The God of Israel, the Mighty One of Jacob was born as a vulnerable infant in the most humble of circumstances. "A tender plant," Isaiah called Him, even "a root out of dry ground" (Isaiah 53:2, Mosiah 14:2). The angel who appeared to King Benjamin expressed the irony this way: The Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is... Continue Reading →

"I exhort you." Eight times in his final chapter, Moroni uses this phrase or the related phrase, "I would exhort you." He introduces the chapter as "a few words...of exhortation unto you" (Moroni 10:2). To exhort is to "strongly encourage or urge someone to do something" (Oxford English Dictionary). So Moroni's final order of business... Continue Reading →

Moroni thought he was done. He had appended his testimony to the end of his father's book, as instructed (Mormon 8:1). He had subsequently added his own history of the Jaredite nation (Ether 1:1-2). Now, the book was complete, and his work was finished. "I had supposed not to have written more," he tells us... Continue Reading →

It's not surprising that Moroni named his history of the Jaredites "the Book of Ether." He must have felt a particular kinship with the last Jaredite prophet, who spent much of his life in hiding, and who witnessed the destruction of his people. As he introduces the prophet Ether to us, Moroni expounds on the... Continue Reading →

For nearly a year, the first generation of Jaredites sat in eight small barges as storms and "mountain waves" moved them across the ocean. After arriving in the promised land, they and their descendants were afflicted by another kind of storm—political instability. Generation after generation of Jaredites lived under oppressive rulers, experienced coups and civil... Continue Reading →

"Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord," by Robert T. Barrett President Russell M. Nelson said, "I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that 'if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know... Continue Reading →

After experiencing the annihilation of his people. Mormon wrote a final message of testimony and admonition to the descendants of his enemies, the Lamanites. He wanted them to know four things: You are part of the house of Israel.You must repent in order to be saved.You must lay down your weapons of war.You must learn... Continue Reading →

"Mormon, Age 10" by Scott M. Snow Jesus stands with open arms to receive us. The tragedy is that we fail to receive so many of the blessings He offers us. One reason we fail to receive them is because we take too much credit for our own accomplishments. Another is because we are unwilling... Continue Reading →

Unity is important to the Savior. When He visited the American continent following His death and resurrection, He clarified how baptisms should be performed, "and there shall be no disputations among you," He said (3 Nephi 11:22, 28). Sometime later, His twelve disciples were grappling with a question which had caused some disagreements: what to call the... Continue Reading →