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Parables in the Book of Mormon

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The question has been asked repeatedly: what are the battle scenes in the Book of Mormon for? I have heard a variety of answers, but somehow the one that most surfaces seems to be that one day, we, too, may engage in a battle and need to use some of these strategies. While I won’t totally dismiss that, I think so many people just plain look those scenes for what I really believe them to be: allegories and parables. I truly believe that most if not all of those scenes can be applied to our lives, if we would just … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: Physical and Spiritual Blindness

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As I studied the rest of John 9 tonight, I pondered the wonderful illustration of the faith of the blind man healed by the Savior. This man does not start with a testimony that Jesus is the Savior of mankind, but despite tremendous pressure from those around him – including the weakness of his parents – he insists that Jesus came from God. Because he stood by his developing faith, he was privileged to learn more about the divine nature of Christ. Unlike many who followed the Savior, the blind man in this chapter did not ask to be healed. … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: The Parable of the Sower

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Circumstances did not allow for posting these lessons the weeks they were completed. However, it is my hope that you will still be able to take something from them. Today’s posts address lesson 11, “He Spake Many Things unto Them in Parables.” Today’s scripture study focused me on the parable of the sower, found in Matthew 13:1-8. The first thing I did was to match up the verses of the parable with the verses of Christ’s interpretation (found in 13:19-23). As we examine Christ’s explanation, try to remember that one of the interesting things about parables is their wide array … Continue reading →

From Seeds to Trees

We’re familiar with the parable of the sower, who went out into the field and cast his seeds. Some went onto rocky ground, some went onto shallow ground, and some sank into deep, rich soil. The seeds were all identical – they all contained the same life element within them. The difference between whether they sprang forth or withered away – indeed, if they sprouted at all – was found in the place where they landed. The seed is symbolic of the Gospel of Christ. Missionaries are out there right now, spreading that seed far and wide. We help to … Continue reading →

RS/EQ: A Pattern of Integrity

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In the October 1974 General Conference, President Marion G. Romney described President Kimball’s life as “a pattern of integrity.” As I studied this image, I thought of ways that we, too, can make our life as such. A pattern is not a singular event. Nor is it irregular. It is consistent. It is steady. It is reliable. It is dependable. No matter what the pattern is, we can count on it. A pattern is also unnatural. If you look at nature, at the world around you, you will see no patterns. Chaos reigns. Every snowflake is unique. Weather follows no … Continue reading →

An Honest Heart

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For the last gospel doctrine article, we discussed a true heart. Along the same vein, I would like to examine an honest heart, and how to cultivate it. Promises are given to those who have an honest heart. In D&C 8:1, Oliver Cowdry is promised that if he asks with an honest heart, he will receive the knowledge he desires. (Faith, of course, is also a key component in the asking.) Similarly, in D&C 11:10, Hyrum Smith is promised gifts from the Lord if he asks with an honest heart. The most wonderful promise of all, however, comes in D&C … Continue reading →

Dinner Discussions 2007 Week 17

This week’s dinner discussions are based on lesson seventeen in the Sunday School manuals. The Nursery and CTR classes’ lessons are from lesson sixteen. You will need to adjust your discussion to follow the schedule your ward is using. Remember to keep the discussions positive and fun. If you have a child in nursery or Sunbeams he learned about the importance of his body. The lesson discussed the many things that having a body allows you to do. It also discussed the proper ways to protect and take care of your body. The children learned the story of Daniel refusing … Continue reading →

The LDS Week in Review: April 9-14

This week there were several articles on Relief Society. We learned about the importance of visiting teaching supervisors and coordinators in Serving in the Relief Society: Visiting Teaching Coordinator and Supervisor. We also learned more about the various presidents in the Relief Society in Relief Society Presidents: Amy Brown Lyman, Relief Society Presidents: Clarissa S. Williams, and Relief Society Presidents: Louise Y. Robison. Nola offered excellent insight on the Gospel Doctrine lessons in Gospel Doctrine: The Parable of the Sower, and Gospel Doctrine: Why Speakest Thou in Parables?. Several blogs discussed teaching the gospel to your family. We learned about … Continue reading →