Questions in the Church

A few people close to me have recently come across questions they feel are important, but they hadn't found a good place to discuss them with other people. They felt the desire to discuss it at church, as the questions were mostly doctrinal or doctrine-related, but they felt like there was no forum designed to take their questions. One friend phrased it this way, "What questions should be asked and when?"

Questions at church can be hard to answer in the three hour block... (drawing credit: DSB)

Many of these questions were about the mysteries of God. The Greek word "musterion" (Strong's number 3466) denotes religious secrets not communicated to the uninitiated. This is not truths that are unknowable, but truths that only God can tell us. Hearing something from God is the only way we can know some truths.

Why should I think about the questions I ask?

In my work as an engineer, questions are quite important. The questions I ask and their timing is crucial to the success of my projects. Asking the right question at the right time means that I am solving the true problem at hand, and that I am focusing on adding value to the project. I can ask many questions, but many of them will take me in totally useless directions. Some of them may be valid and well founded in sound science, but if it doesn't add value to my project, I don't ask those questions. 

My father has worked with several Nobel Prize winners in his field (Physics) over the course of his career. He told me that they are all extremely bright and committed to their work above all else. However, those are necessary but not sufficient conditions to winning a Nobel Prize. The distinguishing characteristic was that they asked the right question. These are people whose questions changed the world. Einstein and his imagination asked questions that no one in their right mind would ask, and entire fields of study sprang into existence because of his questions.

In the end, it isn't really our physical appearance that determines our quality of life, our legacy, or our impact on the people and world around us. Our primary and distinguishing characteristic is how we use our time. The way we ask our questions becomes part of our character and changes the course of our life. Our questions and how we answer them in word and deed are the only thing that differentiate us from each other.

Alma the Younger is a great example of getting answers to deep doctrinal questions

Alma the Younger grew up and was quite a rebel, going about destroying the church for many years. This is actually quite similar to his father, as Alma the Elder was a priest for wicked King Noah until Abinadi came and taught him a lesson. Alma the Elder prayed his son an angelic visitor, and after three days of total reset, Alma the Younger had a change of heart. This is where the primary story ends and they pick it up a few weeks later after the sons of Mosiah go on a mission.

Alma the Younger had a son named Corianton. This son seems to have gotten the rebellious gene that his brothers Helaman and Shiblon did not. While Helaman and Shiblon receive praise and commendation from their father for their diligence, Corianton gets an intense doctrinal discourse to resolve some behavioral and doctrinal concerns he has. Of the many lessons to be learned from these chapters, here are a few things I learned about asking questions:

1. Even the prophet can have concerns and deep doctrinal questions 

     If you were called as the prophet, whom would you ask your deep doctrinal questions? We have several stories in the Book of Mormon about prophets who were stumped on very specific questions. Alma the Elder didn't know how to respond to unrepentant wickedness in the Church (Mosiah 26). The Nephite disciples of Christ were concerned about the name of the church in the new dispensation (3 Nephi 27-28). Alma the Younger was not immediately endowed with deep spiritual knowledge when he decided he wanted to follow Christ. He says, "I fasted and prayed many days that I might know of these things for myself" (Alma 5).

2. Answering your own questions can help others with their questions

     Alma probably had many more doctrinal questions, but we have his thoughts about the spirit world and the resurrection because they were key in resolving his son Corianton's concerns. Alma writes:

     "... for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead. Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection until after the coming of Christ. Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection." (Alma 40)

3. Some questions have to be answered by God, and not by other people

     One of the marvelous truths of the Restoration is that God does answer prayers and speak to man. It is certainly a good habit to look to revealed truth on any subject before foraying on to pursue the mysteries of God. Some questions must be answered individually however. While today's culture of global conformity does not always smile on a counter-current individual, the structure of the Church does afford great latitude in social, political, and even spiritual matters. Read the questions for the baptismal worthiness interview here, or the temple recommend questions here (last section). I also copied them onto this post below. These are the questions the Lord has prioritized for us to answer before participating in sacred ordinances. Before focusing on our own questions, I think it is important to have the foundation of answering the Lord's questions. 

Oh, the places you'll go...

      Questions do have a certain power to them. Asking a question points us in a certain direction. There are real consequences to asking questions. Any new employee knows the importance of asking good questions during a job interview. The questions we choose to ask and to pursue answers for change our life. Joseph Smith asked the question, "Which church should I join?" and his answer gave rise to movement of thousands and now millions of people. I hope that I can pursue worthy questions and follow their answers courageously.

PS - Here are some more thoughts, including the baptismal and temple worthiness questions

Ideas of places to discuss deep personal questions in the church:
1. Personal interview with the bishop or stake president
2. Personal interview with quorum or class president.
3. With your spouse in the temple (if married)
4. With home teachers privately (depends on teaching setting)
5. In Sunday School or with Sunday School teacher (more doctrinal questions)
6. With friends and family in an informal setting ("where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I also.")
** Notice the lack of references here - this is my personal opinion like everything else besides direct scriptural citations.

Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperative

When we are talking about big or heavy questions, we should have a reason behind asking them. When it gets hard to find the answer or the answer is just hard to accept or implement, we can go back to the reason behind the question. Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative suggested that conclusions should all be capable of becoming universal law. Applying this thought experiment to breadth of many people is interesting; also consider the time sequence. To what ultimate goal does answering this question contribute? Where will I go asking this question all the time?      There is a time and a place for idle questions. Why do they call them apartments when they are so close together? Why do you drive in a parkway and park in a driveway? How come there aren't B batteries (source)? Before we spend inordinate amounts of time, money, and resources in the question, we should think about where the answer is likely to take us.

Temple Worthiness Questions from True to the Faith (here)

Before we can go to the temple, we must be active, worthy members of the Church for at least one year. Men must hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. We must be interviewed by the branch president or bishop. If he finds us worthy, he will give us a temple recommend. If we are not worthy, he will counsel with us and help us set goals to become worthy to go to the temple. 

After we receive a recommend from our bishop or branch president, we must be interviewed by the stake president or the mission president. We are asked questions like the following in interviews for a temple recommend:

1. 1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost? Do you have a firm testimony of the restored gospel?
2. 2. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator? Do you recognize him as the only person on earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?
3. 3. Do you live the law of chastity?
4. 4. Are you a full-tithe payer?
5. 5. Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?
6. 6. Are you honest in your dealings with others?
7. 7. Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and priesthood meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

When you ask for a temple recommend, you should remember that entering the temple is a sacred privilege. It is a serious act, not something to be taken lightly.

Baptismal Interview Questions From Preach My Gospel (here):

1. 1. Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?
2. 2. Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?
3. 3. What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?
4. 4. Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? a homosexual relationship?
5. 5. You have been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What do you understand of the following standards? Are you willing to obey them?
   1. a. The law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.
   2. b. The law of tithing.
   3. c. The Word of Wisdom.
   4. d. The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.
6. 6. When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?

Life Overview of Alma the Elder, the Younger, and Helaman

I hope that you find the lives of these Book of Mormon Heroes as inspiring as I do! I want to do a better job of knowing the events and timeframes of their lives, and writing this out has helped me a lot. I also give my best guess below for their age at death, even when it isn't totally clear.

Alma the Elder - Life Overview
born in the land of Lehi-Nephi in 183 BC, becomes a priest to the wicked King Noah
148 BC defies King Noah as a young man (age 25) and begs the life of Abinadi
147 BC teaches the gospel in secret
145 BC discovered by the king's agents, flees, founds the city of Helam
121 BC taken by the Lamanite army (searching for people of Limi), heavily persecuted
120 BC the Lord puts the Lamanites in a deep sleep and Alma's people are freed (v23 cracks me up)
120 BC given authority to lead the church by King Mosiah son of Benjamin, governs the church
92 BC his wayward son meets an angel and is converted
91 BC dies at age 82** after seeing his son appointed as chief judge

** Mormon helped us out, and told us he was 82 at time of death. Otherwise, we know that in the Jewish tradition, typically priests were at least 30 years old and married to start their ministry (not sure of my source though). This would make Alma 87 years old at the time of his death. Alma the Elder was never a military leader.


Alma the Younger - Life Overview
born to Alma between 145 and 120 BC (probably in the city Helam, which his father founded)
100 - 92 BC seeks to destroy the church with the sons of Mosiah - meets an angel and becomes converted
91 BC becomes the chief judge
90 BC contends with Nehor
87 BC leads armies against combined army of Nephite dissenters and Lamanites, wounded in battle
83 BC yields judgment seat to Nephihah, preaches the gospel to the Nephites
76 BC contends with Korihor the Anti-Christ
76 BC leads the mission to the Zoramites
74 BC gives his last words of advice to his sons, gives Helaman the plates (Helaman was his second choice - he asked Nephihah to take the plates but Nephihah refused)
73 BC leaves Zarahemla and is never heard of again

If Alma the Younger was born 138 BC in Helam, about 5 years after the city was founded, then he led the Nephite armies at age 45, and was 65 years old when he died. Alma the Younger was engaged in battle and wounded severely in battle 6 years before his death, which could explain the difference in age at death and his father's age at death.

Helaman son of Alma - Life Overview
born
74 BC remains at home while his father and brothers teach the Zoramites
73 BC receives responsibility for the plates from his father
66 BC leads the stripling warriors (War with the Lamanites broke out in earnest 3 years previously)
61 BC war ends, Helaman preaches to the people.
57 BC dies

When was Helaman born?
It is hard to narrow down a range for Helaman's age or year of birth. I wonder if he was born during Alma's rebellious years of seeking to destroy the church. It is hard to imagine him a married man trying to destroy the church, then his sons growing up to lead the church.

Clue #1 - Helaman was "in his youth"
Helaman was "in his youth" as Alma instructed him about the plates. Perhaps this is why Alma preferred to give the plates to Nephihah (see above), who turned down his offer. I take in his "youth" to mean that he was less than 30 years old. However, his younger brothers went on a mission before Helaman received the plates. If they had to be 30 to preach the gospel, I would assume Helaman was more like 35 years old when he received the plates.

Clue #2 - Helaman was an army commander for 5 years
Helaman must have died very young then, only living 16 years after receiving the plates. Helaman never admits that he was wounded in war, but he was very worried that some of his 2,000 stripling warriors had died. I could easily imagine that he was wounded in that first battle and that was part of the reason for his concern. Even if he wasn't wounded in that battle, there are many more ensuing battles that could have taken their toll and shortened his life.

Conclusion
Based on Alma's ministry, Helaman was probably born close to 100 BC, putting him close to 27 years old as the prophet, and 43 years old when he died. This would make sense with Alma saying Helaman was still "in his youth" when he received the plates. Dying young also makes sense for an army leader. The only contradicting factor is that his younger brothers went on the mission to the Zoramites, which I would explain by saying they were acting under the Aaronic priesthood.

 ... but Helaman's age is just an educated guess.  What are your thoughts? Are you surprised that Helaman died so young? or that Alma was so old?

Nephi son of Helaman Parallels Alma the Younger

What would you think if you realized that your great-grandfather went to the same college as you, with the same major, pursued the same profession in similar cities, and had the same life goal as you?

I imagine those are the present day equivalents of the parallels between Nephi son of Helaman and his great-grandfather Alma the Younger. Oh, plus the fact that they (didn't) die the same way.  In this post I will talk about a mysterious set of patterns in Nephi son of Helaman's life. As I studied his life, I saw several direct parallels in Nephi's life and ministry to the life and ministry of Alma the Younger, another Book of Mormon hero of mine. Any one of the parallels is not impressive by itself, but together the parallels are a strong trend.

 This leaves me pondering on the questions,

"Why does the record show such close similarities between these two men?"
"What can I learn by noticing these parallels?"

I would love to hear your insights on these parallels and what we can learn from them.

11 Parallels between Nephi son of Helaman and Alma the Younger

1. Nephi son of Helaman was a powerful political figure just like Alma the Younger

These men had fairly distinct experiences as youth. Nephi was totally faithful to his father and the church, where Alma rebelled significantly before an angry angel stopped him. However, both men were chief judges relatively early in our record of their life.  Also, both served in the judgment seat about 8 years.  Both men became chief judge as their fathers died (Alma just before his father's death, Nephi just after).

2. Nephi gave up the judgement seat to serve a mission just like Alma the Younger

Nephi gave up the judgment seat to Cezoram after serving as chief judge for about 9 years.

"And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary because of their [the Nephites'] iniquity; and he yielded up the judgment-seat, and took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days, and his brother Lehi also, all the remainder of his days;" (Helaman 5:4)

Alma the Younger gave up the judgment seat to Nephihah after serving as chief judge for about 8 years.

"And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church ... [and] Alma delivered up the judgment-seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy." (Alma 4:11,20)

By the way, both men cited their fathers as motivation for their missions in the verses just after the quotes above (Nephi here; Alma here).

3. Nephi son of Helaman took a similar mission route to Alma's

Nephi son of Helaman's tour:
Bountiful (5:14)
Gid (5:15)
Mulek (5:15)
Land of Zarahemla (Lamanite land 5:16)
Cast into prison en route to land of Nephi

Alma the Younger's mission tour:
land of Zarahemla, city of Zarahemla (Alma 5:2)
Gideon (Alma 6)
Melek (Alma 8)
Ammonihah (Alma 8)
Cast into prison in Ammonihah

Builds up church in nearby Sidom (Alma 15)
To his own house in Zarahemla (Alma 15)

Notice that Nephi taught in MULEK and GID; Alma taught in MELEK and GIDEON.  Now, these two men did have somewhat different routes, but both preached in Zarahemla successfully during their ministry. Also, Alma took a break after teaching in Gideon (Alma 8:1) before teaching in Ammonihah while Nephi went to all of the Nephite cities before going to the Lamanites in Zarahemla.

4. Both men served their missions with faithful mission companions.

Nephi and Lehi are almost always mentioned together in their ministry, as are Alma and Amulek after Amulek's conversion.

5. Both Nephi and Alma were incarcerated and deprived of food because of their missionary efforts.

Nephi and Lehi were imprisoned by an army of the Lamanites. This was the same prison in which Ammon was kept by King Limhi (Hel 5:21). 

"And after they [Nephi and Lehi] had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they [the Lamanite army] went forth into the prison to take them that they might slay them." (Helaman 5:22)

Alma and Amulek were imprisoned by the chief judge of the land after being forced to witness the martyrdom of many women and children (Alma 14:14-17).

"And thus they [the judge and "many"] did mock them for many days. And they did withhold food from them that they might hunger, and water that they might thirst; and they also did take from them their clothes that they were naked; and thus they were bound with strong cords, and confined in prison. ... it came to pass ... they had thus suffered for many days..." (Alma 14:22-23) 

6. Both Nephi and Alma (and their companions) were miraculously freed from prison.

Nephi and Lehi were freed and sent forth missionaries and the righteous flocked to them (conversion of the more part of the Lamanites). Alma and Amulek were freed and the wicked fled from them "as a goat who fleeth with her young from two lions."

7. Both men struggled against corrupt judges and lawyers.

Nephi spoke against the corruptness of their law when he spoke. Alma didn't speak against the corruptness of their law, but against the lawyers and judges who interpreted the law

8. Alma prophesied of the destructiveness of secret combinations; Nephi saw this fulfilled and prophesied that destruction was the inevitable result of their sins.

Alma commanded his son Helaman to prevent the patterns of the secret combinations from becoming public knowledge.

"And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; yea, and all their signs and their wonders ye shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed." (Alma 37:27)

After explaining that Nephi was chief judge, Mormon references Alma's prophecies saying, 

"Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction." (Helaman 6:25)

9. Both men received heavenly ministration when they felt depressed because of rejection.

After Nephi had preached to the people and prophesied to resolve the chief judge's murder, he was left alone pondering.

"And it came to pass as he was thus pondering—being much cast down because of the wickedness of the people of the Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings, and their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities—and it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him" (Hel 10:3)

After Alma had done his best in preaching to those in Ammonihah, he was depressed because they rejected the truth.

"While he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him." (Alma 8:14)

10. Nephi son of Helaman passed his responsibilities to his son Nephi, just like Alma the Younger did to his son Helaman.

11. No details of the death or burial of Nephi son of Helaman are recorded, just like Alma the Younger.

Both of these men conferred the records and sacred obligations on their sons, then left and were never seen again. Both men were last seen in Zarahemla.

So what?

Even thought this list of parallels is not exhaustive, aren't these men uncannily similar? There aren't many other people in the Book of Mormon with any one of these 11 traits, let alone all of them. I think the parallels teach us that our potential does not depend on our past, and that we can find great power in connecting with our progenitors.

First, these parallels show two men who had very different experiences in their youth, who both became incredible forces for good in their societies. Youth is a loose term here for Alma, who took the judgment seat and led the Nephite armies less than 10 years later. As far as we know, Nephi listened carefully to his father Helaman's words and "grew up unto the Lord" (Hel 3:21). The Lord is certainly no respecter of persons. Our potential and our destiny is determined by our decisions, as President Monson loves to remind us.

Second, the parallels show the righteous power we can find by connecting with our past. Some of us have to go quite a ways back in our geneology to find the "original conversion," while others are first generation members of the church. In both cases, remembering the courage and determination of that moment of conversion can be quite inspiring. We can also connect with our past by our names, both given and family names. I highly recommend familysearch.org for creating an in-depth family tree. Both of these men found meaning in remembering their fathers (see Parallel 2 above).

I hope you make time to ponder the stories of Nephi son of Helaman and study recurring themes and patterns in the Book of Mormon. Please comment with anything I have missed or could clarify!

Nephi (son of Helaman)

Why don't we talk about this Nephi more?

Here's what I could think of:

1. His story is in the middle of someone else's book.

The book of Helaman is not about the Helaman who lead the band of 2,000 stripling warriors, nor of the Helaman who fights in any wars. In the book of Helaman son of Helaman (who dies in chapter 3) we find the story of his son Nephi (chapters 5 - 11 and 16), and Samuel the Lamanite (chapters 13-15).  If Nephi or Samuel had their own books I'm sure they would be more frequently remembered and talked about.

2. He gets "lost in the crowd" because of his name.

Just so we are all clear, this post is about Nephi the son of Helaman the son of Helaman the son of Alma the son of Alma. Not Nephi son of Lehi, nor about this man's son or grandson, who also bear the name Nephi.

Paternal prophetic lineage:
Alma the Elder
Alma the Younger (parallels between Alma the Younger and his great grandson Nephi)
Helaman the military commander
Helaman the chief judge
Nephi the great Nephite missionary <-- this is who we are talking about.
Nephi one of the disciples of Christ
Nephi the son of Nephi - one of the disciples of Christ
Check out a complete list of the Book of Mormon record keepers as well.

3. We don't know enough of his life to make him a "complex" character.

Because we only have 532 pages of text covering entire civilizations from the time of the tower of Babel to the Nephite Armageddon, not everyone's moral dilemmas and foibles can be elucidated. Now, we do know a lot about his life compared to what we know of his life compared to his father, his son, and his grandson.  What I mean when I say he is not a "complex character" is that we don't have a record of a dilemma or defining moment where Nephi son of Helaman chooses faith where he previously struggled. While Nephi son of Lehi has several dilemmas (e.g. acquiring the brass plates, the broken bow episode), Nephi son of Helaman in the Book of Mormon never wavers in his devotion to preaching the gospel. In today's postmodern society we create and relish in complexity, and Nephi son of Helaman's story falls by the wayside. Hopefully this page will cast light on a few neglected aspects of his stories.

Reasons to remember Nephi son of Helaman for your next lesson or talk:

If you feel the need to equate every prophet to a story, there are at least four that I think are worthy of remembering. While this Nephi doesn't build a boat, doesn't see a threatening and chastising angel, or command an immortal army, he has several very significant stories to tell. For each event, I included one way to relate them to gospel topic

1. the fiery prison scene converting 300 Lamanites
       The perserverance and faith of the missionaries inspires their captors to faith.
2. the lamentation and prophecy of the chief judge Seezrom's murder as it happens
        The boldness and audacity of Nephi astound and convert many witnesses.
3. the divine manifestation and receipt of the sealing power
        The voice of God comes to Nephi as he is dejected and calls him to a greater work.
4. the intercession for his people which replaced the on-going war with a famine
        The prayers of the righteous have an enormous effect on the course of world events.

Each of these events certainly deserves individual attention. So far I have written about 11 mysterious parallels between his life and Alma the Younger's life (here), and soon I will write about the fiery prison experience.

Here is a general overview of Nephi son of Helaman's life:

 1 - raised in the faith by Helaman son of Helaman (Hel 3:21)
 2 - becomes chief judge when his father dies (Hel 3:37)
 3 - resigns his position to teach the word with his brother (Hel 5:1)
 4 - serves a very successful mission to the Nephites and Lamanites, including the prison scene in the Land of Nephi (Hel 5)
 5 - laments the wickedness of the people on his garden tower
 6 - prophesies the assassination of the chief judge
 7 - receives the sealing power and goes on preaching the word, conveyed from place to place by the Spirit
 8 - by his prayer the scourge of war is traded for the scourge of famine, and subsequently ended
 9 - baptizes all those converted by Samuel the Lamanite.
 10 - just before he "leaves," he transfers the records to his son Nephi, perhaps being translated.


Please comment if you read this. :)  What did you like here? Whom should I write about next?