Without Sail or Anchor

Mormon 5:18 ". . they are led about by Satan . . as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; . ."

Faith in God equips us with sails, anchor, and helm to master the stormy seas of life.

Hard Hearts

Mormon 4:11 ". . every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually."

Nothing good comes from hardening our hearts.

Prepare to Stand

Mormon 3:22 "And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

The person on top of the list to persuade is myself.

We Had Become Weak

Mormon 2:26 ". . the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren."

The pride cycle isn't inevitable. Decisions matter . . before, now, and after.

Cursed For Their Sake

Mormon 1:17 ". . and because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for their sake."

If being cursed softens our hearts,  it could be for our sake.

The People Were All Converted

4 Nephi 1:2 ". . the people were all converted unto the Lord . . . and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another."

"Peace on earth" can be reality.

Celebrate the Birth of Jesus!

Jesus Christ can be born in every heart every day . . Merry Christmas!!

3 Nephi 29:2 "And ye may know that the words of the Lord, which have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled; . ."

3 Nephi 30:2 ". . come unto me . ."

While the World Shall Stand

3 Nephi 28:9 ". . for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand."

Today is our time to choose for ourselves and to serve others.
Even the world will not "stand" as it is now in the end.

Be Like Jesus

3 Nephi 27:27 ". . what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am."

When in doubt, be like Jesus.

It's Never Too Late?

3 Nephi 26:3-4 "And (Jesus) did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory -- even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil --"

Exactly what does "it's never too late" mean?

Hearts Turn to Their Fathers

3 Nephi 25:5-6 ". . I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

As prophecy predicted, the ancestry of "their fathers" motivates millions throughout the world now.

I Change Not

3 Nephi 24:6 ". . I am the Lord, I change not; . ."

In a world where the only thing that stays constant is change, the Lord is the exception.

Search These Things

3 Nephi 23:1 ". . a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah."

I hope Isaiah and I speak the same language when we meet.

With Great Mercies

3 Nephi 22:7 "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee."

Even Jesus pleaded with his Father from the cross, "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 
(Matthew 27:46)

It's Happening

3 Nephi 21:28 "Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance."

The work of gathering is happening in all nations.

Keep Praying in Your Heart

3 Nephi 20:1 ". . And (Jesus) commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts."

Whenever. Wherever. Whoever. Prayer can steady your beating heart.

That Which They Most Desired

3 Nephi 19:9 "And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them."

Having the companionship of the Holy Ghost is a gift like no other.

One by One

3 Nephi 18:36 ". . Jesus . . touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them."

Jesus' love is extended to each one and every one.

Joy Filled our Souls

3 Nephi 17:17 ". . no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard (Jesus) pray for us unto the Father."

What would Jesus ask for if his prayer was specifically for me?

Seeing Eye to Eye

3 Nephi 16:18 ". . for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion."

Imagine the day when understanding will be universal.

They Shall Hear My Voice

3 Nephi 15:17 ". . other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

Everyone will have the chance to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Try It

3 Nephi 14:8 "For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."

Try asking. Try seeking. Try knocking.
Because it works.

Where Your Treasure Is

3 Nephi 13:20-21 ". . lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

My treasures and my heart reside in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and my family.

Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit

3 Nephi 12:19 " . . come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit . . "

Drop the pride at the door.

They Heard a Voice

3 Nephi 11:3 " . . they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven . . and it was not a harsh (or) a loud voice; nevertheless . . it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake/ yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn."

Jesus is a tender master whose voice radiates pure light, truth and peace.

He That Hath the Scriptures

3 Nephi: 10:14 ". . he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if . . all these things are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets."

Searching the scriptures is a different process than merely reading them.

Whosoever Will Come

3 Nephi: 9:14 ". . if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."

Jesus can heal us when our hearts are soft. "Come unto me" is an invitation, not an edict.

O That We Had Repented

3 Nephi 8:25: ". . O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared . . "

Today is the day.

Divided One Against Another

3 Nephi 7:2 "And the people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and friends; and thus they did destroy the government of the land."

Unity is key for organizations. "One nation, under God" sounds a hollow chord in USA, 2015.

Equity and Justice

3 Nephi 6:4 ". . and they had formed their laws according to equity and justice."

Big words, those.

We Have Reason

3 Nephi 5:20 "I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ,"

As pure descendants of Adam and Eve, we have reason to bless our God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

They Were Prepared

3 Nephi 4:10 ". . when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord they did receive them."

Faith fosters preparation which fosters strength which fosters more faith.

Make a Plan

3 Nephi 3:21 ". . we will prepare ourselves . . "

Success starts with a plan.

The Hearts of the People

3 Nephi 2:2 ". . it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing."

Is there a story that recurs more often than this one?

Every Whit

3 Nephi 1:20 "And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the word of the prophets."

"Whit" means every single particle.

That They Might Believe

Helaman 16:4-5 ". . Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying and preaching, crying repentance unto the people . . that they might know that the Christ must shortly come . . to the intent that they might believe;"

Today's prophets told us what to remember and prepare for as recently as ten days ago
(October 3-4, 2015 in General Conference lds.org/generalconference).

Saith The Lord (times 3)

Helaman 15:17 "And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the people of the Nephites (those who have been nurtured in the gospel): If they will not repent, and observe to do my will, I will utterly destroy them, saith the Lord, because of their unbelief notwithstanding the many mighty works which I have done among them; and as surely as the Lord liveth shall these things be, saith the Lord."

Lack of appreciation for our blessings results in losing them.

Believe on His Name

Helaman 14:13 "And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits."

When we repent, it doesn't "even the score" with Jesus for what He has done for us.
We are not able to pay the debt for His "unspeakable gift."
Repentance is evidence that we believe on His name.
As we demonstrate belief in Him through daily repentance, our sins are remitted.

Who Wants Happiness?

Helaman 13:38 ". . ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head."

The freeway of sin, with it's many fascinating exits, may be the fastest way to arrive; but the destination will not be happiness.

Because of Their Ease

Helaman 12:2 ". . at the very time when (God) doth prosper his people . . yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One -- yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity."

Why?

Pride Leads to Destruction

Helaman 11:37 ". . they did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and thus they were ripening again for destruction." 

Humanity seems destined to repeat its entanglement in the ever-destructive cycle of pride.

I Will Bless Thee Forever

Helaman 10:5 ". . And now, because thou hast (sought God's will and kept His commandments) with such unwearyness, behold, I will bless thee forever;"

The rest of this chapter confirms that "forever blessings" aren't necessarily immediate ones.

Making the Connection

Helaman 9:41 ". . he has told us the thoughts of our hearts . ."

Prophets can help us make the connection between our thoughts and our heart's desires.

Pride: 101

Helaman 8:6 "And now we know that this (destruction) is impossible, for behold, we are powerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us."

History. Been there. Done that. Looks like. The world's gonna. Do that. Again.

Who Wants Everlasting Misery?

Helaman 7:16 ". . how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?"

Why would we choose the misery of Satan's plan when we can choose the happiness of God's?

Preaching with Great Power

Helaman 6:5 " . . many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb."

As in this weekend's General Conference sessions (Oct 3-4, 2015).
We can watch/listen to them again anytime, anywhere!
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions?cid=HP14GC&lang=eng

Christ is the Sure Foundation

Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

If ever there was a time and a place for this scripture, now is that time and place.

The Slippery Slope is Steep

Helaman 4:26 ". . thus had they become weak, because of their transgression, in the space of not many years."

It takes time and skill to scale Mt. Everest to the top, but none to stumble off a cliff on the way up.

The Lord is Merciful

Helaman 3:27 "Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name."

Because mercy is His message.

Almost the Entire Destruction

Helaman 2:13 "And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi." 

Just as one person can influence the world for good, so also can one cause devastating destruction.

The Voice of the People

Helenan 1:8 " . . as he (Paanchi) was about to (flatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren), behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the voice of the people . ." 

The voice of the people is the collective power to direct generations for either good or evil.

Do Good Continually

Alma 63:2 "And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother."

Who can measure the influence of one "just man" on his own family and others?

A True Friend of Liberty

Alma 62:37 " . . "(Teancum) had been a man who had fought valiantly for his country, yea, a true friend to liberty . . "

Ordinary American citizens can be true friends of liberty by devoting their lives to principles of liberty as embodied in the US Constitution.

Stand Fast in Liberty

Alma 61:21 ". . fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free."

The opposite of "standing fast for liberty" is sitting down with nations that chant "Death to America!"

I Seek Not for Honor

Alma 60:36 "Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country."

Electing a "chief captain" like Moroni will restore the ideologies of liberty, law, and order to America and to our chaotic world.

Keep the City from Falling

Alma 59:9 ". . knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, . ."

"Leading from behind" is another way of saying give your enemies the power.

The Cause of Our Liberty

Alma 58:12 "And we did take courage . . with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty."

The cause of liberty must be revisited in every generation.

They Trust in God Continually

Alma 57:27 "Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."

Deliverance associates with trust in God.

The Price of Liberty

Alma 56:47 ". . they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; . . "

When we stand for liberty, we stand for generations past, present, and future.

Saving His People

Alma 55:19 ". . (Moroni) did not delight in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from destruction;"

A leader worth following is one who uses power to save "his people" rather than to destroy them.

Ye Have Sought to Murder Us

Alma 54:13 (Captain Moroni) "Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more we will seek to destroy you; . ."

American lives matter. Americans stand for . . . and sometimes die for . . . life and liberty.

Causes of Danger Among Themselves

Alma 53;9 "And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances."

Danger is the shadow of sin, contention, and intrigue (weird stuff).

Failure Begins with Confusion

Alma 52:36 ". . the remainder of them, being much confused, knew not whether to go or to strike."

Victory slips away when clarity of purpose and direction are absent.

There Began to Be Contention

Alma 51:2 ". . they did not long maintain an entire peace in the land, for there began to be a contention . . "

Contention interrupts peace every time. We call this history.

But Remember

Alma 50:20 "Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord."

How many times are these statements made in the Book of Mormon?

Thus They Were Prepared

Alma 49:14,20 ". . to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, become strong, . . Thus they were prepared . . to defend themselves"

Preparation is the key to a strong defense.

Choosing Good Over Evil

Alma 48:7 ". . while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God."

God is good. The Devil is evil. The choice should be easy. History shows that it isn't.

By His Fraud

Alma 47:30 ". . and thus Amalickiah, by his fraud, gained the hearts of the people."

Only followers can anoint a leader with power.

In Memory of Our God

Alma 46:12 "And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it --In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children--
and he fastened it upon the end of a pole."

What is the price of liberty?

The Curse and the Blessing

Alma 45:16 ". . Thus saith the Lord God--Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance."

The United States of America is part of "this land."

Ye Cannot Destroy Our Faith

Alma 44:3 "But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; . . And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith."

"Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Inspired By a Better Cause

Alma 43:45 "Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church."

 Some things are worth fighting, even dying for.

Partake of the Waters of Life

Alma 42:27 "Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds."

God's love is founded on freedom of choice.

Good or Evil Restored

Alma 41:15 "For that (good or evil) which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored (to you after death);"

*Wickedness never was happiness (verse 10) . . . and never will be.

Life After Life

Alma 40:11 "Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection . . the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body . .  whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life."

We find peace as we prepare daily to meet God.

When is the Last Day?

Alma 39:8 ". . ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day."

God knows everything. There is no hiding place. He still loves us anyway. One day will be "the last day" to come to Him.

Prosper in the Land

Alma 38:1 ". . inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence."

Happy Independence Day to all Americans!
Keeping God's commandments prospers us physically, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, socially, and financially.

Look to God and Live

Alma 37:47 "And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell."

Jesus Christ is The way. The truth. The life. There is no other.

Comparing Temporal and Spiritual Knowledge

Alma 36:4 "And I would not that ye think that I know of myself--not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind but of God."

The knowledge of man shifts like the tide. God's knowledge is stable -- today, yesterday, and forever.

Popularity Vs. the Word of God

Alma 35:3 ". . after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their craft;"

The choice between popularity and the word of God is a very old theme.

He May Not Overpower You

Alma 34:39 ". . be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, . . for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing."

Satan's power is phony. We have bodies. He never will. His only power is what we give him.

If Ye Could Be Healed

Alma 33:21 "O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?"

Pride is a burden. When we look to Christ and let go, He can heal us.

Try the Word of God

Alma 32:28 ". . if ye do not cast (the word of God) out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--it must needs be that this is a good seed, (for) it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, . . it beginneth to be delicious to me." 

Try the Word of God. Because. It. Works.

Give Unto Me Success

Alma 31:32 "O Lord, wilt though comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me . . wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ."

Success may have more to do with trusting in God than we can understand.

A Supreme Creator

Alma 30:44 ". . all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it. yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

"All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small;
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all."  
  - Cecil Frances Alexander -

He Hath Heard My Prayer

Alma 29:10 ". . then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

Just ask. Heavenly Father and Jesus are there waiting with outstretched arms to help us!

The Cry of Mourning

Alma 28:5 ". . and thus the cry of mourning was heard among all of them, mourning for their kindred who had been slain."

The Second Coming of Christ will put an end to the present certainty of war.

The Victory of Christ

Alma 27:28 ". . death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it."

Physical death is not the enemy.

His Mercy is Over All

Alma 26:37 ". . God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth."

All means all.

The Coming of Christ

Alma  25:15 ". . they did look forward to the coming of Christ,"

Book of Mormon people anticipated the birth of Christ as we look forward to his Second Coming.

They Would Give

Alma 24:18 ". . rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him;"

Giving to others blesses the giver as well as the receiver.

God Loves His Children

Alma 23:18 ". . and the curse of God did no more follow them."

God loves his children. All of us. When we love God and his other children, he can and will bless us.

I Will Forsake My Kingdom

Alma 22:15 ". . I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy (of eternal life)."

Eternal life isn't for sale. Jesus Christ paid for it already with his blood. Our job is to act in faith, to seek and receive "his unspeakable gift."

*2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift."

Hast Thou Seen an Angel?

Alma 21:5 ". . Hast thou seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are not this people as good as thy people?"

In the dictionary of spiritual learning, faith usually comes before angels.

Patient In All Their Sufferings

Alma 20:29 ". . And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings."

Patient people weren't born with it. They did and do the daily homework.

Sharp Contention

Alma 19:28 "And thus the contention began to be exceedingly sharp among them."

Those who judge quickly often lose most when determining between truth and falsehood.

Art Thou Sent From God?

Alma 18:33 "And king Lamoni said; I believe all these things which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from God?"

The question is not whether God speaks to us. The question is whether we are listening.

And They Were Comforted

Alma 17:10 "And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted."

A primary mission of the Holy Ghost is to comfort us. He is ever ready when we are.

No Inequality Among Them

Alma 16:16 "And there was no inequality among them;"

Does this mean each person's version of political correctness was accepted?
Or perhaps that each person had a right to equal food, shelter, insurance, job security?
Just what did "no inequality" mean then? And what does it mean now?

Guilt Can Not Save Us

Alma 15:3 ". . and (Zeezrom) supposed that (Alma and Amulek) had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance;"

Faith and repentance have the power to heal where guilt and shame fail. (*See verse 10)

The Awful Scenes of Persecution

Alma 14:10 "And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene?"

What can be more depraved than killing others because of their belief in God?

Watch and Pray Continually

Alma 13:28 ". . watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;"

Learning to follow Jesus is a life-long quest and beyond.

Harden Not Your Hearts

Alma 12:33 "But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, . . saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;"

Heavenly Father loves us. He wants to bless us. He is willing. He is able. He is waiting.

There is a God

Alma 11:24 "Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre (things of the world) more than him."

Which comes first, God or the world?

A Foundation of Destruction

Alma 10:27 ". . the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges."

It is said that we first make decisions in our hearts and then justify those decisions with our intellect.

Cling to Light and Knowledge

Alma 9:23 ". . if this people who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have, . . it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites (a people who traditionally made poor choices) than for them."

The Lord's blessings follow our gratitude for light and knowledge bestowed.

Wrestling with God in Prayer

Alma 8:10 " . . Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer . ."

Prayer can be like a wrestling match as we labor to learn what God wants us to think, say, or do.

Be Submissive and Gentle

Alma 7:23 "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."

I want to be the person this verse describes.

The Right to Assemble

Alma 6:5 ". . the word of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God."


It is a privilege to live in a country that honors the right to assemble and to practice religious freedom.

Judging is Not Our Job

Alma 5:54 "Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another;"

God reserves all the keys to judge His children. It's not our job.

Bearing Down in Pure Testimony

Alma 4:19-20 ". . (Alma went) forth among his people . . that he might preach the word of God unto them . . seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony . . according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy."

Pure testimony must mean testimony that has been etched in the heart.

How Do We Recognize Evil?

Alma 3:16 "And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed."

In today's world, labeling people by their outward appearance is discriminatory and inaccurate. Our methods for recognizing and avoiding evil must be different from those used in Book of Mormon times. We must daily seek help through obedience to the commandments, prayer, scripture study, and holding fast to the Word of God.

The Wisdom of the World

Alma 2:1 ". . a certain man, being called Amlici, he being a very cunning man, yea, a wise man as to the wisdom of the world . .

The wisdom of the world is one thing and the wisdom of God is quite another.

It's Popular to Persecute Christians

Alma 1:19 ". . whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ."

Persecution of Christians didn't start in our day and won't end until the Second Coming.

Has 'The Time' Come?

Mosiah 29:27 "And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you;"

It seems every day the 'voice of the people' gets louder against Christianity, The Constitution, and traditional family values. When will 'the time' come for the 'judgments of God', or is it already here?

Share God's Love With Others

Mosiah 28:3 "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish;"

When we begin to understand the love of God, we want to share that love with his other children.

He Remembers Every One

Mosiah 27:30 ". . he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all."

God created us. He knows everything and still loves us. We are not invisible. There is no place to hide.

Today is the Day

Mosiah 26:30 "Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me."

Tomorrow is a gamble. Today is the day for repentance and forgiveness.

Anguish Isn't Arrogance

Mosiah 25:11 ". . when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and polluted state, they were filled with pain and anguish for the welfare of their souls."

Yearning for the happiness of others isn't the same as harboring feelings of superiority.

Freedoms of Religion and Speech

Mosiah 24:11 ". . and (Amulon) put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death."

The battles for religious freedom and free speech didn't start, nor will they end, with US.

Who Can We Trust?

Mosiah 23:14 "And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments."

There are still people who can be trusted. Search for them and more importantly: Be one.

Behold the Back Pass

Mosiah 22:6-7 "Behold the back pass, . . on the back side of the city. The Lamanites . . will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret pass . . when they are drunken and asleep."

It is sometimes possible to win a war by intelligently avoiding it.

Because of Their Iniquities

Mosiah 21:15 "And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities;"

The Lord blesses us when we change. And real change takes time.

When a Prophet Speaks

Mosiah 20:21 "For are not the words of Abinadi fulfilled, which he prophesied against us--and all this because we would not hearken unto the words of the Lord, and turn from our iniquities?"

When a prophet speaks, it's time to listen and repent.

What Goes Around Comes Around

Mosiah 19:20 ". . they were angry with (King Noah), and caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire."

Boomerang.

Repentance, Redemption and Faith

Mosiah 18:7 ". . And (Alma) did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord."

Acting in faith shows that we are ready to change our ways and receive Christ's gift.

What Would I Do?

Mosiah 17:20 "Abinadi . . suffered death by fire; . . because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death."

What would I do for Jesus Christ, who suffered death by crucifixion for me?

When Is It Too Late?

Mosiah 16:12 ". . having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not;" 

Some say, "It's never too late to return to God." Yet God's Word says someday, sometime, it will be.

Publishing Peace Today

Mosiah 15:16 "And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!"

Everyday Christians publish peace today through examples of thoughts, words, and deeds.

Jesus Can Heal Us

Mosiah 14:5 (Compare Isaiah 53) ". . and with (Jesus') stripes we are healed."

Jesus Christ bought us with a price. His life, His teachings, and His blood have the power to heal us. All we need do is Come to Him.

When We Know the Truth

Mosiah 13:4 ". . because I have told the truth ye are angry with me."

We can't change the truth. We can "know the truth" and change how we feel about it.

*John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

He Shall Know

Mosiah 12:3 ". . the life of King Noah shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord."

Pride may win in the beginning. Later comes destruction. The End.

Who is the Lord?

Mosiah 11:27 ". . who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction?"

Who is the Lord??
Status sometimes magnifies the error of pride, as demonstrated by King Noah's words.

They Were Wronged

Mosiah 10:12 "They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, . . . that they were wronged . . by their brethren . ."

Who's On the Lord's Side?

Mosiah 9:3 ". . we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God."

Who's on the Lord's side determines whose side the Lord is on.

Why Flee From the Shepherd?

Mosiah 8:21 ". . they (the children of men) are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest."

Why run away from Jesus -- our Shepherd -- our one chance for safety, shelter, and peace?

At the Juncture of Sin

Mosiah 7:29 ". . the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them."

If God rescued us at the juncture of every transgression, He would be fostering neediness and sin. That's not going to happen. Christianity is not a religion of victims. The Lord expects us to recognize our sins, to confess them, to repent of them, and to leave them behind. We have to do that with intention, with determination, and by ourselves.

Take the Names

Mosiah 6:1 ". . king Benjamin thought . . that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments."

Yeah, count me in.

Take Upon You His Name

Mosiah 5:8 ". . There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, . ."

One day, "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ." Today is a good day to start.

Order Is the First Law

Mosiah 4:27 ". . all things must be done in order."

Watching the Baltimore upheaval from afar and aching for our country, I yearn for patience and order while the truth is being unraveling. This seems unlikely in our new, solutions-on-demand 21st Century.

Rejoice With Exceedingly Great Joy

Mosiah 3:13 ". . whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy . ."

Inexpressible joy comes through faith in Jesus Christ -- His Atonement and His Triumph over Death!

Remember, Remember

Mosiah 2:41 ". . I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

O remember, remember that these things are true.

The Lord Keeps His Promises

Mosiah 1:7 ". . and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers."

We often associate prosperity with financial wealth. I think prosperity has more to do with spiritual health, service, integrity, and peace of mind.

Why Is Letting Go Hard?

Words of Mormon 1:7 ". . I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."

The Lord knows all things. I don't. Life is better when I let go and trust Him. Why is that hard?

Come Unto Christ

Omni 1:26 ". . come unto Christ . ."

Three little words.

Wars and Contentions and Dissensions

Jarom 1:13 "And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eight years had passed away--after the manner of wars, and contentions, and dissensions, for the space of much of the time."

Ben Franklin was wrong when he said, "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." He forgot about war.

I Cried Unto My Maker

Enos 1:4 "And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul;"

Hunger comes before humility comes before faith comes before mighty prayer comes before answers.

Time Passed Away With Us

Jacob 7:26 ". . the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream,"

As lyrics of the familiar hymn state:

"Time flies on wings of lightning;

We cannot call it back.

It comes, then passes forward

Along its onward track.

And if we are not mindful,

The chance will fade away,

For life is quick in passing.

'Tis as a single day."

The Consequences of Rejecting Christ

Jacob 6:8 ". . Will ye reject the words of the prophets: and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?"

Rejecting Christ is rejecting our own chance at eternal happiness.

Counsel Me Not

Jacob 5:22 "And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not;"

It must be frustrating to the Lord when we rush to offer suggestions before considering his.

Things As They Really Are

Jacob 4:13 ". . for the Spirit (of the Holy Ghost) speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be;"

If we want to know what's really going on and what's coming up, there's one way to find out.

Feast Upon His Love

Jacob 3:2 "O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."

Feasting upon God's love blends a ready mind, a heart soft, eyes open, ears tuned, mouth hushed, and time to savor.

God Loves All His Children

Jacob 2:21 ". . the one being is as precious in his sight as the other . ."

Who do we think we are if not equal in God's sight?

Rebellion Against God Versus Happiness

Jacob 1:8 "Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God,"

Trying to mix rebellion against God and happiness is like trying to mix vinegar and oil.
In a few minutes, the oil will always separate from the vinegar and rise to the top.

He Will Hear My Cry

2 Nephi 33:3  ". . For I pray continually for (my people) by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry."

Sometimes our tears water the plant of faith.

Pray Always and Not Faint

2 Nephi 32:9 ". . pray always, and not faint;"

"Not faint" could mean never give up on a righteous desire. NEVER give up. NEVER GIVE UP.

Speak with the Tongue of Angels

2 Nephi 31:13 ". . then can ye speak with the tongue of angels . ."

The price to obtain this coveted blessing is outlined in 2 Nephi 31:13:

If.

• Ye shall follow the Son. 
• With full purpose of heart. 
• Acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God. 
• With read intent. 
• Repenting of your sins. 
• Witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ by baptism. 
• By following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word,

Then.

• Shall ye receive the Holy Ghost.
• Cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost;
• And then can ye speak with the tongue of angels.
• And shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

Heavenly Father, please help me.

Covenants Bring Blessings

2 Nephi 30:2 ". . for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel."

The Lord keeps his covenants when we keep ours of repentance and belief in His Son.

Conservatives and Leftists Read Up

2 Nephi 29:4 ". . And what thank they the Jews for the Bible, which they receive from them? . . Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?"

Conservatives and leftists alike would do well to read and internalize chapter 2 Nephi:29 (p 109-111).

The Word of God Today

2 Nephi 28:29 "Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!"

What a blessing to receive the word of God today from modern-day prophets and apostles!

*lds.org, click on General Conference (conferences convene in April and October)

Miracles Happen According to Faith

2 Nephi 27:23 "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; . . and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."

Fear paralyzes. Faith activates. Faith is a verb, and it comes before miracles.

*Miracle: When a big or small eternally significant happening occurs "out of the blue."

Salvation is Offered to All

2 Nephi 26:27 "Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance."

Jesus offers everyone the free choice to partake of his salvation through faith and repentance.

That Our Children May Know

2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

1. How will they know, the ones for whom we care,
   That God is love and with us ev'rywhere,
   That life is good, with blessings all can share?
   How will they know unless we teach them so?
2. How will they learn that, though they go astray,
   God will forgive and help them find the way?
   How will they feel the Spirit day by day?
   How will they know unless we teach them so?
3. How will they grow in wisdom and delight?
   How will they choose to follow what is right?
   How can they trust the future will be bright?
   How will they know unless we show them?
4. How will they live when they at last are grown?
   What will they give to children of their own?
   Will they reflect the values we have shown?
   How will they know, as on through life they go?
   How will they know unless we strive to teach them so?
5. Natalie W. Sleeth, 1930-1992

Downfall of Wickedness and Rulers

2 Nephi 24:5 (Compare Isaiah 14) "The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the scepters of the rulers."

Hang on. In God's way and time, truth and righteousness will win.

The Arrogance of Pride

2 Nephi 23:11 (Compare Isaiah 13) ". . I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease . ."

I like it better when I eliminate pride from my life by myself before the Lord does it for me.

Declare His Doings

2 Nephi 22:4 (Compare Isaiah 12) ". . Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted."

Notice the tender mercies that come from God daily, then "declare his doings" to everyone!

The Adversaries of Judah

2 Nephi 21:12-13 (Compare Isaiah 11) "And he . . shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth . . and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; . ."

The prophecies of Isaiah trump the platform, words and actions of the Obama crowd.

Anger and Compassion Together?

2 Nephi 20:4 (Compare Isaiah 10) ". . For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

When a scripture is repeated four times in two pages (89-90) it's Time. To. Pay. Attention.

The Government of Jesus Christ

2 Nephi 19:6 (Compare Isaiah 9) ". . and the government shall be upon his shoulder; . ."

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will end all wars and herald a reign of perfect justice and mercy.

I Will Look for Him

2 Nephi 18:17 (Compare Isaiah 8) ". . I will wait upon the Lord; . . and I will look for him."

As President Uchtdorf states, "Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something . . . even when the desires of our hearts are delayed . . . Ultimately, patience means being 'firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord' every hour of every day, even when it is hard to do so."

Choose the Good

2 Nephi 17:15 (Compare Isaiah 7) "Butter and honey shall he (Immanuel) eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and to choose the good."

In Jesus' case, good choices always beget more of them.

A Great Forsaking

2 Nephi 16:12 (Compare Isaiah 6) " . . . there shall be a great forsaking in the midst of the land."

So far, the 21st Century shows evidence of a "great forsaking" of God in many lands.

He Who Sees

2 Nephi 15:12 (Compare Isaiah 5) ". . . they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands."

"Earth is crammed with heaven
And every common bush
Afire with God;
And only he who sees
Takes off his shoes.
The rest sit round it
And pluck blackberries."
                   Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

Better Days Ahead

2 Nephi 14:2 (Compare Isaiah 4) "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the earth excellent and comely to them that are escaped of Israel." (Compare Isaiah 4)

At the end of a tiring day, these words from Isaiah are refreshing.

Isaiah's Prophecies

2 Nephi 13:5 (Compare Isaiah 3) "And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor; the child shall behave himself proudly agains the ancient, and the base against the honorable." (See Isaiah 3)

We live in an era of disrespect for eternal laws of God and time-honored laws of man.

Walk in the Light

2 Nephi 12:5 (Compare Isaiah 2) ". . come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord." 

Why choose to walk in darkness when we can walk in the light of Christ all the time?

My Soul Delighteth

2 Nephi 11:5 "And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death."

Our task is to participate fully in covenants the Lord has made to our fathers.

Let Us Remember Him

2 Nephi 10:20 ". . let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, . ."

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have reason to move forward with our heads up.

The Keeper of the Gate

2 Nephi 9:41 "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for he Lord God is his name."

Amen.

Jesus Can Comfort Us

2 Nephi 8:12 "I (Jesus Christ) am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you."

Jesus is always near. We don't need to go it alone. We just need to ask. He'll be there.