Category: Scripture Notes

Even in delivering the disappointing news that He needed to leave, Jesus offered a ray of hope to the Nephites in telling them that He had more to teach them once they had a chance to prepare themselves to receive it. I think I need to keep that in mind as I read what He…

The people had a lifetime of unity with no -ites of any kind but then as they grouped into factions they took the same names as had started eight hundred years earlier—not just the major nations, Nephites and Lamanites, but also the subgroups Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

I can only imagine the many things that the three Nephite disciples have been called to do and will yet be called upon to do in preparing the way for the fulfilling of the covenants of the Lord. At the same time, I can’t imagine how fulfilling it must be for them to know the…

I can imagine a huge number of people from this era getting to heaven and pleading with the Lord “I was speaking for you, I was teaching the scriptures, I was declaring your name,” only to have Him respond “you used My words but you ignored My children and taught others to value things of…

When Christ tells people to do alms He clarifies that they should be done for the purpose of blessing others, not for the purpose of receiving recognition. When praying we should do so to align ourselves with God, not to demonstrate our piety. To the disciples He made clear that their calling meant they should…

Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven 3 Nephi 12:3 I never paid attention before to the condition “who come unto me” which suggests those who are poor in spirit who don’t come unto Christ don’t have any promise here. Being poor in spirit on…

I have often seen parallels between our time and that time among the neighbors where the government collapsed. The one small consolation I have is that even though many people in positions of authority have abandoned their commitment to democratic processes and the rule of law I take consolation that for all their bluster they…

Because of the things which had come to pass already they knew … Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence. 3 Nephi 5:2-3 Despite the turmoil of blatant lawlessness, insurrection, social unrest, and a global pandemic all within the last 5 years…

As soon as Jesus had departed the people began to exert themselves. They did not rest up to wait for his return but dispersed to gather others so that they could share in His next arrival. Rest is important. Downtime is important. But sometimes we have to stretch ourselves and expend our energy to accomplish…