The word aphesis (ἄφεσις) appears 17 times in the Greek New Testament. It literally means "letting go" or "setting at liberty." When Jesus reads the prophecy from Isaiah 61 that the Messiah would "preach deliverance to the captives, and...set at liberty them that are bruised," He used the word aphesis twice. (See Luke 4:18 on biblehub.com.)... Continue Reading →
Justice and Mercy
Today I've been pondering the relationship between two of God's attributes: justice and mercy. Multiple Book of Mormon prophets teach us that God is both just and merciful, including Lehi (2 Nephi 2:12), Nephi (2 Nephi 11:5), Jacob (Jacob 4:10), King Benjamin (Mosiah 5:15), Alma (Alma 42:15), and Mormon (3 Nephi 26:5, Mormon 6:22). It's... Continue Reading →
What Is the Role of Music in the Gospel?
In his description of church meetings, Moroni listed a number of activities which leaders were inspired to include: "As the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done" (Moroni 6:9). Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has urged... Continue Reading →
What Is the First Resurrection?
The apostle John foresaw a thousand-year period in which Satan would be bound and Christ and His disciples would reign over the earth. This is what we call the Millennium. John said those who did not follow Christ would not "live again" until after the thousand year period was over. "This is the first resurrection,"... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Publish Peace?”
To publish something is to make it generally known, to make it public (Webster's Dictionary 1828). Isaiah described the joy people feel when a messenger with good news comes running over the mountains: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of... Continue Reading →
What Is Zion?
Six generations after Adam, there was a man named Enoch. The Bible tells us that "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). In 1830, Joseph Smith learned additional information about Enoch. He had preached the gospel courageously, performed miracles, and led the people of God. Those people organized... 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 →
How Is Christ the “Messenger of the Covenant?”
We receive messages in many forms. Some are written, some are spoken, and some are delivered by actions. When the Savior appeared to a group of people on the American continent following His death and resurrection, He quoted two chapters from the book of Malachi, asking them to write the words down. The name Malachi... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Resurrection?
Today, I reviewed all 35 passages in the Book of Mormon which use the word "resurrection." Here are some of the principles I saw: Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, we will all die (2 Nephi 9:6). There is no way for us to overcome the consequences of this without divine intervention (2... Continue Reading →
How Is Jesus Both “the Father and the Son?”
Yesterday, I wrote about a phrase used by the prophet Abinadi to describe the Savior: "the light and the life of the world." Today, I'd like to talk about another pair of titles Abinadi also applied to Jesus Christ: "the Father and the Son" (Mosiah 15:2). What did he mean by that? After quoting Isaiah's... Continue Reading →
