Mordecai warned Esther that if she failed to take action to protect her people, she would not be safe. Captain Moroni gave a similar warning to Pahoran, reminding him that God would not save him from his own negligence. Not choosing is itself a choice, and it has consequences.
David and Moroni
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.
Up
How do you motivate someone who is well-intentioned but too passive? For Deborah, the answer was a single monosyllabic word: Up. Captain Moroni used a similar expression to convey his urgency: "up and doing." In both cases, their words were brief and direct, modeling the decisive action they were calling for.
Up!
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 →