Category: Scripture Notes
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Perspective matters
Most of the Nephites were angry at Samuel the Lamanite but to a humble Nephi’s willing to listen to his words they would have heard him praising their ancestors over his own. Later the people imagined all kinds of explanations to reinforce what they wanted to believe. This is normal human nature, we can either…
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How long will ye choose darkness?
It is clear from a distance that the neighbors were rejecting the light that the Lord was sending their way and choosing to support those who flattered their pride. I see parallels among us today, even among members of the church, as we often prefer messages of ease and flattery rather than hard truths about…
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No assumptions
If I were in Nephi’s place i would be inclined to assume that the Lord would want to send rain upon the land when the people relented and so i would have been least pleading when asking the Lord to send rain. Nephi, despite knowing the character of God very well, plead for rain more…
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Within their sphere
All truth and intelligence is independent with that sphere in which it has been placed to act… Scientific truth has limited impact on doctrinal understanding. Legal initiatives or injunctions cannot infringe on the laws of the physical world. Likewise, people have agency within the sphere of their station. Examples: Children have agency within their sphere…
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Fixed intent
It occurs to me that the wicked judges might have done more to hide the prophecies of Nephi by allowing the people to execute the five they assumed to be guilty rather than releasing them with the intent to trap Nephi instead. I’m tend to assume they didn’t really believe that Nephi had considered with…
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Where is your citizenship
Nephi choosing to step down as chief judge to dedicate his life to preaching showed where he places his primary citizenship—with his spiritual stewardship rather than his civic position.
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Simmering
When we are told that there was peace for three years and then told they’re was great contention the next year it should remind us that during the years if supposed peace there was tension and wickedness building out of sight among the people.
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Pedigree
When the Nephites needed a new chief judge in a time of recent war when the sons of Pahoran had been slain we shouldn’t be surprised that they turned to Helaman who was the grandson of their first chief judge as well as the son of a war hero, not to mention the high priest…
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A new character
It occurs to me that with the large numbers of Lamanite prisoners joining the people of Ammon that the character of that group would have changed significantly from being ardent concerts to being an amalgamation of Lamanite expats living in Nephite lands and committed to peace with the Nephites.
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A close call
The epistle of Moroni to Pahoran was sharp enough that it could easily have sent the receiver into an angry, defensive attitude. Pahoran could have tried argue with Moroni or attacked him for his ignorance if the challenges Pahoran was facing. Thankfully Pahoran chose to receive the rebuke with humility and ask for assistance.