Alma and Ether preached spontaneously and enthusiastically. In contrast, some church members in 1831 hesitated to speak up "because of the fear of man." We can follow Alma and Ether by removing barriers to engagement, raising important topics, and sharing uplifting message through a variety of channels—digital and personal.
A Regular History
Imperfect records bless future generaions. As church historian, John Whitmer did not write about every event between 1831 and 1838, but his contemporaneous accounts of many events are valuable to us. As we write in our personal journals, we can remember that an imperfect and incomplete record may still be a blessing to future readers.
Faith and Witnessing
God told Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris that they would see the gold plates after they had obtained faith. Faith is a gift of God, but it still requires effort on our part to obtain it.
“To Disabuse the Public Mind”
Joseph Smith wrote his history in response to disinformation. His purpose was "to disabuse the public mind" by putting them in possession of the facts. When we trust our listeners to be fair-minded, we share information which is beneficial to them.
Weak Things
The scriptures teach that God uses the weak things of the world to accomplish miracles. He does this for three reasons. 1. Weak people are more willing to accept His help. 2. Other people recognize His hand. 3. Everyone is empowered to participate.
On the Day After Christmas
How has Christmas changed you this year, and how durable is that change? The Nephites quickly forgot the signs they had seen. In contrast, Mary pondered her experiences in her heart. Take time to ponder what you've felt this Christmas season.
Farewell…Until
Three authors in the Book of Mormon say farewell to their future readers. All three assure us that we will see them someday. The gospel assures us that separation is temporary. The most important things we gain in life will endure beyond the grave.
Ether’s Courage
Ether was unpopular because of the truths he shared. He had to hide in the cavity of a rock, and even after that, he went back to call the king to repentance. Integrity can be lonely, but we need to stand up for what's right, even when it's not popular.
Gratitude and the Book of Ether
We learn the following from the book of Ether about gratitude: 1. Be grateful even in difficult circumstances. 2. Express gratitude promptly. 3. We make better decisions when we remember our blessings. 4. Remembering God's blessings gives us confidence.
Strengthening the Foundation of Our Faith
Moroni, Alma, and Paul all indicate that faith involves hoping for something which you can't see. Paul adds that faith is the foundation or evidence for that hope. We build faith by having more experiences with God and by doing things which require faith.