Abinadi

Today I studied the miraculous life of Abinadi found in Mosiah 11-17.  Abinadi was one of the matyrs mentioned in the Book of Mormon that really lived his testimony.  Some of the ways that Abinadi shared this testimony was by:

• Prophesying that God would punish the people of wicked King Noah(not the 'ark' Noah) unless they repented, Mosiah 11:20–25
• Was imprisoned for prophesying the destruction of King Noah and his people, Mosiah 12:1–17
• Taught King Noah’s wicked priests of the law of Moses and of Christ, Mosiah 12–16
• Alma the Elder believed and wrote his words, Mosiah 17:2–4
• Was burned to death by King Noah, Mosiah 17:20

I love how Abinadi propehcied and testified of Christ over one hundred years before He was even born.  He taught the wicked priests of King Noah the ten commandments and how the Law of Moses was a shadow of Jesus Christ.  He also taught about the ressurection and how the Atonement would be operative in our lives.  At the end of his life he sealed his testimony by being burned to death for not denying the things he had taught.  Even though he didn't convert many people, his cause wasn't in vain because of one of the priests who had a change of heart.  Alma went on to continue Abinadi's legacy and converted thousands.  There are a lot of things we can draw from the life of this Nephite prophet, but I think this will do for now. 

I know that Abinadi's teachings are true and that the ressurection is real.  The Atonement is heavily involved in our lives and is a lot more powerful and complete than we think sometimes.  I know that through obedience to God's commandments, we can be happy in this life as well as in the next.  I testify that our righteous efforts are not in vain even when we don't see the immediate effects of them.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.   

"Don’t forget Abinadi, who stood before the king.
All chained up from head to toe, the gospel he did bring.
If he would deny it, then the king would set him free.
He was true, and he died righteously."
-Book of Mormon Stories

Alma 36 Chiasmus

Today I was reading in Alma 36 about Alma the elders conversion story and was reminded that it was a type of poetry called chiasmus.  I love the content of this chapter as it describes Alma's experience as well as the hidden meaning in it.  I used an article from Jeff Lindsay to help explain this further:

Alma 36: A Masterpiece of Chiasmus

The most powerful and beautiful example of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon - and perhaps anywhere! - is Alma 36. (See the full text of Alma 36 - but without delineation of the structure.) The structure is obviously chiastic, but there are some very sophisticated and elegant perturbations which have been the subject of careful and lengthy analysis (Welch, 1991, Welch, 1989, and Brown, 1988). Welch (1989, 1991) presents several levels of chiasmic structure. Here I reproduce the overall structure, which is Level 1 in Welch, 1991. In addition, he analyzes the complete text to show the extensive chiasmic detail, including fascinating relationships between larger paired sections and the subtle use of weaving factors (transitions) that provide remarkable unity and a smooth flow of thought throughout the chapter. Welch also assess the degree of chiasticity, showing that this is not a contrived example or chance occurrence but fits objective criteria for intentional and deliberately crafted chiasmic structures. Finally, a comparison of other accounts of Alma's conversion story in the Book of Mormon show that only this one is presented in chiasmic form, indicating that this passage, crafted about 20 years after the initial experience he describes, had been carefully reorganized to yield a masterful and poetical statement of his conversion.

So here it is, Welch's outline of the overall structure of Alma 36. (Again, this is only scratching the surface of the rich structure in this chapter, but what a scratch!) Only the key phrases and concepts (sometimes paraphrased) are shown, with the verse number. The entire text of Alma 36 is also available.

(a) My son, give ear to my WORDS (1)
  (b) KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God and ye shall PROSPER IN THE LAND (2)
   (c) DO AS I HAVE DONE (2)
    (d) in REMEMBERING THE CAPTIVITY of our fathers (2);
     (e) for they were in BONDAGE (2)
      (f) he surely did DELIVER them (2)
       (g) TRUST in God (3)
        (h) supported in their TRIALS, and TROUBLES, and AFFLICTIONS (3)
         (i) shall be lifted up at the LAST DAY (3)
          (j) I KNOW this not of myself but of GOD (4)
           (k) BORN OF GOD (5)
            (l) I sought to destroy the church of God (6-9)
             (m) MY LIMBS were paralyzed (10)
              (n) Fear of being in the PRESENCE OF GOD (14-15)
               (o) PAINS of a damned soul (16)
                (p) HARROWED UP BY THE MEMORY OF SINS (17)
                 (q) I remembered JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD (17)
                 (q') I cried, JESUS, SON OF GOD (18)
                (p') HARROWED UP BY THE MEMORY OF SINS no more (19)
               (o')  Joy as exceeding as was the PAIN (20)
              (n') Long to be in the PRESENCE OF GOD (22)
             (m') My LIMBS received their strength again (23)
            (l') I labored to bring souls to repentance (24)
           (k') BORN OF GOD (26)
          (j') Therefore MY KNOWLEDGE IS OF GOD (26)
         (h') Supported under TRIALS, TROUBLES, and AFFLICTIONS (27)
        (g') TRUST in him (27)
       (f') He will deliver me (27)
         (i') and RAISE ME UP AT THE LAST DAY (28)
     (e') As God brought our fathers out of BONDAGE and captivity (28-29)
    (d') Retain in REMEMBRANCE THEIR CAPTIVITY (28-29)
   (c') KNOW AS I DO KNOW (30)
  (b') KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS and ye shall PROSPER IN THE LAND (30)
 (a') This is according to his WORD (30).

Note the focal point of this story, the key element in his conversion story: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As Welch notes, Alma shows that it was not the angel or his suffering or the prayers of others that caused his conversion. It was not until he remembered that his father had taught of the atonement of Christ and then exercised faith to call upon Christ that his conversion occurred, bringing a rapid change in which guilt and the pains of hell were replaced with joy and a taste of heaven. I find this story to be powerful and moving, and knowing the underlying chiasmic structure greatly enhances my appreciation of this marvelous text.
Critics, of course, will complain that (i') is out of place. Actually, the structure that Alma is using is somewhat more complex and elegant than can be shown with the simple synopsis presented above. The full structure can only be presented by treating the entire text. (E.g., there are other small chiasmic structures and other forms of parallelism within the overarching structure.)
Source: http://www.jefflindsay.com/chiasmus.shtml#alma36

Flood

Recently in the Bigfork area, a lot of people have been concerned with flooding.  Flood preparation has been on a lot of people's minds and the community has had some meetings to discuss how to help prevent and protect before it's too late.  Elder Wells and I have been involved in helping by filling sandbags.  As we were helping out I couldn't help but think of the following scriptures in the New Testament:

Matthew 7:24-29:

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

Jesus is saying that we need to hear and do the things that he has asked us to do.  If we do, we have a solid foundation that won't fall when the storms of life come.  If we don't, then we have no such promise and we will crumble under pressure.  We also show our love for the Savior by keeping His commandments and serving other people(John 14:15).

Another great scripture that explains what the rock is, is found in Helaman 5:12, which says: "Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I testify that if our foundation is on Christ and we do what he asks of us, we cannot fall.  Even when the storms of life come down on us and we have no one to rely on, we still have Him.  He is always there for us and we can trust Him.  Whenever I've experienced difficult times in my life, I've found that the scriptures and prayer help me get through it.  Let us prepare ourselves spiritually now, so we don't have to worry when the floods come.

Answers to Prayer

Today I was reading in the Book of Mormon about how our prayers can be answered.  Alma has a great explanation of how not only our prayers can be answered, but our questions as well. 
Alma 5:45-48
"...Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."

I underlined several things that stood out to me, one of them being the question, how do we know if our prayers are being answered.  Alma gives the answer in the next verse saying that it is through the Holy Ghost, fasting, praying, and the spirit of revelation.

He then goes on to say that it has been revealed to him that the words that their fathers had spoken were true according to the spirit of prophecy as well as by the Spirit of God or Holy Ghost.   After that he concludes by bearing his powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement:

"I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name."

I know that these scriptures are true and I know that we can all know they are true by praying about them.  Receiving answers to our prayers takes effort and the Lord recognizes and blesses our efforts.  I know that prayers are answered, because mine have been.  I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

BD:Prayer

"Did you think to Pray"

The Bible and the Book of Mormon

“And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, ... and they teach all men that they should do good.”

-2 Nephi 33:10

The Book of Mormon and the Bible Support Each Other

Like two eyewitnesses strengthen an argument in court, the Book of Mormon and the Bible both testify of Christ.

Some people think that because we read the Book of Mormon, we don't read the Bible. That's just not true. It's like saying that we don't eat oranges because we eat apples. Both are good fruit! The Book of Mormon is not a replacement for the Bible. In fact, because the Book of Mormon and the Bible both contain the gospel of Jesus Christ as it was revealed to different civilizations, studying them together can clarify some concepts that are difficult to understand. The Book of Mormon tells us to read the Bible and affirms that its message is true (Mormon 7:8-10). And in the Bible, Jesus told His apostles,  
“Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them

also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Christ visited these “other sheep” in the Americas after He was resurrected, teaching the same message to the Nephites that He taught to the people of Israel. The Book of Mormon makes it clear that Jesus Christ's message and His atonement are not for one group of people at one time. They are for everyone, everywhere, from the beginning of the earth to the end. Having the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ reminds us that He is mindful of every one of us.


Source:
Mormon.org/book-of-mormon

Green Eggs & Ham(Mormon Style)

I am Lurch.

From the Church.

That Brother Lurch, that Brother Lurch a do not like that Brother Lurch.

Do you like the Mormon Church?

I do not like the Mormon Church.

Would you Read the Book of Mormon here or there?

I would not read it here or there, I would not read it anywhere. I do not like the Mormon Church, I do not like it Brother Lurch.

I will not go into your house, I will not let you teach my spouse. I won’t read your book here or there. I will not read it anywhere. I do not like the Mormon church. I do not like it, Brother Lurch.

Would you read it in a box? We could talk about it with our latest convert, Bro. Fox

I won’t discuss it in a box, I will not meet with Bro Fox . You won’t indoctrinate my spouse, so don’t invite us to your house.

You may like it, you will see. We’ll talk about [Joseph] Smith and genealogy.

I could not do genealogy, not Joe Smith, Lurch, let me be.

A train! A train! A train! A train! We could go to Utah on a train.

Not on a train, not genealogy, Lurch, let me be I won’t discuss it in a box, I will not meet with Brother Fox. You will not get me or my spouse to set one foot inside your house!

You will have to give up your champagne.

There’s nothing wrong with my champagne, I’ll need some when I get off this train!

Maybe you think Mormons are weird, were you told we have horns and a beard?

Mormons have parties with [green jello] and root beer? You shouldn’t believe everything you hear!

You know, I kind of like root beer, and parties are not all that queer. I think I’ll give up my champagne. I hear that stuff can melt your brain. But no more cigarettes or tea? I can’t do that you see? I won’t discuss it in a box, I will not meet with Brother Fox. I will not come into your house, and keep your distance from my spouse. I won’t read your book here or there. I will not read it anywhere!

You do not like the Mormon Church?

I do not like it, Brother Lurch.

You do not like it. So you say. Try it! Try it! And you may. Try it and you may, I say!

Brother Lurch, if you will let me be, I will try it, you will see.

Say! and I will invite my friends to come and hear, and teach them all to love root beer!

I’ll throw away my champagne and head to Utah on a train, I’ll do my genealogy, It’s so, so fun, you see.

So we’ll discuss it in a box. I’d like to meet with Brother Fox. You can take me to your house, and have the elders teach my spouse. I’ll read the scriptures here and there and convert my good friends everywhere!

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Fundamental to our beliefs as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is our belief in the Book of Mormon.  This book is miraculous in nature and has many insights on the principles of Jesus Christ.  Joseph Smith Jr. translated and published this ancient-American record in March 1830.  It is a record of a people that populated the American continent and covers their history from around 600 B.C. to approximately 421 A.D.   The climax of the Book of Mormon is found in the middle of the record when Jesus Christ appears to the people there soon after being resurrected.  Reading from and pondering the Book of Mormon will increase your faith in Jesus Christ as well as an increase your desire and ability to follow His teachings.  You can find out for yourself that the truths taught in the Book of Mormon are true by asking God.  What do you have to lose?  I have asked my Father in Heaven if this record is true and He has answered my prayer.  I have enjoyed the peace that this brings into my life.  This is why I have sacrificed two years of my life: to share what I have learned with others.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that living the teachings contained therein will bring greater happiness in this life as well as in the life to come.