I am teaching a Book of Mormon class right now and am in Mormon this week.  A few years ago I was listening to a book by Tal Ben-Shahar called “Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment” and I was amazed at the parallels between the human behaviorContinue Reading

Alexander Neibaur’s testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel Alexander Neibaur was born in Ehrenbriestein, France on January 8, 1808 to Jewish parents. They were high class. His father was well educated: a physician, surgeon, and linguist. He wanted Alexander to grow up to be a rabbi, but at seventeen,Continue Reading

When we establish relationships of trust with others, we have a greater ability to affect change in society.  In the Book of Mormon, when Ammon established with King Lamoni that he really meant to serve the king, that he (Ammon) had Lamoni’s best interest in mind, Lamoni trusted him. ByContinue Reading

The Savior healing the leper is an opportunity to liken the scriptures to the youth.  Leprosy was a symbol for sin.  The fact that Jesus “immediately” healed the leper is significant (see Matthew 8:1-4).  The following quote from Frederic Farrar emphasizes the idea that Jesus is quick to forgive: AllContinue Reading

Much of the Sermon on the Mount has to do with our motives.  The Savior challenges us to have pure motives, to do things that are good, and to do them for the right reasons.  Sometimes young people wonder about the purpose of fasting. In Matthew 6 we read, “MoreoverContinue Reading

The Sermon on the Mount teachings principles which have many applications in the lives of young people.  Matthew 5 outlines 4 important ideals that we examined in class.  They are: 1.  Adultery & Divorce 2.  Honesty 3.  Retaliation & Violence 4.  How to deal with your adversary In each instance,Continue Reading

Matthew 4 deals with the conflict between Satan and the Savior.  A great question to ask in the beginning of class is, “How can I be strong when temptation comes?” After some time to reflect and write their responses, (hopefully) a class discussion will result.  I had students write aContinue Reading

Matthew 2 addresses two very teenage issues that are worthy of mention.  Most students have some conception of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.  They know he was born in a stable, laid in a manger, and that shepherds came to see him after his birth.  Some areContinue Reading

As we have read the beginning chapters of the New Testament, I am inspired by the attitude that Mary exhibited when she is told that she is to be the mother of the Son of God.  We can only imagine the way that others would have judged her, being inContinue Reading

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