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.
