Scripture Insight: Mosiah 2:21

I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath...

Discussion
I think the use of the word "lending" here is interesting. King Benjamin could have said "giving" but he didn't. He went with "lending" which has connections with owing something in return. The Lord provides us our lives here (our "breath") so that we can carry out his work. He doesn't just give it to us. He wants us to pay him back via our faith and dedication in Him and His work.

Scripture Insight: Mosiah 2:6

And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.

Discussion
So basically they were watching #ldsconf from the comfort of their own home before it was cool....who knew there were hipsters in the Book of Mormon?

Scripture Insight: 1 Nephi 16:5

And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord; insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness.

Discussion
Here we have Nephi talking about his knucklehead brothers Laman and Lemuel. He has just spoken many hard truths to them until the point of them humbling themselves. I think the most interesting piece of this scripture is where Nephi says "...I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness."

Despite all the hard hearts and stiffneckedness of his brothers, he still has faith in them. Time and time again they murmur against him and the Lord, heck, they go on to do 2-3 more times before the end of this chapter, even to the point of murderous intent. Yet Nephi is hopeful. I think this says a lot about him and his faith in the gospel's power to change the hearts of others.

The real question is, do we have that same faith as we work with those around us who appear to be struggling or even murmuring?

Scripture Insight: 4 Nephi 1: 1-2

1 And it came to pass that the thirty and fourth year passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost.

2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.

Discussion
This is taking place right after the Savior visited the Americas and the people there took hold of the message presented to them and believed in it. I think its interesting to see such a sharp contrast to how the people here responded compared to those in the New Testament because while there were many who believed and the church grew, there was also contention and persecution. Many of the Saints were killed because of their faith and yet here in the Americas everyone accepted it. I'm sure there are many factors to be considered in this, but its still interesting to note.