9:1-5 - "...yea, even there were five who went, and they said among themselves, as they went: Behold, now we will know of a surety whether this man be a prophet and God hath commanded him to prophesy such marvelous things unto us. Behold, we do not believe that he hath; yea, we do not believe that he is a prophet; nevertheless, if this thing which he has said concerning the chief judge be true, that he be dead, then will we believe that the other words which he has spoken are true..."
These five men did find the chief judge dead, and to their credit, they believed Nephi's words.
Sometimes a sign can do a lot of good.
We need to already believe so signs build our faith instead of attempting to create it. However, in this case, for these five men, the sign was enough for them to change their ways and vigorously defend Nephi and the gospel.
9:39 - "...And there were some of the Nephites who believed on the words of Nephi; and there were some also, who believed because of the testimony of the five..."
New converts have a great zeal and testimony. It is important to keep that up through the rest of our lives, and not become complacent in our church worship or quest to increase in study and prayer.
The missionaries can do a lot of good work, but when we combine missionaries with localized members, there is a great progression in the work.
9:39-42 - "...And there were some of the Nephites who believed on the words of Nephi..."
There were some who believed Nephi, and many who did not. This shows that signs don't necessarily produce faith. It can strengthen faith, but not necessarily create it. There may be a few exceptions, but that is the general case. It could be because we aren't seeking to increase our faith when the sign comes. If we are, then a reason is given and more of the gift of faith can be received. If not, then something wondrous happens, and we just don't care.
We need to make sure that when these signs come that we let them help bolster our faith instead of just being complacent.
8:9 - "...Yea, and behold, if he had not been a prophet he could not have testified concerning those things..."
This example shows the faith of Nephi, as well as the faith of these few people that made this statement. It seems that it isn't the strongest thing to base your faith upon, but it was enough that they stopped the wicked people from laying their hands on Nephi.
There is a great power that comes with faith, even the smallest seed of faith.
8:14-15 - "...And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal..."
This is amazing, because all they had to do was look and they would be healed.
We look and live today by looking upon the Son of God with faith and a contrite spirit.
We humble ourselves and repent.
We must look and live or we will die spiritually.
8:22 - "...Our father Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem because he testified of these things. Nephi also testified of these things, and also almost all of our fathers, even down to this time; yea, they have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come..."
One of the signs (or fruits) of a true prophet is that he will testify of Christ. The prophets have testified of Christ throughout the years, and we must learn from their testimonies and come unto Him.
7:7-9 - "...Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem...Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren..."
Nephi at this point is saying "Oh if I could have lived 'back in the day' - it would have been more joyful." But remember that Laman & Lemuel were murmuring pretty consistently and threatened to kill their brother Nephi multiple times throughout the journey out of Jerusalem.
That probably wouldn't have been so enjoyable.
Times are never 'easy' - we just need to be as Alma and be grateful for what the Lord has given us, including our present situations (Alma 29:3) and live after the 'manner of happiness' (2 Nephi 5:27).
7:20 - "...O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you?"
We see this in another example in Moses where Satan came among the children of Adam and tempted them saying, "Believe it not" - and they believed it not! (Moses 5:13, see also Alma 46:8).
We need to always remember Him and be an example. If we do this, we will be blessed.
7:29 - "...but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be..."
Nephi didn't ask for a sign, but he studied and prayed in faith. There's a big difference - and exercising faith brings testimony as well as knowledge.
That's a great power!
6:3 - "...the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them..."
We receive this joy as we are acting in faith to accomplish our work and glory. We help others come unto Christ as we do the same.
And it does bring us joy, and opens us up more to the gift of faith.
6:4-5 - "...Yea, and many [Lamanites] did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb..."
This shows another example that God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34, D&C 1:35, D&C 38:16). He will give to all who are worthy the Holy Ghost and the power and authority needed to preach.
The point though, is to stay worthy of that blessing..
6:35 - "...And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts..."
It's important to not drive the Spirit away. He will go because of iniquity and when we don't listen.
We must listen at all times, because it is very easy to fall and be deceived.
5:6 - "Remember"
This is an interesting word. Nephi and Lehi had their names given to them so that they would remember what the first Nephi and Lehi had done. When they remembered, they would act more like them.
Similarly in the sacrament prayer, we covenant to "always remember Him," which means that we remember what He did and act more like Him.
5:18 - "..And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak, and they also had what they should speak given unto them...."
Even after all we can do, we are still unprofitable servants (Mosiah 2:21). We are very blessed to have the Holy Ghost to translate and teach what we cannot do with our own power. It is essential to have the Holy Ghost teach and realize that it is not our own strength.
5:19 - "...baptized unto repentance..."
After we are baptized, we do not stay clean forever. We are baptized unto repentance so we can have the plan of Mercy take hold upon us (Alma 42:31).
If we don't repent, justice has full sway.
5:40 - "...And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?"
What shall we do?
The Lamanites wanted to know what to do to be rid of the darkness.
We need to know what we need to do to be rid of spiritual darkness.
The way is through keeping the commandments.
5:47 - "...Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world..."
If we want true peace, we need to open ourselves up to more of the gift of faith in Christ. We do this through keeping the commandments.
We must act on the faith that we have and come unto Him.
5:51-52 - "...And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers. And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possession..."
Swords and fighting didn't bring the Lamanites to yield up the lands of their possession - it took the conversion, faith, and acts of faith of the missionaries and Lamanites to bring the necessary peace.
Our own conflicts are much more likely to be resolved through faith and peaceful actions than through fighting - whether it is physical or spiritual.
5:52 - "...And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possession..."
This was so much more effective than years of war!
Moronihah, through war, gained half of the lands back (Helaman 4:16).
The preaching of the word of God had a more powerful effect than the sword or anything else (Alma 31:5).
When we truly understand true doctrine, our attitudes and behavior improve - President Boyd K. Packer.
We must understand true doctrine so we do what is right in God's eyes, and it will be much more effective than contention, which is of the devil (3 Nephi 11:29).
4:11-12 - "...Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God..."
The great loss of Nephites was because of pride and wickedness. Very often we have our own personal losses that can be avoided if we just leave our pride and serve others.
This does not mean that EVERY loss comes because of pride - sometimes we go through difficult experiences and trials that are not a result of wickedness.
We need to live our lives in a righteous manner so that when we go through trials, we know it is not because we have been wicked, but that it is an opportunity to learn and grow.
4:15-16 - "...And it came to pass that they did repent, and inasmuch as they did repent they did begin to prosper..."
When the people repented, they did prosper and also won their battles.
When we are righteous, we receive blessings (D&C 130:20-21). The end result of every good action is that we will be blessed for it. It may not come immediately or in the way that we expect, but it will happen.
When we do what it takes, we are blessed.
4:15-16 - "...And it came to pass that they did repent, and inasmuch as they did repent they did begin to prosper..."
As we are trying to live the gospel, repent of our sins, and come unto Christ, we can have that faith and confidence that we can be on the Lord's side. He will help us in our physical and spiritual battles.
3:14 - "...But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people...cannot be contained in this work..."
Wow - that's a lot:
Nephi commanded his posterity to write down only the most important information (1 Nephi 6:6).
Mormon made an abridgment of all the records to create the Book of Mormon (Words of Mormon 1:5).
The Book of Mormon is the record of the most important information...of the most important information. The best of the best of the best, if you will.
We need to realize this as we go to study it. There are other teachings that could have come, but were left out because what is in the Book of Mormon is the most important for our day.
We need to read, ponder, and obey.
3:27 - "...Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name..."
We can have faith that if we pray, the Lord will be merciful to us. We get this faith by opening ourselves to receive more of the gift of faith by keeping the commandments, seeing the blessings in our own lives as well as in the lives of others.
We must have faith to act, though, and sincerely pray.
3:35 - "...Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God..."
By denying one's self, we can bring humility and gratefulness more and more into our lives. By doing so, we wax firmer and firmer in faith, and receive more joy. This leads to purification, and we all should seek to be pure.
2:9 - "...Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment-seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart..."
There are times that Satan seeks to deceive us and make us think we are accomplishing our designs when he's carefully leading us away.
We need to be continually mindful of the Spirit and work to accomplish those things that will lift us up - as well as our goals in life.
2:13-14 - "...ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi...."
It is amazing what a difference one man can make in influencing others for both good and bad.
It is our responsibility to be good examples for others and learn from others so we do not make the same mistakes in the future.
1:5-7 - "...And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did unite with the voice of the people. But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to flatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren..."
The government system at the time was a system of Judges, voted by the voice of the people. Just like in those times, today our responsibility is to uphold those who are elected by the voice of the people.
If we don't, it can easily become anarchy, and can be displeasing to God, considering that we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law (Articles of Faith 12).
Even if we don't agree with the politician - we have the opportunity to make our voices heard and vote somebody else into place. We also have the right to give our opinions.
1:12 - "...Kishkumen was not known among the people of Nephi, for he was in disguise at the time that he murdered Pahoran. And Kishkumen and his band, who had covenanted with him, did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found..."
This is a scary thought, because the wicked people just mingled with everybody else and they couldn't be found, even though they had committed murder and broke the law.
We need to be careful and check for sins that creep in daily and subtly before they become a huge problem.
1:12 - "...[the band of Kishkumen] did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found..."
If we act in faith and keep the commandments, we will receive the Holy Ghost, which will help us recognize the evil and avoid it.
63:2 - "...And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God..."
Helaman was righteous and a good example in keeping the commandments. He was an example of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12).
We must also do the same - living righteously and being good examples.
63:2 - "...and also did his brother..."
His brother was Corianton, who had been chastised by Alma for having chased after the harlot Isabel. This shows that we can repent from our sins and come unto Christ.
We must repent and come closer to Christ daily.
63:13 - "...these things were to be kept sacred, and handed down from one generation to another..."
A very effective way that we can show our faith is by keeping the messages we receive in the scriptures and the Ensign and General Conference sacred. We keep them sacred by studying and receiving and applying the messages. This, in turn, opens us up to receive more of the gift of faith. It's a great circle.
62:4 - "...he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter..."
Moroni raised the standard of liberty in all places.
We must also make sure that others know our standards, and live the standards.
As we do so, we make sure that we're following the correct path.
62:41 - "...But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility..."
We aren't judged based on the trials that we go through - we are judged by the way that we react and change ourselves based on those trials.
We must separate the message from the Messenger - true greatness is doing our best.
62:49-51 - "...But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes..."
Sometimes it takes greater faith to avoid pride than it does to lift up a sword in defense of your country.
When we have the necessary humility to recognize and be grateful for what the Lord has done for us, our faith increases.
61:2-3 - "...I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul..."
Pahoran was awesome! He could have been very offended by what Moroni had to say, but he supported Moroni and accepted the counsel.
We need to accept our leaders and support them - it leads away from apostasy. When you question authority, you need to be careful, because it can also be an indication of pride.
61:9 - "...I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free..."
Pahoran did not seek for power, but to preserve the liberty of the people. When we look for leaders, especially in the Government, we must look for people who do not seek for power but to preserve liberty.
61:14 - "...Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God..."
These men, Moroni and Pahoran, were men of faith and not bloodthirsty - they sought first to resist their enemies in a peaceful manner, then if that failed, then they would fight. They had faith that God would help them.
We must seek to be peacemakers and use peaceful manners to resist enemies or create change. If we have faith in God, and work to exercise that faith, we will be guided to know how to best approach each situation.
60:13 - "...For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God..."
The Lord sometimes suffers the righteous to be slain so justice can be met (Alma 14:10).
We need to realize that we may go through difficult times - even death - that may not make sense, and instead of blaming God, we need to be righteous and accept that we will go through the trials and tribulations.
60:24 - "...And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have done, and begin to be up and doing...behold it will be expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have first cleansed our inward vessel..."
Moroni was chastising Pahoran, but we can learn from this lesson as well. We also need to be "up and doing" and make sure that we are accomplishing what the Lord wants us to do.
60:25-26 - "...I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them—And this because of their exceeding faith, and their patience in their tribulations..."
These verses do not say that the tribulations were removed from these people through their faith - but that nothing had power over them, even in their tribulations. We will go through life experiencing joys and tribulations. The true test is how we will react to those tribulations. We do receive help as we are patient and have faith.
