Prophetic teachings are generally not intended to be soothing. A primary role of prophets is to call us to repentance, which means making course corrections or incremental improvements. Therefore, when we have the opportunity to hear messages from prophets, we should plan to be challenged. Samuel the Lamanite denounced the people of Zarahemla for supporting... Continue Reading →
How Does God Communicate with Us?
After writing two days ago about the importance of firsthand spiritual knowledge, and after writing yesterday about the role of prophets in helping us to grow closer to God, I was thinking today about the variety of ways that God sends us messages. Here are some examples: Dreams and visions — The Book of Mormon opens... Continue Reading →
What Is the Relationship Between “Idolatry” and “Idleness?”
The Book of Mormon explicitly connects idolatry (the worship of man-made objects) with idleness (slothfulness). For example: Mormon tells us that the wicked king Noah and his priests "were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people" (Mosiah 11:6). In... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Taxes?
The Book of Mormon speaks about the tax policies of five leaders. Two of them worked to minimize taxes on their people, while the other three imposed exorbitant taxes on their people, with predictably catastrophic results. King Benjamin reported to his people at the end of his life that he had labored with his own... Continue Reading →
And He Did Cause His People to Commit Sin – Mosiah 11:1-2
1 And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father. 2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires... Continue Reading →
They Hardened Their Hearts – Mosiah 11:29
29 Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah hardened his heart against the word of the Lord, and he did not repent of his evil doings.(Mosiah 11:29)Mormon's description of the people's... Continue Reading →
They Did Boast in Their Own Strength – Mosiah 11:19
19 And now, because of this great victory they were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; they did boast in their own strength, saying that their fifty could stand against thousands of the Lamanites; and thus they did boast, and did delight in blood, and the shedding of the blood of their brethren,... Continue Reading →
They Were Supported in Their Laziness – Mosiah 11:5-7
5 For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts.6 Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king... Continue Reading →
I Will Be Slow to Hear Their Cries – Mosiah 11:24-25
24 Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies.25 And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not... Continue Reading →