The tenth and final plague which afflicted the Egyptians and which resulted in the liberation of the Israelites was the death of the oldest child in each family. Israelite families were spared, but only if they followed Moses' instruction to kill a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. The lamb had to be... Continue Reading →
Finding Favor
Luke tells us that as a young man, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52). He was following in the footsteps of his mother. The angel Gabriel had assured her, "Thou hast found favour with God" (Luke 1:28-30). What is God's favor, and how can we find... Continue Reading →
The Living Christ and the Book of Mormon
The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles is a proclamation published by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 1 January 2000. The document speaks of the Savior's mission before birth, during His mortal ministry, and after His death and resurrection, including in our day. It also testifies that He... 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 →
“Surely He Has Borne Our Griefs” – Mosiah 14:3-4
As Abinadi taught the wicked priests of King Noah, he quoted Isaiah 53 to emphasize that salvation is available to us only because of Jesus Christ. In this chapter, Isaiah called the Savior "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Then, he identified the source of those afflictions: "Surely he has borne our griefs,... Continue Reading →
“He Was Despised” – Mosiah 14:3
Today, I was pondering a prophecy of the Savior written by Isaiah and later quoted by Abinadi (Isaiah 53:3-6, Mosiah 14:3-6). I was thinking about the contrast between worldly power and spiritual power as illustrated by the Savior's experience. Isaiah dramatizes it by juxtaposing the Savior's experience with our natural response to it: What He... Continue Reading →
What Do We Know About God’s Love for Us?
Yesterday, I received a question about one of my posts, entitled Willing to Submit – Mosiah 3:19. Here is the question: God is love right? So how can love inflict when the term inflict has to do with punishment. Surely love knows how to be persuasive. This is such an important question that I've decided to... Continue Reading →
Why Are We Blessed When We Are Reviled?
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists a number of unlikely scenarios in which we should consider ourselves fortunate. One of those goes like this: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and... Continue Reading →
Why Is Jesus Called the Great Mediator?
Mediation is the process of intervening in order to resolve a dispute or heal a broken relationship. To be successful, the mediator must have the trust of both parties and must be able to understand what is required to repair the breach between them. Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would come to earth, "[pour] out... Continue Reading →
What Is the Role of Isaiah’s “Servant Songs” in the Book of Mormon?
Four passages in the Book of Isaiah are known as the "servant songs." They are written in a poetic style, and they collectively describe a servant of God who would save God's children by suffering for them ("The Servant Songs in Isaiah," American Bible Society Resources website, "Isaiah's 'Other' Servant Songs," Religious Studies Center, Brigham... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 