Afflictions can either embitter us or humble us, depending on how we choose to respond to them. David and Moroni are both examples of military leaders who maintained their faith in God in spite of the complex impact of war on their souls.
Jephthah
Jephthah and Amalickiah both made rash promises, and both paid a tragic price. Jephthah lost his daughter; Amalickiah lost his life. No wonder the Savior would later counsel His disciples on both continents, "Swear not at all; ... but let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay, for whatsoever cometh of more than these is evil."
“An Exceedingly Curious Man”
Mormon called Hagoth "an exceedingly curious man," but credited him with initiating an enormous Nephite migration northward. The lesson: Don't be dismissive of curious people with unusual ideas. Those ideas may be just what you need to move forward.
King-men
Why would a person vote to eliminate their own freedom? I've been intrigued the past couple of weeks by the children of Israel, who insisted on having a king, even after the prophet Samuel warned them of the terrible consequences of this decision: Their children would suffer, they would lose control over their possessions, and... Continue Reading →
The Voice of the People
When the prophet Samuel was old, he tried to appoint his sons to succeed him as leaders over Israel. But the Israelites were not willing to follow his sons, and they requested that he appoint a king. Samuel was troubled. He didn't think it wise to give one person that much power, and he thought... Continue Reading →
King-Men and Freedom of Speech
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 →
Stirred Up
What would possess a group of people to invade and occupy their own Capitol Building while their elected representatives were conducting official government business on their behalf? How could they convince themselves that this action was morally acceptable, or that it was even helpful to their cause? The troubling events this week in the United... Continue Reading →
What Can We Learn from Teancum’s Assassinations of Two Lamanite Kings?
During an extended war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, one of the Nephite commanders, Teancum, bravely enters the camp of the enemy on two occasions to take out their leader. The first of these events occurs near the beginning of the war. The Lamanites have invaded Nephite lands and have taken possession of numerous... Continue Reading →
What Is Authority?
authority The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. A person or organization having political or administrative power and control. The power to influence others, especially because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something. (Oxford English Dictionary) The Book of Mormon speaks about authority in multiple ways, some... 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 →