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Making vessels tight like unto a dish. (Studying Ether 2.)

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Today I shared “The Answer of Lachoneus” by Minerva Teichert as we read 3 Nephi 3. So many great stories fail to be part of our collective church consciousness because we don’t have (or celebrate) the artwork to remember them by.

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Lego Challenge based on Helaman 5:12. (These two give me Burj Khalifa and Himeji Castle vibes.)

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Back teaching early morning seminary. I had the class do a role playing challenge where they shared scriptures as missionaries. They student they were “teaching” rolled a die to determine their personality, because on a mission you never know who you’re going to teach.

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Mormon includes summary headnotes in his abridgments of Alma, Helaman, 3 & 4 Nephi. There is no summary headnote for Mosiah. Likely because the first couple chapters of this book were part of the lost 116 pages. We were dangerously close to losing King Benjamin's sermon.

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Studying Mosiah 2:17, I encouraged my class to visit https://t.co/hOMmYLaVD0 and discuss it with their families and YW/YM groups. It's a great tool that's too often underused. #justserve @JustServe

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Studying the Allegory of the Olive Trees (Jacob 5), I invited my class to try Castelvetrano olives. I also brought olive oil, balsamic vinegar and parmesan, knowing there'd be a few balkers. I'm proud of those brave enough to try something new. Especially so early in the morning.

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On Sunday, Pres. Nelson invited us to carefully consider how 1) the gathering of Israel, 2) the gospel of Abraham, and 3) the sealing power are further evidence that God loves all of His children everywhere. Studying Jacob 5 is a great place to start carefully considering all 3.

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The 3 primary wicked practices of Jacob’s time (according to Jacob 1:15-16):
1) polygamy
2) greed
3) pride (fueled by 1&2)
Consider how each of these led and lead people “to grow hard in their hearts.”

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I think I'm doing ok following Jesus. Then I get to Jacob 2:17, and the wheels come off: "Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you." We all need to act on this with greater regularity.

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For this morning’s Easter devotional, we watched this short video. What are the messages we are willing to run to share?
https://t.co/Lz4r8ruTE7

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This week, we're beginning each class with a short Easter-centric devotional. Today we watched President Nelson's message from 2022 on the peace and hope Christ offers. Pay attention to the invitations. https://t.co/1MrmMm2Ota

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Nephi loves plainness. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines this at “honest.” So 2 Nephi 31:3...“I shall speak unto you honestly, according to the honesty of my prophesying. For my should delighteth in honesty; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men.”

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In 2 Nephi 21, it's clear Isaiah isn't as concerned with chronology as we are. He jumps from Christ's ministry to the Millennium then back to the Restoration and the Second Coming and then to the gathering of Israel. And he calls it all "in that day." Our problem, not Isaiah's.

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Not part of our lesson, but this morning I was struck by how much Isaiah reads like Walt Whitman when using the Grant Hardy’s Reader’s Edition. Lots of comparisons to explore here.

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Separation and return is repeated over and over in the scriptures. 2 Nephi 6-10 remind us who causes the separation, and Who always makes the return possible.

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In 2 Nephi 6:2, Jacob says he was both "ordained" and "consecrated." We often use these interchangeably, but there is an important distinction. Ordain is to appoint. Consecrate is to make holy. Ordination comes by invitation. Consecration comes by effort.

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The power and poetry of Nephi’s Psalm (2 Nephi 4) is clearer in Grant Hardy’s Reader’s Edition of the BoM. The visual cues Nephi uses show he carefully crafted his testimony. He put effort into it. Have you ever tried deliberately crafting and beautifying your testimony?

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Reading 2 Nephi 3 (esp. v 15), it’s worth remembering that Joseph Smith, Jr. had two older brothers (Alvin & Hyrum). Interesting that his parents would give the title to son number 3.

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The darkest part of my morning run passes through a thicket of trees. I've seen coyotes here. Creepy. But from here, the path goes up and into the light. Makes me think of 2 Nephi 2:2 - the Lord consecrates our afflictions for our gain. Also verse 11 - opposition in all things.