Value: Love, Charity 

Definition: God’s love for mankind; man’s devotion to or adoration of God; goodwill; kindness; generosity; helpfulness; tolerance; patience 

Vital Verses

• “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” – Matthew 22:36-40
• “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for behold he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.” ­– 2 Nephi 26:24

Scriptural Example 

How do you even begin to break down the scriptural references on the topic of love and charity? The gospel of Christ is founded on love. We could go with one of everyone’s favorite verses, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Today's article is another installment in Sister Alena X. Ricci's series on the women of the Bible.

I wonder how many people reading this blog article right now have heard this story in the context of feet washing — that some sinful woman from off the street washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. 

And that is such an amazing and important part of the story, but I want to focus on a couple of different things here in this story.

In researching this story, and in reading it over and over again, I realized that the theme of this woman’s life was dealing with deep grace.

This is not a casual story of grace, of bumping into someone and mumbling a quick apology, but of an absolute surrender and absolute forgiveness.

This is deep grace.

Value: Duty 

Definition:

• Carrying out assignments; supporting the body; fulfilling tasks, particularly when challenged by lack of understanding or excitement
• To follow customs, regulations and institutional codes out of a sense of duty
• A required act or course of action; moral obligation

Vital Verses

• “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” – Daniel 1:8
• “And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.” – Alma 24:19

Scriptural Examples 

Daniel and his three friends were taken captive and carried into Babylon. There, the King commanded that they eat his meat and drink his wine. But these boys refused to defile themselves with this food, despite the urging of their overseer who feared he would be executed for their poor health. After 10 days, however, not only were they healthier and stronger than their counterparts, but God honored their integrity by blessing them with knowledge, skill, and wisdom.

When someone is placed "on special assignment," it means that they've been taken away from their regular duties and given something else to do — presumably, a task or project of great importance that requires the person to give it their full attention and focus.

In 3 Nephi 28, Jesus places three of His 12 disciples on special assignment. It all begins when He gives each of the 12 disciples in America the opportunity to make a special request of Him. Nine of them choose to live to the age of 72 and then to leave this life and go immediately to be with Jesus in His kingdom. The other three have an unusual request — they so strongly desire to bring souls to Christ that they want to remain on earth and continue doing this until the time that Jesus comes again.

These three are hesitant to actually make this request — not knowing that the opportunity for such a special assignment even exists — but Jesus discerns their thoughts and grants them this desire. Once the desire is expressed, there is no turning back; their bodies are transfigured or converted into a different form. Their new bodies will never die, and they are now free to focus on their special assignment of bringing souls to Christ.

Value: Rights, Respect 

Definition

• Rights: Things due a person by law or tradition
• Respect: Holding another’s rights or person in high esteem

Vital Verses

• "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." – 1 Peter 2:27
• "Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden." – 2 Nephi 26:28

Scriptural Example 

Moroni was angry as he wrote to Pahoran. His armies were losing ground at the front, while the government repeatedly ignored their petitions for men and supplies. In his stern epistle, Moroni demanded an explanation for this lack of action and made some not-so-subtle accusations. The freedom and rights of the people were at stake, and Moroni was ready to march to Zarahemla, if necessary, to root out the problem.

Value: Hope 

Definition: A confident expectation of fulfillment 

Vital Verses

• "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." – Hebrews 6:19
• "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope." – Moroni 7:41-42

Scriptural Example 

While there are many scriptural examples to choose from, Abraham’s display of hope stands out. At the age of 75, God promised Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens. There was only one problem. Sarah was barren and Abraham was, well, old.

Today's article is another installment in Sister Alena X. Ricci's series on the women of the Bible.

The widow of Zarephath is probably a familiar figure to many of you. She is the woman who gave everything she had to make Elijah a meal. 

She’s a common example of serious faith, a faith and a mind open to anything.

Her life reflects God’s goodness.

Her story is a “simple” one. Elijah comes to her and requests food, and she tells him that she is about to make her last meal for herself and her son before they die of starvation. But she gives Elijah food anyway, and then her little supply of flour and oil never runs dry.

Value: Righteousness 

Definition: Meeting the standards of Right in the eyes of Christ 

Vital Verses

• "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." – Proverbs 11:30
• "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost." – 3 Nephi 12:6

Scriptural Example 

One of the wonderful men who exemplify righteousness in scripture is King Benjamin. Here was a man who had the duty to govern a people who were rarely righteous. They constantly departed from the ways of God and could not hold to His standards. Yet in the Words of Mormon it says he was “a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness” (v.17). He was able to serve the people with his own hands and exemplify Christ to his subjects. Through his righteous example, he was able to lead many of his people to Jesus Christ. 

3 Nephi 27 is a chapter that's remembered because it's the one where Jesus tells His disciples what to name the church. His logic is impeccable:

• Whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name (verse 7)
• If [the church] be called in the name of a man, then it be the church of a man (verse 8)
• If it be called in my name, then it is my church (verse 8)

Based on the above, it's a no-brainer why our church is called The Church of Jesus Christ. However, it surely has to be more than just a name that defines the Lord's Church. And there is more — Jesus adds the following caveat to the above: "It is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel" (verse 8).

What does it mean to be built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ? Let's go through the characteristics that Jesus lists in this chapter that define what is meant by His gospel:

Value: Unity 

Definition: Oneness; harmony; continuity without contention; brotherhood 

Vital Verses

• “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10
• “And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.” – Mosiah 18:21

Scriptural Example 

When we think of unity, we often think of everyone having the same job or acting in the same manner. But, in 1 Corinthians 12, Apostle Paul explains to the people of Corinth that unity doesn’t have to be thought of as “sameness or being identical,” but rather all working together for the same purpose.

Value: Congruence 

Definition: Doing the things we say we should/will do. Making our actions prove out our claims: our yeas, yeas and our nays, nays. 

Vital Verses

• “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not theyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?” – Romans 2:21
• “And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses, why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against the people, yea, even a great evil against this people?” – Mosiah 12:29

Scriptural Example 

There are many examples in the scriptures about Jesus teaching people to live in accordance with His teachings. A short example of this is with Mary and Martha. Jesus came to their house. Martha was flustered, trying to make sure everything was ready to be served to her guests, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him. Martha tried to get Jesus to tell Mary to help her, but Jesus told her that Mary was doing the right thing by listening to Him and His teachings. 

Today's article is another installment in Sister Alena X. Ricci's series on the women of the Bible.

Rachel is the beautiful, coveted sister. She is the one who you expect much of. But in her story, she experiences heartbreak. She wants children, and it is a long and difficult time before she gets them.

I’m going to focus on one verse in her story, Genesis 30:22. It is one of those verses that makes you stumble in your reading and pause, realizing how powerful this moment was for this woman.

Here was a woman who only wanted children, and she didn’t have them.

But verse 22 says that God remembered her.

Value: Honor 

Definition: Special esteem or respect, given or received 

Vital Verses 

• "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."  – I Corinthians 6:20
• "And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears." – 3 Nephi 17:10

Scriptural Example

The Word of God directs us to show honor toward a number of people: our parents, the aged, and those in authority. It speaks of the honor between a husband and wife in marriage and even of a group of people who are deserving of “double honor,” those who labor in furthering The Church. But we also understand that all honor belongs to God and His son Jesus Christ because God prepared a plan of salvation that included the sacrifice of His only Son for the sins of every man and woman. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). 

Typically, a loose tongue is an undesirable characteristic. It usually means you tend to gossip or can't keep a secret. "Loose tongues sink ships" is a saying meant to depict what happens when people say things that they should keep to themselves. (OK, I know the saying is really "Loose lips sink ships," but "tongues" is more accurate; it just doesn't rhyme with "ships" — work with me here.)

Anyway, as Jesus demonstrates in 3 Nephi 26, a loose tongue can actually be a good thing when it means that the person is enabled to speak words from God:

"And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people, and he loosed their tongues that they could utter." (3 Nephi 26:14)

Value: Leadership 

Definition: The capacity and ability to lead with appropriate urgency 

Vital Verses

• "Come now therefore, and I will send thee (Moses) unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt." – Exodus 3:10
• "And he (Moroni) fastened on his headplate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land." – Alma 46:19

Scriptural Example 

There are many leaders mentioned throughout scripture. Some were governmental, some were military, some spiritual, and some all of the above. One example is Moroni. He was a military and spiritual leader who, at age 25, was given command of all the Nephite armies. Moroni was a strong and mighty man, with a perfect understanding. He did not take joy in the shedding of blood but in the liberty and freedom of his country. It was said that if all men had been and were and ever would be like Moroni, the devil would have no power over the hearts of the children of men.