​This week we’ll pause our review of the Book of Mormon and observe Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks, which is observed this year on June 5 and 6.  Shavuot commemorates Israel entering into a full covenant relationship with Yehovah as a nation under God.  That relationship is observed here at Shavuot as Israel remembers and renews the Sinai Covenant, and Israel’s marriage as bride to Yehovah as the bridegroom.  As a collective covenant, the Sinai Covenant forms the basis for which Yehovah could create His covenant people or Zion.  We see this same sort of collective covenanting with America through the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, which is a prelude to a full restoration of God’s covenants and  the Endtime restoration of Israel.

This week in the Book of Mormon we’ll look at chapters 25 to 30 in Alma, but focus on chapter 30.  The only place the word “Anti-Christ” appears in the Book of Mormon is here in chapter 30 of Alma.  A man named Korihor comes amongst the people of Zarahemla and preaches that there is no Christ/Messiah.  So this week we’ll explore the concept of what and who are Anti-Christs.

​This week in the Book of Mormon we’ll look at chapters 20 to 24 of the Book of Alma.  In this parsha (portion) of the Book of Alma, we see a theme with the Lamanites, Amalekites and the Amulonites that they all have a hardened heart. In fact, we see this theme presented in other parts of the Book of Mormon. So, here is another warning from God that we might be susceptible of having a hardened heart. This week we’ll consider the process that influences a hardened heart, what are the results of having a hard heart, and how we can change our hearts.

​This week in the Book of Mormon  we’ll look at chapters 14 to 19 in the Book of Alma.  In chapter 17, Alma meets with the sons of Mosiah who Alma describes as “having waxed strong in a knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding”. This week we’ll consider what it takes to have a sound understanding of the Gospel.