Jeremiah bought land. If you're wondering about the significance of that transaction, consider the following: Prophets since Moses had foretold the captivity of the children of Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem. Jeremiah had told the people clearly that this event was no longer in the distant future. It was going to happen to them... Continue Reading →
Letting Go
When I have met an immigrant tottering under a bundle which contained his all—looking like an enormous wen which had grown out of the nape of his neck—I have pitied him, not because that was his all, but because he had all that to carry. Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 163 It's a good idea not to... Continue Reading →
Your Past Does Not Define You
I was struck this morning by something Elder S. Gifford Nielsen observed about Joshua: He was raised as a slave in Egypt. How did he become the successor of Moses, leading the children of Israel into the promised land? Certainly not by dwelling on his own weaknesses or lack of qualifications. Here is Elder Nielsen’s... Continue Reading →
“No, Not One” – Moroni 10:25
Psalms 14 and 53 are nearly identical, and both paint a depressing picture of humankind. The author begins by pointing out the folly of denying the power of God: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Then, the author appears to attribute that folly to everyone: They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.Psalm... Continue Reading →
“Hid up unto the Lord” – Mormon 1:2, 4:23, 5:12
We don't know much about Ammaron, the caretaker of the Nephite records who selected Mormon as his successor. We know that he was the brother of Amos, and therefore a descendant of Alma, who organized the church at the waters of Mormon about 450 years earlier. And we know that he was "constrained by the... Continue Reading →
Awareness
An important theme in the Book of Mormon is the importance of awareness. Here are a few examples: At the age of 10, Mormon was selected to be responsible for the plates. the prior caretaker, Ammaron, chose him because he was "a sober child" and "quick to observe" (Mormon 1:2).For Ammaron to identify these characteristics... Continue Reading →
Slippery – Helaman 13:31-36
Samuel the Lamanite warned the Nephites in Zarahemla that the time would come when they would have a hard time holding on to their possessions: The time cometh that [the Lord] curseth your riches, that they become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them....And then shall... Continue Reading →
The “Hundredth Part” – Mormon’s Prioritization of Events in the Book of Alma
Mormon had access to a large library of sacred records, describing 1,000 years of history (Mormon 1:3-4). From those records, he made an abridgment of the history of his people, focusing on events and teachings which would help us understand God's covenants and increase our faith in Jesus Christ (Title Page, Words of Mormon 1:3-5).... 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 Is the Book of Lehi?
The first 116 pages which Joseph Smith translated came from a record known as the Book of Lehi. As he wrote in the preface to the first edition of the Book of Mormon: I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 