When Deborah, the leader of Israel, instructed a man named Barak to recruit an army and fight against their Canaanite oppressors, Barak responded with trepidation but with confidence in her leadership. "If thou wilt go with me," he said, "then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not... Continue Reading →
Glory
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.Psalm 24:9-10 What is glory? The word appears 225 times in the King James Version of the Old Testament,... Continue Reading →
“A Lively Member”
When Frederick G. Williams became a member of the First Presidency of the church, he also became part of an organization called the United Firm, which had been established to help fund the work of the church. After instructing existing members of the Firm to "receive him into the order," the Lord directed Brother Williams... 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 →
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 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 Should I Think About?
One test of integrity is what you choose to do when no one is watching. So a powerful indication of our character is what we choose to think about. We generally assume that our thoughts are private, that no one else knows what we're thinking unless we tell them. Of course that may not be... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Self-Reliance?
A core message of the Book of Mormon is that we are nothing compared with God. King Benjamin reminded his people that God created them, and that he preserves them from day to day "by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be More Patient with Myself?
The Book of Mormon makes it clear that patience is an attribute of Jesus Christ and that His disciples should also strive to develop that attribute. It speaks about being patient in sufferings, in tribulations, in persecutions, and in afflictions (Alma 1:25, Alma 17:11, Alma 20:29, Alma 26:27-28, Alma 31:31, Alma 34:41, Alma 60:26). Patience... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Complacency?
The word "complacent" doesn't appear in the Book of Mormon, but warnings against complacency are pervasive: "Arise from the Dust" Near the end of his life, Lehi pleads with his sons to "arise from the dust...and be men." He tells them to "shake off [their] chains," "put on the armor of righteousness," and "come forth... Continue Reading →