Gospel Talktrine

Alma provides a timely warning against the creeping lure of apostasy, as first Korihor, and then the Zoramites reject the church, reject the spirit of prophecy, and ultimately reject Christ.

The Lamanite converts of the sons of Mosiah are brought so low in their repentance that they will not even take up arms in their own defense. This choice to live a Millennial law presents us with a marvelous manifestation of the Christian paradox, a clue into God’s plans for the world to come.

Ammon and Aaron, the two sons of Mosiah, demonstrate how to teach the Gospel in such a way that it powerfully enters into the hearts of those hearing it—by first, creating a need to learn.

To believe in God is to struggle with the question of how he allows evil to exist. In this week’s lesson, we ask ourselves “Why wouldn’t God intervene to save the people of Ammonihah?” We also conduct a thought experiment into the mind of Amulek, and learn about the ancient high priests in the City of Enoch.

Through his courage and faith, as well as the law of witnesses and the law of the fast, Alma learns to turn failure into success, pride into humility, and enemies into friends.

Through two sermons delivered to both faithful and wayward members of the church, Alma shows us the path to repentance, the method to retain forgiveness, and the rewards for obedience.

Thanks to the wisdom of their humble king, Mosiah, the Nephites learn to value the liberty of self-rule over the safety of a monarchy. But liberty of any kind is a threat to Satan, and so the Nephites learn not only the value of liberty, but its cost, when their freedom is attacked in three different ways. In each case, the answer is the same, follow the prophet of God.

After a terrifying vision, Alma the Younger undergoes a profound transformation, echoing the changes that were occurring in his family, his church, and in his society.

The people of Alma and the people of Limhi were forced to undertake similar odysseys, but in very different ways. What do their respective journeys teach us about the path of exodus, and the path of exile?

Abinadi the prophet bears witness of Christ at the cost of his life, not only giving us some of the most powerful scripture to exist, but teaching a lasting lesson on what it means to be a messenger.

“The Lost City of Limhi” isn’t a movie about Central American archaeologists, it’s a series of chapters in the Book of Mormon, introducing the story of Zeniff and his people. We’ll discuss what these chapters teach us about several different ancient civilizations, about the Old Testament, and even about Joseph Smith.

As the Nephites internalize King Benjamin’s message, it works a miraculous change in their hearts, in their futures, and in their very characters. In what ways was this message active in the Israel they left behind, and how is it active today?

In his end-of-life address, King Benjamin fulfills a crucial requirement of the Law of Moses, teaches how to obtain salvation, and demonstrates why the Nephites were so important to God.

Coinciding as it does with the bicentennial of the First Vision, this Easter season is a perfect time to contemplate what precious truths you would be without, had God never revealed to us his Son the way He did in the Book of Mormon.

The tale of Enos’s touching and personal prayer leads into 300 rapidly recounted years of Nephite history. Latter-day Saints are forced to deal with a missing part of their most sacred record.

The ancient Israelite prophet Zenos likened the world to an olive grove, and the house of Israel to a precious tree, one whose branches would be scattered and used everywhere to bring desirable fruit. Jacob repeats this lesson, giving an illustration from his own life.

In a short time period, Jacob illustrates the major roles a prophet plays in the salvation of his people, those of priesthood leader, voice of castigation, mouthpiece of God, and inspired historian. Among his teachings: that we must allow God to show us our weaknesses and rely on his grace to overcome them.

Nephi describes in plain language what God intends for us. Part of that lesson is the importance of following Christ, and part is how to get God on our side by acknowledging our own flaws.

Nephi foresaw the reception the Book of Mormon would have when brought forth in our time. He also prophesied about many other aspects of our spiritual environment, including the pride that rejects truth, the anger that fights good, and the complacency that leads to destruction.

Nephi promised two things about the writings of Isaiah: first, that they were worthwhile, and second, that we would understand them. Bringing these promised blessings about, however, depends a lot on whether we’re willing to work at it.