Jacob saw in vision a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending. Lehi similarly saw a path leading to the tree of life marked by an iron rod. God has prepared a way for us to return to Him, and He invites us to climb the ladder and follow the path.
Jesus Christ is the Way
The builders of the Tower of Babel hoped to make a name for themselves and ascend to heaven through their own efforts. In contrast, King Benjamin taught that salvation comes only through the name of Jesus Christ. As we grow closer to Him, He unites us and lifts us to our Father in Heaven.
“There Will I Meet Thee … There Will I Bless Thee”
God instructed Jared and his family where they should travel. He promised to meet them and to bless them at the places He was leading them. He doesn't always meet our needs by coming to us. Sometimes He leads us to a place where our needs can be met.
Unconfounded
Jared and his brother prayed that their language would not be confounded. God answered their prayer. He will also answer ours as we seek to communicate more clearly and effectively with one another. Improved understanding will yield greater unity.
Biblical Bookends in the Book of Ether
A key message of the Book of Mormon is that we should study the Bible. The book of Ether underscores this point by referencing the first book, Genesis (the tower of Babel), and the last book, Revelation (in conjunction with the brother of Jared's vision).
Genealogy of Jesus
None of us is an island, and the impact of our lives is not limited to people currently living. We operate in a multigenerational space, and our decisions affect "generations gone before" and "generations yet to be." (See "Turn Your Hearts," Hymns, 291.) An awareness of that reality can help us feel connected and can... Continue Reading →
“I Will Go Before Thee”
At the end of Moses' life, he encouraged the children of Israel to move into the promised land with courage and faith: "The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee," promised Moses (Deuteronomy 31:3). And he reiterated this promise to Joshua, who would lead the Israelites after Moses' departure: "The Lord, he it... Continue Reading →
Milk and Honey
I've been thinking about promised lands today. When God appeared to Moses on Mount Horeb, he promised not only to deliver the children of Israel from captivity but also to lead them "unto a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). So before the Israelites even began their journey, they had a destination in mind. Lehi's... Continue Reading →
Finding Favor
Luke tells us that as a young man, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52). He was following in the footsteps of his mother. The angel Gabriel had assured her, "Thou hast found favour with God" (Luke 1:28-30). What is God's favor, and how can we find... Continue Reading →
A Land of Promise
Abraham recognized that it was time for a change. "I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence," he wrote (Abraham 1:1). God had promised to lead him by the hand (Abraham 1:18), and take him to "a strange land" where his descendants would become "a great nation" (Genesis 12:1-2). The... Continue Reading →