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 →
The Ancient of Days
With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.Job 12:12 There are many reasons for us to love and respect Adam and Eve. As the first man and woman on the earth, they pioneered the way for us, learning by experience so many things which we take for granted.They made our mortal experience possible, making... Continue Reading →
“They Became for Themselves” – 3 Nephi 1:29
About two years after the dramatic sign of the Savior's birth, the Gadianton robbers began to swell in numbers once again. Many of the Nephites joined their ranks, which was disappointing but not surprising, since the Nephites had previously built up and supported this corrosive organization (Helaman 6:37-38). But the Lamanites, too, who had previously... Continue Reading →
“Their Easiness and Willingness to Believe” – Helaman 6:36
Mormon writes about a time in which "the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites." He tells us that the reason they received this great blessing was "because of their easiness and willingness to believe his words" (Helaman 6:36). In contrast, "the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites,... Continue Reading →
The Conversion of the Lamanites – Helaman 6
In Helaman chapter 6, we see the results of the conversion of the Lamanites through the preaching of Nephi and Lehi. Throughout the chapter, Mormon contrasts the Lamanites' faithfulness with the Nephites' depravity: LamanitesNephitesTheir righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites, because of their firmness and their steadiness in the faith (Helaman 6:1).There were many of the... Continue Reading →
What Is Authority?
authority The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. A person or organization having political or administrative power and control. The power to influence others, especially because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something. (Oxford English Dictionary) The Book of Mormon speaks about authority in multiple ways, some... Continue Reading →
How Can I Recognize the Temptations of the Devil?
The Book of Mormon teaches that there is a being in the universe who is trying to harm us and to thwart God's plan. His name is Satan (שָׂטָן - the Hebrew word for "adversary"), and he is commonly known as the devil, from the Greek word diabolos (διάβολος), which means "slanderer." He was once... Continue Reading →
What Are Secret Combinations?
I wrote yesterday that responding to guilt appropriately is essential for our eternal happiness. Anything which encourages us to ignore our feelings of guilt is harmful to us in the long run. As Alma warned his son Corianton, "Ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against... 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 →
Gadianton’s Robbers and Murderers – Helaman 6:17-18
17 For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one... Continue Reading →