When the Old Testament Kingdoms of Israel and Judah were on the brink of destruction, the Lord through His prophets described a condition wherein He would refuse to hear the prayers of the people. 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even … Read more
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in Canada, the United States, some of the Caribbean islands, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. — Wikipedia Most Americans these days live far from the agricultural economy. It is important to remember … Read more
Angels do not come on trivial errands, to deliver books for occasional light reading to people whom they do not really concern. The matter in the Book of Mormon was selected, as we are often reminded, with scrupulous care and with particular readers in mind. For some reason there has been chosen for our attention … Read more
The “Title of Liberty,” like the Good Samaritan, proclaimed the cause of the outcast and downtrodden against “the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power and authority, yea, even those king-men” (Alma 60:17).” — Hugh Nibley In the Book of Mormon there is constant tension between the rich and “high born” and the … Read more
When the early church began to grow in power and influence and worldliness, the ancient doctrine of the Two Ways was quickly replaced by the doctrine of the Two Parties. The former specified that there lies before every mortal, at every moment of his life, a choice between the Way of Light and the Way … Read more
“And now it came to pass that when Nephi had said these words, behold, there were men who were judges, who also belonged to the secret band of Gadianton, and they were angry, and they cried out against him. And those judges were angry with him because he spake plainly unto them concerning their secret … Read more
“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are … Read more
I recently taught the LDS Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class (adults). The lesson was on the first six chapters of the Book of Isaiah. Section one in the lesson manual had a very interesting and important list of “warnings and prophecies” that the church manual said applied both to Isaiah’s day and to our own. … Read more