Hmm...  I really like when prophets, like Alma, quote other prophets to make a point.  The best way to keep the doctrine pure is to look the reference up.  Otherwise, it inevitably will be diluted down.  Ain't no doctrine like pure doctrine. Interesting that the quote from Zenos in verses 4-11 is paraphrased beautifully in Alm...

I wasn't in the best of moods while reading this, this morning, but I must say that it helped me gain a bit of focus for the job hunt this morning. The principle that jumped out at me this time around was that of humility.  Going through the pain that is sometimes required to bring about humility just might be the thing that saves your soul....

Interesting Alma used the phrase "my heart began to sicken" when he heard about what the Zoramites were doing.  That is such a descriptive word, and I can almost feel what he described as I read... I also find verse 5 interesting at this point in my life.  It seems that Alma confirms that sometimes, when moved upon by the spir...

Beginning this chapter, another testament to the correlation between peace and keeping God's commandments is apparent.  Giving "strict" heed to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel undoubtedly brings peace. Now, on a totally different note, I wonder where Korihor came from?  It just says that he came into the land.  Was ...

Chapter 29 of Alma is such a good chapter - on so many levels, too. How would it feel like to want the good of mankind so badly, that it caused you to take time to carve your feelings out in brass plates?  Putting all the doctrine of this wonderful chapter aside, the beginning verses give me a tiny glimpse into the type of desires living a p...

Me and my good friend Scott chatted for far too long today about a very interesting subject.  The subject was brought about by this article, which, in essence is just a conversation between an aethiestic professor and two of his students. In a nutshell, the professor makes the claim of God creating Satan, and thus creating evil, and thereby ...

Man...  It's been months since I wrote about the Book of Mormon.  I will finish it, though, and I will write about each and every chapter therein. So, about this chapter. Nothing really jumped out at me as being extraordinary, and I didn't expect it to be so short.  It seemed like this chapter was just a wrap-up chapter for the a...

What a great chapter this is.  And what stupid people the Amalekites were.  "Gee, we're having a hard time killing our enemies, so let's kill our own people instead.  Yeah, that'll make us feel better."  Freakin' idiots. The parts I loved especially about this chapter were parts I've never noticed before, or at least...

Man...  I can only imagine what Ammon's joy truly felt like.  After reading D&C 18:15-16, I begin to see why Ammon fainted due to overwhelming joy so many times throughout his mission.  Dedicating a full chapter to nothing but the rejoicing of Ammon seems perfectly reasonable. I always thought his brothers were kind of rude to ...

After having killed one thousand and five of their own people, and having realized they didn't really want to be killing their own people, I imagine the anger of the Lamanites went to pretty extreme levels. I can't imagine the scene which must have taken place at the city of Ammonihah.  That has got to be one of my favorite "God's justi...

It's chapters like these that get me thinking about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ and the "end of the world".  Reason is, is that this chapter happens just a few years before the 1st coming of Christ.  For some reason I analyze these chapters to death, and each time I do, I find more things that seem to parallel what may (or ma...

Of course, verse 1 immediately reminds me of verse chapter 36 and what I wrote about that.  But then, verse 2 held just as much interest for me.  First off, it seems that Alma talking to his three sons in these chapters has something to do with his being old enough to die at any time.  Yet, Alma's words talk about him having great jo...

 Moroni 3.  This one isn't speaking much to me, but I did find it interesting that only after they prayed, the disciples excercised their priesthood to ordain offices in the priesthood.  ...and that it was done through endurance through faith on the name of Christ.  Enduring to the end has always been pretty much the last key to...

Hmm...  What could "prosper in the land" possibly mean?  This is something I've fought with recently, while think about prosperity in general.  When someone says, "That guy has really prospered", or "she is really prosperous", what could it possibly mean? Some things in the scriptures are mentioned on...

Man.... I'm tired, but I felt I had to read and write about a scripture today. Alma does a great job of answering his son's question.  "Why should sinners be punished?"  All sorts of nuggets of truth can be found in this chapter. Another great chapter on the justice and mercy of God is found in Alma 34. That's about it for...

Seems like chapter 29 is all about "spurning", and to be honest, I really don't know what that means.  The word is used 4 times in 3 verses, and is used no where else in scripture.  It's definitely something we shouldn't do, and may be related to "hissing" or "making game".  Very interesting. I believe...

Man...  I can only imagine what Ammon's joy truly felt like.  After reading D&C 18:15-16, I begin to see why Ammon fainted due to overwhelming joy so many times throughout his mission.  Dedicating a full chapter to nothing but the rejoicing of Ammon seems perfectly reasonable. I always thought his brothers were kind of rude to ...

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...  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....

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...

 Figuring out the mood and temprament of Moroni while he writes this is tough.  The things he writes about are horrific.  The Lamanites have killed his entire race, his family, and his father.  The "state of the union", as it were, was "continual warefare, bloodshed, and violence."   He had to be depress...

 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...

So... I just checked, and throughout all canonized scripture, know how many times the phrase "solemn mockery" is used?   Yup - you guessed it.  Once.  And it happens to refer to the baptizing of children.  For some reason, I think God dislikes this act a bit. Verse 14 seems kind of harsh, but if a person has nei...

 Man... This chapter was brutal.  Wars, wickedness, and death.  Seems to me that this is the result of giving power to Satan, letting him run rampant.  Hating your neighbor and wanting to kill him for the sake of being bloodthirsty.  So terribly sad, and unfortunate. Interesting in verse 5 that Mormon writes that the wick...

What a great chapter this is.  And what stupid people the Amalekites were.  "Gee, we're having a hard time killing our enemies, so let's kill our own people instead.  Yeah, that'll make us feel better."  Freakin' idiots. The parts I loved especially about this chapter were parts I've never noticed before, or at least...

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...

One question comes to mind this time reading chapter 14 and the beginning of 15. Why in the world did Abinadi think these priests could understand what he was talking about? An interesting perspective can be had when the audience of each scripture is considered. The thing I don't get about these chapters (14 and 15), is that the doctrine A...

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...

 This was a good chapter.  Starts out stating that worthiness is necessary in order for baptism into the Lord's church: bringing forth fruit of worthiness (not entirely sure what this means, specifically) having a broken heart and contrite spirit, showing a witness of true repentance taking upon yourself the name of Chris...

Wow...  Moroni doesn't mix words, does he...  Reading this through as much of an objective filter as possible, I'd say there's some serious judgements going on.  Moroni blatantly calls Ammoron a "child of hell", and tells him that his brother went to hell.  heh...  Pretty gutsy, if ya ask me.  Going off of wh...