One test of integrity is what you choose to do when no one is watching. So a powerful indication of our character is what we choose to think about. We generally assume that our thoughts are private, that no one else knows what we're thinking unless we tell them. Of course that may not be... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Seek the Kingdom of God?
King Benjamin taught his people an important principle which he learned from an angel: the only way to overcome the unrighteous tendencies of our mortal bodies is to be willing to submit to our Heavenly Father in all things. (See Mosiah 3:19). When Jesus Christ visited the American continent after His death and resurrection, He... Continue Reading →
How Should I Deal with Anxiety?
Anxiety can be helpful or harmful. Multiple prophets in the Book of Mormon acknowledge feelings of anxiety, and those feelings are generally caused by their love for others. When Lehi spoke with his sons near the end of his life, he shared with them the confidence he felt: "The Lord hath redeemed my soul from... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be a Better Father?
Today is Father's Day, and I'm thinking about what I can do to be a better father. Here are ten principles the Book of Mormon teaches about being an effective father: 1. Give your children assignments, and trust that they can complete them. Behold I have dreamed a dream, in the which the Lord hath... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Fear?
Fear is an unpleasant feeling caused by the anticipation of a negative event (Oxford English Dictionary). We feel sadness when something bad has already happened; we feel fear when we think something bad is going to happen . Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi and his brothers find themselves in a treacherous... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be Sober?
Throughout the Book of Mormon, people who are responsible, disciplined, and serious are referred to as "sober." Nephi and Jacob both tell us that they taught the gospel with soberness (1 Nephi 18:10, Jacob 6:5). Jacob explains that God expected him to "magnify [his] office with soberness" (Jacob 2:2). King Benjamin urged his people to... Continue Reading →
What Should I Do About Economic Inequality?
Earlier this week, I wrote about how wearing "costly apparel" can distract us from caring for the poor and the needy. Yesterday, we discussed the Lord's expectation that we be responsive to the needs of the people around us. The Book of Mormon also talks about these principles on a larger scale: social classes, wealth... Continue Reading →
What’s Wrong with “Costly Apparel?”
People are more important than things. We all know that. But at times we are all tempted to prioritize things over people. Why is that? Here's one reason: We all want to be appreciated and respected. In our world, appearances matter. The things you own, including the clothes you wear, influence the way other people... Continue Reading →
Ye Have Broken the Hearts…and Lost the Confidence – Jacob 2:35
35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word... Continue Reading →
