Book of Mormon
Jesus’ Visit to the Nephites
I was blindsided in a Book of Mormon Sunday School class by an idea I’d never heard before. The instructor cited two scriptures, and declared that nearly a whole year had elapsed between the time of the great storm and the appearance of the Savior to the Nephites. I had never before heard or entertained such an idea.
Read MoreHidden Treasures
Chance is my grandson. When he was small his dad purchased an old safe at an auction for $10. No one knew how to open it. For years it sat unopened in his shop.
Chance became a teenager. The sealed safe intrigued him. One day as he was studying it he decided that he could open the safe by attacking its hinges. With punches and a grinder he finally succeeded in breaking into the impenetrable safe. What was thought to be an empty safe contained $5,000 in five dollar bills. There was no way of knowing who had placed the money there. It all belonged to Chance, except for ten dollars which his dad demanded as reimbursement for the purchase price of the safe.
Isaiah and the Book of Mormon
I was issued a challenge. I was told that the Book of Mormon couldn’t be true because its Isaiah chapters are identical to the English version in the Bible. I was told, “Translation doesn’t happen like that.”
In other words, Joseph Smith must have plagiarized the Isaiah writings and borrowed them right from the Bible.
A Debt of Gratitude
One of the greatest accomplishments of my life will be achieved because of Marjorie, Nathan, and Carolyn Leggett. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to them.
Marjorie put a Book of Mormon in my hands in October 1966. It was the first Book of Mormon that I’d ever beheld. It is displayed in my office. It is one of my treasures. Marjorie and the Book of Mormon changed and saved my life. It brought light into my life. When I started reading it, that’s all that I wanted to do. I still read from it daily because of the light that it brings.
Moroni and Calamity
On this 16th day of September 2023 I began my 23rd reading of the Doctrine and Covenants. In that first day of reading I discovered several things.
One, is that in the coming week, Thursday, five days from now, is a date that should be celebrated. September 21, 2023 will be the 200th anniversary of Moroni’s visit to Joseph Smith. On that evening 200 years ago Moroni appeared in Joseph’s bedroom in answer to Joseph’s fervent prayer asking for forgiveness of his sins.
A Family and the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is the reason that I’m a member of the Church. Fifty six years ago it flooded my darkened mind with light. I have worked since that time to share that light with others.
When he was seven I set a goal to read the Book of Mormon with my eldest child so that he could say that he had read the Book of Mormon before he was baptized.
Give Me Light
As a 19-year-old young man I was given this book. (The light-blue Book of Mormon with a golden Moroni on the front cover). Because of a voice which I had previously heard in answer to my very anguished, first-ever prayer—a voice which simply said, “Everything is going to be all right”—I knew that something was going to happen when I opened it. I took it home and stood it upright in the center of the desk in my room.
Read MoreMoroni
I finished reading the Book of Mormon a few minutes ago for the 83rd time. I could have read the final chapter last night, but I saved it for this morning so that I’d finish on Joseph Smith’s birthday. (23 December 2020). I note that this is the 4th time that I’ve finished on his birthday.
Read MoreWas Lehi the Only One?
As I began another reading of the Book of Mormon last night, I only got six verses read before I got bogged down in thought. Lehi was obviously touched by the warnings of the many prophets who came into the land “prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.” (1 Nephi 1:4).
Read MoreFamily Letter, October 2020
At 2:20 I sat bolt upright in bed when a bull elk bugled right above the house. I wasn’t able to see him in the dark, but he bugled eight times before resting for a while. Periodically he’d tune up again. After 4:00 I put my sweat suit on, wrapped my blanket around me, and went out into the back yard and stood under the aspen tree. By the light of the three-quarter moon I imagined that I could see two cow elk eating potatoes about 50 yards away, and two more above them. The bull was over by where the old barn stood. He bugled about once every minute for the 15 minutes that I stood there. In the morning light, the cow elk turned out to be the wheels to Adam’s pivot.
Read MoreLittle Nash-Rambler
Driving to church today I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw a shiny, red, refurbished classic car coming up fast behind me. I have no idea what it was, but it was obvious that it was considerably older than I was. It was also obvious that the owner was very proud of it. It was spotless.
Read MoreWatchers of a Beacon
The fourth verse of one of our popular hymns says that “We are watchers of a beacon whose light must never die.” (“For the Strength of the Hills,” Hymns, pg. 95).
Read MoreA Long Shot
Elder Carl B. Cook, of the Presidency of the Seventy, came from a broken home. When he was six, his father left his mother with five young children. She had to go to work, get a second job, and obtain an education. There was little time for nurturing, but with the help of grandparents, uncles, aunts, bishops, home teachers, and Carl’s priesthood quorums, she managed to raise a future general authority.
Read MoreDates in the Book of Mormon
WHERE DID THE NEPHITES LIVE?
Third Nephi, chapter eight, verse five tells us that the great storm which began at the death of Jesus, happened on the fourth day of the first month. This is according to the Nephite calendar. That pinpoints the date as being April 4th according to our calendar since we know from other sources that Jesus was both born and resurrected on April 6th. He was killed on the 4th, laid in the tomb, and rose on the third day.
World’s Most Valuable Documents
Each member of the Church who is 12 or over is potentially in possession of what are arguably the two most valuable documents in the world. An infinitesimally small number of people have ever even been eligible to possess these two documents, and he or she who does not possess them is in a lamentable and dangerous position.
Read MoreThe Light Which Shineth in Darkness
As I have been rereading the Doctrine and Covenants I have been struck by a sentence which the Lord uses repeatedly to describe Himself. He says, “I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” (D&C 6:21, 11:11, 34:2, 39:2, 45:7).
Read MoreLiving Life in Crescendo
I began life as a shy child. As a teenager I was nervous, and scared of crowds and the future. I wasn’t happy. I wanted to be, but everything looked dark. I wanted to be a good person. People thought I was good, and thought that I was happy, but I really didn’t like who I was. I had no idea how to change things.
Read MoreLife Got Good at 20
I did not enjoy high school. I was miserable. For this reason I have never attended a class reunion. I used to say that I’d attend our 50th reunion
Read MoreThe Great People I Have Known
I had the privilege of serving as counselor to Howard Perry in the presidency of this stake. That was over 20 years ago.
Read MoreWrought Upon
Some people get “wrought up” about things. As I started another reading of the Book of Mormon several days ago, I noticed a related phrase I’d never tuned into before,
Read MorePresident Nelson
We were privileged on 16 September 2018 to attend a special gathering of Latter-day Saints in the Safeco Stadium in Seattle where President Henry B. Eyring
Read MoreA Single-engine Prop, or a Jet?
While serving our mission in Vanuatu we lived on the largest of the nation’s 83 islands. We had supervisory responsibilities for it and for several outlying islands, including Ambae.
Read MoreMy Articles of Faith
My missionary grandson, Caden, sent a picture of a sign on the front of a church in Texas which was a statement of their beliefs.
Read MoreThe Treasure That Is the Book of Mormon
Last April President Thomas S. Monson gave his last talk to the Church. It was a plea to the members to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.
Read MoreErratics
I have finished reading a book on geology, and have some thoughts on “erratics.” Erratics are “wandering rocks,” or rocks out of place.
Read MoreThe Law of Witnesses
The law of witnesses states: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (D&C 6:28).
Read MorePlainness
Joseph Smith made the statement that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, …
Read MoreSpiritual Stamina
While teaching the Young Single Adults in institute this week I was marveling over how quickly the Nephites could turn from righteousness to rebellion…
Read MoreThe Book of Mormon—The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
I had made the 8-hour drive from Oregon, U.S.A. to Provo, Utah to see my girlfriend at Brigham Young University. She took me to the fast and testimony meeting…
Read MoreThe Trial That Is the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a trial. It’s not a trial to read it—quite the contrary. It is a joy.
Read MoreCattle Drives
The subject on my mind this morning is cattle drives—inspired, believe it or not, by my reading last night in the Book of Mormon.
Read MoreTroubled Young Men
When I think of Enos’ account of his hunting expedition, I read between the lines. I don’t think of him going into the forest to look for animals, but rather of what was really happening on that occasion.
Read MoreSuperlative Books
The Christmas and New Year’s holidays forced a 2-week vacation from Institute. I taught my first Institute lesson of the year last night. I’m now really excited about the new course of study.
Read MoreLost Knowledge
Mankind’s knowledge ebbs and flows. Galileo got into trouble with the “learned” men of his day for saying that the earth moved. When he was called before the Inquisition in 1633 for saying that the earth moved around the sun, instead of vice versa, he was caused to recant his statements.
Read MoreThe Burned Book
In 1991 Adam Rosflender was an 11-year-old boy in Vanuatu. He had a job working in the fisheries. Being the youngest employee, one of his duties was to take out the rubbish.
Read MoreIs That in Africa?
Last June Marjorie and I were expecting some important mail. We were checking the mailbox at the bottom of our hill on a daily basis. One afternoon as we were on our way to our friends’ graduation celebration, we stopped at the mailbox once again.
Read MoreHagoth and the Polynesians
I watched a documentary video last week that set my imagination working. The documentary concerned the possible route that Lehi and his family took to get to the Promised Land. The record states that they left Jerusalem and went southeast along the border of the Red Sea. They went as far as a place called Nahom where Ishmael died. From that point on they traveled nearly eastward until they came to a place they named Bountiful because of its much honey and fruit. There they were instructed by the Lord to build a ship. The record states that they found ore with which to make tools so that they could work the timbers of the ship. The trip from Jerusalem to Bountiful took them 8 years.
Read MoreChrist Has Come
Prophets of old foretold the coming of Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world. They prophesied that He would come as a baby to a virgin named Mary, and be born in a humble stable in the City of David in the land of Judea. They prophesied that a new star would arise to announce His birth. The prophets said that He would be baptized of John, and that He would go forth teaching the people, healing the sick, raising the dead, and that He would be rejected by the people. It was prophesied that the Jews and the Gentiles would both consent to His death, and that they would kill Him. It was prophesied that He would be crucified and that His body would lie in the tomb for three days.
Read MoreParallel or Perpendicular?
One morning as I sat on my couch in Vanuatu looking out at the bay, I noticed that the door frame made a perfectly parallel line with a line of tile on our veranda. If I tilted my head a little to either the right or to the left, the lines were no longer parallel. The line formed by the door frame, and the line formed by the tiles were about one inch apart. If I held my head just so, the two lines would stay just one inch apart even if they were to be extended clear across the bay.
Read MoreJennifer Tarohati
At the age of 20 Jennifer Tarohati was a young adult living with her widowed mother on the island of Tanna in the South Seas’ nation of Vanuatu. The year was 2000. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was new to the nation, and only a very few Latter-day Saints lived on the island.
Read MoreAn Epistle to My Grandchildren
I just came awake from a wonderful night’s sleep, and was surprised to find dawn happening. There was a thought in my mind—a thought that, strangely, I’ve never had before. The thought was that I should write an epistle to my grandchildren. I make it a point to act upon these first morning thoughts when they come this way, because they come from the Holy Ghost.
Read MoreJacob Chapter 5
Each time I reread the parable of the tame and wild olive trees in Jacob chapter 5, I receive more insights, and become more and more impressed with it. It’s a masterpiece. It was written by the prophet Zenos, somewhere in the Holy Land, sometime before 600 B.C. It spells out in some detail what would be the future of the Americas, of all places.
Read MoreThe Book of Mormon
Brother Anderson asked me to speak to you about the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is the reason that I’m a member of the Church.
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