Obviously there are many specific places in the BOM that mercy is talked about and it’s importance shown. I also find it interesting that in so many general ways His mercy is also shown.

The examples that come to my mind are all the times that he shows his mercy to the people. The rich, pride, sin, repent, blessings cycle shows his continued mercy. Everytime they (and we) repent his mercy is there to forgive us.

I’ve always liked the phrase…”We don’t want God’s justice, we want his mercy”.
don | Email | Homepage | 08.26.04 - 2:25 am | #

I love 1 Nephi 1:14, particularly the phrase where Lehi praises God, saying: “because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!”
danithew | Email | Homepage | 08.26.04 - 12:09 pm | #

Rusty,
Great post. I have always felt like you do about this topic, especially in regard to the Book of Mormon. Remember when Pres. Benson said we should read the BOM? He said something to the effect that if we did, a blessing hitherto unknown would come to the church. I think that blessing is the recent emphasis on the grace and mercy of the Savior, something that wasn’t publically taught a great deal before Pres. Benson’s time.
It might interest you to know that Elder Gene R. Cook wrote an article in the Ensign in which he interpreted Moroni’s promise largely as you did in your post.
Braden | Email | Homepage | 08.30.04 - 9:32 am | #

This is definitely my favorite post of yours so far. What a truly “awe”-some concept, that of God’s mercy! And how moving (as in “moving to action”), to find it so frequently included in the Book of Mormon.

In a related vein, I’d like to mention one of the most significant messages I have gained recently in reading the Old Testament: the importance of record-keeping, that we might understand God and His attributes as well as remember his mercies unto the children of men.

Both King Josiah and the prophet Ezra, in their separate time periods, were examples of those who understood the importance of spiritual records — they brought “books of the law” (the scriptures) back within reach of their people and emphasized their importance, which helped lead to the eradication of idolatrous practices (King Josiah) and repentance and covenant renewal among the people(Ezra).

(continued in next comment)
Amy | Email | Homepage | 08.30.04 - 10:22 am | #

In Judges 2:10,19 it says the children of Israel “knew not the Lord” after a mere one generation. I wonder if part of the reason was that they weren’t “reading their scriptures.” The Mulekites had not only corrupted their language but actually denied the being of their Creator because “they had brought no record with them” (Omni 1:17).

Nephi, on the other hand, gave his all to obtaining the brass plates because he knew his children “could not keep the commandments of the Lord… save they should have the law” (1 Ne. 4:15). He even drew upon the scriptures to rally enthusiasm among his brothers in going back to Jerusalem for the plates: “Let us be strong like unto Moses… the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians” (1 Ne. 4:2-3).

(continued next comment)
Amy | Email | Homepage | 08.30.04 - 10:23 am | #

Obviously, record-keeping and record-reading help us remember how merciful the Lord has been in the past, thus moving us to draw upon his mercies in the present. It’s no wonder President Kimball emphasized journal writing the way he did, huh?

(sorry to take up 3 comments — it doesn’t let me do LONG ones!)
Amy | Email | Homepage | 08.30.04 - 10:24 am | #

The link to the very insightful Gene R. Cook talk is:

http://library.lds.org/nxt/ gatew…$fn=default.htm

Thanks Braden.
Rusty | Email | Homepage | 09.03.04 - 11:00 am | #

Amy,
Great comments–Do you have your own blog? If you do, will you let me know so I can read it?
Braden | Email | Homepage | 09.03.04 - 11:56 am | #

Don,
I love that quote, too. Pres. Faust, in General Conference a few years back said something like, “I confess that when I pray, it is for the Lord’s mercy, not his justice.” I thought that was powerful.
Braden | Email | Homepage | 09.03.04 - 12:00 pm | #