Once Upon a Precept

One thing that caught my attention during my first attempt to read the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is that Nephi mentioned that the fountain of living water represented the love of God in verse twenty-five of first Nephi chapter eleven: “And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.” (1 Nephi 11:25) When I discovered this recently, some colleagues that I spoke with in the temple acknowledged that a fountain of living water was mention in Lehi’s dream. Since I started from the beginning of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon to share my discoveries with you, I am going to expound on this because I just finished reading Nephi’s account of Le...

I am starting to read 1 Nephi chapter 7 in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon. I was inspired by the words of Nephi in chapter 6 verse 4 & 5: “For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.” I thought to myself what I would write “that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.” A lot of my writing teaches about the nature of God. I just concluded a series of articles, seeking to persuade man that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost has been the God of all nations from the beginning. A verse that I read from our “Come, follow me” family scripture study yesterday expounded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is 2 Nephi ...

During family scripture study, we explored the following questions from “Come Follow Me”, concerning 2 Nephi 27:20-21: What might the Lord mean when He says, “I am able to do mine own work”? How does this truth influence the way we serve in His Church? Previous to the session with Jessica, I was reading of the sons of Lehi’s attempts to retrieve the brass plates from Laban. I asked Jessica God’s purpose for her new calling. She said something like to help the youth come unto Christ by mental, social, physical, and spiritual achievements. I was prompted to ask her if she believed in God’s purpose because your belief is expressed in your effort. Laman asks Laban for the brass plates. Laman received the commandment of God, but he did not believe in the commandment of God. He probably relied on God too much. He merely asked Laban for the brass plates, explaining that the genealogy of his fathers are on the plates. Who can say whether this is the best way to fulfill the commandmen...

     After reading the verses for our "Come, Follow me" family scripture study this morning, I found that Heavenly Father is guiding the content of “Once Upon a Precept” as this is part three of “ Manifesting himself unto all nations ". I was not looking to continue this series of articles. We read the following verses from 2 Nephi chapter 29 verses 7 – 9: “Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two natio...

I have a simple precept to write about; although, there are many options. I will keep it simple today, a testimony of Christ, expounding on what I wrote about last time . I wrote about how Moroni testified that Jesus Christ manifests himself to all nations. This morning Jessica and I read 2 Nephi chapter 26 verses 12 and 13, a family scripture study opportunity from “Come, follow me”. The verses states the following: “And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.” When I read this, I thought of the three kings that visited Jesus Christ as a child. These kings had the luxury to travel to Bethlehem; h...

Today in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, I read the reformatted title page. This title page was written by Moroni. The only difference between the text of the study edition and the standard edition of the Book of Mormon is that parenthesis are added around the statement concerning the “abridgment taken from the Book of Ether”. These parenthesis were added to emphasize the editor’s belief that the following phrase applies to the entire book; not only Moroni’s abridgment: “Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations” The current scripture set that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is commonly known as the “quad”, including t...

     I concluded reading the introduction of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. From my experience reading to 1 Nephi chapter 18 in my first attempt to read the book, I have found it more insightful than reading the standard version of the Book of Mormon. There are a few things that I would like to point out from the introduction. I will address the following: the book is designed with a scholarly perspective, context is preserved better, and reference to the original translation is abundant.      I am not too scholarly; however, the book keeps in mind the Royal Skousen’s studies of the Book of Mormon. The book states the following concerning him in the Brief History of the Text section: “Royal Skousen, a professor of linguistics and English language at Brigham Young University, is the central figure in the academic analysis of the Book of Mormon text, including its origins, transmission, v...

     I am still in the introduction pages of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon. I made an article about the difference between the study edition and the current version of the Book of Mormon. I am currently reading a section called “Brief History of the Text”. I like teaching doctrine, so I am not going to get into the history of the Book of Mormon; unless, you want me to. Let me know, if you would like additional insight into the history of the publishing of the book throughout the years. This section of the book is only in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon.      During family scripture study this morning, we reviewed the following verses of the Book of Mormon, which is a quotation of Isaiah, in 2 Nephi chapter 12, covering verses 1-3: “The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall ...

The following parable was part of a Sacrament talk in my ward last Sunday. The Bible and the Coal Basket A child admired his grandfather. Seeking to be like him, he read the Bible daily to obtain the wisdom that the grandfather expressed. He was discouraged because he did not understand the Bible and quickly forgot what he understood, bringing his concern to his grandfather. The grandfather told him to fetch water in his coal basket for him, but it was empty by the time that he return. The father told him to run back. He tried again. The child did not see his logic. Grandfather told him to run faster. The child tried, showing his logic was accurate. The grandfather showed him the point of the exercise, saying that the coal basket was clean; although, it did not retain the water.  We may not retain everything that we learn, but the spirit that abides with you will cleanse you.

     One thing that is unique about the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is that the testimony of Emma Smith is held within it. It is interestingly an interview conducted by her son Joseph Smith III. The interview asks skeptical questions such as the following: "Had he not a book or manuscript from which he read, or dictated?” "Could he not have had? and you not know it?” "Are you sure that he had the plates at the time that you were writing for him?” "Could not father have dictated the Book of Mormon to you, Oliver Cowdery and the others who wrote for him, after having first written it, or having first read it out of some book?” "I should suppose that you would have uncovered the plates and examined them? "Did Mr. Smith forbid your examining the plates?” (A question from her second husband)       Before I get into Emma Smith’s answers, I would like to quote a couple verses of scriptu...

     At the beginning of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, one of the first quotations in its introduction is a one from Neal A. Maxwell. It is the following quote: “The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a marvelous episode not only in Church history but also in human history. You and I owe many people for their roles in bringing us the Book of Mormon, a book filled with plain and precious salvational truths which came forth by “the gift and power of God” (Book of Mormon title page). Through the labors and sacrifices of many, the “marvellous work and a wonder” foreseen by Isaiah (Isa. 29:14) restored vital truths which had been lost to mankind for centuries! We can best express our gratitude by reading and applying the teachings of the Book of Mormon.”      Neal A. Maxwell was an apostle of Jesus Christ in these latter-days, who died in 2004.      This quotation impress...

My older brother gave me the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon for Christmas. I was thinking of starting from the beginning as I begin my career as a content creator, but I also thought that I do not want to get too behind the “Come, Follow me” program. I think that keeping up with all the various readings that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints produces and can be discouraging. I have lived with this my whole life, since I have dyslexia. It is not the stereotypical way. I just read a little slower. I believe that the “Come, Follow me” program is very adaptable for each person and family, and Heavenly Father is incredibly grateful for your best effort. I can’t keep up by reading all the chapters in each week’s lessons; however, I review the family scripture study suggestions with my wife. I hope that my open nature will comfort you as the expectation to read so many things may seem impossible. I have an insight from the Book of Mormon that I think...