Mormon’s account of the heartbreaking martyrdom of Christian men, women, and children in Ammonihah serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing reality of Christian persecution in our world today. How can we draw strength from the examples of courageous brothers and sisters who have laid down their lives for Jesus Christ? Did Mormon intend to draw a parallel between the martyrs of Ammonihah and modern-day believers who face oppression in Communist regimes and other nations hostile to Christianity? Have prophets foretold future persecution in America? Explore these questions, watch powerful film clips, and be inspired by the faith-filled stories of modern disciples in this For Our Day lesson.

View the list of recommended movies and books on our website: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-26-martyrs-in-ammonihah-modern-christian-persecution/

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Host: L. Hannah Stoddard https://josephsmithfoundation.org/l-hannah-stoddard/

The Book of Mormon points out in Alma 10 that the foundation of the Nephite destruction was “laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.” (Alma 10:27) How does this apply to our day, or does it?

To find additional resources, visit the For Our Day website! https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-25-corrupt-lawyers-judges-silencing-the-christians/

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Host: L. Hannah Stoddard https://josephsmithfoundation.org/l-hannah-stoddard/

What does scripture say about the latter-day Nephite remnant? 

Doctrine and Covenants 3:16-17 reveals that Latter-day Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, and Zoramites will come to know Jesus Christ through the testimony "of their fathers." Do the great heroes of the Book of Mormon—Mormon, Moroni, Nephi, Captain Moroni, Abinadi, and others—have posterity alive today?

In this presentation, James and Hannah Stoddard walk through a small portion of the scriptural case for a worldwide Nephite remnant. Could Nephite descendants be found in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and more?

Special thanks to the FIRM Foundation for giving us permission to post this video from their September 2020 Book of Mormon Evidence conference!

Since the beginning of the Restoration, Latter-day prophets have spoken boldly against fallen and carnal aspects of our society, culture, and personal lives. The 20th century saw a rejection of many of these teachings and, in the words of Ezra Taft Benson, a lesser portion of the word was given. Are we prepared to learn of and remember these forgotten teachings? 

The Nephite church also struggled with pride and prophetic rejection. Rather than a dead form of religion, Alma taught the Nephites that we must truly be born again to overcome the effects of the Fall and the natural man. After being born of the Spirit, we must be continually renewed and progressively changed until we become like Jesus Christ and receive His image in our countenance. Regeneration through the Atonement and the Spirit of the Lord is the very heart of the Gospel for active members and all others. 

What have prophets taught us to change? Are we ready to accept redemption? The answers are simpler than we think!

As the Nephite Church grew and prospered, a segment of members began struggling with pride, vanity, and contention. Alma abandoned his political office—recognizing that preaching the word of God was the only solution to cause an awakening. Likewise, during the early days of the Church, leaders began to be afraid that many of the pioneers had become spiritually asleep. Learn the story of the "Mormon Reformation" and how Alma and latter-day prophets tackled the challenge of restoring purity among their saints.

The Book of Mormon is the most accurate work on government that we have. It is wonderful to study the words of the Constitution. It is great to read the words of the Founding Fathers as well as John Locke, Blackstone, Montesquieu, and others. But if we want to truly understand the very heart of our Constitutional law, we should study the Book of Mormon. It is the key to restoring liberty and law in our nation today.

Government is fundamental to salvation and individuals will be held accountable for all actions made in this regard (D&C 134: 1). When Christ came here to America, to the Nephites, he gave commentary on the teachings of Isaiah concerning the latter days. One of His major themes was the establishment of the government of the United States, the Constitutional government on this land. The Savior specifically and repeatedly taught that modern Israel would be established as a free people in the promised land. Both the Laws of Mosiah and the Constitutional Law on this land were brought forth by Godly and righteous men through inspiration from Heaven. Both were divinely approved of God.

It is no accident that all of the principles of the Laws of Mosiah can be found in the Constitutional law upon which this nation, the United States of America was established. In addition to the parallels in the establishment of these two governments, the enemies of these governments are also prophetically similar.

To find additional resources, visit the For Our Day website! Lesson 23: Mosiah’s Government of Liberty—Reign of Judges https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-23-divinely-sanctioned-governments-of-liberty/

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Host: L. Hannah Stoddard https://josephsmithfoundation.org/l-hannah-stoddard/

The power of the Book of Mormon lies in the solutions it has for our day! And very few messages are repeated more than the call to be born of God. Experiencing a mighty change of heart saved Alma's struggling son—and each of us has our own struggles, weaknesses, and fallen nature to overcome. We all must be born again!

To find additional resources, visit the For Our Day website! Lesson 22: Saving Rebellious Youth: Alma the Younger https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-22-saving-rebellious-youth-church-reformation-alma-alma-the-younger/

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Host: L. Hannah Stoddard https://josephsmithfoundation.org/l-hannah-stoddard/

In both the Book of Mormon and in our day, Church stability becomes threatened as the rising generation struggles to understand and embrace the faith of their parents. Among the Nephite church, false ideologies rejecting the fall, resurrection, and atonement lead to moral sin and apostasy. During the 20th century, we see parallel apostasy creep in among the posterity of the faithful pioneers—as secularism and progressive beliefs threaten to undermine faith. Schools and college universities became a battleground for the hearts and souls of the children. Learn the fascinating story of the controversial firing of three BYU professors in 1910 by President Joseph F. Smith and Mormon’s counsel to save the youth of the Church today.

To find additional resources, visit the For Our Day website! Lesson 22: Saving Rebellious Youth: Alma the Younger https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-22-saving-rebellious-youth-church-reformation-alma-alma-the-younger/

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Host: L. Hannah Stoddard https://josephsmithfoundation.org/l-hannah-stoddard/

Learn the story of the Utah War and the comforting parallels found in the Book of Mormon. The prophet Alma counseled the Nephites to “remember that it was the Lord that did deliver them.” Alma also urged his people continually to remember the captivity of their fathers. This is repeated over and over in the Book of Mormon. Are we remembering the captivity of our fathers?

Watch Part 1: Joseph Smith & Alma’s Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GIJN2WyJuQ

Watch Part 2: Limhi & the American Civil War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx8YyYTLB_U

Shortly after founding the Church, King Noah sought to destroy the work of God, and the saints were warned by the Lord to flee from their homes into the wilderness. They found a new land and labored diligently tilling the soil and building buildings. Alma was a high priest over the Church and watched carefully over the people appointing other priests and teachers. Their peace did not last long as they were soon enslaved and persecuted by Lamanite captors. The Lord, however, in time miraculously supported and delivered His people by their flight to a new land away from their enemies.

In our own day, the early pioneers of the Church were continually harassed and persecuted for their faith. Like Alma's people, they too were forced by the government to abandon their homes—eventually finding safety in the Rocky Mountains. Their peace did not last long when a few years later, the United States government sent an army to rape, pillage, subjugate and destroy Deseret. Like Alma, however, our early forefathers were miraculously preserved.

To find additional resources, visit the For Our Day website! Lesson 21: Joseph Smith & Alma’s Church – Restoration & Persecution https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-21-joseph-smith-almas-church-apostasy-restoration-persecution/

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Host: L. Hannah Stoddard https://josephsmithfoundation.org/l-hannah-stoddard/

Learn why prophetic leaders taught the Civil War was a judgment from God on both the North and the South—and Mormon's prophetic parallels within the history of King Limhi and his people!

Watch Part 1: Joseph Smith & Alma’s Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GIJN2WyJuQ

Resources mentioned in podcast:

—Preparedness & the Last Days FAQs https://josephsmithfoundation.org/faqs/category/preparedness-the-last-days/

—Prophetic Statements on "Will the government of the United States fail and collapse?" https://josephsmithfoundation.org/government-will-the-government-of-the-united-states-fail-and-collapse-2/

—Prophetic Statements on "What have latter-day prophets taught concerning the prophecy of Joseph Smith that the United States Constitution would hang by a thread and be saved, if saved at all, through the efforts of the Elders of Israel?" https://josephsmithfoundation.org/faqs/government/31-hang-by-a-thread-what-have-latter-day-prophets-taught-concerning-the-prophecy-of-joseph-smith-that-the-united-states-constitution-would-hang-by-a-thread-and-be-saved-if-saved-at-all-through-the/

After the martyrdom of Abinadi, King Noah and his people attempted to kill the followers of Abinadi’s teachings. They were driven into the wilderness and saved only through divine intervention. The judgments of God then manifested themselves as contentions increased and the people were on the brink of civil war. The Lamanites invaded the land and bound the people into slavery.

Much like the people of Alma, the saints were driven out of the United States and led by the Lord to safety. At about the same time the Cherokee and other formerly Lamanite tribes were forced to relocate outside the United States as well. The nation had driven out much of the purest Israelite blood from among them. Through the nation’s rejection and slaying of the Lord’s prophet, the Lord did come out of his hiding place and vex the nation, just as he stated in D&C 101.

To find additional resources, visit the For Our Day website! Lesson 21: Joseph Smith & Alma’s Church – Restoration & Persecution https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-21-joseph-smith-almas-church-apostasy-restoration-persecution/

Follow the Joseph Smith Foundation:

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Host: L. Hannah Stoddard https://josephsmithfoundation.org/l-hannah-stoddard/