Posted in Atonement Book of Mormon Doctrine Grace Missionaries Repentance Stories War

The Glue of Forgiveness and the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (the People of Ammon)

As I ponder the many messages of Christmas, one in particular comes from a dramatic story in the Book of Mormon about a large group of Lamanites, the “Anti-Nephi-Lehies” or…

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Book of Mormon
Posted in Atonement Book of Mormon Doctrine Gospel of Jesus Christ Grace Jesus Christ language Problems Salvation

Saved by Grace “After All We Can Do”? Nephi’s Context of Reconciliation

2 Nephi 25:23 has the statement, “for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” Does this mean that salvation is a chore in which we do much of the work, or a transaction in which we pay as much of the price as we can, and Christ only steps in after all we have done or paid to make up the difference? Or does this actually mean that salvation is completely “apart from” if not unrelated to all that we can do? Or something else? I think a plausible answer comes through considering the context. 

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Worlds galore
Posted in Ancient Near East Atonement Creation Gospel of Jesus Christ Hebrew Scholarship Science Scripture

“Whole Worlds Are Full of His Glory”: Thoughts on a Passage from the Words of Gad the Seer

In a post on “The Words of Gad the Seer” and in a related book review for Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, I’ve shared the dramatic…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Atonement Baptism Book of Mormon covenants Doctrine Faith Gospel of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Restoration Salvation

Cherishing the Book of Mormon’s Teachings on the Fairness of God

One of the most spiritually and intellectually satisfying elements of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ the is fairness of God. Contrary to centuries of tragically misguided theology about the…

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Posted in Atonement Bible Book of Moses Christianity Doctrine Faith Fall Gospel of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Scripture

Adam and the Fall: God’s Plan Thwarted?

We’ve had a few comments recently from people who disagree with the LDS view of the plan of salvation, especially our understanding of the purpose of life and the destiny…

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