What is your religious IQ?

A new study from the Pew Research Center shows that Mormons score
among the highest of all religion groups in their knowledge of
Christianity, the Bible and other religious information. The
nationwide poll of 3,412 individuals was conducted in May and June of
this year. While the study showed that "large numbers of Americans are
uninformed about the tenets, practices, history and leading figures of
major faith traditions — including their own," there were positive
findings.
In the study, Mormons scored higher than any other group in questions
about the Bible and Christianity. Church members are often asked
whether Latter-day Saints use the Bible. The Bible is one of the
foundational volumes of scripture used in The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. It is used in conjunction with other scriptures,
including the Book of Mormon.
Read more at http://tinyurl.com/26rbypp
Take the Pew Research Center quiz at
http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/

Oh, that I were an angel

1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart,
that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to
shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of
thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should
repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon
all the face of the earth.
3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be
content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.

If you had your wish, would it be like Alma that you want to serve
God? In these few verses of this chapter Alma
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/29) praises God for his goodness
and declares God's love for us. This beautiful song of praise stands
out as one of my favorite scriptures.

In verse 5 he says that a person who doesn't know the difference
between good and evil is blameless before God. The person who can
distinguish between good and evil and chooses good shall be exalted.
Children are pure before God. Little children are alive in Christ
because of the atonement (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/8). Those
who die without the law shall also receive a reward and have an
opportunity to hear the gospel
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/71-80#71).

Elsewhere, the scriptures say that we can discern good and evil
because of the spirit of Christ which each of us has
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/7/15-19#16).

Inequality comes as a result of sin

Alma 28:13 And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.

The Book of Mormon describes how the people suffered because of war. War creates great inequality because of the suffering it causes people.

While war may not be the direct result of sin, inequality and suffering are caused by war. The victims most often are the innocent populations who are displaced, become refuges, and suffer from hunger and pain. The Book of Mormon shows how women and children suffered most because of war. They were often the innocent victims.

The same could be said about natural catastrophes. They result in great inequality and suffering. The victims are most often the poor who live in poorly constructed homes and unprotected conditions.

If sin is involved, it is the wickedness of leaders who bring about war and fail to prepare and of those of us with means who fail to help in times of war and natural disaster.

Converted Lamanites find a home among the Nephites

Because the converted Lamanites were being killed by the wicked
Lamanites (and they wouldn't take up arms to defend themselves), Ammon
suggested to the Lamanite king that they ask the Nephites to live
among them. The Lamanite king agreed if this is what the Lord
desired. When Ammon and his brothers put the idea before Alma and the
chief judge of the Nephites, the chief judge sent a proclamation to
the people to see what they wanted. It was decided to give them a
place of inheritance in the land of Jershon, by the east sea, south of
Bountiful. A Nephite army was set between the converts and the
Lamanites to protect the converts.

In our day we have similar situations in Israel and Mexico, but the
politicians have handled them quite differently. This situation was
unique because the Nephites were given an opportunity to decide
whether to give the Lamanite converts a homeland. Because of their
goodness, they decided to give them the land of Jershon.

Read more at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/27
Artwork shows the Lamanite converts (the Anti-Nephi-Lehites) burying
their weapons.

Knowing the mysteries of God

Ammon taught that the natural man cannot know the mysteries of God.
Instead a person must exercise faith in Christ, repent and do good,
praying continually. (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/26)

21 And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that
knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these
things, save it be the penitent.
22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth
good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is
given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given
to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be
given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it
has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

See information about the Ammon project in Japan.
http://collegeadam.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/the-ammon-pilot-project/

Law of Moses brought believers to Christ

Alma 25 (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/25) describes how after the
Lamanites converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they buried their
weapons of war and became a righteous people. They followed the law
of Moses. Although it did not provide them salavation, it did prepare
them and give them the hope for the coming of Jesus Christ.

14 And they did also bury their weapons of war, according as their
brethren had, and they began to be a righteous people; and they did
walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe to keep his commandments
and his statutes.
15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient
that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all
fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward
to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type
of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward
performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them.
16 Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses;
but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ;
and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation,
relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to
come.

Converts refuse to take up arms to defend themselves

Alma 24 (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/24) describes how when the
Lamanites were converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they buried
their weapons and covenanted to not go to battle again.  When they
were attacked, rather than defend themselves, they lay down in front
of their enemies.  Many were killed but many more of their enemies
were converted and joined them.

 26 And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by
more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain
were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what
they were saved.
 27 And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were
more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we
see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people.

Once converted the Lamanites never strayed from the truth

Alma 23:6 And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.

Listen to the Voice of the Spirit

In a world full of noise and many voices, President James E. Faust invites us to listen to and follow the voice of the Spirit, which is calm and quiet and leads to eternal life.