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 →
Book of Mormon References in Moroni 6
Today as I studied Moroni 6, I found a number of phrases which referenced earlier passages in the Book of Mormon. Obviously, Moroni knew the Book of Mormon well. Still, I thought these references were striking, and I thought I'd share the connections I made today as I studied this chapter. Most of these phrases... Continue Reading →
“Because Thou Hast Inquired of Me…Thou Art Blessed” (Mosiah 26:19)
When Alma faced a difficult decision as the leader of the church, he went to the Lord in prayer. He "poured out his whole soul to God," asking for guidance (Mosiah 26:13-14). In response, he received an answer from God. Four times in His response, the Lord called Alma "blessed," because of good things he... Continue Reading →
Regulate – Mosiah 26:37
To "regulate" something is to govern it using rules (Merriam-Webster). The word comes from the Latin word regula, which refers to two kinds of rule: Literal: a straight piece of wood, used as a guide to draw a straight line Metaphorical: a standard of behavior, used as a standard to ensure consistent conduct While serving... Continue Reading →
Belief and Understanding – Mosiah 26:1-3
Which comes first: understanding or belief? As background for a serious challenge which faced Alma as the high priest over the church, Mormon describes some of the young people in the land of Zarahemla: Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king... Continue Reading →
The Legacies of Limhi’s People and Alma’s People
Sometimes it's only in retrospect that we recognize the significance of our experiences, both in terms of our own spiritual growth and in terms of their influence on other people. We've been studying this week about two groups of people—the people of Limhi and the people of Alma—both of whom endured a difficult period of... Continue Reading →
What Is a High Priest?
After leading the children of Israel out of slavery, Moses consecrated his brother Aaron and Aaron's sons to serve as priests. They were given special clothing to wear, but Aaron's clothing was distinct from the others. He wore a vest or apron called the ephod (אֵפוֹד). He wore a breastplate which contained the Urim and... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Relationship Between Church and State?
Before the time of King Mosiah, religion and government were commingled in Nephite society. Mosiah's father, King Benjamin, had served not only as the political leader but also as the spiritual leader of his people, and Mosiah had followed suit. But when Alma arrived with a group of people whom he had organized into a... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to “Cast Out Devils?”
Twenty-four times in the New Testament we read about devils being "cast out" of people. All of these passages appear in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The gospel of Mark even ends with the Savior promising that those who believe in Him will have power to cast out devils (Mark 16:17). The... Continue Reading →
What Is the Relationship Between the Family and the Church?
Elder D. Todd Christofferson has pointed out that the gospel was originally taught in families. The organization of the church came later: Beginning with Adam, the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached, and the essential ordinances of salvation, such as baptism, were administered through a family-based priesthood order. As societies grew more complex than simply... Continue Reading →