So, we're starting 3rd Nephi.  This should prove to be interesting. The first thing I noticed was, again, how quickly (and stupidly) people make up excuses for that which is obviously true. I imagine that living during the time all these miracle were happening (and increasing), would be such a gift.  The signs and miracles profesied b...

I'm always slightly dumbfounded while pondering on the things that wicked men come up with to justify the signs given by prophets... "Oh no, we can't hit this guy who is telling us we're wicked, so he must have a devil!  GET HIM!" "Oh my!  All these miracles that are happening just as the prophets said they would - can'...

Very interesting that the word "hate" is used in this context.  Very interesting, indeed.  I'm not quite sure what to make of it, but it's quite interesting there were no other words chosen.  I find it difficult to associate the word "hate" with God.  I've gotta ponder on that one for a bit. "Freedom&q...

This chapter was interesting.  The first thing I noticed is that Samuel had some serious insight as to things of God.  He prophesied of the destruction of the entire Nephite nation in the last chapter, and in this chapter, he details quite specifically, events which were to occur at both the birth and the death of Christ.  Interestin...

Okay..  I've never thought of this before, but, how convenient do you think it was for Samuel to climb up on a wall, built around a city most likely to keep people out?  Yeah, I don't think it could have been that easy.  How often do we find any reason at all to get out of doing what God wants us to do?  Well, God told Samuel he...

Anyone who knows what Helaman 12 is all about is probably wondering how in the world I could label this chapter as "Happiness".  hehe... Yesterday, I was having a very interesting conversation about happiness with a dear friend of mine, and oddly enough, today's chapter was Helaman 12, which of course, talks all about the frailties...

Amazing.  A couple of chapters ago, I was commenting on the sad state which Nephi found himself in, and the amazing faith he must have had to remain in a state of faithfulness to God, when everyone around him was wicked. I guess that's the way it goes.  God tries us to our breaking point, careful not to give us trials beyond our capabil...

So...  I remember Nephi coming back to his own people and seeing them in a state of wickedness, but I didn't remember that he had just been on a mission where everyone in the land northward rejected his word, too.  That would be an incredible test of faith in an of itself.  Only the most stalwart followers of God, in my view, could t...

It seems that this chapter is just a informational chapter on the goings on over a space of quite a few years.  Heh... That's pretty general, but there's really not any story-line, or analogy, or deep doctrine here... I did find it interesting how they spoke of using cement, and the sparseness of timber, and such like that.  I wonder wh...

Ya know...  I sure would like to know what the politics of the time were back then.  Helaman's guard was able to single-handedly save the newly-appointed chief judge, by disguise, intellect, and ultimately a firm blade straight through the heart.  Yet, the account says nothing of telling anyone what was happening during the incident....

Hmm....  I'm kind of tired right now, but I figured I needed to read some scriptures... This time around, I realize how being under the rule of a tyrant would be absolutely horrible.  In this case, Alma was under the rule of one (or more) of the Amulonites - which were his wicked peers when they were the king's priests.  Talk about...

So, again, something kind of odd.  Mormon was 16 when he was commissioned to be the leader of the entire Nephite army.  Is that not insane?  Seriously.  Every 16-year-old I know barely has the sense to tie their shoes in the morning!  Okay, not really, but - wow.  Mormon was 16 years old when he was put in charge of th...

 So, I was reading this chapter when I came upon the phrase "fulness of joy" in verse 10.  The phrase caught my eye primarily because it was only mentioned for the 3 Nephites who chose to stay.  It was not mentioned for the others.  That caused me to wonder how often the phrase "fulness of joy" is used in scr...

I was just looking at the timestamp on these chapters, and realized that Amalickiah went from being a Nephite citizen, to the king over the entire Lamanite nation in approximately 1.5 years.  How freaking crazy is that? Also, one thing I failed to mention about chapter 47 is the last verse.  A very interesting verse, that is.  Once...

 Another very short one.  If I understand it correctly, the prayer states that by partaking of the water, we are covenanting (or "witnessing") unto God that we will always remember Christ.  I believe a few chapters ago, I wrote quite an entry on the importance of remembering.  As evidenced by the inclusion of it in a w...

 Woo, baby, am I tired! One thing that I often think about while pondering the Gospel is how blessed I am to live in a time where the fulness of the Gospel is available - and not only available, but I was born into a practicing family, and have made the life choices necessary for me to continue worthy to obtain the blessings given to God's c...

I'm always slightly dumbfounded while pondering on the things that wicked men come up with to justify the signs given by prophets... "Oh no, we can't hit this guy who is telling us we're wicked, so he must have a devil!  GET HIM!" "Oh my!  All these miracles that are happening just as the prophets said they would - can'...

Upon beginning this study session, I found myself quite uninterested in doing pretty much anything.  Maybe it's just because I'm tired....  or maybe it's because I just finished one of my projects at work, thus putting me between projects again.  Who knows... When I got to verse 3, though, I found a gem of a scripture that I had fo...

Ya know, I thought up until now that verse 6 refers only to the people under the reign of king Lamoni.  Evidently, it was everyone under the king of the entire Lamanite nation.  Amazing, amazing missionary work. Heh... Yeah... In reading the rest of the chapter, it pretty much names exactly the cities which were converted.  I guess...

The first thing that stood out to me this time around was the anger of Lamoni's father.  Try to place yourself in the situation Lamoni found himself in.  There are so many variables in the situation, it's hard to imagine exactly what was going on with the family undercurrents, but holy cow.  Lamoni's father drew his freaking sword an...

 Seems like the first half of this chapter is a gentile rebuke coming from Christ himself, to his Apostles, for not knowing the scriptures well enough.  It seems like he goes on for a bit in the why, though.  I wonder why it's so important to put across the point that things of Christ need to be done in Christ's name...?  Seems ...

Interesting that one of the first-mentioned doctrines that Nehor was said to have taught was the very doctrine that led to the beginning of wickedness for the Nephites time and time again.  Pride.  "Being popular"...  Seems to resound with the core of what the adversary teaches.  Verse 4 pretty much testifies to his pr...

So, the very first thing which came to mind this time around was from the first verse.  Ether seemed to be a fairly amazing person and a great prophet.  So... How did he get to be that way?  I'd love to hear the story of Ether's conversion - especially considering the environment he grew up in - being born in captivity.  Interes...

Interesting that I should choose to read this today, because my wife and I were talking a bit about the 2nd coming last weekend.  The second coming shall be like a "refiner's fire", which, of course, is meant to purify - or to burn out impurities.  That which abides by the law is sanctified by the same.  A talk I once heard...

Hmm....  I'm kind of tired right now, but I figured I needed to read some scriptures... This time around, I realize how being under the rule of a tyrant would be absolutely horrible.  In this case, Alma was under the rule of one (or more) of the Amulonites - which were his wicked peers when they were the king's priests.  Talk about...

The first thing I noticed this time reading this was that even though the Nephites under Zeniff were at a time of peace, after the war, Zeniff was diligent in continuing his building of weaponry.  Not sure why that struck me this time, but the very first verse jumped out. Maybe it's because they didn't make any assumptions about their enemy....

Ya know...  The first verses of this chapter brought back some well-known stories of Mormon culture.  The most potent one being the experience Joseph Smith had in a Missouri jail surrounded by a mob of people cursing and glorying in their raping, murdering, and wickedness against the Mormon people. Parley P. Pratt said the following in ...

First thing out of the gate that I noticed this time around with this chapter is that the first thing Alma says to Corianton regards his disobedience - in a possibly sarcastic way, or at very least - sincerely displeased.  "Haven't your brothers been a good example for you?"  Anyway... I found that interesting Also noteworthy ...

One thing I noticed while reading verses 7 through 11, apart from the torn emotions of all the people, was what caused their emotion. Why did they feel so "amazed" and fille with "pain and anguish", and with "exceedingly great joy"?  Well... When was the last time you felt filled with pain and anguish for some...

 So, it's been awhile since I last wrote about the scriptures, but the fight to the end continues!  I'm in Las Vegas right now for a conference, and what better way to start my day in sin city than to read the holy words of God? 4th Nephi has always been an amazing chapter to me.  I would like to capture in my mind's eye, the way p...