On February 27, 1833, the Lord promised that those who obey His commandments will "find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" (Doctrine and Covenants 89:19). A week and a half later, He instructed Joseph Smith not to produce a translation of the Apocrypha. Joseph had been studying the King James Version of... Continue Reading →
“How Great Blessings”
As I wrote yesterday, it's important to be thankful for the good things in our lives. Additionally, it's important to recognize that God has prepared blessings which we are not yet aware of. Here is how He described those blessings to members of the church in Kirtland, Ohio in 1832: Ye are little children, and ye... Continue Reading →
The Perfect Day
The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.Proverbs 4:18 Through the prophet Nephi, the Lord gave the following promise: "Unto him that receiveth I will give more" (2 Nephi 28:30). Alma taught the same principle in the city of Ammonihah: He that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word,... Continue Reading →
“Sanctify Yourselves”
To ancient Israel, the Lord issued a challenge. "I am the Lord your God," He said. "Ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44, see also Leviticus 20:7). In 1831, shortly after revealing "the law of the Church," the Lord reissued this challenge. By following this law, He said, "Ye shall...be sanctified by that which ye have... Continue Reading →
How to “Come unto Christ”
Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.Doctrine and Covenants 88:63 The phrase "come unto Christ" only appears three times in the Book of Mormon. Jacob tells us that he labored diligently to persuade his people to come unto Christ (Jacob 1:7). Amaleki ends the small plates of Nephi with... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon References in Moroni 6
Today as I studied Moroni 6, I found a number of phrases which referenced earlier passages in the Book of Mormon. Obviously, Moroni knew the Book of Mormon well. Still, I thought these references were striking, and I thought I'd share the connections I made today as I studied this chapter. Most of these phrases... Continue Reading →
That Veil of Unbelief – Ether 4:15
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai (for the second time), his face was shining brightly. He was unaware of this until he saw the reaction of his people: They were afraid and unwilling to come near him. Only when he placed a veil over his face to hide the light were they willing to... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Dwindle in Unbelief?”
dwindle - Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength (Oxford English Dictionary) Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi learns from the Spirit that, without the brass plates containing the scriptures, his family would "dwindle and perish in unbelief" (1 Nephi 4:13). King Benjamin later emphasized this point to his sons: "Were it not for... Continue Reading →
What Do We Know About the Jaredite Plates?
Like a play within a play, the Book of Mormon, an ancient record translated by the power of God, contains a story of another ancient record which was translated by the power of God. The first mention of this record appears in the Book of Omni, near the end of the Small Plates of Nephi.... Continue Reading →
What Is the Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon?
Isaiah described a "sealed book" which would confound a "learned man." He would be asked to read it and would say in frustration, "I cannot; for it is sealed" (Isaiah 29:11). An unlearned man would then protest that he could not read the book because of his lack of education. In Nephi's paraphrase of this... Continue Reading →