Many years ago I took my family to Lake Powell.  In many areas of the lake, there are rocks hidden just beneath the surface of the water.  If you are traveling in a boat at a high rate of speed and hit one of these rock formations, you could findContinue Reading

Elder Paul Johnson shared the following parable from Hugh Nibley in our satellite broadcast for seminary and institute teachers yesterday.  I wanted to post this portion of his talk.  I look forward to re-reading Elder Johnson’s remarks as I have found them to be relevant for our times. A youngContinue Reading

Ezekiel’s vision of the Lord is not unlike the vision John has in Revelation 4.  Both men see God on his throne, surrounded by heavenly attendants.  Both men describe lightning, brilliant light, creatures unknown to man, and a brilliant rainbow in the midst of the heavenly vision. We spent timeContinue Reading

Isaiah 29 deals with a prophecy of a book that is sealed.  Isaiah speaks of a time when the eyes of prophets, rulers, and seers are “covered”. From the text of Isaiah 29 we read: And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a abookContinue Reading

When teaching the Old Testament I find it useful to tie the teachings of these ancient prophets to the revelations of the restoration.  The Book of Mormon is an excellent key that can be used to unlock the Bible.  By teaching the words of Isaiah in concert with Nephi’s inspiredContinue Reading

The demands of justice The atonement of Jesus Christ: his suffering, death on the cross, and resurrection made it possible for all mankind to be resurrected and forgiven of their sins.  Occasionally I am asked why Jesus had to die.  A student recently asked why Jesus could not just forgiveContinue Reading

Today I was listening as my 13 year old son was explaining how Moroni felt that he had no writing skills.  I wondered where he got that impression and asked him.  “Right here, dad- see, it says, ‘and only a few have I written, because of my weakness in writing’ (EtherContinue Reading

A Scriptural Search for the Ten Tribes and Other Things We Lost Joseph Fielding McConkie (BYU, Annual Religious Education Faculty Summer Lecture, June 1987.) Nearly twenty years ago I was commissioned as a chaplain in the Army of the United States and given orders to attend a chaplains’ training schoolContinue Reading