What is the relationship between written records (plates), especially the word of God or the laws of God, and power? Do the people you look to for power, or as powerful or influential people get their power from the laws of God, or some other source? Do you get your power and influence from studying the word of God? What other factors contribute to the level of power and influence people have? There's an amazing phenomena in the Book of Mormon involving a large nation that willingly and happily submits to a the governance of smaller nation. Why? See Omni 1:13-19

What does this have to do with the Book of Mormon? Well it seems that King Benjamin uses a variation of this style of prophetic lawsuit to teach his people with great effectiveness. Does this seem fair? Does the idea of a covenant with God, and then a lawsuit style reprimand seem like something God would do? Why would the prophets use such strong language? Is it enough to just be a good person or do I really need to enter into a covenant with God? I would encourage you to take those and your own questions into the Book of Mormon, and start in Mosiah 2 and see if you can see legal and lawsuit language.

Today we need to talk about the law of witnesses. Why are witnesses a big deal? What are the rules for witnesses? What is God’s law of witnesses? How is Nephi an expert witness? What do Book of Mormon chiasmus have to do with witnesses? Compare 2 Nephi 1:10 with 2 Nephi 33:10-11 and search for more connections in Nephi's 2nd Book. Bring your questions and insights to the discussion!

Well here’s a vibe to riff on- in all three of these things: nations, ships, and relationships, the glue, the thing that makes it them each strong and successful is the same. The Book of Mormon will prove that to you as you study 2 Nephi 5 and 1 Nephi 17. Are you using the right glue in whatever it is you are building?

How do you stay strongly focused on Christ despite the opposition? Have you tasted the fruit? There are some vibes to riff. How strong is the opposition to you? Are you aware of Satan’s siege warfare tactics presently employed against you? Or about Satan’s plans for future fiery darts? Would you like some backup? Check out 1 Nephi Chapter 8, and if you’d like, you can also look at chapters 11 and 15 where Nephi gets the same vision and adds more detail and understanding. Now don’t forget, from your study, or from this little podcast today, bring a question or insight to class so you can add to the discussion.

It seems as though the ancient authors of the Book of Mormon used advanced literary skill, including multiple layers and parallels, to help their modern readers deeply ponder the truth. One of those literary devices used in Hebrew writings, including in the Old and New Testaments is that of Chiasmus. Chiasma are self-reversing poems. The ideas are presented, ABC, then repeated in reverse order CBA. Most of the time, the most important idea is the central one. In the case of ABC-CBA, the most important truth to the author is C. (Most of the chiasma in the Book of Mormon place Christ in the center of the poem). This week we’re going to revisit the story of Nephi killing Laban. There are two previous podcast episodes on this story if you want to check out episodes 5 & 6 in season 1. See also 1 Nephi 4

Do you notice anything sort of strange about the final Book of Mormon author's promise located in Moroni 10?

In season 2 we pick up where we left off discussing the broad topic of Law, Government, & Society in the Book of Mormon.

These ideas are meant to help you create new ideas and questions regarding this ancient record and how it helps you draw nearer to God.

If God gave us freedom to choose, then why has He also given us so many rules? What is His purpose? What happens when we make our own rules or do our own thing? This episode highlights the purpose of commandments and discusses the Book of Mormon's central and most important event, the personal visit of the resurrected Jesus Christ, to the Americas. The verse of the day is 3 Nephi 12:5

26. The Book of Mormon's third anti-Christ voice is the most radical one of them all. Korihor led many people away, and his arguments are still alive today. This episode features many modern witnesses testifying against the false claims of the ancient anti-Christ. The Book of Mormon verses for today are Alma 30:27, 31

This story is about one guy’s influence on society. We talked last time about how belief impacts understanding. Ultimately, only I get to choose what I will believe. And what I choose to believe will impact my understanding of the truth. Today's verse is 2 Nephi 26:29.