The Trial of Their Faith

Ether 11 (Éter 11) In times of wickedness or righteousness, the answers are the same: faith in God and repentance. However, in times of wickedness, the Lord calls on prophets to go remind the people of the way home, a token of mercy. During times of righteousness, the inherent mindset is one of repentance and …

It Persuadeth Men to Do Good

Ether 4 (Éter 4) Faith is at the crux of all things. Without faith, we do not progress spiritually. Without faith, we do not fulfill our purpose. We do not understand who Christ is without faith. Y para los fieles, hay grandes promesas si siguen fieles hasta el final. These verses are a hidden treasure …

Redeemed from the Fall

Ether 3 (Éter 3) Understanding the exchange that is recorded in this chapter is pivotal to conversion and life itself. The Lord is allowing the Brother of Jared to call the shots in finding a way to light the vessels within the ships that they have built to conduct themselves to the promised land. What …

For the Lord Hath Spoken It

Mormon 8 (en español) Chapter 8 of the book of Mormon starts with a sudden shift in narration from Mormon to his son, Moroni. It come unexpectedly, though chapter 7 is a fitting farewell tribute for Mormon. One get the sense that there was more that Mormon had intended to write. What stands out to …

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 …

Now This Is the Commandment: Repent

3 Nephi 27 I am sitting a lot with the thought that righteousness is neither piousness nor self-indulgence. The sinners and the pious do not approach heaven. It is only those that do the will of God. Doing good within myself and doing good externally with others are two different activities, but they shouldn’t be. …

Ye Have Great Need to Marvel

Helaman 7 Earlier in chapter 6, it was noted that Nephi and Lehi, and also many Lamanites, went into the land northward to preach the word of God. Here at the beginning of chapter 7, it is noted that these efforts were utterly rejected. The wicked went unpunished because of their money. What made them …

That Joy Which is Unspeakable

Helaman 5 Here at the beginning of Helaman 5, we have Nephi doing a similar thing to what Alma did years earlier in Alma 4. He delivers up the judgment seat to another and confines himself wholly to the preaching of the word of God. The footnote in Alma 4 ends by stating that he …