Lehi told his family that their people would return to Jerusalem "in the own due time of the Lord." We are often in a hurry. When we know something needs to happen, we want it to happen now. God knows not only what needs to happen but also when. We can trust His timing.
Jesus Is the Christ
The Greek word Christos means "the Anointed One." It is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach (Messiah). Lehi taught his children that the Messiah would be the Savior of the World. Nephi and Mormon testified that Jesus is the Christ.
Letters to the Seven Churches
John wrote letters to seven congregations of the church. In those letters, he described the Savior, gave feedback, and listed some blessings of exaltation. Taken together, the letters can motivate us to repent and receive the blessings God offers us.
Faith Halls of Fame
Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon provide lists of people who exercised great faith. These lists illustrate that God provides various blessings through faith, that people can exercise faith together, and that faith can help us grow closer to God.
“If Thou Wilt”
The leper expressed both uncertainty and certainty: "If thou wilt" (I don't know if you're willing to heal me), "thou canst make me clean" (I know you're able to do it). True faith includes a belief that God can heal us and an willingness to defer to Him.
“Whatsoever He Saith Unto You, Do It.”
Should you follow arbitrary instructions from a random person? Of course not. But you might follow seemingly arbitrary instructions from someone you trust. Mary was willing to believe in words that Jesus hadn't yet spoken, because she trusted Him.
Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
To ancient Israel, the Lord declared, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20, Mosiah 13:23). He subsequently elaborated on this commandment: You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are... Continue Reading →
50, 45, 40, 30, 20, 10
Why would a perfect God allow imperfect people to influence His decisions? Surely He knows the best course of action, and surely He wants what is best for each of us. Why tarnish impeccable decisions by accommodating our preferences? This question has been on my mind today as I pondered an unusual exchange between God... Continue Reading →
The Image of God
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.Genesis 1:27 How much are we like God? We see daily evidence of how far we—and the people around us—fall short of perfection. So how can we think we have anything in common with a perfect Being? The... Continue Reading →
Spirit
Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.Luke 24:39 Thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a prophet known as the brother of Jared saw and spoke with Him. After pointing out that He looked like a human being, Jesus explained: Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man... Continue Reading →