In 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing church leaders to organize themselves more fully to ensure that the needs of all church members could be met. In that revelation, the Lord taught the following principle: If ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;Doctrine and Covenants 78:6 What does... Continue Reading →
The Riches of Eternity
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.Proverbs 13:7 The prophet Jacob counseled his people to prioritize heavenly blessings over earthly ones: "Before ye seek for riches," he said, "seek ye for the kingdom of God" (Jacob 2:18). The Savior urged us all not to spend time and energy accumulating "treasures upon earth, where moth... Continue Reading →
Rich and Poor
How much wealth we accumulate doesn't matter very much in the end, but our attitude toward wealth and the resulting actions matter very much. The prophet Jacob gave the following warning: Wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and... Continue Reading →
“Marriage Is Ordained of God”
Immediately after creating Adam and Eve, God established the institution of marriage: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.Genesis 2:24 During His mortal ministry, the Savior quoted that passage and then further emphasized its implications: So then they are no more twain, but one flesh.What therefore God hath joined together, let... Continue Reading →
“Lest Ye Become as the Nephites of Old”
Prosperity without pride is a worthy goal. After Lehi and his family abandoned their home in Jerusalem, leaving behind their gold, silver, and precious things (1 Nephi 2:4), the Lord promised them that, if they would keep His commandments, they would prosper in their new land (1 Nephi 2:20). After arriving on the American continent,... Continue Reading →
“That Ye May Not Shrink” – 2 Nephi 9:46
Sometimes, in order to be successful in life, we must face difficult challenges head-on. Avoiding those challenges simply won't work, and half-hearted participation will not produce satisfactory outcomes. The prophet Jacob used the word "shrink" to describe the natural instinct to recoil from painful experiences. "It grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with... Continue Reading →
“Inquire of the Lord”
The Book of Mormon contains many stories of people taking questions to God in prayer and receiving answers. Here are some examples: Lehi prayed to know where his son Nephi should go to hunt for food for the family (1 Nephi 16:23-26).Jacob prayed to know what he should do about the "wicked practices" he began... Continue Reading →
“I Inquired of the Lord” – Moroni 8:7
When Mormon learned that there was some disputation in the church relating to baptism, he was concerned. When the Savior had visited the American continent, He had emphasized the importance of unity in the performance of baptisms. "Thus shall ye baptize," He had said. "And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have... Continue Reading →
“When I Speak the Word of God with Sharpness” – Moroni 9:4
In a letter to his son, Mormon laments a dilemma he faces: how to calibrate the tone of his message so that his people will listen. Here's how he describes the situation: When I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it.Moroni... Continue Reading →
“Will Ye Persist in Supposing That Ye Are Better One Than Another?” – Alma 5:54
Equality is a core principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Alma resigned as chief judge and dedicated himself to the ministry because of the inequality he saw among his people. Members of the church were becoming proud, wearing expensive clothing, being "scornful, one towards another," and persecuting those who believed differently from them (Alma... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 