Category: Scripture Notes

  • Enlist the locals

    I have noticed a pattern in how Moroni operates that we never talk about. He is consistently gathering people to his cause as he goes. No existing army under his command convinces him to try cease inviting people to join him in his work.

  • Was Corianton relieved?

    I wonder how convention felt when Alma told him that he was still called to preach repentance. That might have made him hopeful that his sins were not insurmountable.

  • Death enables mercy

    I never considered before that without the preparatory state that death enables mercy and justice would be permanently at odds. Because of death and the preparatory state there is room for mercy to be extended without robbing justice – so long as there is a mediator. That is why Christ is the central figure in…

  • Restoration

    Apparently Corianton believed as some others did that restoration simply meant to bring back to life. Alma explains that it is more specifically to bring back to life as it was previously. It could hardly be called restoration when a barn burns down if we then build a house where the barn was – even…

  • Resurrection vs judgement

    Alma accepts that having should co-signed to happiness or misery might be called a resurrection but as I read his explanation it would seem more accurate to call that a first judgement rather than a first resurrection. At death there is a judgement made on the state of the soul which consigns then to paradise…

  • Translated beings

    I just realized that there were a few people who need to be translated prior to the coming of Christ. Obviously Moses, Elias, and Elijah would be among them as they needed to to deliver keys to Jesus before His resurrection. I don’t know who else needed that although we are told that Alma the…

  • Gaps in knowledge

    It seems that Corianton’s weakness to be sinful is likely connected to his confusion regarding the truth of Christ and the plan of salvation. If he had developed a stronger and fuller knowledge he might have seen the sins tempting him for how serious they truly were. Conversely as he committed serious sins he may…

  • Cross yourself

    While we focus on the sexual transgression I wonder if we minimize the other sins of Corianton – boasting in his own strength and wisdom. When Alma is covering him to repent he is doubtless thinking of all those sins, not just pursuing a harlot.

  • Continue faithful

    I feel that thus far I have been pretty consistent in being obedient to the commandments but I feel like there is no evidence in my life or the lives of my children that the gospel has been influencing my decisions. I find the final admonition to Corianton to continue preaching the gospel speaks to…

  • Sloth vs Fatigue

    I wonder if some of the times that the people failed to heed the directions of the compass were less because of sloth and more because of fatigue. Think to times in my life where I probably couldn’t have received more direction from the Lord out more accurately I had no energy to act on…