Abinadi used emotionally forceful language to describe fallen humanity. "Carnal, sensual, and devilish" conveys our physical constitution, our instinctive perceptions and reactions, and our consequent wrong decisions. He says that God has provided redemption which can be claimed only by those who are willing to stop persisting in this condition.
A Proclamation
Anyone can declare something, but only a person with authority can proclaim it. Ancient prophets proclaimed truths to kings by divine authority. Modern prophets have also issued six declarations with specific messages and warnings for church members, world leaders, and all people.
Mahaleel and Our Times of Awakening
Doctrine and Covenants 107 reveals that Adam's posterity received the priesthood at widely different ages. We are all on different spiritual timelines. There is no prescribed time to find God. Some find Him early, some later. We can all afford to be patient and hopeful, supporting one another through every phase of our journey.
Convinced of Our Ungodly Deeds
The Greek word "elegcho" has no exact English equivalent. It means to bring a fault to light, awakening an internal desire to correct it. When the Savior told John Murdock that He comes to "convince" us of our ungodly deeds, He meant that He will show us our faults so that we want to repent.
The Former Sins
The Lord said, "Unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return." He wasn't threatening to reinstate a penalty He had erased; He was cautioning against sliding back into harmful habits. Sin brings sorrow, and the Savior can help us not only eliminate sin but also keep it away permanently.
Creatures, Living Things, and Beasts
Three related Greek words appear in the book of Revelation: ktisma (creature), zóon (living thing), and thérion (wild beast). Recognizing the differences helps us understand the Lord's answers to Joseph Smith's questions in Doctrine and Covenants 77, and can help us better appreciate how God's love is manifest through His creations.
Biblical References in Doctrine and Covenants 76
The revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76 was prompted by meditation about a single Bible verse, but it contains an enormous number of biblical paraphrases and allusions. The revelation demonstrates the unity of God's word as revealed to many prophets and apostles throughout history.
Confession
Confession is liberating. The Hebrew word for confession—yadah—means literally to throw something. We confess not to obsess over our sins and our weaknesses but to externalize them and let them go. We also confess the goodness of God which is the complement to our acknowledgement of our shortcomings, since He can heal us.
After Much Tribulation…
In 1831, the Lord promised church members in Missouri, "After much tribulation come the blessings." President Henry B. Eyring explained that this is partly because we change as we endure afflictions faithfully. The Lord uses difficult experiences to polish us and help us achieve our full potential.
Esteeming Your Brother as Yourself
The Lord commands us to esteem others as ourselves. Book of Mormon prophets teach this principle and warn us against placing ourselves above others. Peer relationships may generate unhealthy competition, but when we see one another through God's eyes, we can overcome this temptation and recognize the infinite worth of each of His children.