The Son of Righteousness

Ether 9 (Éter 9) It impresses me at the start of this chapter that 1) the Lord was able to warn Omer and his household to leave his throne and remove themselves far enough away that they would not be impacted by whatever was able to happen as it pertained to the affairs of the …

How Blessed Were They!

4 Nephi 1 This is the “Zion” chapter in the Book of Mormon; the only glimpse we get into what it would be like to belong to a celestial society and what it takes for us to achieve such peace. After the complete conversion of all the remaining Nephites and Lamanites, so that all were …

Is Not This the Fast that I Have Chosen? To Loose the Bands of Wickedness…

Isaiah 58 (I am much more intimately acquainted with the content of this chapter, probably more so than any other chapter in Isaiah. This chapter offers foundational promises and instruction in regard to fasting and Sabbath day observance.) It strikes me as very important that two of the strongest tools that I have at my …

In Righteousness Shalt Thou Be Established

Isaiah 54, See also 3 Nephi 22 (Unlike other chapters of Isaiah, referenced elsewhere in the Book of Mormon, I have not made a detailed study of chapter 54 yet.) This chapter starts with this premise: “more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife.” The meaning that I give …

The Lord Thy God… Teacheth Thee To Profit

Isaiah 48 Isaiah’s audience in this chapter is setup in verse one: members of the house of Israel by covenant (baptism) who swear by the name of the Lord, but not in truth, nor righteousness. How could one find themselves in such a position? Perhaps born into a community of believers but they themselves are …

That He Might Know All that Was in His Heart

Isaiah 39 In my initial reading of this chapter, assuming that I am reading correctly, there are four things that strike me as curious and odd about this passage: My understanding is that Hezekiah is a righteous king. If being righteous, why did he share with his Babylonian visitors a display of all his wealth? …

Shall a Man Look to His Maker

Isaiah 17 This chapter is an indictment against Israel. But it also is a warning against anyone that would oppress Israel. Hands off says the Lord! Israel is not to be punished to the benefit of other nations. These garden analogies are very poignant in my situation. I understand both the analogy and the real …

Ask of God

3 Nephi 14:6-11 (See also Matthew 7:6-11; JST, Matthew 7:9-20) Go ye into the world, saying unto all, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come nigh unto you. And the mysteries of the kingdom ye shall keep within yourselves; for it is not meet to give that which is holy unto the dogs; neither …

First the Kingdom of God

3 Nephi 13:19-34 (See also Matthew 6:19-34) This group of verses is broken into two sections. The first was addressed to the multitude; the second was specific instructions to the Savior’s twelve chosen disciples. The instruction that had been given to the twelve is some of the doctrines that I’ve taken to me most personally. …