Feast upon the Word - User contributions [en]

2 Ne 9:51-54

2006-10-20T04:51:51Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Second Nephi]] > [[Second Nephi 9|Chapter 9]]
{|
| [[2 Ne 9:46-50|Previous (2 Ne 9:46-50)]] ||             || [[2 Ne 10:1-5|Next (2 Ne 10:1-5)]]
|}
== Questions ==
* v. 51: How does [[2 Ne 9:50|v. 50]] help explain this verse? What is of value? What is free? What is of no worth?

* v. 52: What is the relation of this verse to the two that immediately precede it?

* v. 52: "'''pray''' unto him continually '''by day''', and give '''thanks''' unto his holy name '''by night'''. Do you think that the day or night reference is task specific? Meaning, that we should be more "pray-oriented" ("ask-oriented?") in the day and then be more "thankful-oriented" at night?

* v. 53: In what sense is this a repetition of everything that has been said in the last several chapters? Does thinking in terms of types and shadows throw any light on this verse? Is Jacob drawing a parallel between covenants and condescensions? If so, what does that parallel teach us?

== 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''

----
{|
| [[2 Ne 9:46-50|Previous (2 Ne 9:46-50)]] ||             || [[2 Ne 10:1-5|Next (2 Ne 10:1-5)]]
|}

2 Ne 25:9-19

2006-10-20T04:51:51Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Second Nephi]] > [[Second Nephi 25|Chapter 25]]
{|
| [[2 Ne 25:6-10|Previous (2 Ne 25:6-10)]] ||             || [[2 Ne 25:16-20|Next (2 Ne 25:16-20)]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''
2 Ne 25: 20 Why do you think Nephi uses the term "the nations"? Wasn't the brass serpent incident a personal thing? Individuals were bitten, not nations. I know that he can make broader analogies to nations, but it just seems awkward to me here. How do you see it?

== 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''

----
{|
| [[2 Ne 25:6-10|Previous (2 Ne 25:6-10)]] ||             || [[2 Ne 25:16-20|Next (2 Ne 25:16-20)]]
|}

Mosiah 18:26-30

2006-10-20T04:51:51Z

RM Matheson: /* Lexical notes */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Mosiah]] > [[Mosiah 18|Chapter 18]]
{|
| [[Mosiah 18:21-25|Previous (Mosiah 18:21-25)]] ||             || [[Mosiah 18:31-35|Next (Mosiah 18:31-35)]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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''
v. 30 This verse appears to employ different literary styles than is consistent with the rest of the account. First there is the excessive location explanation: "done in Mormon, ...waters of Mormon, ....Mormon; ... the place of Mormon, ...the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon,"
:Second, then there is a very prosaic passage almost out of the blue: "how beautiful are they to the eyes of them ... for they shall sing to his praise forever."
:It is hard to know whether this is Mormon, as abridger, emphasizing the geography that bears his name or Alma's original record. It is very difficult to jump to an unusual geographic orientation and then quickly to an aesthetic style in the middle of doing a narration by a more sedate method.
:This is perhaps evidence of abridgement work in that Joseph Smith would not have thought to change styles so abruptly mid-narration if he were the author.

== 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''

----
{|
| [[Mosiah 18:21-25|Previous (Mosiah 18:21-25)]] ||             || [[Mosiah 18:31-35|Next (Mosiah 18:31-35)]]
|}

Alma 8:16-20

2006-10-20T04:51:51Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 8|Chapter 8]]
{|
| [[Alma 8:11-15|Previous (Alma 8:11-15)]] ||             || [[Alma 8:21-25|Next (Alma 8:21-25)]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''
v. 17 To what phrase do the parenthesis apply and why use the parenthesis at all?

== 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''

----
{|
| [[Alma 8:11-15|Previous (Alma 8:11-15)]] ||             || [[Alma 8:21-25|Next (Alma 8:21-25)]]
|}

Alma 9:21-25

2006-10-20T04:51:51Z

RM Matheson: /* Lexical notes */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 9|Chapter 9]]
{|
| [[Alma 9:16-20|Previous (Alma 9:16-20)]] ||             || [[Alma 9:26-30|Next (Alma 9:26-30)]]
|}
== Questions ==
* Alma's rhetorical question "hasn't the Lord said he would utterly destroy you if you rebel against him?" suggests that before Alma came to preach to the people they had already heard this warning/promise. Is that a warning that was recorded earlier in the scriptures? Where can we find it?
* In verse 25 the Lord says that the Lord sent an angel to '''many''' people to tell them to come to this people and cry repentance. Does this "many" refer to more than Alma and Amulek? Does this have anything to do with the criticism the people make in [[Alma 9:6|verse 6]] that God only sent one person?

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''
* vs. 23 - There are only four uses of the phrase "light and knowledge" in all the scriptures. (Wouldn't you have thought it was a more common phrase?) See also Alma 39:6; Alma 45:12; D&C 77:4.

== 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''

----
{|
| [[Alma 9:16-20|Previous (Alma 9:16-20)]] ||             || [[Alma 9:26-30|Next (Alma 9:26-30)]]
|}

Alma 10:6-10

2006-10-20T04:51:51Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

[[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 10|Chapter 10]]
{|
| [[Alma 10:1-5|Previous (Alma 10:1-5)]] ||             || [[Alma 10:11-15|Next (Alma 10:11-15)]]
|}
== Questions ==
* Why would an angel visit Amulek in his house (v. 10) if Alma was already there to preach the gospel to him? (see exegesis)
* Is there a chance that he is referrring to '''Alma as an angel''' as mortal missionaries are sometimes lovingly called by their converts?

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

== Exegesis ==

===Verse 10===
Amulek tells us in verse 10 that while Alma was at his house an angel came to visit him. The verse tells us that the reason the angel was sent was "to make these things manifest unto me." Since Alma was already in Amulek's house and Alma knew the things, it doesn't seem like the angelic visit was necessary just to tell these things to Amulek. Neverthless, the Lord did choose to deliver his message in this miraculous means. And, like [[Acts 9:4|Paul]] and [[Alma 36:18|Alma the Younger]], it doesn't seem from the scriptures that Amulek received this angelic witness due to his personal faith or righteousness. It may be that the Lord choose this miraculous means to give the people a second witness whose testimony was independent from the first's.

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

----
{|
| [[Alma 10:1-5|Previous (Alma 10:1-5)]] ||             || [[Alma 10:11-15|Next (Alma 10:11-15)]]
|}

Talk:Alma 20:11-15

2005-12-08T02:41:06Z

RM Matheson:

* v. 13 his father was angry with him, and said: Lamoni, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are sons of '''a''' liar. Behold, '''he''' robbed our fathers; and now '''his''' children are also come amongst us ...
The timespan of grudges! This is approximately 500 years after Nephi's "actions" (or about 20-25 generations later) and they still haven't gotten over it. I can't remember what some people did last week that bugged me, let alone 500 years later! Be careful what we communicate to our children. It can create impressions for generations unborn!--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 02:41, 8 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Talk:Alma 19:26-30

2005-12-06T23:46:13Z

RM Matheson:

* v. 17 & 28
Is this a possible example of an unwise or over-zealous missionary effort that we can use to remind us to check in with the Spirit before we go off on some unusual missionary endeavors?

Alma 19:17 "and supposing that this opportunity, ...therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people."
Alma 19:28 "and when she saw the contention which was among the multitude she was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears."--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 23:46, 6 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Talk:Alma 17:36-39

2005-12-03T16:46:46Z

RM Matheson:

* v. 39 The job of translating can be very difficult with so many pronouns being used to represent different groups. For example in this one verse "they" or "them" is used 5 times for 4 different groups:
And when he had driven them [bad guys] afar off, he returned and they [good servants]watered their flocks and returned them [the sheep] to the pasture of the king, and then went in unto the king, bearing the arms which had been smitten off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to slay him; and they [the arms] were carried in unto the king for a testimony of the things which they [unclear: good servants or the bad guys?] had done.--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 16:46, 3 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Isa 59:11-15

2005-12-02T18:28:39Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[Isa 59:6-10|Previous]] || [[Isa 59:16-21|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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''
* v. 14 Notice the logistical metaphors Isaiah used here. Look at these expressive action verbs:

:turned away backward,
:standeth afar off:
:fallen in the street,
:cannot enter.

Instead of just saying "things are bad," this prophet poet eloquently described.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Isa 59:6-10|Previous]] || [[Isa 59:16-21|Next]]
|}

Talk:Alma 11:26-30

2005-12-02T01:26:05Z

RM Matheson:

* vs. 28-29 Alma 11: 28-29 "Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?" How would we respond to this question from an investigator in in our day? Would we respond differently as a missionary today than Amulek did? I think I would. --[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 01:26, 2 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Alma 10:21-25

2005-11-30T17:47:38Z

RM Matheson: /* Lexical notes */

{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 10:16-20|Previous]] || [[Alma 10:26-32|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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''
* v. 25 Amulek perhaps "mixed his metaphors" when he talked about being '''blind''' so they couldn't understand the '''spoken''' words.

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 10:16-20|Previous]] || [[Alma 10:26-32|Next]]
|}

Alma 10:11-15

2005-11-29T23:25:18Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 10:6-10|Previous]] || [[Alma 10:16-20|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* v. 12: In what sense has more than one person testified of the things the people of Ammonihah are accused of? Why does Alma accuse them and mention things to come, but Amulek doesn't?

* vv. 13-15, 27, 32: What might these verses be saying to us about our own day?

* v. 11 - "my women" Is it possible that Amulek had more than one wife? Or possibly, this is his sisters?

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 10:6-10|Previous]] || [[Alma 10:16-20|Next]]
|}

Alma 39:6-10

2005-11-29T22:42:23Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 39:1-5|Previous]] || [[Alma 39:11-15|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* vs. 6 - "obtain a forgiveness." Other than repetition to make a point, is there a reason for this recurrence at the end of the verse? Is the additional "a" important in understanding forgiveness?

* vs. 9 - What does it mean to "cross" yourself?

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 39:1-5|Previous]] || [[Alma 39:11-15|Next]]
|}

Talk:Alma 7:21-27

2005-11-28T17:10:21Z

RM Matheson:

* v. 27 "all that you possess." This verse prompted my thinking that perhaps many scriptures make a distinction between owning and just possessing (what is really the Lord’s.) Notice that Alma interjected the phrase "all that you possess" before it went on to add 'your women and your children' highlighting the different relationship we have to them.--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 17:10, 28 Nov 2005 (UTC)

Talk:Alma 5:31-35

2005-11-26T17:37:39Z

RM Matheson:

* v.34 "ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;" I like that Jesus gives these metaphors to Alma to use a century before He employs them again in His mortal ministry. --[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 17:37, 26 Nov 2005 (UTC)

Talk:Alma 4:6-10

2005-11-24T14:14:25Z

RM Matheson:

*v. 6 Their costly apparel was obtained by their "industry" not by stealing or deceit.

Alma 2:6-10

2005-11-23T14:35:40Z

RM Matheson: /* Lexical notes */

{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 2:1-5|Previous]] || [[Alma 2:11-15|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* v. 10: Amlici commands his people to go to war so that he can subjugate his people. How does going to war do that? Do you know of contemporary examples of someone using a declaration of war to subjugate his people? What lesson is there in this for us?

== Lexical notes ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes''
:v. 6 "cast in their voices." In modern usage it would seem more appropriate to write, "cast in their votes." In the Doctrine and Covenants the word vote is used in seven verses, so it was a familiar term to Joseph Smith; yet the word does not appear in the Book of Mormon.

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Alma 2:1-5|Previous]] || [[Alma 2:11-15|Next]]
|}

Talk:Alma 1:21-25

2005-11-23T01:56:15Z

RM Matheson:

*v. 21 Note how the Church passed laws to govern themselves first. The normal human tendency might be to try and enforce rules on the outside groups who were persecuting them (see v. 20).

Alma 1:1-5

2005-11-23T01:50:56Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 29:41-47|Previous]] || [[Alma 1:6-10|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* vv. 3-4: What are Nehor’s doctrines? For what appears to be more of them, see [[Alma 15:15]] and [[Alma 21:6|21:6-8]].
:Why don't we learn of Nehor's name until the last of the story, verse 15?

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

== Exegesis ==
*vs.4: In this verse Alma is recounting what Nehor taught the people: the world's view of being saved vs being exhalted
*vs.5: It appears that many people are willing pay to be saved, believing that there is an easy way to salvation. This is an example of men willing to put their trust in the arm of the flesh rather than rely on God to save.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 29:41-47|Previous]] || [[Alma 1:6-10|Next]]
|}

Mosiah 19:21-25

2005-11-18T17:07:39Z

RM Matheson: /* Lexical notes */

{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 19:16-20|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 19:26-29|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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''
v.24 The use of the word "ceremony" is curious. It does not seem to describe the meeting unless some ritual occurred that is not recorded.
:This is the only time "ceremony" is used in ancient scripture. One other use is in Official Declaration 1.

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 19:16-20|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 19:26-29|Next]]
|}

Mosiah 18:26-30

2005-11-18T16:47:52Z

RM Matheson: /* Lexical notes */

{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 18:21-25|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 18:31-35|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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''
v. 30 This verse appears to employ different literary styles than is consistent with the rest of the account. First there is the excessive location explanation: "done in Mormon, ...waters of Mormon, ....Mormon; ... the place of Mormon, ...the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon,"
:Second, then there is a very prosaic passage almost out of the blue: "how beautiful are they to the eyes of them ... for they shall sing to his praise forever."
:It is hard to know whether this is Mormon, as abridger, emphasizing the geography that bears his name or Alma's original record. It is very difficult to jump to an unusal geographic orientation and then quickly to an aesthetic style in the middle of doing a narration by a more sedate method.
:This is perhaps evidence of abridgement work in that Joseph Smith would not have thought to change styles so abruptly mid-narration if he were the author.

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 18:21-25|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 18:31-35|Next]]
|}

Talk:1 Ne 18:1-4

2005-11-17T23:54:31Z

RM Matheson:

Verse 18: 2 is an excellent one in which to substitute your own name and your life to make it more applicable and inspiring personally.
: Now I, [Mark] did not … build [my life] after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me … And I, [Mark] did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things. And it came to pass that after I had finished [my life], according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 23:54, 17 Nov 2005 (UTC)

Talk:1 Ne 18:1-4

2005-11-17T23:53:57Z

RM Matheson:

Verse 18: 2 is an excellent one in which to substitute your own name and your life to make it more appicable and inspiring personally.
: Now I, [Mark] did not … build [my life] after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me … And I, [Mark] did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things. And it came to pass that after I had finished [my life], according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.

1 Ne 20:16-22

2005-11-17T23:51:50Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[1 Ne 20:11-15|Previous]] || [[1 Ne 21:1-5|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''
v. 16 "the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me."
:Why does it make a distinction between the Lord God and his Spirit? Assuming that "his Spirit" is the Holy Ghost in this instance, why would they both be involved in "the sending"?

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[1 Ne 20:11-15|Previous]] || [[1 Ne 21:1-5|Next]]
|}

Mosiah 15:11-15

2005-11-17T17:14:06Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 15:6-10|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 15:16-20|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''
v.13 The phrase "that has not fallen into transgression" is sandwiched between two statements about the prophets. Does it seem out of place? To whom is it referring?

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 15:6-10|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 15:16-20|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 1:6-10

2005-11-16T18:04:48Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 1:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 1:11-15|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* What is the "promise" that Lehi obtains in vs. 9? What are the conditions of the promise? Is this a one-way promise from the Lord, or do these verses imply a two-way covenant between the Lord and the posterity of Lehi?
* In verse 10 Lehi tells us that if after having received so great blessings from the Lord, his descendants still reject the Messiah, they will be judged accordingly. From the context it is clear that the Lord expects those who have received these blessings to know better than to reject the Messiah. One of these blessing is "having a knowledge of the creation of the earth." Why is knowledge of the earth particularly important? How does knowing about the creation help us to understand and accept Jesus as our Messiah?
* Where in modern LDS worship do we recieve "a knowledge of the creation of the world" and recieve "all the commandments from the beginning" (v.10)?
*v. 7 "never be brought down into captivity; '''if so'''"
There is the notion that the USA would NEVER be conquered, but does not this scripture gives a big caveat to that?

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

== Exegesis ==
* In verse 10 the "so great blessings" Lehi describes sound much like the blessings given to modern LDS worshippers in the temple endowment. See related links for more information on the temple endowment.

== Related links ==
* See James E Talmage's description of the temple endowment [[User:Rob Fergus/Talmage on the endowment|here]].

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 1:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 1:11-15|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 5:6-10

2005-11-16T17:59:25Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 5:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 5:11-15|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''
*v.6 "also my sisters" Is this scripture possible minor evidence that women are in general more faithful? Or is it too much of a conclusion to assume "all" his unmarried sisters went with him? (Can we assume that any who had married the sons of Ismael stayed with Laman and Lemuel's group?)

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 5:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 5:11-15|Next]]
|}

Mosiah 12:1-5

2005-11-16T17:51:53Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 11:26-29|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 12:6-10|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''
*v. 1 Why does Abinadi come in disguise, but then announce his name to everyone?

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 11:26-29|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 12:6-10|Next]]
|}

Talk:2 Ne 7:6-11

2005-11-14T13:32:06Z

RM Matheson:

2 Nephi 7:11 intrigues me. I can't exactly figure out if the Lord is condemning "all ye that kindle fire" or whether this is a possible symbolism for good spirituality (light of the Spirit) or a symbol of bad pride and self-absorption.
:On the positive side it is almost a command "to walk in the light of your fire" but this could be sarcastic? For the negative interpretation it ends with the warning: "ye shall lie down in sorrow."
:--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 13:32, 14 Nov 2005 (UTC)

Talk:2 Ne 9:51-54

2005-11-14T13:24:42Z

RM Matheson:

* Verse 50 "and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
If it doesn't have a "price" and you get it for free, should it really be called "buying?" I think I would like the verse better if it deleted the "buy" verb and said:
:"Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come _ and eat; yea, come [have] wine and milk without money and without price. [thanks to the Savior]
:--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 13:24, 14 Nov 2005 (UTC)

Talk:2 Ne 25:16-20

2005-11-14T12:55:01Z

RM Matheson: /* Verse 20 */

== Verse 20 ==

Scriptures using the phrase "none other name" seem to be quite familiar. So it was surprising to only find it in 3 verses; one each in the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants.
:Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
:D&C 18: 23 Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;
:Two other verses use "no" instead of "none:"
:Mosiah 3: 17 that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men,
:Mosiah 5: 8 There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ,

2 Ne 10:16-20

2005-11-14T02:55:36Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 10:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 10:21-25|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* vv. 20-23: How do these verses help us understand why Jacob is talking about Christ's birth and death so much (cf. [[2 Ne 10:3|2 Ne 10:3ff]])? How? Why would knowing that our knowledge is from God mean that we ought not to hang down our heads? (Compare this to [[2 Ne 4:26|2 Ne 4:26ff]].) In v. 21, does Jacob assume that he is on an island? Why does Jacob connect his teaching to what his father taught (compare v. 23 with [[2 Ne 2:27|2 Ne 2:27-29]])?

* v. 20: "hang down our heads" Is this per chance an attempt to describe symptoms of depression?

* v. 24: What does Jacob mean when he says that it is only in and through the grace of God that we are saved after we are reconciled? How have we seen that explained in previous and later chapters? (Compare [[2 Ne 25:23]].)

== 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''
v. 20
"..we are upon an isle of the sea." This ancient Book of Mormon writer didn’t know this was a continent!
:A 19th century writer in upstate New York trying to "make-up" the Book of Mormon would not have had the geographical mindset to casually write this statement. (An apostate could say that the devil is clever enough to influence a person to be so deliberately deceptive as to insert such innocent errors that would throw us off track.)

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 10:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 10:21-25|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 10:16-20

2005-11-14T02:49:52Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 10:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 10:21-25|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* vv. 20-23: How do these verses help us understand why Jacob is talking about Christ's birth and death so much (cf. [[2 Ne 10:3|2 Ne 10:3ff]])? How? Why would knowing that our knowledge is from God mean that we ought not to hang down our heads? (Compare this to [[2 Ne 4:26|2 Ne 4:26ff]].) In v. 21, does Jacob assume that he is on an island? Why does Jacob connect his teaching to what his father taught (compare v. 23 with [[2 Ne 2:27|2 Ne 2:27-29]])?

* v. 20: "hang down our heads" Is this per chance an attempt to describe symptoms of depression?

* v. 24: What does Jacob mean when he says that it is only in and through the grace of God that we are saved after we are reconciled? How have we seen that explained in previous and later chapters? (Compare [[2 Ne 25:23]].)

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 10:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 10:21-25|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 11:1-8

2005-11-14T02:45:07Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 11:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 12:1-5|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

*Verse 8
The last sentence of the verse reads: "Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you '''and''' unto all men."
:Does this imply that the words of Isaiah can be applied to us personally as well as to the global winding up of this life?

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

== Exegesis ==
In verse 8 Nephi tells us the reason that he is going to quote Isaiah. He tells us that the reason he is doingth is so that on reading these words we may lift up our hearts and rejoice for all men.
:Usually reading something would make us rejoice just for ourselves--our own circumstances and purposes. Here what we read is so wonderful that we will rejoice for the whole world!

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 11:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 12:1-5|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 11:1-8

2005-11-14T02:42:37Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 11:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 12:1-5|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

*Verse 8
The last sentence of the verse reads: "Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you '''and''' unto all men."
:Does this imply that the words of Isaiah can be applied to us personally as well as to the global winding up of this life?

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

== Exegesis ==
In verse 8 Nephi tells us the reason that he is going to quote Isaiah. He tells us that the reason he is doingth is so that on reading these words we may lift up our hearts and rejoice for all men.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 11:1-5|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 12:1-5|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 25:16-20

2005-11-12T16:02:09Z

RM Matheson: /* Verse 20 */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 25:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 25:21-25|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

*Verse 20
Why do you think Nephi uses the term "the nations"? Wasn't the brass serpent incident a personal thing? Individuals were bitten, not really nations, right?

== 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''

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 25:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 25:21-25|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 25:16-20

2005-11-12T16:00:13Z

RM Matheson: /* Verse 20 */

Talk:2 Ne 25:16-20

2005-11-12T15:59:56Z

RM Matheson:

2 Ne 25:16-20

2005-11-12T15:55:26Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 25:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 25:21-25|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

== Verse 20 ==

Why do you think Nephi uses the term "the nations"? Wasn't the brass serpent incident a personal thing? Individuals were bitten, not really nations, right?

== 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''
== Verse 20 ==

Scriptures using the phrase "none other name" seem to be quite familiar. So it was surprising to only find it in 3 verses; one each in the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants.
:Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
:D&C 18: 23 Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 25:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 25:21-25|Next]]
|}

2 Ne 25:16-20

2005-11-12T15:53:05Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 25:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 25:21-25|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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''
== Verse 20 ==

Scriptures using the phrase "none other name" seem to be quite familiar. So it was surprising to only find it in 3 verses; one each in the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants.
:Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
:D&C 18: 23 Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[2 Ne 25:11-15|Previous]] || [[2 Ne 25:21-25|Next]]
|}

Enos 1:6-10

2005-11-12T05:05:59Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[Enos 1:1-5|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:11-15|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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 ==

== Verse 8 ==

In verse 8 the Lord tells Enos that it is because of his faith in Christ that he is forgiven. We might think that knowledge of the principles upon which the Lord forgives sins is necessary in order to have faith sufficient to be forgiven. But when Enos's sins were forgive he asks the Lord how this is possible. This suggests that Enos didn't already know the Lord's answer--that it is because of faith in Christ that we can be forgiven.

== Verse 8 ==
God's use of the phrase "thy faith hath made thee whole" is used here approximately 500 years before its employment in 5 verses in the Gospels.
:Matt. 9: 22 be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Mark 5: 34 Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 10: 52 Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.
Luke 8: 48 Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Luke 17: 19 Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Enos 1:1-5|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:11-15|Next]]
|}

Enos 1:1-5

2005-11-12T04:57:20Z

RM Matheson: /* Verse 4 */

{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

== Verse 4 ==

"and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens." Did he do something differently in his prayer style at night that finally he 'reached the heavens' that he wasn't doing during his earlier daytime 'mighty prayer and supplication?'

== Verses 5 & 6 ==

5 '''thy sins''' are forgiven thee,
:6 wherefore, '''my guilt''' was swept away.
:Does this imply some special close link between 'guilt' and 'sins'? Is he implying that they are synonymous?

== 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''

== Verse 2 ==

Notice in verse two there are two "before's." [Not related to 2 by 4 :) ] One before refers to physical location and the other to chronological location. Notice that it doesn’t say the wrestle was “with God.”
:There are five other verses in the scriptures that use a form of the word wrestle:
Gen. 30: 8 With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister,
Gen. 32: 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him
Gen. 32: 25 and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Eph. 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against … spiritual wickedness
Alma 8: 10 Alma labored much in the spirit, '''wrestling with God in mighty prayer'''.

Note that the other wrestle verse from the Book of Mormon uses the preposition "with" and it is also in a prayer context.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}

Enos 1:1-5

2005-11-12T04:49:45Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

== Verse 4 ==

"and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens." Did he do something differently in his prayer style at night that finally he 'reached the heavens' that he wasn't doing during his earlier daytime 'mighty prayer and supplication?'

== 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''

== Verse 2 ==

Notice in verse two there are two "before's." [Not related to 2 by 4 :) ] One before refers to physical location and the other to chronological location. Notice that it doesn’t say the wrestle was “with God.”
:There are five other verses in the scriptures that use a form of the word wrestle:
Gen. 30: 8 With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister,
Gen. 32: 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him
Gen. 32: 25 and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Eph. 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against … spiritual wickedness
Alma 8: 10 Alma labored much in the spirit, '''wrestling with God in mighty prayer'''.

Note that the other wrestle verse from the Book of Mormon uses the preposition "with" and it is also in a prayer context.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}

Enos 1:1-5

2005-11-12T04:48:22Z

RM Matheson: /* Questions */

{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''

== Verse 4 ==

"and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens." Did he do something differently in his prayer style at night that finally he 'reached the heavens' that he wasn't doing during his earlier daytime 'mighty prayer and supplication?'

== 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''
Notice in verse two there are two "before's." [Not related to 2 by 4 :) ] One before refers to physical location and the other to chronological location. Notice that it doesn’t say the wrestle was “with God.”
:There are five other verses in the scriptures that use a form of the word wrestle:
Gen. 30: 8 With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister,
Gen. 32: 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him
Gen. 32: 25 and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Eph. 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against … spiritual wickedness
Alma 8: 10 Alma labored much in the spirit, '''wrestling with God in mighty prayer'''.

Note that the other wrestle verse from the Book of Mormon uses the preposition "with" and it is also in a prayer context.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}

Enos 1:1-5

2005-11-12T04:34:53Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''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''
Notice in verse two there are two "before's." [Not related to 2 by 4 :) ] One before refers to physical location and the other to chronological location. Notice that it doesn’t say the wrestle was “with God.”
:There are five other verses in the scriptures that use a form of the word wrestle:
Gen. 30: 8 With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister,
Gen. 32: 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him
Gen. 32: 25 and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Eph. 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against … spiritual wickedness
Alma 8: 10 Alma labored much in the spirit, '''wrestling with God in mighty prayer'''.

Note that the other wrestle verse from the Book of Mormon uses the preposition "with" and it is also in a prayer context.

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Jacob 7:21-27|Previous]] || [[Enos 1:6-10|Next]]
|}

User:RM Matheson

2005-11-11T00:43:29Z

RM Matheson:

I am happy to find this site. Thanks to all who have worked to get it going.

I have a doctorate in Organizational Leadership, an MBA from Harvard Bus; and BS in Chem Eng. from the U. of Utah. My dissertation was on honesty practices of business leaders.

I do most of my scripture study online so this site complements my daily study. I had an article on my online study approach published in the Religious Educator this year. Vol 6 No 2, pp 63-68. I don't think it is available online.

I think this website helps to fulfill President Benson’s request: “I challenge our Church writers, teachers, and leaders to tell us more Book of Mormon conversion stories that will strengthen our faith and prepare great missionaries. '''Show us how to effectively use it''' as a missionary tool, and let us know how it leads us to Christ and answers our personal problems and those of the world.” Ezra Taft Benson, “Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon,” in Ensign, Nov. 1988, 4.

My testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon has deepened as I have immersed myself in studying its wonderful doctrines and themes. This is a book from God that becomes richer and more profound as we diligently and creatively study it.

User:Matthewfaulconer

2005-11-11T00:23:31Z

RM Matheson: /* Site issues I am thinking about */

Feel free to leave comments for me on the discussion page. Don't forget to sign and date your comments there. You can do that by typing <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>.

==My subpages==
* [[/On Jacob 5]]

==Content I want to work on next==
* Work more on commentary about scriptures with a promise to see God (e.g. [[D&C 67:10]], [[D&C 97:16]], [[Ex 33:20]], [[Ex 33:21-23]], [[D&C 88:46-50]], [[Job 19:26]])
* Edit [[Alma 13]]. (I still feel like there is a lot there that is begging to be added to.)
* Look at examples in the scriptures of how hatred of evil can help people and how it can hurt people. (See commentary and discussion on [[Gen 3:15]] and [[3 Ne 7:11]]. See also similar concept where the Lord makes the Lamanites loathsome to the Nephites [[2 Ne 5:22]]). Other scriptures: [[Rom 12:9]], [[Rom 12:19|Rom 12:19-21]], [[Prov 20:22]]. See also TG [http://scriptures.lds.org/tgr/rtrbtn retribution] and [http://scriptures.lds.org/tgf/frbrfrbr forebearance].
* How are we to understand cases where a scripture is given and in that scripture a word is used that has meaning in the language of the people to whom the scripture is given; but then, through revelation a different definition of the word is given later? (examples, son of man, eternity, endless) Maybe the prophecy about Elijah coming is another example of this since the prophecy is fulfilled through the coming of John the Baptist.
* Look at those scriptures that suggest we shouldn't prepare ahead, that we should be dependent on the Lord. Compare those with scriptures that say or show we should work for the things we pray for. Also, the scripture in the D&C about how Christ learned grace upon grace might be helpful here. Also see [[Jacob 4:7]].

==Site issues I am thinking about==
If the site weren't going well, I wouldn't want any new users to come to the site. I'd be afraid they would only further cement the problems we have. But the site is doing well and I am glad to see new faces showing up. Still, I have been thinking of ways to make the site better.

Here are a few things that I am thinking about to make the site better.
* Issue: people aren't really sure where we are going with the site.
::Possible solution: A timeline
::I am thinking of a timeline that shows the things we plan to do (e.g. create a non-profit) without attaching specific dates to those things. Instead of dates there would be hurdles (like reaching a certain number of page views). This will help everyone know where we are headed. The con of putting a timeline out there is that it could reduce flexibility in the future. As we learn more, we will know better what our next steps should be and when it should be taken.
* Issue: the proper use of experts
::Though it is true that this site isn't a place for original scripture study research, it would be good to have participation from people who studying the scriptures as part of their profession. The content here should not become academic. Unlike the contents of a well-respected academic journal, the content here should be widely accessible. Even so, contributions from academics speaking on their own subjects would be good for the site. How do we create a culture or process that encourages these people to contribute more?
:::Ideas are part of what experts develop as their livelihood. If they share their ideas in this free-forum they are giving away some of their proprietary work that they could use in academic articles to further enhance their career. Thus, they are probably only inclined to share links and refer to what they have already published instead of sharing the "lightbulb idea" that occurred to them as they were following a wiki line of thinking.--[[User:RM Matheson|RM Matheson]] 00:23, 11 Nov 2005 (UTC)
* Issue: preventing arguments
::Whether you call a conversation "discussion," "debate," "argument," or "contention" reflects both what was done and how you felt about that. I hope, among other things, this site becomes a place for honest discussion--where people can help each other work their way toward better understanding. But if such discussions slip into anger, resentment or sport (i.e. winning the debate is the real motivation), I don't want to help facilitate that.
::To date we have had little problem with contention. What, if anything, should be done to guard against it?
* Issue: encouraging participation on the commentary pages
::How do we encourage people to participate more on the commentary pages? Some participation we do get on the commentary pages doesn't belong there. I don't think that is a big deal as long as people aren't willfully disregarding the [[Site:Policies]] and are cool with their content being moved to the proper place. But at the end of the day such content doesn't end up adding to the content on the commentary pages since it gets moved off. How do we build more content on the commentary pages?

==A little about me==
* I am married with 2 kids.
* I work at Wells Fargo. I manage a smattering of projects related to internal websites and transactional data.
* I graduated with an MBA from [http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/ The University of Texas at Austin] in 2001
* I graduated with a BA in Philosophy from [http://www.byu.edu BYU] in 1997
* I am an [[Site:Admins|admin]] for this site.

==Why I started this site==
There are several reasons that came together at once.
* [http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia] was an inspiration. When I first learned about Wikipedia I figured that a site where anyone can edit anything would lead to total chaos. But as I played around with Wikipedia I found rather orderly encyclopedic articles. I was amazed at what Wikipedia had to offer. But, I quickly realized that though I was enamored with the concept of a Wiki, I wasn't as interested in the content wikipedia provides--a bunch of encyclopedia articles.
* I thought a lot about (and read some about) the difference between blogs and wikis. The only blogs I read were LDS blogs. I found them to be often very interesting but they didn't provide exactly what I was looking for. So, partly I created this wiki hoping to provide something that I felt I wanted but didn't find anywhere. Particurly I want this site to be:
** less focused on people's opinions
** more focused on the gospel
** less about day-to-day chit-chat
** more about creating something lasting
** less a tool to aid in analyzing the Church (e.g. leadership, members, beliefs, politics, habits.)
** more a tool to aid in understanding the scriptures
** less introspective
** less controversial
** less meta...(e.g. less of what this page is all about)
** more of something like: [[1 Ne 11]]
* I was heavily influenced by my father's thought questions he sent out as part of preparation for teaching his sunday school class. (See below.)

==Special thanks to my dad==
* For helping me put some initial content on this site
* For teaching me over the years to focus on what scripture says
* For doing a mountain of preparation for his Sunday School lessons. The thought questions he sent out on a weekly basis were the basis for my thinking that something like this could work.

Talk:Alma 29:1-5

2005-11-10T23:25:08Z

RM Matheson: /* it is given according to his desires */

For the second question, which compares verses 3 & 6 to [[D&C 58:26|D&C 58:26-29]], here are my thoughts. I think the difficulty arises from a reading of this which suggests that we shouldn't go beyond what the Lord asks us to do.

As the question points out, [[D&C 58:26|D&C 58:26-29]] tells us we should go beyond what we are asked to do. But in what way does that passage tell us we should go beyond what we are asked to do? The passage tells us we should do good beyond that which the Lord tells us to do. But in this passage Alma tells us of a case where he desired to do something that he knew the Lord didn't want him to do. In that case, what he desired, though it seemed superfically good, was not at all good since it was in opposition to God's will--and he knew it.

I think there is another interesting question here but I can't quite figure out what it is. It is something about how to apply these verses. When should one of one own accord go preach to people. It is interesting to compare this to what the Sons of Mosiah did. One can't help but thinking that Alma's desire was in part fueled by their success. So then when Alma says his desire is a sin, one wonders why his reasons for thinking it is a sin didn't also apply to the Sons of Mosiah--who seem to decide on their own that they want to go teach the Lamanites.
It may be that we can't get a generalized principle out of this--that in one case the Spirit told the Sons of Mosiah that they should go preach, and in another case the Spirit tells Alma that this is not his job--that his job is to preach among his own people.

--[[User:Matthewfaulconer|Matthew Faulconer]] 00:53, 28 Sep 2005 (UTC)

== it is given according to his desires ==

I'm not posting this comment on the commentary page because I think this is something of a diversion from the main point.

I think it is interesting to compare verse 5 with [[Rom 7:15|Romans 7:15-25]]. Verse 5 tells us that we are free to choose according to our desire. But Paul in Romans tells us that we choose evil even when we desire good. I don't think there is a contradiction--I don't feel like they are contradictory. I think they are talking about a different type of choosing. But I don't have a good enough understanding to explain the difference and why they aren't contradictory. Can anyone else take a shot at this one? --[[User:Matthewfaulconer|Matthew Faulconer]] 06:44, 9 Nov 2005 (UTC)

I don't see how you concluded: "But Paul in Romans tells us that we choose evil even when we desire good." Can you make that interpretation a little more clear please?

When you mentioned “desire” in your commentary I thought of the link made in 3 Nephi between desire and prayer. I think you could substitute the action of ‘choose’ for ‘prayer’ in there and made a new analogy. 3 Nephi 19: 9 And they did pray [choose] for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them. 19: 24 and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray [choose]

Thus perhaps the way we are led to choose correctly is to have the influence of the Holy Ghost with us to align our choices with the divine best.

Mosiah 2:16-20

2005-11-10T23:05:06Z

RM Matheson: /* Exegesis */

{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 2:11-15|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 2:21-25|Next]]
|}
== Questions ==
* ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add questions''
2:17 Does the inclusion of the word "only" in this verse bug anyone else?

== 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''
The word "also" instead of the word "only" would better convey that when you serve others you are ALSO serving God -- instead of implying that "only God is benefitting."

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

----
{| width="20%"
| [[Mosiah 2:11-15|Previous]] || [[Mosiah 2:21-25|Next]]
|}