My Mother Knows It

As a missionary, I can call home twice a year. And neither of those times are intended to wish your
mom a happy birthday. Luckily, since I am allowed to do internet proselyting, I can wish her a happy birthday via a blog post about what kind of a mother she is! Yay!

In the Book of Mormon, the most commonly read chapters about mothers are the mothers of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. These young warriors (keep in mind, they are being described as young to a Captain Moroni who was only 25 when called to head the entire Nephite army) "were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God to walk uprightly before him." (Alma 53:20-21.)

They were taught. From the beginning of mankind, the home has been the first church. Adam and Eve didn't exactly have a bishop to go to for advice. They were solely responsible for the righteous upbringing of their children. Think about that: there weren't any great teachers at school or very attentive Young Men's leaders for Adam and Eve's kids to get the real nurturing they needed. It was the parents or nothing.

In the New Testament, Paul comments on Timothy's "unfeigned faith," but then specifies that that faith "dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice." (2 Timothy 1:5.) Look at what that righteous example of the women in Timothy's life accomplished! An Apostle of the Lord, all starting with the unquestionable faith of the women who raised him.

Back to the Stripling Warriors, though. How did they learn to be such upstanding men? "They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." (Alma 56:47.)

The very next verse says something else really interesting, that I don't know if we look at as much: "We do not doubt our mothers knew it." (Alma 56:48.)

Who did they learn from? Their mothers. How were they taught? By the simple fact that they

Lehi's Lesson on Receiving Revelation

How could you appropriately begin a book that would change the course of human salvation for the rest of eternity? What could possibly be said to introduce lessons proving the divinity and utter importance of a living Messiah? While you or I might have difficulty deciding the perfect "first lesson" of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the God of the World hit the nail square on the head.

The First Book of Nephi teaches us two major lessons: Bad things happen, but there is always good to learn; and - what I will emphasize in this post - how to receive revelation from the Most High.

The chapter starts out by explaining that throughout Nephi's life, he's been through a lot, but that it's really helped him get closer to God and understand of His goodness. In verse three, he says something very profound, though:

"And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge."

Clearly, Nephi has more than just a simple testimony, much more than basic faith. This kind of understanding can only come through strong revelation. In the first verse of this chapter - the first verse of the entire Book of Mormon - Nephi attributes most of his learning to his "goodly parents." After bearing powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, Nephi give an account of his father, Lehi, receiving revelation. This pattern is worth modeling our lives around.

When Lehi finds out that Jerusalem, where he has spent all his life, is about to be destroyed, he immediately prays. Where most people would pray for their own protection, to hopefully sway the Lord to protect our homes or friends, to maybe reverse God's decision. Lehi is a bit more humble; he prays "with all his heart, in behalf of his people."

The result? A vision paralleling that of Moses' and later of Joseph Smith's. The Lord answers Lehi's prayer with a pillar of fire, in which he sees and hears much. Nephi's account doesn't go into much detail, but certainly a pillar of fire from God is a pretty spectacular response to prayer, and it caused Lehi to "quake and tremble exceedingly."

I love what Lehi does next, though. He goes home... and lays on his bed. Wait, come again? When we receive revelation, we don't just have to hit the ground running straightaway? Revelation, in a lot of ways, is as simple as a Primary song: search, ponder, and pray. Lehi here takes time to recuperate from his experience and really think about what he just saw.

If he hadn't done so, I don't think he would have seen the next part of his revelation. As he laid on his bed, Lehi was "overcome with the Spirit" and was shown a vision of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Now, what did the Savior do? He gave Lehi a book. The Lord often doesn't have to speak to us as

New Testament scriptures about the necessity of "Good Works"

I can't count the number of times I have been told as a missionary that the gospel we teach is not Biblical, because it involves "works," or actually keeping the commandments that Jesus Christ gave. Here is a "brief," though certainly not entirely complete, compilation of some scriptures only from the New Testament showing the importance of works in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you really want, I can show many from the Old Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. But this hopefully suffices for now.

Of course, the Atonement of Jesus Christ is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for our salvation. Justification comes only through our Advocate, the Holy Messiah. But, just confessing the Savior with our mouths and then going about our business any way we want doesn't quite cut it. We have to show Him how badly we want to be cleansed from our sins. We have to repent when we do wrong, then put forth our best efforts to do better next time. Hopefully these scriptures can help you understand that:


"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." - Matthew 5:7

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your food works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:19

Really, the whole Sermon on the Mount...

"But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - Matthew 9:13 (So there are such things as righteous people?)

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." - Matthew 10:22

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." - Matthew 16:27

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? ... Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thous shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto thim, All these things have I kept from my youth up: What lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." - Matthew 19:16-21

"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an