Insights and realizations from teaching Gospel Doctrine yesterday….--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support

Lehi is clinging onto the promises made to Joseph in Egypt….--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support

This has never occurred to me before…--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support

Lehi tried to convince his family that the scattering and gathering of Israel was real - that they were LIVING it. President Nelson is doing the same today…--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support…

1 Nephi 8: The Process by Which We Gain Salvation--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support

1 Nephi 7: How Is It That Ye Have Forgotten?--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support

Lehi and Sariah’s marriage challenges. Lehi’s genealogy and example. Nephi’s purpose in writing. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support

1 Nephi 3-4--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/support

What was Israel like in Lehi’s day? What were the prophets actually saying? How does the Book of Mormon change if we view it as one man’s personal revelation for his family (at least in the beginning)?--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everydayconversion/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/p…

I wish I had paid more attention to Mosiah 26 when I was serving as a bishop. There is SO MUCH in this chapter that can help us in our day to day lives as we strive to hear Christ's voice, repent and draw nearer to Him. There's also a lot that can be learned about Church discipline and its role in helping members repent and draw nearer to the Savio…

You may have heard the phrase, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." Well, King Zeniff's people are a perfect example of this statement...they went up to battle the Lamanites "...in the strength of the Lord", but only after they'd prepared in every way possible. In today's episode we talk about the importance of doing our part and utilizing t…

As I have been studying this week a single question kept coming back to me... How in the heck did Limhi become such a righteous king, when his father was one of the most notorious men and rulers mentioned in the Book of Mormon? I've spent several days asking myself that exact question and going back through the scriptures to learn what kind of man …

I didn't feel like studying today. I think it's important to acknowledge that we won't always WANT to study...we won't always FEEL like reading the scriptures. But we do it anyway. Because we're commanded to...and we know that it will help us in our lives - both immediately and long term. I talk about that in today's episode, as well as talking abo…

Mosiah 4 is packed with awesome information. In today's episode we talk about the importance of ongoing and consistent action. I also share a quote from Brigham Young that I absolutely love that ties in with King Benjamin's counsel about imparting of your substance to others. Get the links to everything we talk about in this episode at https://www.…

As I read Mosiah 3 I realized something that had never occurred to me before...practically this entire chapter is a direct quote from an angel of the Lord to King Benjamin! That makes what is said even more amazing! It is exactly what the Lord wanted to be told to Benjamin! In this episode I share some of my favorite parts of this chapter - includi…

Never before when I've read Mosiah 2 did I realize how clearly and concisely King Benjamin teaches the doctrine of the atonement. As I read it this time, I was blown away at how clearly he teaches that salvation is a free gift and that there is nothing we can do to merit salvation on our own. I also learned (or rather, re-learned) that our keeping …

As I read through Mosiah 1, I had some very interesting thoughts. The most pressing, was the thought that King Benjamin spent his entire life trying to get his people to the point where they could make a national covenant with their God. I share more about this in the episode, including the books that I've read that first opened my eyes to the idea…

The Book of Mormon is a TREASURE when it comes to learning about Jesus Christ and His atonement. As I prepare for Easter this week, I started going through all the references to the atonement found in the Book of Mormon. In today's episode, I share some scattered thoughts about the atonement that I had as I studied this morning. There really isn't …

For my personal study today, I spent some time reviewing my notes from each General Conference session. As I did so, I noticed a theme - receiving revelation. So I decided to distill down the keys to receiving revelation that I learned from the April 2020 General Conference. In today's episode I share some of those keys that I learned as I looked t…

In this episode I share some of my thought about what we heard in the April 2020 General Conference. This Conference truly was memorable and unforgettable for me personally. I was left with no doubt in my mind that revelation and the Restoration are ongoing and happening in the present tense. Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https…

As I continue to prepare for Conference, I asked the question, "What can I learn about receiving revelation from Joseph Smith's experience?" As I read through Joseph Smith History, I applied the keys to revelation that I had previously discovered in 1 Nephi 11 to Joseph's experience to see if I could identify those same keys...and I did. But I ALSO…

Sometimes when you ask Heavenly Father a question in prayer, the answer comes almost instantly. This morning was one of those times. I asked what He wanted me to know prior to General Conference and I got a somewhat unexpected answer. It was clear to me that it was, indeed, the answer to my prayer and that I needed to act on it. In this episode I s…

Have you read President Nelson's article in the April 2020 Ensign? It is available now on the Church's website and it is amazing. In today's episode, in preparation for the upcoming General Conference, I read this article and it was eye-opening and confirmed again to me that we are truly led by a prophet of God. Listen to the parts that stuck out t…

Words of Mormon is a very unique addition to the Book of Mormon. Essentially, it's an insight into WHY everything before it was included in the Book of Mormon. It also reminded me of the logistical miracle that IS the Book of Mormon. I go into this in depth in the episode, but just think of everything that had to work just right in order for us to …

Today's episode covers the remainder of the book of Enos, as well as the books of Jarom and Omni. One of the most profound things I learned as I read these books was how the different groups in the Book of Mormon intersect and interacted with each other. It really is interesting! Also - I had the thought that our allegiance needs to be to the truth…

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said once, "Salvation is not a cheap experience." And if anyone exemplifies that sentiment, it is Enos and his determination to pray all day and all night to receive a remission of his sins. In today's episode I share more of Elder Holland's quote, as well as looking at Enos' life - who he was and what he did that allowed h…

As I finished my study of Jacob 5 today, I noticed a few things that I had not noticed before. Things specifically about the Restoration of the Gospel and how involved the Lord is in His work in our day. I also appreciated reading what Jacob felt was most important about Zenos' allegory in Jacob 6. Listen to today's episode to hear more of what I l…

What is the key ingredient to bringing forth good fruit? As I studied the beginning of Jacob 5 today, I had some insights that I had never had before regarding this question. I've always only associated the type of ground or soil with being the determining factor in bringing forth good fruit, but my studies today turned that on it's head! We talk a…

Nephi warns about esteeming things of value as naught in 2 Nephi 33... ...which got me to thinking about how we are invited to do things or make changes today by our leaders. They are often quiet and subtle invitations, rather than a loud, booming "Thus saith the Lord!" So are we listening to those invitations? Do we even hear them when they come? …

I was led to ask a sobering question during my study this morning... "Where do I shut the Lord out of my life?" That is a sobering question. And it came from reading Nephi's pleading in 2 Nephi 32 for us to pray always, before we do ANYTHING! Listen to this episode to learn more about what led me to ask this questions of myself. Get all the resourc…

My study of 2 Nephi 30 provided some wonderful insights with regards to covenants and promises. But, the BIGGER insight was an insight about how Satan gains and maintains his power and leverage in our personal lives. Once you understand how he derives his power over us, the Gospel plan makes more sense and you realize why Christ asks us to do what …

Faith is one of the first principles of the Gospel, and it is indispensable to our salvation. But, the Lord frequently proves things to His children as well. 2 Nephi 29 is a great example of that. The Lord clearly proves through multiple arguments that not only did He cause the Book of Mormon to be written, but that it is well within His ability an…

Brigham Young is quoted as saying, “The worst fear that I have about [members of this Church] is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell." Nephi seems to concur and think that "carnal security" and thinking that "all is well" is one of the biggest challenges t…

Two themes really stuck out to me as I studied 2 Nephi 26 and 27. The first was the prophecies regarding the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The second was a reminder that God has not ceased to talk to man...and while the prophet today may not say "thus saith the Lord" or translate a new record from ancient sources...he COULD. Those keys and re…

There are some chapters in the Book of Mormon that seem to be pivotal chapters. Chapters that are quoted more often than others. Chapters that, when someone mentions them, we say "Ohhh, that's a great chapter!" Chapters that we seem go to, in order to answer questions and strengthen our testimonies. In today's episode, I share why I think those cha…

I had a massive realization as I studied this morning... And the realization became even MORE significant to me as I recorded this episode. You cannot have physical freedom without first internalizing and accepting spiritual freedom through the atonement. It's a pattern that is repeated throughout the scriptures over and over again! Listen to today…

In this episode we review 2 Nephi 11-15 and there is a LOT to review. We talk about the three witnesses present at the beginning of the Book of Mormon and the importance of being worthy to attend (and actually attending) the temple. I share a new insight to the allegory of Israel being a vineyard and the Lord being the owner of the vineyard. And we…

In 2 Nephi 10, Jacob focuses heavily on the fulfilling of His promises and the gathering of Israel. In connection with those events, Jacob quotes many of the promises and prophecies of the Lord regarding the promise land. We dig into the words of Jacob about the gathering, as well as a few things that President Nelson has said in the past few years…

As I finished my study of 2 Nephi 9, I had an interesting observation. I realized that just because the Book of Mormon says over and over that the "wicked take the truth to be hard", that doesn't mean that only the wicked are corrected or chastised by the Lord. We are ALL corrected and chastised...the difference is how we respond to that chastiseme…

As Jacob begins his discourse in 2 Nephi 9, he teaches almost exclusively the Plan of Salvation. But as I started reading it, there was one theme within the Plan of Salvation that I kept coming back to. It's exactly what the Savior says in Matthew 11 - "Come unto me." And exactly what he says in 3 Nephi 10 - "How oft would I have gathered you." And…

Apparently the prophecies and words of Isaiah in Isaiah 49-51 are extremely important. Nephi quoted Isaiah 49 himself at the end of 1 Nephi, and then, he asked Jacob to quote the same scriptures in 2 Nephi 6. I guess we should probably pay attention! In today's episode we read about all the effort the Lord puts into trying to reach out to us and sa…

As I studied 2 Nephi 4 this morning, I was blown away as I realized several things that I'd never realized before. The BIGGEST thing that changed during my study this time is that I didn't read "Nephi's Psalm" in isolation. I realized that as Nephi wrote this...he was dealing with newly becoming the leader of his family, the spiritual leader as the…

Satan has done a good job and completely changing the paradigm around our decisions. I hear people say things like "there's no good choice" or that they have to choose between "the lesser of two evils." Satan has convinced us that that is our choice...the problem is, that is NOT our choice. Lehi clearly states that the choice is between "liberty an…

During my study I realized that I really wish there was a verse-by-verse commentary of the book of Isaiah, written by the prophet Nephi. Seriously. He makes Isaiah SO MUCH easier to understand! In this episode we look at 1 Nephi 20-22. Chapters 20 and 21 are Nephi quoting Isaiah, and 22 is Nephi breaking down exactly what Isaiah is talking about...…

As I read through 1 Nephi 19 today, I realized that the main theme of the entire chapter could be boiled down into 2 words... Everlasting Covenant. That really is what the chapter is all about - so much so that I wrote that next to the chapter heading in my scriptures... "All about the Everlasting Covenant" I also found three phrases that trigger m…

As I studied 1 Nephi 17, I realized that a phrase that Lord uses in 2 Nephi could adequately describe what He taught Lehi and Nephi over and over and what he tried to teach Laman and Lemuel over and over... And, quite honestly, what He tries to teach all His children throughout the scriptures and even today. "I am able to do mine own work." In othe…

Why did Lehi even NEED the Liahona? That's the question that started my studies today. But, what my studies ended with was much more powerful and more applicable in my life. And that's what I talk about in today's episode. Listen now. Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom18 --- Send in a voice mes…

What is the difference between Lehi and Nephi's testimonies and that of Laman and Lemuel? I believe the answer is found in 1 Nephi 15...and it comes down to this simple phrase: "Those who pay, pay attention." I first heard that from my friend, Jon Workman with regards to business and marketing, but I believe it applies well to Laman and Lemuel. The…

How do you help your children learn to receive and, more importantly, recognize revelation? That's the question that has been on my mind for the last 24 hours. It's easy to TELL our kids how the Spirit feels and how he speaks to us...but is that what we should be doing? I've come to realize that taking the time to help our children learn the proces…

This episode was a tough one to get through. As I studied 1 Nephi 12-13, I had some great thoughts and ideas come to me with regards to what Nephi saw when the descendants of the Lamanites were "...scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten." That led me to reread the account of James S. Brown's (grandfather to former member of the First Presid…