Book of Mormon authors followed the "performances and ordinances" of the law of Moses, but the psalms gave them a language for spiritual life. They used psalmic language to describe their internal spiritual experiences, to preach sermons, to explain events in their narratives, and to express gratitude and joy.
Psalms 11-20
11. Foundation and Tempest 12. Pure Words Like Tried Silver 13. How Long? 14. None that Doeth Good 15. Who Shall Abide in Thy Tabernacle? 16. Thou Wilt Not Leave My Soul in Hell 17. Night Visit 18. The Steel Bow 19. More Precious than Gold, Sweeter than Honey 20. The Lord Hear Thee
Elihu’s Straw Man
Elihu quotes or paraphrases Job six times, always followed by a rebuttal or corrective counsel. Unfortunately, his quotations consistently misrepresent Job's positions. In the Book of Mormon, Zeezrom does the same as he questions Amulek. We can engage in productive debate by representing our opponents' views honestly and accurately.
Chariots of Fire
In two stories from Elisha's life, chariots of fire are present, representing God's power. In both cases, the issue wasn't their presence but the ability of people to perceive them. We are surrounded by divine power, and as we overcome our blindness with God's help, we can receive that power and light more fully.
“Speak, Lord”
Samuel heard God calling his name multiple times but only received the message when Eli taught him how to respond. In the Book of Mormon, a group of Lamanites and a group of Nephites had similar experiences, hearing multiple times from God but only responding appropriately the final time.
Samson
Samson squandered his gifts with brash and vindictive decisions. Even his final, God-given burst of strength was destructive. The Book of Mormon provides similar stories with alternate endings: Alma and Amulek emerging from a wrecked prison, Nephi and Lehi converting their captors. Samson's tragedy comes into sharper relief when we see what might have been.
Settling Up My Business
The Lord instructed David Patten to "settle up" his business in preparation to serve as a missionary the following year. Alma and Nephi similarly gave up their government positions so that they could dedicate themselves to the ministry. We need to eliminate commitments which might divert resources from our most important goals and responsibilities.
The Shield of Faith
Like a shield deflecting fiery darts, faith protects and empowers us to press forward. Elder Boyd K. Packer and Sister Joy D. Jones have emphasized building faith at home. Parents can help children prepare spiritually, so they face life’s challenges with confidence, armed with their own handcrafted shields of faith.
“Thou Hast Been Enlightened”
We may receive an answer to a prayer before we realize that we have received an answer to a prayer. God explained to Oliver Cowdery that he had been enlightened many times by the Spirit of Truth. Jesus declared that a group of Lamanites had been baptized by fire without being aware of it. They had experienced the miracle, but they didn't yet have the gospel context to fully grasp its meaning.
Founded Upon a Rock
Both the Savior and Helaman taught us to build our lives on a solid foundation. We will all experience storms, but if we our foundation is securely connected to Jesus Christ, we will be better positioned to withstand them.