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 →
“If Thine Eye Be Single” – 3 Nephi 13:22
Jesus said, "The light of the body is the eye." Therefore, He added, "if...thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." But He added this warning: "If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness" (Matthew 6:22-23, 3 Nephi 13:22-23). The Greek word translated as "single" in... 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 →
Moroni Wrote to the Lamanites
"I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me" (Moroni 1:1)."I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord" (Moroni 1:4). Jesus said, "Love your enemies" (3 Nephi 12:44, Matthew 5:44). As a... Continue Reading →
Imperfections
Moroni was painfully aware of his limitations. Consider the following passages in the first two chapters of his writings (Mormon 8 and 9): "Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore... Continue Reading →
Rashly
Alma counseled his son Shiblon to "bridle all [his] passions, that [he] may be filled with love" (Alma 38:12). He told another son, Corianton, to "cross [himself]" and to "counsel with [his] elder brothers in [his] undertakings." And he added, "give heed to their counsel" (Alma 39:9-10). While our gut reaction to our circumstances may... Continue Reading →
Cumorah
Mormon was 73 years old when he gathered his people for their final battle (Mormon 6:5). He had begun leading Nephite armies nearly 60 years earlier, at the age of 15 (Mormon 2:2). He had seen a lifetime of battles, and he knew the likely outcome of this conflict, but he believed that his people's... Continue Reading →
“If There Was No Mistake” – 3 Nephi 8:1-2
As Mormon prepares to relate the most extraordinary sequence of events in the Book of Mormon, he begins by emphasizing the reliability of his source, followed immediately by an admission that the source may have gotten some of the details wrong: And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know... Continue Reading →
“He Hath Lied Unto Us” – Alma 10:28, Alma 12:3
The Book of Mormon teaches plainly that lying is wrong (2 Nephi 9:34, 2 Nephi 26:32, 2 Nephi 28:8, Alma 16:18, 3 Nephi 30:2, 4 Nephi 1:16, Mormon 8:31). God does not tell lies (Enos 1:6, 3 Nephi 27:18, Ether 3:12). The devil is "the father of all lies" (2 Nephi 2:18, 2 Nephi 9:9,... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Fulfill?
This is the fourth of six posts answering a series of questions suggested by President Russell M. Nelson. So far I have written about what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, and what it refutes. Today, I am writing about what it fulfills. "The eyes of the blind" The prophet Isaiah wrote about... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 