This is the second of three posts in response to a question I received last week. Yesterday, I wrote that God's love is most clearly demonstrated in the life and suffering of Jesus Christ, that the Savior feels genuine empathy for us, and that when we experience God's love, we are filled with joy. Today,... 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 →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about Sacrifice?
Early in the Book of Mormon, the concept of sacrifice appears. Lehi and his family had certainly given up much to follow the Lord's command, abandoning their comfortable living in Jerusalem to travel in the wilderness. But Lehi's son Nephi saves the word "sacrifice" for a more specific usage. When he and his brothers return... 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 →
Will We Be Judged by the Apostles?
During His mortal ministry, Jesus told His twelve apostles that they would one day "sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). An angel explained to the prophet Nephi that the apostles would judge the tribes of Israel and that the twelve disciples chosen on the American continent would in turn... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be Saved “In and Through” the Grace of God?
A friend pointed out to me today that the phrase "in and through" appears seven times in the Book of Mormon, always in reference to Jesus Christ. He wanted to know the significance of the phrase. Here are the seven passages: Lehi: "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full... Continue Reading →
Why Did the Nephites Keep the Law of Moses?
The apostle Paul told the saints in Galatia that the law of Moses had served as a "schoolmaster" to help them develop faith in Jesus Christ. After they developed faith, they didn't need the schoolmaster any more (Galatians 3:24-25). The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob also recognized that the law of Moses was intended to... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Minister?
In the Book of Mormon, the word "minister" is often a synonym for "teach." It also refers to other forms of service. A person who ministers is eager to serve "in an active practical way."
What Does It Mean to Seek the Kingdom of God?
King Benjamin taught his people an important principle which he learned from an angel: the only way to overcome the unrighteous tendencies of our mortal bodies is to be willing to submit to our Heavenly Father in all things. (See Mosiah 3:19). When Jesus Christ visited the American continent after His death and resurrection, He... Continue Reading →
What Should I Do When I Feel Guilty?
Today, I spent some time looking at the passages in the Book of Mormon that talk about guilt. Here is what I learned: There is a human tendency to suppress feelings of guilt. We know intuitively when we have done something wrong, but because feelings of guilt are unpleasant, we often ignore or deny them... Continue Reading →