The Hebrew word mauz (מָעוֹז) means a place of safety or protection. In the King James Version of the Bible, it is usually translated "strength," sometimes "rock," "fortress" or "fort," and once, in the book of Nahum, it is translated "strong hold:" The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them... Continue Reading →
Joshua and the Book of Mormon
This week, I reviewed the book of Joshua, summarizing the content of each chapter and identifying related Book of Mormon passages. The book can be divided into four parts: The children of Israel prepare to enter the promised land (chapters 1-5)With divine intervention, they conquer various cities in the land of Canaan (chapters 6-12)Land is... Continue Reading →
“The Lord Bless Thee, and Keep Thee”
While the Israelites lived in the wilderness, God instructed Aaron and his sons to offer the following blessing on the people: The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.Numbers 6:24-26 I've been focused... Continue Reading →
Poured Out
As Jacob traveled to Padan-aram to live with his uncle, he had a dream in which the Lord renewed the promise He had made to Jacob's father and grandfather. Waking the next morning, Jacob built a stone pillar and poured oil on it as a form of worship. (See Genesis 28:18.) Years later, after Jacob... Continue Reading →
How Can I Recognize the Voice of the Lord?
In his first talk as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson pleaded with us to "increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation" ("Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives," General Conference, April 2018). Two years later, he said, "I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes... Continue Reading →
Assurances, Peace, Faith, and Hope – Alma 58:10-11
After requesting much-needed provisions and reinforcements from the government, and after waiting many months for a response, Helaman's armies finally received an embarrassingly small shipment of food, delivered by a small number of additional troops. Helaman began to worry that he wouldn't even be able to retain control of the cities they had reclaimed (Alma 58:4-9).... Continue Reading →
Statutes, Judgments, and Commandments
What are the "statutes," the "judgments," and the "commandments" of the Lord? Why are those words so often combined? For example, in Helaman's letter to Captain Moroni, he praises the two thousand stripling soldiers in these words: They have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free;... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Cleanse the Inward Vessel?
At a critical moment in the largest war recorded in the Book of Mormon, Moroni, the commander of the Nephite army, became aware that something was wrong. One of his subordinates, Helaman, had questioned in a letter why the government had not sent more troops to bolster the strength of his armies. He had even... 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 →
What Does It Mean to “Stand Fast in the Liberty Wherewith God Hath Made Us Free?”
For a period of time, Alma taught the gospel in secret, in a place called the waters of Mormon. He challenged the people to be baptized there. He organized them into a church there. They began to meet weekly to teach one another and to worship God. The group steadily grew until the king became... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 