In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John repeatedly uses four words to convey the expansiveness of God's saving work: He sees heavenly beings worshipping Jesus Christ and acknowledging that He has redeemed them "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9).He later sees a huge crowd, "of all nations, and kindreds,... Continue Reading →
“At All Times” – Mosiah 18:9
The credibility of a witness depends on their consistency over time. If they testify that something is true one day, you would expect them to stand behind what they said at a later time. When Alma invited a group of people to be baptized in the waters of Mormon, he told them that they were... Continue Reading →
“That I Might Rid My Garments of Your Blood” – Mosiah 2:27-28
Blood on our clothing is a metaphor for unresolved sins at the Final Judgment. Alma asked the people of Zarahemla, "How will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?" (Alma 5:22). He urged them to turn to the... Continue Reading →
Witnesses
Today, I've been thinking about the people who saw the golden plates containing the original text of the Book of Mormon. Their experiences differed from one another dramatically, and I think we can learn a lot from those differences: The Three Witnesses—Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris—all participated in the translation of the Book... Continue Reading →
With Words of Soberness
Today, I've been pondering the Testimony of Three Witnesses and the Testimony of Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. In both cases, I'm impressed with their earnestness and with their courage. Witnesses share what they know, not what other people want to hear. Witnesses are not entertainers, and they are not salespeople. Their objective... Continue Reading →
How Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Mormon?
This week, I'm going to ask some questions about translation. Here are a few of the questions I'm planning to tackle: Why is it important for people to hear the gospel in their own language? What is the Urim and Thummim, and what role does it play in translation? Why is the Book of Mormon... Continue Reading →