to receive God's healing power. But what should we do when we, or the people we are responsible for, are in danger? How can we protect and defend ourselves and them without... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be “Baptized Unto Repentance?”
Some form of the phrase "baptized unto repentance" appears twelve times in the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 26:22, Alma 5:62, Alma 6:2, Alma 7:14, Alma 9:27, Alma 48:19, Alma 49:30, Helaman 3:24, Helaman 5:17, 19, 3 Nephi 1:23, 3 Nephi 7:26). John the Baptist also used this phrase to describe the baptisms he performed (Matthew 3:11). What does... Continue Reading →
Moroni Was a Strong and a Mighty Man – Alma 48:11-13
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; 12 Yea, a man whose heart... Continue Reading →
Moroni…Had Been Preparing the Minds of the People – Alma 48:7-9
7 Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God. 8 Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or... Continue Reading →
If All Men Had Been…Like Unto Moroni – Alma 48:11-13, 17
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;12 Yea, a man whose heart did... Continue Reading →
This Was Their Faith – Alma 48:14-15
14 Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.15 And this... Continue Reading →
Preparing the Minds of the People – Alma 48:7
7 Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.(Alma 48:7)Mormon makes it a point in these chapters to contrast the leadership approaches of Amalickiah and... Continue Reading →
Amalickiah vs. Moroni – Alma 48:7
7 Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.(Alma 48:7)In this passage, Mormon draws a clear distinction between the leadership styles of Amalickiah and Moroni.... Continue Reading →
For the Welfare and Safety of His People – Alma 48:11-13
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;12 Yea, a man whose heart did... Continue Reading →
To Be Faithful – Alma 48:7
7 Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.(Alma 48:7)The fundamental difference between Amalickiah and Moroni was honesty and integrity. Amalickiah obtained power "by fraud... Continue Reading →