Feast upon the Word - User contributions [en]

1 Ne 15:21-36

2012-06-13T11:38:17Z

MikeT: Added an external link

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[First Nephi]] > [[First Nephi 15|Chapter 15]]
{|
| [[1 Ne 15:16-20|Previous (1 Ne 15:16-20)]] ||             || [[1 Ne 15:26-30|Next (1 Ne 15:26-30)]]
|}
== Questions ==
===Verse 21===
* What was the antecedent to "this thing"?

===Verse 22===
* Did they know more about the tree of life than is presently recorded in our Old Testament?

===Verse 23===
* Why were Laman and Lemuel so willing to believe that Lehi actually saw a vision?

===Verse 24===
* What did it mean to "hold fast" to the scriptures for a people who had no concept of, or experience with, personal ownership of scriptures?

===Verse 25===
* If faculties are an aspect of the soul (see [[Jacob 3:11]]), then what was the difference between energies and faculties of the soul?

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''

== Exegesis ==

It is interesting that when Laman and Lemuel ask about the meaning of the tree, Nephi explained nothing more than to say that it is the Tree of Life (verses 21-22) before moving on to the next question. We know from [[1 Ne 11:21|1 Ne 11:21-23]] that Nephi knew more. There he explains to the angel in detail the meaning of the tree. The fact that he doesn't explain this to his brothers when asked about the tree may suggest that like Nephi, they already knew of its meaning. It seems likely that like Nephi, Laman and Lemuel were also taught in the learning of their father ([[1 Ne 1:1]]) and also knew of the manner of prophesying among the Jews ([[2 Ne 21:1]]).

== Related links ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''
[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=2&id=421 What Meaneth the Rod of Iron? - Maxwell Institute]

----
{|
| [[1 Ne 15:16-20|Previous (1 Ne 15:16-20)]] ||             || [[1 Ne 15:26-30|Next (1 Ne 15:26-30)]]
|}

Site talk:Works to incorporate

2012-06-03T02:21:04Z

MikeT: Created page with "I clicked on Ben Spackman's Book of Mormon Resource Guide but got the "Not Found" error."

I clicked on Ben Spackman's Book of Mormon Resource Guide but got the "Not Found" error.

User:MikeT

2012-06-03T02:19:01Z

MikeT: Created page with "This is a cool project. I am very interested in helping. I may not have much to contribute but I can learn. Feel free to instruct me if you have anything to say. Thank you for ..."

This is a cool project. I am very interested in helping. I may not have much to contribute but I can learn. Feel free to instruct me if you have anything to say.

Thank you for creating this site.

Alma 31:1-5

2012-06-02T19:18:39Z

MikeT: /* Exegesis */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 31|Chapter 31]]
{|
| [[Alma 30:56-60|Previous (Alma 30:56-60)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:6-10|Next (Alma 31:6-10)]]
|}
== Questions ==
===Verse 1===
* Why are we told that the Zoramites were "perverting" the ways of the Lord? In the last verse of chapter 30, we are told that Korihor had perverted the ways of the Lord. What connections are there between Korihor and the Zoramites? How were their perversions similar? How were they different?
* Who is this Zoram that is the leader of the Zoramites? Is it the same military leader Zoram that we read about in Alma 16? If so, is there a connection between his military success and the pride of his followers?
* ''Idols.'' Idols are mentioned here, but are not mentioned again in relation to the Zoramites. Why not? What is the point in mentioning the idols here?
* What does it mean to "bow down" to idols?
* Why are the idols referred to as "dumb"? Is there a connection between the "dumb" idols and Korihor who was stricken dumb?

===Verse 2===
* ''Separation: cause or result?'' Was the Zoramites' separation a cause of their subsequent pride and apostacy, the result, or both? Why is Alma sorrowful about this separation? (Cf. the word ''dissenters'' in [[Alma 31:8|verse 8]].)
===Verse 3===
* What is the land Antionum? Is this land named after an original settler, as was mentioned previously as traditional Nephite practice? Or does the name have some other significance?
* What is the significance of the geographical location of the Zoramites? What is important about their position between Lamanite lands and the Lamanite converts in the land of Jershon?

===Verse 4===
* ''Double standard on correspondence/separation?'' Here the Nephites "feared that the Zoramites would enter into correspondence with the Lamanites." Why would this be a bad thing? In chapter 31 we read about the Zoramite rich separating themselves from the poor. It seems that implicitly the Nephites are doing the right thing in remaining separate from the Lamanites but the Zoramite rich are doing the wrong thing by separating themselves from the Zoramite poor. When is separation a good thing and when is it a bad thing?

===Verse 5===
* ''The sword.'' What does the reference here to "the sword" mean here? Is it related to the "correspondence with the Lamanites" referred to in verse 4? How? What effect can the sword have "upon the minds of the people"? Are there episodes in Nephite history that illustrate this?
* If these Zoramites are followers of the military hero Zoram mentioned in Alma 16, what would that say about how they might perceive the sword? Could the sword have had a tendency to lead them away from that which was just, as opposed to the word, which leads to righteousness? Is this whole episode with the Zoramites a warning of a potential pitfall of pride that comes from military success--of taking that success as a sign of choseness?

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''

== Exegesis ==
===Verse 4===
The correspondence with the Lamanites which Alma and his brethren feared might come to pass, eventually did [[Alma 35:10]]; [[Alma 43:4]], but the work they did influenced many Zoramites to the point that Zoram cast them out of his land to dwell with the Nephites in Jershon, see [[Alma 35:6]].
''Click the edit link above and to the right to add exegesis''

== Related links ==
*See [[User:Brettferre/Alma 31:1-5]] for quotes by Elder Packer and Ezra Taft Benson.

*See also [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/teaching%20and%20leadership.htm/teaching%20no%20greater%20call.htm/b%20basic%20principles%20of%20gospel%20teaching%20teach%20the%20doctrine.htm/10%20the%20power%20of%20the%20word.htm?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0#JD_tngcPW Chapter 10] in Teaching, No Greater Call
----
{|
| [[Alma 30:56-60|Previous (Alma 30:56-60)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:6-10|Next (Alma 31:6-10)]]
|}

Alma 31:6-10

2012-06-02T19:17:17Z

MikeT: /* Verse 4 */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 31|Chapter 31]]
{|
| [[Alma 31:1-5|Previous (Alma 31:1-5)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:11-15|Next (Alma 31:11-15)]]
|}
== Questions ==
===Verse 6===
* Here we have the formation of a missionary "dream team" to go to the Zoramites. Is there any significance to the number (eight) of missionaries selected?
* Why do we never hear about the missionary work of Omner?
* Why was Himni left in Zarahemla? Why do we never hear any more about him?
* Why pull in the former Ammonihah residents Amulek and Zeezrom from the land of Melek?

===Verse 7===
* Heleman later becomes the leader of the Church. Why didn't Alma take him on this big mission to the Zoramites?
* What significance does the name Helaman have? Any connection to the Helaman who was the son of King Benjamin and uncle to the sons of Mosiah? Does this indicate that Alma may have married a daughter of that Helaman?

===Verse 8===
* ''"Therefore."'' If the Zoramites had not been dissenters, would the word of God not need to be preached? Is the focus here on the need that dissenters have for ''preaching'' or for the ''word of God''?

===Verse 9===
* ''"But."'' The use of the contrasting word ''but'' seems a bit curious here since the previous verse has just described the Nephites as "dissenters," which seems a parallel idea to falling into error, not a contrasting idea. So it seems that the contrast is with the phrase in verse 8 "they had the word of God preached unto them." If this is correct, then the ''but'' here seems to underscore a separation between these two clauses in verse 8. Does this imply that the errors being described here occurred ''after'' the word of God was preached unto them? If not, what is going on here?
* ''"Observe to keep."'' In today's parlance, we typically talk of "observing the commandments" or "keeping the commandments," so this phrase incorporating both terms seems somewhat odd. What is the meaning and significance of this phrase?
* Why might the Zoramites reject the law of Moses?

===Verse 10===
* Why might the Zoramites reject the practice of daily prayer?
* What is the importance of daily prayer? How can daily prayer help avoid temptation?
* What does it mean to "enter into" temptation?

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''

== Exegesis ==
== Related links ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''

----
{|
| [[Alma 31:1-5|Previous (Alma 31:1-5)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:11-15|Next (Alma 31:11-15)]]
|}

Alma 31:6-10

2012-06-02T19:16:12Z

MikeT: /* Exegesis */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 31|Chapter 31]]
{|
| [[Alma 31:1-5|Previous (Alma 31:1-5)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:11-15|Next (Alma 31:11-15)]]
|}
== Questions ==
===Verse 6===
* Here we have the formation of a missionary "dream team" to go to the Zoramites. Is there any significance to the number (eight) of missionaries selected?
* Why do we never hear about the missionary work of Omner?
* Why was Himni left in Zarahemla? Why do we never hear any more about him?
* Why pull in the former Ammonihah residents Amulek and Zeezrom from the land of Melek?

===Verse 7===
* Heleman later becomes the leader of the Church. Why didn't Alma take him on this big mission to the Zoramites?
* What significance does the name Helaman have? Any connection to the Helaman who was the son of King Benjamin and uncle to the sons of Mosiah? Does this indicate that Alma may have married a daughter of that Helaman?

===Verse 8===
* ''"Therefore."'' If the Zoramites had not been dissenters, would the word of God not need to be preached? Is the focus here on the need that dissenters have for ''preaching'' or for the ''word of God''?

===Verse 9===
* ''"But."'' The use of the contrasting word ''but'' seems a bit curious here since the previous verse has just described the Nephites as "dissenters," which seems a parallel idea to falling into error, not a contrasting idea. So it seems that the contrast is with the phrase in verse 8 "they had the word of God preached unto them." If this is correct, then the ''but'' here seems to underscore a separation between these two clauses in verse 8. Does this imply that the errors being described here occurred ''after'' the word of God was preached unto them? If not, what is going on here?
* ''"Observe to keep."'' In today's parlance, we typically talk of "observing the commandments" or "keeping the commandments," so this phrase incorporating both terms seems somewhat odd. What is the meaning and significance of this phrase?
* Why might the Zoramites reject the law of Moses?

===Verse 10===
* Why might the Zoramites reject the practice of daily prayer?
* What is the importance of daily prayer? How can daily prayer help avoid temptation?
* What does it mean to "enter into" temptation?

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''

== Exegesis ==
===Verse 4===
The correspondence with the Lamanites which Alma and his brethren feared might come to pass eventually did [[Alma 35:10]]; [[Alma 43:4]], but the work they did influenced many Zoramites to the point that Zoram cast them out of his land to dwell with the Nephites in Jershon [[Alma 35:6]].

== Related links ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''

----
{|
| [[Alma 31:1-5|Previous (Alma 31:1-5)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:11-15|Next (Alma 31:11-15)]]
|}

Alma 31:16-20

2012-06-02T19:15:17Z

MikeT: /* Verse 4 */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 31|Chapter 31]]
{|
| [[Alma 31:11-15|Previous (Alma 31:11-15)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:21-25|Next (Alma 31:21-25)]]
|}
== Questions ==
===Verse 16===
* Why would the Zoramites believe that God had separated them from their "brethren"? Who do they mean by brethren--the other Nephites?
* What do they mean by being separated? Geographically? Theologically?
* What do the Zoramites mean when they claim that the tradition of their brethren "was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers"? Why the term "childishness"?
* What do the Zoramites mean by their doctrine of election? What do they mean by "holy children" of God? Where did this doctrine come from? Is this a misreading of King Benjamin's sermon?
* How could these people believe that God had manifested unto them that there should be no Christ?

===Verse 17===
* Why would the Zoramites use a doctrine of unchangeableness to discount a doctrine of a Christ?
* Where would the Zoramites get a doctrine of election to damnation in hell?
* Why would the Zoramites consider belief in Christ to "bind them down" or to lead their hearts away from God?

===Verse 18===
* Why don't the Zoramite prayers include any pleas, but only offerings of thanks? Is this a manifestation of their pride, that they don't think they need God in their daily lives?

===Verse 19===
* For Alma and the others to hear these prayers, they would presumably have to be in a Zoramite worship service in a synagogue. Why might they attend such a service before trying to teach the people?
* Why would these prayers astonish the missionaries "beyond all measure"? What is so astonishing about them?

===Verse 20===
* Was it merely the rote nature of these prayers that caused the missionaries such astonishment?
* When we are told that "every man" did offer the same prayers, is this deliberately gender specific? Were only men allowed on the prayer stand?

== Lexical notes ==
===Verse 16===
* ''"Elected."'' Interestingly, this is the only passage in the Book of Mormon that uses any form of the word ''elect''. The word ''chosen'' is used many times in the Book of Mormon in a way that seems very similar to the meaning of the word ''elected'' (cf. [http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H972 ''bachiyr''] in Hebrew and [http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1588 ''eklectos''] in Greek). The reason this word is used here, and only here in the Book of Mormon, might be related to the theological connotations the word had to Joseph Smith's ears at the time of translation when, for example, a Pauline doctrine of election might have been heavily discussed, though more research on this would have to be done to give this idea anything more than a purely speculative basis.

== Exegesis ==
===Verse 17===
''"The same yesterday, today, and forever."'' It seems this is a true teaching that the Zoramites were familiar with (cf. [[1 Ne 10:18]]; [[2 Ne 2:4]]; [[2 Ne 27:23]]), but had perhaps twisted to mean that, strictly and technically speaking, if God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then he would remain without a physical, bodily presence in this world. So this phrase seems to more closely link the idea in verse 15 that God is a spirit, and "wilt be forever," to their conclusion that there would be no Christ. However, this seems a bit inconsistent with the idea that God elected the Zoramites: if God is literally and technically taken to be the same yesterday, today, and forever, how can God elect a people who were split off from the Nephites? Is this election of a new people a new action on the part of God?

== Related links ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''

----
{|
| [[Alma 31:11-15|Previous (Alma 31:11-15)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:21-25|Next (Alma 31:21-25)]]
|}

Alma 31:16-20

2012-06-02T19:14:29Z

MikeT: /* Verse 17 */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 31|Chapter 31]]
{|
| [[Alma 31:11-15|Previous (Alma 31:11-15)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:21-25|Next (Alma 31:21-25)]]
|}
== Questions ==
===Verse 16===
* Why would the Zoramites believe that God had separated them from their "brethren"? Who do they mean by brethren--the other Nephites?
* What do they mean by being separated? Geographically? Theologically?
* What do the Zoramites mean when they claim that the tradition of their brethren "was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers"? Why the term "childishness"?
* What do the Zoramites mean by their doctrine of election? What do they mean by "holy children" of God? Where did this doctrine come from? Is this a misreading of King Benjamin's sermon?
* How could these people believe that God had manifested unto them that there should be no Christ?

===Verse 17===
* Why would the Zoramites use a doctrine of unchangeableness to discount a doctrine of a Christ?
* Where would the Zoramites get a doctrine of election to damnation in hell?
* Why would the Zoramites consider belief in Christ to "bind them down" or to lead their hearts away from God?

===Verse 18===
* Why don't the Zoramite prayers include any pleas, but only offerings of thanks? Is this a manifestation of their pride, that they don't think they need God in their daily lives?

===Verse 19===
* For Alma and the others to hear these prayers, they would presumably have to be in a Zoramite worship service in a synagogue. Why might they attend such a service before trying to teach the people?
* Why would these prayers astonish the missionaries "beyond all measure"? What is so astonishing about them?

===Verse 20===
* Was it merely the rote nature of these prayers that caused the missionaries such astonishment?
* When we are told that "every man" did offer the same prayers, is this deliberately gender specific? Were only men allowed on the prayer stand?

== Lexical notes ==
===Verse 16===
* ''"Elected."'' Interestingly, this is the only passage in the Book of Mormon that uses any form of the word ''elect''. The word ''chosen'' is used many times in the Book of Mormon in a way that seems very similar to the meaning of the word ''elected'' (cf. [http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H972 ''bachiyr''] in Hebrew and [http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1588 ''eklectos''] in Greek). The reason this word is used here, and only here in the Book of Mormon, might be related to the theological connotations the word had to Joseph Smith's ears at the time of translation when, for example, a Pauline doctrine of election might have been heavily discussed, though more research on this would have to be done to give this idea anything more than a purely speculative basis.

== Exegesis ==
===Verse 4===
The correspondence with the Lamanites which Alma and his brethren feared might come to pass eventually did [[Alma 35:10]]; [[Alma 43:4]], but the work they did influenced many Zoramites to the point that Zoram cast them out of his land to dwell with the Nephites in Jershon [[Alma 35:6]].
===Verse 17===
''"The same yesterday, today, and forever."'' It seems this is a true teaching that the Zoramites were familiar with (cf. [[1 Ne 10:18]]; [[2 Ne 2:4]]; [[2 Ne 27:23]]), but had perhaps twisted to mean that, strictly and technically speaking, if God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then he would remain without a physical, bodily presence in this world. So this phrase seems to more closely link the idea in verse 15 that God is a spirit, and "wilt be forever," to their conclusion that there would be no Christ. However, this seems a bit inconsistent with the idea that God elected the Zoramites: if God is literally and technically taken to be the same yesterday, today, and forever, how can God elect a people who were split off from the Nephites? Is this election of a new people a new action on the part of God?

== Related links ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''

----
{|
| [[Alma 31:11-15|Previous (Alma 31:11-15)]] ||             || [[Alma 31:21-25|Next (Alma 31:21-25)]]
|}

Alma 31:16-20

2012-06-02T18:52:03Z

MikeT: /* Verse 17 */

D&C 86:1-11

2012-06-02T18:42:27Z

MikeT: /* Questions */

[[Doctrine & Covenants]] > [[Doctrine & Covenants 86|Section 86]]
{|
| [[D&C 85:6-12|Previous (D&C 85:6-12)]] ||             || [[D&C 86:6-11|Next (D&C 86:6-11)]]
|}
== Questions ==
===Verse 5===
* What do we know about the nature of these angels?
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''

== Exegesis ==
''Click the edit link above and to the right to add exegesis''

== Related links ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''

----
{|
| [[D&C 85:6-12|Previous (D&C 85:6-12)]] ||             || [[D&C 86:6-11|Next (D&C 86:6-11)]]
|}

D&C 86:1-11

2012-06-02T17:46:26Z

MikeT: /* Questions */

[[Doctrine & Covenants]] > [[Doctrine & Covenants 86|Section 86]]
{|
| [[D&C 85:6-12|Previous (D&C 85:6-12)]] ||             || [[D&C 86:6-11|Next (D&C 86:6-11)]]
|}
== Questions ==
* What do we know about the angels in verse 5?
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''

== Exegesis ==
''Click the edit link above and to the right to add exegesis''

== Related links ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''

----
{|
| [[D&C 85:6-12|Previous (D&C 85:6-12)]] ||             || [[D&C 86:6-11|Next (D&C 86:6-11)]]
|}