Jesus Christ is our cornerstone, our sure foundation. If we center our lives on Him, we will be well-supported. But even if we reject Him, all is not lost. He is patient and merciful and ready to be our foundation as soon as we are ready to accept Him.
“Worthy of His [or Her] Hire”
Jesus told the twelve and the seventy that they should accept the generosity of others because "the laborer is worthy of his hire." This phrase can be seen as an admonition: Work hard. Be a laborer. Hard work can bring great joy.
The New Testament and the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon can enrich your study of the New Testament. Here is a list of connections between the books to help you incorporate the Book of Mormon into your New Testament study.
“I Am for You”
It's a good feeling to have someone on your team, someone rooting for you and supporting you. Two years ago, when I ran a marathon, it was incredibly motivating to see my wife and two of my daughters at various points along the race, cheering me on. I thought about that kind of support as... Continue Reading →
Tzedakah/Tze’akah
One of the hard things about being a parent or a teacher is when your children or students fall short of their potential. You can give them guidance, you can help them find opportunities, and you can provide encouragement and support. But the decision of whether to follow that guidance, take advantage of those opportunities,... Continue Reading →
Seasons
Timing matters. The successful life isn't just about doing the right things. It's about doing them at the right time. "To every thing there is a season," said Solomon, "and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). He also said, "A word spoken in due season, how good is it!" (Proverbs 15:23). Isaiah was grateful that God... Continue Reading →
“I Uttered That I Understood Not”
We often think of the book of Job as a dialog between Job his friends, but perhaps the more important conversation is between Job and God. Elder D. Todd Christofferson highlighted this exchange, beginning with Job questioning why God allowed these terrible things to happen to him. For clarity, Elder Christofferson quoted from several different... Continue Reading →
Take Root and Bear Fruit
There's a lot of change going on in my life right now. A couple of examples: I just started a new job, and the boundaries of our church congregation recently changed. Perhaps this explains why a simple sentence in 2 Kings caught my attention this week. The prophet Isaiah was reassuring King Hezekiah that he... Continue Reading →
Moses Besought the Lord
Some of the work of a leader is done out of sight, away from the people he or she leads. Even before Moses descended from Sinai and saw the golden calf, he had an opportunity to advocate on behalf of his people. The Lord told him what was happening at the bottom of the mountain:... Continue Reading →
Sequential Creation
God created the earth in stages. That's how He described the process to Abraham and to Moses. Here is His description of the process, as given in Genesis 1, Moses 2, and Abraham 4: Stage (Day)Task(s)Scripture References1Create lightDivide light from darknessGenesis 1:3-5Moses 2:3-5Abraham 4:3-52Create an expanse or firmament (the atmosphere) Divide waters on the ground... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 