Today, I reviewed all of the prayers I could find in the Book of Mormon. I specifically looked at actual prayers which are quoted word for word, not prayers which are merely mentioned, and not sample prayers given for teaching purposes. I also excluded very short statements directed to God, such as Enos's question,"Lord, how... Continue Reading →
What Can We Learn About Coming Unto Christ from the Brother of Jared?
The Book of Mormon tells the story of a family who traveled across the ocean to the American continent just after human languages were confounded at the Tower of Babel. The family was led by a man named Jared and by his brother, who is simply called "the brother of Jared" throughout the narrative. The... Continue Reading →
How Does the Savior Invite Us to Come Unto Him?
I mentioned yesterday that the phrase "come unto Christ" appears only five times in the scriptures. In contrast, the Savior says "come unto me" 39 times in the scriptures: once in the Old Testament, six times in the New Testament, four times in the Doctrine and Covenants, and 28 times in the Book of Mormon.... Continue Reading →
What Is the Urim and Thummim?
Shortly after the Lord confounded the language of people at the tower of Babel and scattered them "upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 11:9), a group of people led by a man named Jared and his brother traveled to the American continent. As they prepared to board barges to cross the sea, the... Continue Reading →
Because Thou Knowest These Things… – Ether 3:11-13
11 And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak? 12 And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. 13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and... Continue Reading →
That This Man Might Know – Ether 3:17-18
17 And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the... Continue Reading →
Having this Perfect Knowledge of God – Ether 3:19-20
19 And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing... Continue Reading →
We Know that Thou Art Holy – Ether 3:2-5
2 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O... Continue Reading →
The Body of My Spirit – Ether 3:14-16
14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and... Continue Reading →
We Are Unworthy Before Thee – Ether 3:2-5
2 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the... Continue Reading →