We worship God not only out of gratitude for his loving-kindness but also in recognition of His supremacy. He is our divine parent, and He has the ability and the desire help us improve, to make us more like Him. Through the prophet Isaiah, God emphasized His own perfection and the perfection of the place... Continue Reading →
Out of the Dust
What do you do when you feel like you're not being heard or understood? In the middle of a prophecy about the restoration of the gospel, just before introducing the symbolism of a sealed book, the prophet Isaiah shared an image which became meaningful to the writers of the Book of Mormon: Thou shalt be... Continue Reading →
Ages
Based on: Psalm 90 Core message: We have to expand our perspective, even beyond our own lifetime, if we want to understand God better. Related Book of Mormon passage: Moroni 10:3
Finding God in the Book of Esther
There is no mention of God in the book of Esther. None of His names appears in the book. The miraculous events of the book are shared with no attribution; it is up to the reader to recognize God's hand in these events. Perhaps this is appropriate for the story of a woman who had... Continue Reading →
Finding Grace
When Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, arrived in Bethlehem, they needed a way to obtain food. Ruth said, "Let me now go to the field, and glean [fallen grain] after him in whose sight I shall find grace" (Ruth 2:2). Even though the law required farmers to leave their extra grain for the poor, she... Continue Reading →
“Holiness to the Lord”
The clothing Aaron wore in the ancient tabernacle had profound significance. God instructed Moses, "Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2). This clothing reminded everyone, including Aaron himself, of his role in bringing the children of Israel closer to God. The articles of clothing included: A blue robe, with... Continue Reading →
Wise Hearted
To build the tabernacle, Moses needed all who were "willing hearted" to donate materials. (See Exodus 25:2, Exodus 35:5, 21-22, 29.) He also needed people who were "wise hearted" to donate labor. (See Exodus 28:3, Exodus 31:6, Exodus 35:10, 25, Exodus 36:1, 2, 8.) What does it mean to be wise hearted? You can tell... Continue Reading →
Unhewn
After delivering the Ten Commandments to Moses, the Lord provided a rather surprising instruction regarding formal worship: If thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.Exodus 20:25 Hewn stones are stones that have been cut or shaped.... Continue Reading →
Sanctified
In 1832, as missionaries returned from various parts of the United States to Kirtland, Ohio, Joseph Smith received a revelation about how to receive the power of God. Without God's power, the revelation taught, no one can see God's face and live. Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought... Continue Reading →
The Red Sea and Real Intent
There were chariots behind them, sand dunes on every side, and just a lot of water immediately ahead. He needed information all right—what to do—but it wasn’t a casual thing he was asking. In this case it was literally a matter of life and death.Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Case Not Away Therefore Your Confidence," Brigham... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 