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Abraham

Jacob’s Blessings

God didn’t just bless Abraham. He also empowered him to bless others. As we serve individuals and families within our sphere of influence, we contribute to God’s work of uplifting all of His children, one individual and one family at a time.

Gifts

Over the Wall

Addition sometimes results in separation. Joseph’s unique gifts resulted in being distanced from his family. But ultimately, God led him to Egypt to give him and his family even greater blessings. Separation can stretch us and enable God to bless us and others more abundantly.

Agency

“It Was Not You That Sent Me Hither, But God”

Joseph explained to his brothers that their harmful decision to sell him into slavery had actually helped God fulfill His purposes for their family. Through His perfect knowledge, God accomplishes His goals for His children not only in spite of their choices, but through them.

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COME, FOLLOW ME

  • “I Have Remembered My Covenant”

    “The Finding of Moses,” by Lawrence Alma-Tadema

    A covenant isn’t just a legal contract. It’s a changed relationship, and it can have intergenerational implications.

    The author of Exodus tells us that when the descendants of Israel prayed desperately for relief from their suffering as slaves in Egypt, “God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24). He had promised great blessings to Abraham’s posterity, so remembering the covenant included blessing the current generation. The deliverance came in the form of a prophet who was miraculously prepared to be their liberator: born a Hebrew but raised in Pharaoh’s palace (Exodus 2:1-10), sympathetic to the plight of his people (Exodus 2:11-15), slow of speech but strengthened by God (Exodus 4:10-12).

    His name, Moses, means “he who was drawn out.” Pharaoh’s daughter gave him that name because she “drew him out” of the water (Exodus 2:10), but the name is appropriate to his prophetic mission. Like the helpless baby pulled from the water and raised in Pharaoh’s court, Moses was chosen by God to perform a monumental mission, far beyond his vision for himself. When God called him to set Israel free, he had three objections:

    1. Identity: “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)
    2. Authority: “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13).
    3. Ability: “I am not eloquent, … but I am slow of speech” (Exodus 4:10).

    God answered all three concerns. He would be with Moses. He would strengthen Moses and enable him to fulfill his miraculous mission, because of the covenant He made with their ancestors (Exodus 6:1-8).

    One of the purposes of the Book of Mormon is for its readers to “know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever” (Title Page). Several places in the book, prophets and the Savior Himself promise us that God will remember His covenant with Abraham (1 Nephi 17:40; 19:15; 2 Nephi 3:21; 29:1, 14; 3 Nephi 16:11-12; 20:29; 29:3, 8; Mormon 5:20; 8:23; 9:37; Ether 4:15).

    This week, as we study the birth and calling of Moses, let’s watch how God fulfilled his covenants in liberating Israel. That increased understanding will help us understand how God will fulfill His covenants in our lives.

FEATURED POSTS

  • A Hundredth Part: Mormon’s Editorial Decisions

    A Hundredth Part: Mormon’s Editorial Decisions

    Book of Mormon authors made it clear how much they were leaving out as they wrote this “abridgment” of their history. Here’s a diagram showing how many words are dedicated to each of the 103 decades in the book.

  • Jesus Christ’s Sermon at the Temple in Bountiful – 3 Nephi 12-16, 20-22

    Jesus Christ’s Sermon at the Temple in Bountiful – 3 Nephi 12-16, 20-22

    Following His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ visited a group of people in the Americas. He taught them principles to help them deepen their discipleship, and He expanded their perspective by teaching them about God’s global, multigenerational work.

  • Names and Titles of Jesus Christ

    Names and Titles of Jesus Christ

    In March, 2019, I studied 20 different names or titles of Jesus Christ which appear in the Book of Mormon. I was particularly interested in the way each name was used, both in the Book of Mormon and in the Bible.