This blog gives you the structure and motivation to read the entire Book of Mormon in 80 Days! With quotes, videos and music, you will be uplifted and edified as you come to Christ by nourishing your spirit. Start with Day 1 anytime by going to September in the right side bar.
What dreadful fate that Amulon becomes ruler over Alma's people! Under his influence the Lamanites began to be "a cunning and a wise people, as to the wisdom of the world, yea a very cunning people, delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder." He persecutes the people of Alma and even causes "that his children should persecute their children." Under Amulon's gross abuse, "so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God." Amulon threatened death to those praying, so Alma's people quietly "poured out their hearts to [God]." The Lord heard their pleas and miraculously, the burdens of Alma's people were made light, though not immediately removed. The people were faithful and patient DESPITE their burdens, while waiting for deliverance. (Mosiah 24:15)
"Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage." (Mosiah 24:13) How reassuring. Let's press forward in faith, knowing our lives and eternal destiny are in the very best of hands. We will be delivered from sin and sorrow. Opening Song:
Video: "Burden's Made Light" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Mosiah 24:15 "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."
Mosiah 26:24"For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth; and shall have a place eternally at my right hand."
“My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully that sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we accentuate the positive. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we may still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort.” --Gordon B. Hinckley
Having trouble FORGIVING those
who have wronged you??
Mosiah 26:29-31 will help...and...
watch these two short video clips:
Video: "Forgive 70 Times 7-- So beautifully done.
Record thoughts and favorite verses in your journal.
I'm always amazed when I hear someone say the scriptures are boring. This whole King Noah saga is Hollywood material for sure! Gideon chases and traps an evil king on a tower who pathetically begs his way out of execution, only to eventually be burned at the stake by angry followers. And what about the wicked Nephite priests abducting the Lamanite daughters?! How racy.
And then there's Alma's crazy trials. Great "take home" lessons today: We should rely on the Lord in patience and trust him as we seek to overcome struggles. When we turn TO him, instead of AWAY, he will deliver us from bondage.
Enjoy today's Hollywood adventures in the Book of Mormon!
Video Clip--President Gordon B. Hinckley (Mosiah 23:6–14):
Mosiah 23:15" Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them."
Mosiah 23:21-22 "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless- whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people."
“Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His.”--Neal A. Maxwell “Patience,”Ensign, Oct. 1980, 28.
Video:"Safety Lies in Obeying the Prophet"
Record thoughts and favorite verses in your journal.
Close session with prayer and enjoy the abundance of the Spirit you just welcomed to your day.
Abinadi testified of the atonement, resurrection and the need to cast off "carnal and devilish" natures. "Ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins and teach [the people] that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord." (Mosiah 16: 13-15) This resulted in Noah sentencing Abinadi to death, but not without converting Alma first! Can't really say Abinadi's mission was a failure with a resultant "two hundred and four souls" baptized by the Waters of Mormon. Alma reminds us of our "job description" as baptized members of Christ's church: "As ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort...to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life...if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts." (Mosiah 18:8-11)
With "hearts knit together in unity love" they became "the children of God."(Mosiah 18:21-22) As we come to Christ together today by reading the Book of Mormon, we are doing the same.
Opening Song: "He is Risen" (To go with today's passages on the resurrection.)
Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon Mosiah 14-17
Video: Book of Mormon Stories--Alma Baptizes by the Waters of Mormon
Video: "Abinadi Converted One Soul"--Elder M. Russell Ballard
Mosiah 18:21-22 "And he commanded them that there should be no contention on with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another. And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God."
“Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life. True love last forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father bears for us. When Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment to 'love one another; as I have loved you' (John 13:34), He gave to them the grand key to happiness in this life and glory in the next. “Love is the greatest of all the commandments-- all others hang upon it. It is our focus as followers of the living Christ. It is our one trait that, if developed, will most improve our lives.” Joseph B Withlin, Ensign, Nov. 1007, 29-31
Video: Standing as a Witness of Christ
Record your thoughts and favorite verses in your journal.
King Benjamin showers us with wisdom before departing to the world of spirits. Then King Noah enters the scene! In Mosiah chapter 11, we are reminded that evil leaders lead to bad thinking and bad behavior. Well that certainly happened here. (See Mosiah 11:2, 6–7, 15, 19.) God sent Abinadi to counteract the wickedness, but "...the wicked taketh the truth to be hard." Abinadi "answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions…and did confound them in all their words.” (Mosiah 12:19.) He even became the questioner: “If ye teach the law of Moses, why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin?" (Mosiah 12:25–31.)
The consensus: “Slay him...he is mad.” But a GLOWING Abinadi declared: “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver...ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives.” (Mosiah 13:11.)
The message was delivered, agency allowed and we learn the fate of both King Noah and Abinadi tomorrow!
Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon Mosiah 7-13
Video: Living Scriptures"Abinadi and King Noah"
Video: Book of Mormon Stories "Abinadi and King Noah"
“After all our obedience and good works, we cannot be saved from death or the effects of our individual sins without the grace extended by the atonement of Jesus Christ” Elder Dallin H. Oaks
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all." Mosiah 14:5-6
