The Gospel According to Jeffrey

pros·per succeed in material terms; be financially successful: “his business prospered” flourish physically; grow strong and healthy: “areas where gray squirrels cannot prosper” ARCHAIC make successful: “God has wonderfully prospered this nation” Recently, Anna derisively mentioned the “ prosperity gospel .” As I understand it, this phrase means that following God inevitably results in financial wealth and physical wellbeing. Of course, Father has never promised that following Him will always result in anything besides spiritual strength, but I can see where some would interpret passages like Alma 36:1 to so indicate. That being said, I have noticed that when I begin my day with prayer and scripture study, the day just goes better; and I’m not sure I’ve ever once lost my job during a period when my prayers for help in my work ascended beyond the occasional, surface-level petition. Certainly when I lost my job with Beezwax (last week), any semblance of regular prayer or scripture...

“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father….” Much has been said on the Internet regarding the definition of the word “goodly,” with the general consensus leaning toward “wealthy.” (Just Google “ goodly wealthy ,” and you’ll see what I mean.) If I might add my own humble opinion to the fray, I would indeed agree that this is the correct definition (despite its pop-culture alternative). So if this be the case, it helps us understand more about the culture in which Nephi is writing—not because his parents were wealthy, but because of the phrase which immediately follows. In our day and nation, education—at least basic education—is considered nothing less than a civil right. In this way we have greatly improved the situation of much of our society. Not so in Nephi’s time and place: the wealth of his parents was inexorably tied to Lehi’s learning, and both that wealth and the learning with which it is associated bear di...