Hales Swift

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 32 “Preserved by His Marvelous Power” (Alma 53-63)     Transcript One of the neatest episodes in the “war chapters” of the latter part of the Book of Alma, is the story of the 2000 stripling warriors. By way of definition, a stripling is […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 32 “Preserved by His Marvelous Power” (Alma 53-63)     Transcript One of the more humorous episodes in late Alma’s “war chapters” happens when Moroni, angry with Ammoron after Ammoron wrote a snotty letter to him, hatches a plot to get the Lamanites drunk […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 31 “Stand Fast in the Faith of Christ” (Alma 43-52)     Transcript In Alma 44, Moroni, having recognized that the Lamanite forces have been struck with terror, recognizes that circumstances are ripe to avoid bloodshed by giving them an opportunity to negotiate. After […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 30 “The Great Plan of Happiness” (Alma 39-42)     Transcript In Alma 41, Alma is counseling his son Corianton and discussing the principle of restoration, which comprises partly of the Nephite understanding of the resurrection and judgement. It is also, apparently a subject […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 29 “Look to God and Live” (Alma 36-38)     Transcript In Alma 36, Alma describes to his son Helaman the events that turned him from a life of sin and rebellion to a life of service to God and ministry to his fellow […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 28 “Plant This Word in Your Hearts” (Alma 32-35)     Transcript In Alma 32-34, Alma and Amulek are teaching a group of people that have been denied the opportunity to gather together normally to participate in worship. Because of this, at two points […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 27 “The Virtue of the Word of God” (Alma 30-31)     Transcript In Alma chapter 30, Korihor, one of three people in the Book of Mormon who at different times attempt to dissuade the Nephites from their faith in the coming of Christ, […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 26 They “Never Did Fall Away” (Alma 23-29)     Transcript In 2 Nephi 25:23, Nephi writes concerning the purposes of teaching among the Nephites, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 25 “I Will Make an Instrument of Thee” (Alma 17-22)     Transcript In Alma 18:24–32, after protecting the King’s flocks, Ammon teaches King Lamoni; however, he finds that a key part of that teaching is providing basic definitions for terms that are unfamiliar […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 24 “Enter into the Rest of the Lord” (Alma 13-16)     Transcript In Alma 16 verses 15 through 19, there is a description of the efforts of Alma and Amulek and others to prepare the people for the ministry of Christ. 15 And […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 23: Jesus Christ Will Come to Redeem His People (Alma 8-12)     Transcript In Alma 10-11, Alma and Amulek get themselves in a dangerous crowd, filled with, among other threatening persons, lawyers. One of these characters, Zeezrom, was the foremost to accuse Amulek […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 22: “Have Ye Experienced This Mighty Change in Your Hearts?” (Alma 5-7)     Transcript Alma 7 is one of Alma’s relatively shorter public sermons but is important for its clear testimony concerning the birth and mission of the Savior Jesus Christ. Verse 10 […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 21: “They Were Steadfast and Immovable” (Mosiah 29-Alma 4)     Transcript In Mosiah 29 the Nephites were used to monarchy. It served them well, and then they abandoned it. This point of transition gives us an interesting window into their political thinking or, […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 20: “They Were Called the People of God” (Mosiah 25-28)     Transcript In Mosiah 25, King Mosiah, “caused that all the people should be gathered together” (Mosiah 25:1) for the purpose of unifying several groups of people who, because of their systematically different […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 19: We Have Entered into a Covenant with Him (Mosiah 18-24)     Transcript Among several purposes for baptism that appear in the Book of Mormon, the establishment of a covenant community—bound together by faith in and obedience to Christ and mutual service, and […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 18: “A Light … That Can Never Be Darkened” (Mosiah 11-17)     Transcript Many members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ think immediately of the Father of our Spirits when they hear the term Father applied to a member of the Godhead. […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 17: “In the Strength of the Lord” (Mosiah 7-10)     Transcript A sibling of mine, if not someone else more immediately famous, once made the statement that, “If you can’t be a great example, at least be a terrible warning.” When we think […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 16: “A Mighty Change” (Mosiah 4-6)     Transcript At two points within King Benjamin’s address, the people cried “with one voice” or, in other words, in unison. This is similar to the way the Lord’s prayer is often recited in some group worship […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 15: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men” (Mosiah 1-3)     Transcript In Mosiah 2, King Benjamin discusses his reign as king and I think teaches some lessons on service and leadership that are worth thinking about more generally. Beginning in verse […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 14: “He Shall Rise … with Healing in His Wings” (Easter)     Transcript Jesus Christ did many things for us, including not least his sacrifice for us, his example, and his teaching of the gospel. One of his most straightforward proclamations of the […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 13: He Works in Me to Do His Will (Enos-Words of Mormon)     Transcript In Words of Mormon, which is currently positioned between the records translated from the Small Plates of Nephi and the Large Plates of Nephi, Mormon explains where he got […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 12: The Lord Labors with Us (Jacob 5-7)     Transcript Today, I am going to discuss the Allegory of the Olive Tree as presented in Jacob 5. I am going to discuss several features that are interesting and perhaps underappreciated. To begin with, […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 11: Be Reconciled unto God through the Atonement of Christ (Jacob 1-4)     Transcript In Jacob chapters 1-3, Jacob gives his first and only recorded discourse after the death of Nephi. Jacob 1:15-16 lays out the problems that he will address: 15 And […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 10: “This Is the Way” (2 Nephi 31-33)     Transcript In the Book of Mormon, Lehi has a vision of the Tree of Life and later Nephi has a vision interpreting it. Nephi’s interpretive vision and subsequent Nephite discourse highlight the importance of […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 11: Be Reconciled unto God through the Atonement of Christ (Jacob 1-4)     Transcript In 2 Nephi 9:44, during his discourse to the Nephites, Jacob says, “O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 9: “A Marvelous Work and a Wonder” (2 Nephi 26-30)     Transcript In 2 Nephi 27, Nephi describes the witnesses who will testify of the Book of Mormon. This is in many respects parallel to something he has done earlier in which he […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 8: “We Rejoice in Christ” (2 Nephi 11-25)     Transcript In 2 Nephi 11, Nephi discusses his motivation for including the Isaiah chapters. A nontrivial number of readers have wondered and continue to wonder why he did such a thing, but this mystery […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 7: “O How Great the Plan of Our God!” (2 Nephi 6-10)     Transcript In 2 Nephi 9:8-9, Jacob says, 8 O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 6: “We Lived after the Manner of Happiness” (2 Nephi 1-5)     Transcript In 2 Nephi 3, Lehi blesses his son Joseph and he tells him of some of the prophesies written on the plates of brass that were given by Joseph that […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 5: “I Will Prepare the Way before You” (1 Nephi 16-22)     Transcript In 1 Nephi 16, several interesting things happen related to bows. Beginning with verse 18, 18 And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 4: “Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God” (1 Nephi 11-15)     Transcript Over and over again in the Book of Mormon, we read of those who have hardened their hearts. We also find the same concept in the Bible, but […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 3: “Come and Partake of the Fruit” (1 Nephi 8-10)     Transcript Lehi’s Vision of the Tree of Life as recorded in 1 Nephi 8 reflects a number of ancient Temple themes. This should not serve as much of a surprise given that […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 2: “I Will Go and Do” (1 Nephi 1-7)     Transcript 1 Nephi chapter 1 is among the most read passages in the Book of Mormon simply because its first, but it deserves far more credit than that which accrues to it for […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 50: “He That Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things”     Transcript The third and fourth verses from the end of the Book of Revelation are among the most frequently quoted in conversations between members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those of other […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 48: “Glory, and Power, Be unto … the Lamb for Ever”     Transcript The Revelation of John is directed to seven churches (branches of the church) in Asia. They are listed as Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Unto each one, John directs revelatory […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 46: “Rejoice with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory”     Transcript 1 Peter discusses Christ’s ministry to the spirits in prison in chapters 3:17-20 and 4:6. This first comes up in a larger discussion within 1 Peter of suffering for doing right versus suffering for doing […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 45: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”     Transcript James 2 discusses the question of faith and works. There James makes the argument that if, by faith, one means mere intellectual or verbal assent to something, then it doesn’t accomplish much. 14 […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 44: “An High Priest of Good Things to Come”     Transcript In Hebrews 9:14–17, the author described Christ as the mediator of the new testament. What does he mean by this? I will discuss this after reading the passage in question, beginning with verse 14 14 […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 43: Jesus Christ, “the Author of Eternal Salvation”     Transcript Sometimes the scriptures will use a particular idiom in an interesting way. In the case of the metaphor use of milk in the scriptures, part of what makes the usage interesting is that Peter and Paul […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 43: Jesus Christ, “the Author of Eternal Salvation”     Transcript The author of Hebrews shares some powerful perspectives about what Christ did for us, what he suffered for us, and in doing so helps point out that because of this, he is able to perfectly relate […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 42: “Be Thou an Example of the Believers”     Transcript In 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Paul comments on the role the scriptures have played in Timothy’s life and can play in ours as well. He says, beginning with verse 15 15 And that from a child thou […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 42: “Be Thou an Example of the Believers”     Transcript In 1 Timothy 3, Paul is writing to Timothy, a fellow Church leader, and one that Paul has mentored sharing council relating to calling of bishops and other functionaries such as deacons. Because the discussion centers […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 41: “Be Not Soon Shaken in Mind, or Be Troubled”     Transcript In 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul has been worried for those to whom he has taught the gospel. Verse 4 and 5 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 40: “I Can Do All Things through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me”     Transcript In Colossians chapter 2, there are some passages that have the potential to be confusing because, as is often the case, Paul is discussing the Law of Moses and we can get the […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 40: “I Can Do All Things through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me”     Transcript In Philippians chapter 1, Paul is commenting on the effects that his status as a prisoner have had for the Church of Jesus Christ. It seems to have been both embarrassing and emboldening […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 39: “For the Perfecting of the Saints”     Transcript In Ephesians 5:3-8, Paul rebukes a number of activities that are unwholesome and impure. I will read these first in the King James Version and then read them in Wayment translation in order to clarify aspects of […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 38: “Walk in the Spirit”     Transcript In the Book of Galatians, Paul argues passionately against those who are attempting to persuade the Galatian churches (those occupying a region probably including Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, that they should receive circumcision and follow the Law of Moses. […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 37: “God Loveth a Cheerful Giver”     Transcript In the opening of 2 Corinthians 12, Paul makes a couple of remarks about his spiritual experiences because some have been questioning the adequacy of his authority; i.e., questioning his apostleship. Beginning with verse 1, 1 It is […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 36: “Be Ye Reconciled to God”     Transcript In 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, Paul relates some insights about our mortal and resurrected bodies. Beginning at verse 1, 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 35: “God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace”     Transcript In 1 Corinthians 14:39, Paul instructs the Corinthians Saints, “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.” This direction of Paul’s is interesting because he here is telling us […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 34: “Ye Are the Body of Christ”     Transcript In Paul’s first extant letter to the Corinthians (he wrote an earlier letter which we don’t have), a prominent theme that emerges is the importance of Christian unity. This theme shows up beginning in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13: […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 33: “Be Perfectly Joined Together”     Transcript In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul addresses a problem which has crept up among the Corinthian Saints in which they are going to law with one another or, as we would say, suing each other. He endeavors to correct this […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 32: “Overcome Evil with Good”     Transcript The ideas of fatherhood and sonship are used a few different ways in the scriptures, and it can be useful to have some idea which one we are dealing with in interpreting and understanding them. I will highlight two […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 31: “The Power of God unto Salvation”     Transcript A central concern in many of Paul’s writings is the integration of the Gentiles into a church that exists at least initially as an outgrowth of the Jewish community and their religious beliefs and norms. Some thought […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 30: “A Minister and a Witness”     Transcript In Acts, Paul’s first vision, seen as he journeyed along the road to Damascus, is recounted several times. While broadly consistent, some details of Paul’s narration vary in the several retellings. This is typical of accounts given on […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 29: “The Lord Had Called Us for to Preach the Gospel”     Transcript In Acts 16, Paul, not uncharacteristically, gets thrown into prison. It starts with him casting out a spirit from a girl who was following them around. Those whom she served were angry because […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 28: “The Word of God Grew and Multiplied”     Transcript Acts 10 recounts the story of Cornelius the centurion (a leader of 100 soldiers) who, we are told is (v. 2), ” A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 27: “What Wilt Thou Have Me to Do?”     Transcript In Acts 8:5-23, we have the story of Philip preaching the gospel in Samaria. It appears the reason he is here per the previous verse is because Saul is actively persecuting the Church in Jerusalem, so […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 26: “Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me”     Transcript In Acts 2, we have the account of the Spirit being poured out on the Day of Pentecost in great power. This event provokes varied reactions from the observers who from many different nations and speaking many […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 25: “He Is Risen”     Transcript Few events are as well attested as the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I will go through a few of the scriptural highlights and take the opportunity to highlight the added witnesses of the Restoration to the Resurrection of Christ. To […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 24: “It Is Finished”     Transcript Recently I listened to and then read an Interpreter article by George Mitton entitled, “The Crucifixion as a Mochery, Witness, and Warning of the Judgement.” It is an excellent article and I encourage any who find this video and its […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 23: “Not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt”     Transcript In Mark 14, Matthew 26, Luke 22 and 3 Nephi 18, we have accounts of Jesus instituting the sacrament among his apostles (in the first three) and the Nephites (in the final example). He lays […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 22: “Continue Ye in My Love”     Transcript In the latter part of John’s Gospel, Jesus gives some of his last mortal teachings to his apostles. These teachings seem to center on the importance of love, keeping the commandments and becoming one. This trajectory will take […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 21: “The Son of Man Shall Come”     Transcript This video will consider the Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25:1-13: 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 19: “What Lack I Yet?”     Transcript In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus deals with the subject of prayer through a parable. Beginning at verse 1, 1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 18: “Rejoice with Me; for I Have Found My Sheep Which Was Lost.”     Transcript Luke 17:11-19 chronicles the story of the ten lepers. Beginning at verse 11, 11 ¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 17: “I Am the Good Shepherd.”     Transcript In John 9:1-7, Jesus heals a man who was born blind. 1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 16: “What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?”     Transcript In Luke 10, Jesus calls and commissions the Seventy. This video will talk a little bit about them and the scriptural context for what Jesus is doing. To begin with, I’ll read Luke 10:1, where […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 15: Easter: “O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?” and Come, Follow Me Lesson 20: “Behold, Thy King Cometh”     Transcript In Matthew 22 an interesting incident arises in which the Pharisees try to get Jesus into trouble by asking him if it is lawful to give […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 15: Easter: “O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?” and Come, Follow Me Lesson 20: “Behold, Thy King Cometh”     Transcript This video will discuss the incident with the fig tree focusing on Matthew 21:17-21. Beginning at verse 17, 17 ¶ And he left them, and went […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 14: “Thou Art the Christ”     Transcript This video will discuss the account of the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17 and provide contextualizing information to understand some parts of it. Beginning at verse 1 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 13: “Be Not Afraid”     Transcript In this video I will discuss Jesus’s miracles of feeding the multitudes including the Feeding of the 5000 and the Feeding of the 4000. These stories can be found in Matthew 14 and 15, respectively, as well as other locations […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 12: “Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear”     Transcript The sower scattered seeds of truth upon the empty land. He sent the rains, he sent the sun to light and wet the sand. He looked forth with hope to see sprout up the holy […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 12: “Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear”     Transcript In Matthew 13, Jesus gives several notable parables, stories which focus on commonplace occurrences like growing crops but contain rich symbolic lessons a layer beneath. In this video I will discuss the parable of the […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 11: “These Twelve Jesus Sent Forth”     Transcript In Matthew 10, Jesus calls and commissions the 12 Apostles. He gives them authority to perform their mission, specifically directing them to minister at this time to the house of Israel. I will go through and discuss a […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 10: “Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole”     Transcript In this lesson (including Mark 2 and Matthew 9), Jesus employs an interesting pattern of teaching which I think is worth highlighting. He acts, exercising a divine prerogative. This then elicits a question from his critics. He […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 9: “He Taught Them as One Having Authority”     Transcript Matthew 7:13-14 reads “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 8: “Blessed Are Ye”     Transcript I will go through Matthew 5:1-12 a verse or a few verses at at time and comment on them. 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 7: “Ye Must Be Born Again”     Transcript In John 4:31-34, the Lord has just concluded talking with a Samaritan woman at a well. His disciples are surprised by this because it involved violating some social taboos which Jesus didn’t especially seem to mind doing. One […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 6: “The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me”     Transcript A number of the scriptures describing the life and ministry of Jesus Christ make deliberate allusions to the Exodus. Jesus’s life parallel’s the Exodus to a remarkable degree and it seems that the patterns of […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 5: “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”     Transcript In order to understand the New Testament it helps to have some idea of the identity of the people and groups with whom Jesus is interacting. Two important ones are the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 4: We Have Found the Messiah     Transcript John 1:15-18 reads, 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 3: We Have Come to Worship Him     Transcript Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And […]

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 1: We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 1: We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Lesson 1: We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning