Abraham: The Binding.

It has been a good while since I blogged about our Old Testament lessons at Institute.
A good while ... with three weeks left in the second (last) semester.

I don't know if this is interesting or helpful for anyone out there is the big wide world, but I really should finish what I started.  Yeah!


I have some great news - I found the video I wanted to post back here.
I still remember the time I showed this video to my class, and how it really impacted on the students.  The spirit was strong that night.



I'll get you started by thinking about the following:

Upon what do blessing from God depend?

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated --
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.  [1]

What is the relationship between obedience and faith?

"The fact that certain laws must be observed and ordinances complied with is not the ruling of the Latter-day Saints, but the divine mandate of the Author of our salvation, who has said he will judge all men according to their works and opportunities.  We are merely complying with the teachings of the Master which we have received and which are requisite to salvation.

"If belief alone were sufficient, then even the devils, who fear and tremble, would be saved.  They recognised the Saviour and declared on several occasions that he was the Son of God."  [2]

[1]  Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21
[2]  Smith, Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p.204-5

How Abraham was taught the Law of Sacrifice.

Hello.
A little time ago, we reviewed the beginnings of Abraham's life, his family tree and the covenants he made early on in his life.  Ok, a not so little time ago.
We also looked at the great man who ordained Abraham to the priesthood, and studied the blessings of the priesthood.
Yeah yeah, I've been slack at posting.  It has been a good while, but we did do it, I swear.
More recently, and my personal favourite, we studied the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and how Abraham tried to intercede on the wicked peoples' behalf.  Such great lessons to be learnt there.

This brings us up to chapter 18 of Genesis, when Abraham finally received his promised son, Isaac.
Yeah,  we're still in Genesis.  Shh.

Do you even remember all the promises that were made to Abraham?  How about the four categories of blessings?
Quickly look back here, because it's important to remember not only what we're entitled to (um, yay!) and how these blessings have/will come to pass, but to also remember that Abraham had been promised a great posterity .. and he was still waiting.  In fact, the majority of these promises were to come through this great posterity.

Wait, what posterity?

Good point.
Most know that Abraham finally got his posterity.  This is how is happened:
In Genesis 16:1-6, we read that his wife Sarai gave her handmaid to Abraham for this very cause.  This was according to the custom of the time, so it was an expected and logical act.  This is how Ishmael came about.  And then, a little later, Isaac was born to Sarai.  Abraham also had several sons by Keturah.

(Note: It was around this time that Abram and Sarai have their names changed to Abraham and Sarah.)

So.  Ishmael was born.

And what became of Ishmael?
Well, the Lord promised blessings to Ishmael.  He may not have been the covenant son of Abraham, but he certainly wasn't forgotten.  You can read about the blessings promised to Ishmael in Genesis 16:7-16 and 17:20.

After the birth of Ishmael, the Lord reaffirmed His promise with Abraham - that Abraham would be a father of many nations and kings.  The Lord then blessed Abraham with the prophecy of a son:

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
(Genesis 17:15-21)

Even some mysterious messengers visited Abraham and reiterated the prophesy about the birth of a son, in Genesis 18:1-19.

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
(verses 12-14)

And then .. drum roll .. in Genesis 21:1-8, Isaac was finally born.

Later in this same chapter, Isaac was given the birth right as the covenant son of Abraham and Ishmael was given the great blessings he was promised.  We understand that the birthright was given to Isaac because he was the first son of the first wife (i.e. he was born under the covenant of marriage between Abraham and Sarah), even though Ishmael was about fourteen years older than Isaac.  The Lord made it clear that in accordance with the original promise Abraham’s son by Sarah would bear the covenant responsibility.


We now jump over to Genesis chapter 22.  The big guns.
Basically, as we all know, Abraham was commanded by the Lord to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord.

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
(Genesis 22:1-2)

(I can't seem to find the institute video to post here ... but it is well worth your viewing time.  In the meantime, knock yourself out with this fun one. Talk about time travel.)
UPDATE:  I found it!!  This video is definately worth your viewing time.

What a severe test for Abraham.  Especially when you remember that Abraham himself was saved from a similar fate when he was very young, all instigated in wickedness by his own father.  After such an experience, you can imagine that Abraham must have abhorred the practice of human sacrifice.
So why on earth with the Lord require such a trial of Abraham's faith?

Let us look to the law of sacrifice.
What is the law of sacrifice?

“The law of sacrifice is that we are willing to sacrifice all that we have for the truth’s sake – our character and reputation; our honor and applause; our good name among men; our house, lands, and families: all things, even our very lives if need be.” [1]

It is a celestial law (just like the law of consecration); “a prerequisite to a godly life”. [2]

The prophet Joseph Smith said:  “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation.” [3]
He also said:  “It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those … who have offered their all in sacrifice … unless they, in like manner, offer unto him the same sacrifice.” [4]

I love that.  And the law of sacrifice applies to gospel living today.
Have a good look at the following scripture in Doctrine & Covenants 88:22:

For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.

“We are not always called upon to live the whole law of consecration and give all of our time, talents, and means to the building up of the Lord’s earthy kingdom.  Few of us are called upon to sacrifice much of what we possess, and at the moment there is only an occasional martyr in the case of revealed religion.  But what the scriptural account means is that to gain celestial salvation we must be able to live these laws to the full if we are called upon to do so.  How, for instance, can we establish our ability to live the full law of consecration if we do not in fact pay an honest tithing?  Or who can we prove our willingness to sacrifice all things, if need be, if we do not make the small sacrifices of time and toil, or of money and means, that we are now asked to make?” [5]

So what are some of the ways that we can live the law of sacrifice?

President Ezra Taft Benson actually listed four ways the principle of sacrifice may be practiced today.  Handy.


1. To sacrifice, deny yourself all ungodliness.

“To deny oneself of all ungodliness is to come to Christ by ordinances and covenants to repent of any sins which prevent the Spirit of the Lord from taking precedence in our lives.  To deny oneself of all ungodliness is to “offer sacrifice unto the Lord they God…, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (D&C 59:8)”. [6]

Moroni described the way: read Moroni 10:32.

Q: How is this applicable to you?  How can you deny yourself all ungodliness?
Perhaps it means “to forgo personal bad habits … habits which cause us, the children of God, to be less than our destiny.”


2. To sacrifice, be willing to serve a mission.

Not just a 2 year mission…

President Kimball said: “How selfish and thoughtless would it be for a young man to grow to maturity, spend his time preparing for his life’s work and his occupation and be unwilling to serve his Creator in this, the most important service in the world.” [7]

“While you reap the benefits of prosperity unprecedented in the history of mankind, do you ever think that one of the reasons the Lord sent you to earth under such favourable circumstances is that you could use your talents, education, and money to bless others with the gospel?” [8]

This kind of sacrifice is an investment.


3. To sacrifice, solemnise your marriage in the house of the Lord.

“No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. To most of us, a temple is easily accessible, perhaps so conveniently that the blessing is taken too casually.” [9]

Q: So what can you do?

“Don’t trifle away your happiness by an involvement with someone who cannot take you worthily to the temple.  Make a decision now that this is the place where you will marry.  To leave that decision until a romantic involvement develops is to take a risk, the importance of which you can’t calculate now.  I would urge you further to pray about this matter.” [10]

And this may be a sacrifice for some … remember “by this act of faith, we show our love to God and our regard for a posterity yet unborn.”


4. To sacrifice, serve with all your time and means to build the kingdom of God on earth.

In Matthew it says:

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.(Matthew 16:24-25)

“If you would find yourself, learn to deny yourself for the blessing of others.  Forget yourself and find someone who needs your service, and you will discover the secret to the happy, fulfilled life.” [11]

President Harold B. Lee said: “I [am] persuaded of one great truth: Whenever the Lord has a great blessing for one of his children, he puts that son or daughter in the way to make a great sacrifice”. [12]

The overriding principle = sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!

President Harold B. Lee said: “I bear witness that not until a person has been willing to sacrifice all he possessed in the world, not even withholding his own life if it were necessary for the upbuilding of the kingdom, can he claim kinship to Him who gave his life that men might be.” [13]


So, the question is ... what are some of the specific sacrifices we are asked to make today?

I testify that sacrifice is a prerequisite to faith.


[1] Bruce R. McConkie “Obedience, Consecration, and Sacrifice”, Ensign, May 1975
[2] Ezra Taft Benson, “This Is a Day of Sacrifice”, Ensign, May 1979
[3] Joseph Smith, Lectures of Faith, 6:7
[4] Joseph Smith, Lectures of Faith, 6:8, italics added
[5] Bruce R. McConkie “Obedience, Consecration, and Sacrifice”, Ensign, May 1975
[6] Benson, This Is a Day of Sacrifice”, Ensign, May 1979
[7] Spencer W. Kimball, Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 30 Sept. 1977, as cited by Benson, “This Is a Day of Sacrifice”, Ensign, May 1979
[8] Benson, This Is a Day of Sacrifice”, Ensign, May 1979
[9] Benson, ibid
[10] Benson, ibid
[11] Benson, ibid
[12] In Conference Report, Apr. 1947, p.50, as cited by Benson, ibid
[13] “A Sure Trumpet Sound: Quotations from President Lee”, Ensign, Feb. 1974, p.79

The power to heal.

Today was the Sabbath day.

I hope you all enjoyed it, wherever you are and whatever the day brought you.

I taught a little about the priesthood today.  I teach the five and six year olds in Primary.

It seems that the topic of priesthood has been all around me recently.  Not just in Primary, but in drafting posts on recent Institute lessons, as well as conversation in the home and thoughts in my mind.

It really is hard to comprehend the power of the priesthood.  It is some intangible force, a massive power, by which everything (like you and me!) was created.  When God said "let their be light", it was through His priesthood power that that was done.  When Jesus healed the sick, it was through His priesthood power that that was done.

How wonderous.


Today in Primary we discussed being healed by the power of the priesthood.

At first we looked at some random first aid items you may have lying around your home.  I don't have a first aid kit (eek!) and I had to go rummaging around our packed boxes for anything relating to sickness or injury.  I gave them clues as to what I had in my bag, and they were pretty quick to guess.  We looked at the items one by one - the medicine, the bandage/wipe, the cream.  Yeah, that's all I could find.  I guess we don't even have band-aids.  We briefly talked about how these things can help people feel better.

Everybody gets sick now and then.  Sometimes we get hurt or injured.  The first aid kit can come in handy, but we usually need someone - parents, doctor, etc - to help us heal.  I then mentioned that there is another way we can be healed when sick.
When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He blessed many sick people.  He used the power of the priesthood to heal.

We looked at an example.  In almost all the four gospels in the New Testament, a story is recorded of faithful Jarius, who knew the Saviour could heal his daughter.  This is a story worth noting, because the daughter wasn't just ill.  She was believed dead.  People laughed at Jarius for thinking she was able to be healed, and they thought the Saviour shouldn't waste His time with the scenario.

But Jarius had great faith.  Which was key.  He truly believed that Jesus Christ could bless and heal his possibly dead daughter.  And that is what happened.  The Saviour, after shooing all the laughing people out, took the young girl's hand, and commanded her to arise.

Jarius' faith + Jesus' priesthood enabled the healing.

We then spoke about how it would have felt to be healed personally by Jesus, and that this is what still happens today.  It turned out that each of the kids in class had a father that held the priesthood.  One also had a brother that passes the sacrament each week.  We talked about the priesthood in the home, and their own experiences with it.  Because each of us can be healed just as if Jesus himself were here.

I also showed the class my husband's small bottle of consecrated oil.  It's oil that has been blessed for the specific purpose of blessing sick people.  We call it administering to the sick, being administered to.  Turns out the kids knew what it was ("Hey, my Dad has one like this!") and that was fun to pass around, reverently inspecting it one by one.

By the end of the class, with a few games and fun bits thrown in, these kids knew all about using the priesthood for healing people.  They understood that we believe in the gift of healing.

Have any of you been administered to, or blessed by the priesthood?  I'd love to hear about it. 

After church concluded, I was set apart for my two callings.  I had several men, who worthily hold the priesthood, confirm me to my church assignments in Primary and in Institute.  I'm now entitled to legitimate inspiration.
Not sure what I was acting on before ... ;)

Testimony meeting.

This is a topic I have been wanting to write about for a long, long time.  It is a topic close to my heart - what not to do during testimony meeting.

Seriously,  I become an overly anxious soul during testimony meetings.  The potentially-ever-painful monthly thank-timony meeting.  And having these meetings coinciding with Fast Sunday doesn't help either.

We have been instructed what this meeting is for, and how to appropriately speak during it.  We have also been instructed on the importance of brevity and conciseness when bearing testimony.  [1] 
Elder Jensen once told us (and I summarise):  [2]

A testimony is not an exhortation. And it’s not a sermon or a talk. Don’t you be banging your fist and calling me to repentance. That just offends me and the spirit.
A testimony is not an experience. Sure you can share a short experience to illustrate your belief. But don’t be giving me the long-winded version of what you did that week.
A testimony is not an expression of gratitude or love. Are you shocked? Again, it may be appropriate to include some gratitude or love in there, but that is not the point of a testimony or the meeting.
A testimony is not a public confession. Enough said.
A testimony is not a long explanation of how you know, but rather what you know.

And yet, this is what I regularly hear:
1. I'd like to thank that mystery person for delivering cookies to my door when I really needed them.  I like cookies.
2.  I love this ward.  You guys are great.  My last ward wasn't nearly as friendly, but you guys are great.  And I love my family - I don't tell them nearly as often as I should. 
[Elder Bednar once said these comments make him silently squirm in his seat.]
3. I'm so grateful for the birds in my backyard.  They are nice and chirpy, and remind me of the time ...
4. I really like Young Women's.  Yeah, it's way fun.  But I don't like getting up for seminary much.
5. This week I did this, and this; and then this happened; and then my grandson called and this happened; and then I planted a tree, and watched it grow.  I like trees.


I remember being taught by my parents (now translated) that I should get up and say one or all of the following only. 
I now pass this on to you. 
When you share, bare, or even expose** your testimony to others, you should say one or all of the following only:

1. Your belief in God, our Heavenly Father.  You could extend this to your belief in the Godhead - God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
2. Your belief in Jesus Christ and His atonement for us.
3. Your belief in Joseph Smith being a true prophet of God, and in his role in restoring Christ's church.
4. Your belief in the current-day prophet, leading and guiding Christ's church.
5. Your belief in the Book of Mormon, being scripture alongside the Bible.

Some also teach that a belief in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon is actually the same, allowing for a belief in the temple as number five on the list.

** I once heard a special someone get up and say:  I don't just want to bare my testimony.  I want to expose myself.  No joke.


These five basic principles should be the foundation of your testimony, and what you say during testimony meeting.  They are the foundation of a testimony.  We should say the things which set us apart from others, the things we believe to be true.  We can expand on other principles of the gospel we know to be true and our appreciation for them, e.g. your knowledge that Heavenly Father loves you and how you appreciate that love;  your knowledge that Jesus Christ lives;  your knowledge that tithing is a principle from God because you exercised it and now understand it.

This parental advice was echoed by Bruce R. McConkie, who wrote the three great truths that must be included in every valid testimony were:
1. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world (D&C 46:13);
2. That Joseph Smith is the Prophet of God through whom the gospel was restored in this dispensation; and
3. That The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the ‘only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.’ (D&C 1:30). [3]


Note:  I understand that testimony grows through experiences.  Our knowledge of what is true will gradually increase as we exercise faith and practice what we know, but the pulpit is not the time and place to elaborate for 5-30 minutes.  We do have other opportunities to share our testimony - usually during Relief Society meetings, Sunday School meetings, etc.  If you don't have those opportunities to share your testimony-building experiences, ask for them.  Or hold a Family Home Evening dedicated to testimonies.


The following are examples of how testimonies should sound like from the pulpit:
1. "I know the Book of Mormon is true."
2. "I believe in God.  I know that President Monson is our prophet today."
3. "I know Jesus Christ died for me.  I understand the atonement more fully from my recent scripture study, and I know it to be true."
4. "I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  I know he restored the fullness of the gospel, and that the church is the same as it was in the days of Christ.  I also know we are led by a living prophet today, and that we are able to know of these things for ourselves."


Do I need to bring out the Testimony Glove?  (Oooh! It's currently on sale ....)

Want to know what puts me on edge in Sacrament talks? 
Read my post on what not to do when giving a talk in Sacrament meeting.


[1] First Presidency letter, May 2, 2002; see also M. Russell Ballard, “Pure Testimony,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40–43
[2] Jay E. Jensen, ‘Bearing Testimony’, Ensign, Oct. 2005
[3] Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 785–86

Book of Mormon painting eight.

Smack bang in the middle of the Book of Mormon, there are a lot of wars.  I wrote about that here, and how the Book of Mormon was literally written for our day because we learn how earlier disciples of Christ lived with war.

In and around Alma 43 - 46, the Nephite nation was put in jeopardy because of wars, dissension, and much contention – not just from the Lamanites, but from themselves.  Dangerous.

Some were just too eager for power.

The solution (for us too) was to exercise faith in Jesus Christ, and follow His prophets and other righteous leaders – like their military leader at the time, Captain Moroni.  Mormon wrote: “If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” (Alma 48:17).
Right there is a fine role model.  We too can remain “firm in the faith of Christ” in trying times (Alma 48:13).

Captain Moroni came up with brilliant strategies to defend the Nephite people.  And what I love most is that he started fortifying the people and their cities well in advance, as well as seeking the counsel of the prophet, while there was no threat upon them.

Talk about good judgment, as well as obedience to God’s counsel.

And what a contrast to the intentions and tactics of Amalickaih, the wicked man stirring up trouble at the time.  Actually, Mormon plainly lists the striking differences between the two for us – see Alma 48 and 49.

Arnold Friberg’s next painting in his series on the Book of Mormon is of Captain Moroni, after rallying others in a righteous cause, physically displaying his cause.

To do so, he rips his clothing - which was a symbol of making a covenant - and writes on it, making a huge banner for all to see.  He writes:  In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.

Moroni then fastened the 'title of liberty' to a pole, and placed it high for all to see in every tower.
[Alma 46:12–15, 36]

Captain Moroni Raises the Title of Liberty

Arnold Friberg

Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, … 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. …

(And he called it the title of liberty) and he … prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren. (Alma 46:11–13)

Friberg:
“We are reading the thought itself that Captain Moroni expressed on his banner. Now I am supposed to picture how he wrote it. He didn’t write it in English. English was not yet invented. He wrote it in Hebrew. Mormon said he was engraving the plates in Reformed Egyptian because it takes less space. But if Moroni could write it in Hebrew it would be a lot clearer. . . . So I went to the Rabbi here [in Salt Lake City] and asked him to write the message in what would have been the common characters Lehi brought with him. It didn’t look anything like present- day Jewish script [second line of the Hebrew text below]. That squarish letter we now know as Jewish came in closer to the time of Christ. [The first line of the Hebrew text below is more ancient and more correct], so I put it on the flag even though there were those who insisted that I letter it in English.”

(Hebrew writing reads from right to left)   [1]

Sometimes we must stand, as Moroni’s people did, in defence of what we hold dear.  Our liberty, our lands, our families, our peace.

“There are times when we must stand up for right and decency, for freedom and civilization, just as Moroni rallied his people in his day to the defence of their wives, their children, and the cause of liberty (see Alma 48:10).” [2]

There are times when, in remembering our “civic responsibility that ‘the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’ (Edmund Burke). . . . Do something meaningful in defence of your God-given freedom and liberty”. [3]

We read that Captain Moroni caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land … and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites. (Alma 46:36)

“This is our need today—to plant the standard of liberty among our people throughout [our country].  “While this incident occurred some seventy years B.C., the struggle went on through one thousand years covered by this sacred Book of Mormon record. In fact, the struggle for liberty is a continuing one—it is with us in a very real sense today.” [4]

If you wish to order a free copy, let me know or click here.
Feel free to read or listen to it here.

[1] as quoted in Vern Swanson, ‘The Book of Mormon Art of Arnold Friberg, “Painter of Scripture”, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol 10, 1, 26-35, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2011
[2] Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 2001, 72
[3] Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1988, 51
[4] Conference Report, Oct. 1962, 14–15

[Image found at http://store.lds.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category3_715839595_10557_21096_-1___0]

Book of Mormon painting seven.

... I'm back!! ... from an interstate funeral, being sick (still am), and being stranded due to the unprecedented Qantas debarkle. 


“From the Book of Mormon we learn how disciples of Christ live in times of war.” [1]

Ask anyone who has read or studied the Book of Mormon – it is filled with stories of war time.  And you know what?  These accounts were included for a purpose.  Yup.

They teach us about the need to preserve freedom in order to maintain religious rights.  They teach us when there is moral justification for war.  They teach us the damage that traitors can inflict.  And they teach us spiritual strategies to combat evil, while relying on God’s power to intervene.

Take the example of ‘the Stripling Warriors’.


The people are at war.  And we learn that there is very much a difference when fighting for/with the Lord, and not.

At one point, the Nephites needed to fight to protect their homes and families, but they had taken an oath years before to never fight again.  Should they break that covenant with God?  Or have the faith that God will provide another way?

We read that their sons, who had not entered into such a covenant, were able to fight.  All two thousand of them.  They decided they would defend their country.  Helaman became their captain.

So these stripling warriors went to battle in place of their fathers.  They were young men of righteousness. They were committed to defending their country (see Alma 56:5).  They were fearless in the face of death and courageous in battle (see Alma 56:45–49, 56).

Helaman’s “stripling sons” fought with miraculous power.  And God rewarded their faith with amazing strength and protection.  Not one of them died in battle (see Alma 57:25–26).

Of course this is not always the case - sometimes the righteous “die in the Lord” (D&C 63:49).  But in the case of these young men, divine protection was given that preserved their mortal lives in battle.

They exemplified the type of manhood that all of God’s sons should emulate and stood as a witness to the Nephite nation that God would deliver them if they were faithful.

Helaman Leads an Army of 2,000 Ammonite Youths

Arnold Friberg

And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage. …

Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

And … Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people. (Alma 53:20–22)

What examples to our children!

The artist, Arnold Friberg, said: “They call them striplings— some say, ‘the Boy Scout army.’ No! No! They were young men. They were like David. They talk about David going out and taking on Goliath. They said, ‘He is a man of war and you are just a youth.’ That doesn’t mean that he was a little eight- year- old. In his statue of David, Michelangelo captures a splendid young man, athletic, maybe not as mature as men of war, but still a boy compared to them. That is the way I figure these youths were.

“I put Helaman on a horse. . . . Of course the Book [of Mormon] does not say that Helaman rode a horse, but in [certain] other places it mentions them. Ammon was out taking care of the king’s horses [at one point].”

The Book of Mormon states that these young men were true at all times. (Alma 53:20-21)  What does it mean to be true at all times?  The very word TRUE “implies commitment, integrity, endurance, and courage” [2].  Are we being true to the faith?  True to the faith that our parents have cherished, True to the faith for which martyrs have perished. (Hymn #254)

We are also told that they were firm and undaunted. (Alma 57:19–21)  Such powerful words.  Our former prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, discussed the importance of staying firm and undaunted with the youth: “‘You reflect this Church in all you think, in all you say, and in all you do. Be loyal to the Church and kingdom of God.’ . . . [You are] out there as the sons of Helaman in a world that is full of destructive influences. . . . But if you put your trust in the Almighty and follow the teachings of this Church and cling to it notwithstanding your wounds, you will be preserved and blessed and magnified and made happy.’

And we are in a world that is full of destructive influences. We are literally “in the midst of Babylon. The adversary comes with great destruction.” So what can we learn from these true and faithful warriors? “Stand above it, you of the noble birthright. Stand above it.” [3]

One really interesting detail the Book of Mormon tells us about these YOUTH and FAITHFUL men is that they did not doubt their mothers, and they paid tribute to that fact. (Alma 53:45-48)  Their mothers had strong testimonies of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ, meaning their children were well taught and were surrounded by strong examples.  That’s motherhood in a nutshell, right there.  Note, however, that although the boys’ reliance on their mothers is “touching and profound, but the mothers first had to know ‘it’ in such a way that the young men, observing them closely and hearing them (as is always the case with children observing parents), did ‘not doubt’ that their mothers knew that ‘it’ was true.” [4]

Sister Julie B. Beck, our Relief Society president, described covenant women who know who they are:  “The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. . . . When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children.” [5]

The leaders of my church, back in 1942, gave counsel to those in military service – but it applies to all, as we all need to be good examples while defending the faith.  They said:

“To our young men who go into service, no matter whom they serve or where, we say live clean, keep the commandments of the Lord, pray to Him constantly to preserve you in truth and righteousness, live as you pray, and then whatever betides you the Lord will be with you and nothing will happen to you that will not be to the honor and glory of God and to your salvation and exaltation. There will come into your hearts from the living of the pure life you pray for, a joy that will pass your powers of expression or understanding. The Lord will be always near you; He will comfort you; you will feel His presence in the hour of your greatest tribulation; He will guard and protect you to the full extent that accords with His all-wise purpose. Then, when the conflict is over and you return to your homes, having lived the righteous life, how great will be your happiness—whether you be of the victors or of the vanquished—that you have lived as the Lord commanded. You will return so disciplined in righteousness that thereafter all Satan’s wiles and stratagems will leave you untouched. Your faith and testimony will be strong beyond breaking. You will be looked up to and revered as having passed through the fiery furnace of trial and temptation and come forth unharmed. Your brethren will look to you for counsel, support, and guidance. You will be the anchors to which thereafter the youth of Zion will moor their faith in man.” [6]

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[1] Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, 7
[2] Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 73; italics added
[3] “Prophet Grateful for Gospel, Testimony,” Church News, Sept. 21, 1996, 4
[4] Neal A. Maxwell, That My Family Should Partake [1974], 58–59
[5] Ensign, Nov. 2007, 76
[6] Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark Jr., and David O. McKay, in Conference Report, Apr. 1942, 96

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Book of Mormon painting three.

Around 160-150 BC, there was a terribly wicked king.

King Noah ruled in wickedness, surrounding himself with women, wealth, and (I venture to say) smut.  Pretty sure that’s the way of it.  He taxed his people one fifth of all they possessed.  He “put down” all the good priests his father had consecrated and chose prideful Noah-loving lazy priests instead.  It was pretty bad.

Noah was so wicked, that later in 92 BC, King Mosiah used Noah as the primary reason for the people to eliminate a government of kings.  He said:  How much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction! Yea, remember king Noah.  (Mosiah 29:17-18)

And so, God rose up a prophet to cry repentance – a standard practice of God.  The prophet’s named was Abinadi.  He cried to the people to repent from their ways, but more importantly for the King to repent from his unpleasant ways.  And he prophesied that the people would be taken into bondage.  Oh, and that King Noah would die even as a garment in a hot furnace.  Good, to-the-point messages.

As you can imagine, King Noah wasn’t thrilled with the message Abinadi was shouting about, and wanted him gone.  Abinadi is eventually imprisoned for his prophesies, and he sees just how bad the false priests really are.  While in prison, he tries to teach them about the Ten Commandments, and how to really keep the Law of Moses.

Again, King Noah isn’t too pleased with Abinadi.  He wants him dead.  Away with this fellow, and slay him … (totally reminds me of the Queen of Hearts here)

And you know what Abinadi said to him?

Abinadi Delivers His Message to King Noah

Arnold Friberg

[Abinadi] said unto them: “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me. …

After Abinadi had spoken these words … the people of king Noah durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster. (Mosiah 13:2–3, 5)


Boo yah!  Take that, you slimy king!

Abinadi had such a powerful message.  The guards couldn't touch him.  And I’m not talking about the call to repentance or the prophesy of their destruction as a consequence from turning away from God.  Abinadi taught quite profoundly about the Saviour’s divinity and the great sacrifice this Saviour would make.  He also taught about the unity between this Saviour and the Father.  What a privilege to know of this great, fearless prophet, and to read of his words regarding the Saviour, Jesus Christ.  By reading the account in the Book of Mormon, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the Saviour and His Atonement for us.

What courage he had.  This painting clearly captures that courage – look at what this old faithful man is facing: a powerful corrupt leader, a court of wealthy, proud priests, all that luxury … and those friendly looking jaguars.

On the composition of the scene, Friberg said he did “the opposite of the well- known principle in art, the ‘principle of the Jewel.’ ...It is like a jewel setting - the central figure is the most interesting part.  You use the strongest color and the strongest and most vibrant contrast around the center of interest, and then it goes into surrounding neutrals.  I reversed it here for the purposes of this picture.  Against the simplicity of Abinadi in his grey prison garb was the opulence of the court.  The richness of the colors set off this simple, humble man.

“And the jaguars - I spent days studying them at the zoo.  There were several reasons for putting them in.  One thing, it gives a royal touch to have the animals chained to the throne.  They are not leopards; they are jaguars, which are more compact animals than leopards.  Jaguars are found only in Central and South America, so they sort of help define the geographical setting.  Animals are very sensitive to supernatural power. ...The jaguars are snarling because they sense the awesome power that is surrounding Abinadi.

“Then there are the priests of King Noah.  I had somewhat in mind the man back here at the right might be young Alma.  He was mightily impressed by the courageous testimony of Abinadi, so much so that he became a prophet.” [1]

Out of the entire set, this painting is Arnold Friberg’s favourite, perhaps because the figure of Abinadi held a special meaning for Friberg.

Friberg’s family was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1921, while living in Arizona, through the missionary efforts of a Brother Altop.  Friberg was seven years old.  He was baptized the next year, and remembers fondly the missionary teaching his family received from Brother Altop.

While Friberg worked on this very painting, Brother Altop visited him in Salt Lake City.  He was lean and muscular from years of working as a carpenter, so the revered friend was immediately put to work posing as Abinadi. [2]

Continuing our read in the Book of Mormon, we find out Abinadi’s fate.  He was put to death by fire.  He continued to show great courage, even in death.  We also read of the fate of King Noah and his people – read on here, here and then here – and how one of Noah’s priests did listen.  See the man Friberg was talking about off to the right, looking like he is actually listening and considering the message of the prophet?

Abinadi’s testimony led to the conversion of a future prophet-leader, Alma.

As a missionary, I found great solace in this account.  Abinadi was essentially a missionary who did not see any fruits of his labour.  He obeyed God, he preached and prophesied, he taught and tried his hardest – but he saw none of the results.  It can be hard, as a missionary, or even as a follower of Christ, to see the results of our efforts or example.

But consider the influence that this one righteous man had on future generations.  The next several generations of prophets, who prepared the people for the coming of Jesus Christ, came through his one known convert, Alma.

Perhaps we can profoundly affect our family and friends by testifying of truth and by living righteously – even when we don’t see the results.


What a great hero for your family to have.




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[1] Vern Swanson, ‘The Book of Mormon Art of Arnold Friberg, “Painter of Scripture”, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol 10, 1, 26-35, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2011
[2] Ibid

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Book of Mormon painting two.

The Book of Mormon opens with the story of Lehi, a prophet in Jerusalem, and his family.  After prophesying of the big city’s destruction around the same time the prophet Jeremiah did (600 BC), the Lord directed Lehi to uproot his family in search of a better life.  Taking with them their family records and very little of their wealth, we read of a typical family - devoted, loving parents; rebellious know-it-all kids; obedient yet tortured-by-the-rebellious-siblings kids – and their trials as they try their best to follow God.

Imagine: You’ve just left your grand home and over-flowing high-interest savings account behind.  You’re now travelling via foot or donkey through sandy deserts.  The sun beats down heavily most of the time, with the sandy wind blowing around you the rest of the time.  You miss cooked food.  You miss cool drink and fruit.  And you don’t even know if your home city really was destroyed, like your old man said it would.

It would have been such a physically and spiritually exhausting journey.  You end up living out there for years, travelling – you hope – towards somewhere nicer.  You bear children in the wilderness.  You eat raw meat and hope it will carry you on til the next meal.

And you really rely on your faith to take you in the right direction.

At one point in their travels, Lehi finds a weird looking ball outside his tent.  It could only have been put there by the hand of God.  Lehi must have then called everyone to come and look, for this is the scene depicted – when the family all gather round this unusual contraption, looking astonished, trying to figure out what it does.

Lehi in the Wilderness Discovers the Liahona

Arnold Friberg

To his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness.
(1 Nephi 16:10)


We learn from the scriptures that they call it a “liahona”, and that is served as an intricate compass showing them the direction to travel.  It worked, however, on the condition of their obedience to God:  the pointers which were in the ball … did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them. … changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.  (1 Nephi 16:28-9)

When Lehi’s boys bickered and murmured, the compass stoped working, and they could no longer travel without the Lord’s guidance or gain any better understanding concerning the ways of the Lord.  You can imagine how often that happened.

This painting would have been quite complex for Friberg to complete, as the account in the Book of Mormon contains very specific detail - the liahona is round, curious, made of fine brass, has two spindles – but leads to more questions. 
When interviewed in 1986, he said:  “How large was the Liahona? How did they see the pointers? What did they do with it when they weren’t using it? Did they let it roll around on the deck of the ship?”  So what did he do?  He responded well:  “There is no tube of paint that says “Don’t know.” I have to come to grips with it…I have to paint something. I decided on a handy little size that they could hold in their hand, and I made a little tripod stand for it to sit in. Someone will actually demand …"Then how dare you paint it, if you don’t know?" … All you can do is research the period as close as you can and picture something that makes sense. You just come up with something that somehow fulfils your idea of what it looked like.” [1]

Also note the way he presented us with the family’s appearance and in particular the male physique.  The abundance of figures that he spreads across the canvas almost creates the sense of an unknown race of people.  Friberg clearly envisioned the Nephites as heroic and “larger than life” figures, and wanted to display that vitality in his art. [2]


Later in the Book of Mormon, another prophet teaches his son about the Liahona, and how their ancestors were slow to follow the Lord at times.  He said:

And now, my son, I would that ye should understand … as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass … they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.


For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.


And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.  (Alma 37:43-5)

I love how the Book of Mormon is filled with messages and events so applicable to the gospel of Jesus Christ and how we can live it today.  We all use compasses, maps, road signs and GPS to navigate ourselves and our families today.  They are invaluable tools when we travel, get lost, and need direction.

You can see where I’m going with this … because “there is such a variety and volume of media flooding our personal space, most of it intent on herding us down a path that is broad and travelled by many.” [3]  There are many roads in life to be taken.  Have you ever asked yourself, as Joseph Smith once did, “What is to be done? Who of all these [voices and roads is] right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?” [4]

You totally have.  We all have.

Just like Alma reminded his son 500 years after the Liahona surfaced, the Lord is prepared to guide and direct us in our travels, just as He did with Lehi and his family.  But remember: the miraculous device worked by small means, and they were therefore ‘slothful’ and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence daily.  Sometimes we are looking for massive sign posts, flashing arrows, and easy hand-outs to help us make the right choices.  I doubt the Lord will reveal new paths for us to take if we haven’t faithfully followed Him along the paths He’s already marked.


Have you had experiences with a Liahona?  You totally have . A message from General Conference that seems mysteriously written just for you.  That voice warning you not to walk down a wrong path.

I think the key is not becoming complacent and not being used to hearing lots of messages that we miss or ignore the liahonas in our lives.  And to remember how the Liahona worked for Lehi and his family – through faithfulness, obedience, and daily diligence.





If you wish to order a free copy, let me know or click here.

Feel free to read or listen to it here.

[1] Vern Swanson, ‘The Book of Mormon Art of Arnold Friberg, “Painter of Scripture”, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol 10, 1, 26-35, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2011, citing a 1986 interview with Friberg
[2] Ibid, citing an 1981 interview with Friberg
[3] Lowell M. Snow, ‘Compass of the Lord’, Ensign, Nov. 2005
[4] Ibid, citing Joseph Smith History 1:10

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The Book of Mormon: I came to know for myself.

There are various kinds of evidences that go toward proving the Book of Mormon is really what we say it is:  scripture written by ancient prophets on the American continent.  But physical evidence isn't the way to go to convince yourself of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  "It is a matter of faith and personal revelation." [1]

I recently posted how you can know if the Book of Mormon is true, here.  It's a simple matter of reading the book we call scripture for yourself, and praying to know if it is true or not.

The reason I ask you to test the book in this way, is because it is the only sure way to know for yourself.  The Holy Ghost is a testifier of truth.  If you take the challange, as the prophet Moroni invites you to do, you could find out for yourself, for sure.

I did it.

And we encourage all to do it.

From the Book of Mormon come other precious promises, including promises of peace, freedom, and blessings if we “will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ” (Ether 2:12).

From its pages comes the promise of “never-ending happiness” to “those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual” (Mosiah 2:41).

From its pages comes the promise of “incomprehensible joy” to those who become “instrument[s] in the hands of God” in rescuing His precious sons and daughters (Alma 28:8; 29:9).

From its pages comes the promise that scattered Israel will be gathered—a work in which we are engaged through our great worldwide missionary efforts (see 3 Nephi 16; 21–22).

From its pages comes the promise that as we pray unto the Father in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, our families will be blessed (see 3 Nephi 18:21).

From a study of its pages comes the fulfillment of the prophetic promise that “there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”

And from the pages of the Book of Mormon comes Moroni’s promise that through prayer, real intent, and faith in Christ, we may know the truth of these promises “by the power of the Holy Ghost” (see Moroni 10:4–5).

With other latter-day prophets, I testify of the truthfulness of this “most correct of any book on earth,” even the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. Its message spans the earth and brings its readers to a knowledge of the truth. It is my testimony that the Book of Mormon changes lives. May each of us read it and reread it. And may we joyfully share our testimonies of its precious promises with all of God’s children.” [2]

Read and ponder the Book of Mormon, then ask God if it is true with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ.

Then do me a favour:  Have the confidence that the Holy Ghost will testify to you.

How did YOU come to know that the Book of Mormon is true?

If you have any experience of reading the Book of Mormon or praying to know for yourself, post it below with the plethora of others who have done the same.  Go ahead, read their experiences and thoughts on the book.  Be curious.  Be prayerful.  And be uplifted.





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[1] http://lds.org/ensign/2011/10/common-questions-about-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng
[2] Read this.  Thomas S. Monson, ‘Precious Promises of the Book of Mormon, Ensign, Oct. 2011

 

Book of Mormon painting one.

A long time ago, in a land far far away ... okay, not the greatest entrance, but the Jaredites are an almost-forgotten people.  Are you familiar with the story in Genesis of people attempting to build a tower as tall as possible to get to heaven – the tower of Babel?  In the aftermath of this dumb idea around 2200 BC, the people of Babylon were confounded, scattered, and stricken with confusion.  A group of people then decided to up and leave – we know them as the Jaredites; the people of Jared.

As other ancient peoples have done before and since, the Jaredites maintained a record of their journeys.  Their prophet, Ether, wrote the record, and Moroni later compiled the record into his own record in AD 421, now known as the Book of Mormon.

Let me give you a clue with how to read the book of Ether: there are six parts to the record.  It’s a lot clearer if you are reading an 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, which divided Ether into six chapters rather than the 15-versed chapters we read today:

1: chapters 1–4
2: chapter 5
3: chapters 6–8
4: chapters 9–11
5: chapter 12
6: chapters 13–15

You’ll notice that each of these sections begin with “And now I, Moroni,” with part 5 the exception, with those words beginning the fourth sentence.  These words show us that Moroni edited the Jaredite record to illustrate what he felt was crucial.  In fact, both Moroni and Mormon frequently used a phrase like “thus we see” to signal that he was drawing a point for their readers.

The book of Ether begins with (and to a large extent, focuses on) the story of the brother of Jared:

With the Babylonian people running crazy around the place [1], a faithful man named Jared turned to his even more faithful brother, asking him to go to Lord for help.

And so the brother of Jared goes to the Lord in prayer; he did cry unto the Lord [2] for the Lord’s guidance, and was able to lead the group to another land as a result of the prayers of the people over a long period of time.  “Enduring obedience coupled with frequent persistent prayers is powerful.” [3]

“Do you get answers to your prayers?  If not, perhaps you did not pay the price.  Do you offer a few trite words and worn-out phrases, or do you talk intimately to the Lord?  Do you pray occasionally when you should be praying regularly, often, constantly?  Do you offer pennies to pay heavy debts when you should give dollars to erase that obligation?

When you pray, do you just speak, or do you also listen? … Should we ever fail to get an answer to our prayers, we must look into our lives for a reason.” [4]

So the Lord promised to lead them to a land of promise, which was choice above all other lands [5] and chapter 2 records their journey to this promised land.  They all arrive at the coastline, they pitch their tents, and stay there for about four years. [6]  After four years had passed, the Lord spoke with the brother of Jared and chastened him.  The brother of Jared had been neglecting the Lord and his prayers.  It must have been a great character-building experience for the brother of Jared – he was chastised for three hours by the Lord, and he endured it.  He immediately repented and prayed, and sought guidance for the journey they had been given.

We should never neglect to call on the Lord.  Elder Russell M. Nelson said he had often heard President Gordon B. Hinckley say the following: “I don’t know how to get anything done except getting on my knees and pleading for help and then getting on my feet and going to work”. [7]

And so the brother of Jared repents, and begins building barges for the people to cross the ocean.  He encounters three problems: the barges would not have any light in them; they would run out of air; and they wouldn’t know which direction to steer the barges.

Go ahead and read how the brother of Jared and Lord work together to solve these problems here.

We learn from this story that the Lord requires us to do all we can to solve our problems.  He wants us to grow and learn by making our own decisions or conclusions, then taking them to His in prayer.  The brother of Jared was asked to present some solution to these problems, not just ask for help and except to get it.  The brother of Jared studied the problem, found a solution, prepared the solution, and then returned to the Lord for confirmation of his solution as well as the Lord’s help and further instructions.


In relation to the problem of having no light, this is what happened:

The brother of Jared was concerned, and rather than waiting to be told what to do about it, he took the concern to the Lord.  Instead of instructing the brother of Jared immediately, the Lord asked: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? [8]  What do you suggest we should do in order to have light?

The brother of Jared diligently did something himself – he climbed Mount Shelem, melted out 16 small stones from rock, then using great faith, asked the Lord to touch the stones that they may provide light.

The Lord answered, not only providing light, but giving this faithful man a great vision.

The Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord.

Arnold Friberg

And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger.  And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.
(Ether 3:6).


What an event for Friberg to paint!  This very scene “may well be the single most remarkable encounter with Christ ever experienced by mortal man, and we are indebted to Moroni for preserving it.” [9]  It is an unparalleled experience.

You can imagine Friberg's problem, similar to that of Michelangelo when he chose to paint the finger of God in the Sistene Chapel - how to you show the finger of the Lord touching the stones?  The account in the book of Ether is very clear that the Lord has a finger and a hand, yet how do you paint it?

Friberg eliminated the artistic setback by painting the scene from behind the prayful brother of Jared, with emanating light blinding us all from a depiction of a finger.  Thus, the painting "succeeds in conveying great visual power without creating theological controversy". [10]  It clearly shows us that "[t]he brother of Jared fully expected the stones to be lighted.  It was the seeing the finger that astonished and terrified him" [11], and we can really feel that terror and amazement in the painting.

Consider what the brother of Jared did that enabled him to see the Saviour.  It was the brother of Jared’s great faith that brought him into the presence of the Lord.  A similar privilege is promised to us in Ether 4:7:

And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.


There are so many other great messages in the book of Ether: it “serves as a second witness with the Nephite record of God’s promises and warnings to our day.”  Compare Ether 2:7; 13:20 and 2 Nephi 4:4.  Both declare the same message of obedience and the same parable of destruction of two ancient people that could always be repeated.

Most importantly, it “demonstrates the kind of faith that brought the Jaredites to the promised land and serves as a backdrop against which we read the rest of the book of Ether.” [10]





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[1] Ether 1:33-43; Genesis 11:1-9
[2] Ether 1:34-39
[3] Book of Mormon Student Manuel, p363 (bold added)
[4] Spencer W. Kimball, “Prayer”, Ensign, Mar. 1978, 17
[5] Ether 2:7
[6] Ether 2:13
[7] Ensign, Nov. 1997, 16
[8] Ether 2:23
[9] Jeffrey R. Holland, ‘For a Wise Purpose’, Ensign, Jan. 1996
[10] Ted Schwarz, Arnold Friberg: The Passion of a Modern Master (Flagstaff, Ariz,: Northland, 1985), 54
[11] Arnold Friberg, Arnold Friberg notes (February 2001), SMA Library - as cited in Swanson, "The Book of Mormon Art of Arnold Friberg: "Painter of Scripture", Jornal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol 10, 1, 26-35, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2011
[12] Richard Dilworth Rust, ‘“I Know Your Doing”: The Book of Mormon Speaks to Our Times’, Ensign, Dec. 1988

The Book of Mormon: the answer to your every question

Can the Book of Mormon answer your every question?

We all have great questions - questions of the soul – but for a single book to literally answer all your questions?  Come on, peoples, surely not.  Surely some questions are just … unanswerable?

Well, I served as a missionary on Temple Square – church HQs, if you like.  It is the mecca for Mormons – where our prophet and other church leaders live, where General Conference is held and publically broadcast bi-annually, and where we all flock at least once in our lives to visit the iconic Salt Lake Temple, to hear the Mormon Tabernacle choir sing live in their never-ending radio program, and to see where Brigham Young said those famous words:  “This is the place”.

This was the place … to put the Book of Mormon to the test.

As a missionary, I carried the Book of Mormon in my hand every single day.  From 9am to 9pm, we were there, available to answer questions.  And I can promise you, we were asked heaps of questions every single day.  There were the typical questions, asked almost daily, and we could easily refer to the Book of Mormon in our hands for answers.  Other questions were quite left-field, and further study and reflection was needed, or sparked great discussions and study topics for further conversations.

Here are a few examples:

Common questions regarding our belief in the Book of Mormon:

1. Does the Book of Mormon replace the Bible?  Doesn’t the Bible contain all of God’s word?  My answer here.
2. How can I know if the Book of Mormon is true?  My answer here.

Questions testing us on our doctrine:

1. What is my purpose?  Why do you believe we exist?
2. Do you believe we are saved by grace?
3. What happens to us when we die?
4. Why was Christ baptised?
5. Why is the atonement necessary?
6. Do you believe we are accountable for our choices or actions, and to what extent?

Other questions during conversation:

1. How can I balance my family and career?
2. How can I strengthen my relationship with my spouse?
3. How can my family find peace and unity?
4. How could I/we possibly avoid the evil that threatens the family today?
5. Does God even know me?
6. Does God hear and answer my prayers?
7. What does Christ expect of me?
8. Is there life after death?
9. How could a belief in Christ help me?
10. Why does God allow suffering?

Here is where the fun begins.

I’m going to answer these questions – and more, if you ask me – this month.  It’s a great month to focus on the Book of Mormon, after all.

Perhaps your ‘great questions of the soul’ include:  Is there really a God?  Did I exist before I was born?  Will I live after I die?  What is the purpose of life?  Is Jesus really the Saviour?

They may include questions regarding more temporal needs:  How can I improve my relationship with my spouse?  How can I help my teenagers avoid drugs or immorality?  How can I find work to support my family?

Let me show you that the Book of Mormon DOES answer your every question.

If you wish to order a free copy, let me know or click here.
Feel free to read or listen to it here.