Emphasis Scriptures

The word 'desire' occurs 230 times in the standard works.

48 of those occurances are found in the list of scriptures highlighted below. These verses have the highest concentration of the word 'desire' in the standard works and contain 20.9% of all occurances. Assuming 30 seconds per verse, it would take about 20 minutes to read the entire list.

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Alma 44:1-2 (3 in 2 verses)

1 Kgs. 5:8-10 (3 in 3 verses)


Hel. 5:6-8 (3 in 3 verses)

 5:6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

 5:7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.

 5:8 And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.




D&C 11:8-10 (3 in 3 verses)

Ps. 92:11 (2 in 1 verse)

Philip. 4:17 (2 in 1 verse)

Mosiah 29:32 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 32:27 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 60:6 (2 in 1 verse)

Ether 8:10 (2 in 1 verse)

D&C 6:8 (2 in 1 verse)

Gal. 4:20-21 (2 in 2 verses)

Gal. 6:12-13 (2 in 2 verses)

Mosiah 18:10-11 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 17:22-23 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 20:26-27 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 29:6-7 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 42:29-30 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 57:7-8 (2 in 2 verses)

3 Ne. 28:1-2 (2 in 2 verses)

D&C 18:27-28 (2 in 2 verses)

D&C 43:12-13 (2 in 2 verses)

Exact Word Count

  FULL PART ALL
OT 77 43 120
NT 34 31 65
BM 89 116 205
1 Ne. 2 9 11
2 Ne. 3 1 4
Jacob 2 2 4
Enos 2 2 4
Mosiah 14 12 26
Alma 45 63 108
Hel. 7 4 11
3 Ne. 7 12 19
Morm. 1 3 4
Ether 5 8 13
Moro. 1 0 1
DC 27 37 64
PGP 3 3 6
TOTAL 230 230 460

Hel. 1:27
But behold, the Lamanites were not frightened according to his desire, but they had come into the center of the land, and had taken the capital city which was the city of Zarahemla, and were marching through the most capital parts of the land, slaying the people with a great slaughter, both men, women, and children, taking possession of many cities and of many strongholds.

Hel. 2:7
And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman.

Hel. 5:6
Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

Hel. 5:8
And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.

Hel. 6:8
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did also go whithersoever they would, whether it were among the Lamanites or among the Nephites; and thus they did have free intercourse one with another, to buy and to sell, and to get gain, according to their desire.

Hel. 9:13
And it came to pass that the judges desired that they should be brought; and they were brought, and behold they were the five who were sent; and behold the judges inquired of them to know concerning the matter, and they told them all that they had done, saying:

Hel. 9:15
Now, as for the murder of this man, we know not who has done it; and only this much we know, we ran and came according as ye desired, and behold he was dead, according to the words of Nephi.

Hel. 11:9
And it came to pass that the judges did say unto Nephi, according to the words which had been desired. And it came to pass that when Nephi saw that the people had repented and did humble themselves in sackcloth, he cried again unto the Lord, saying:

Hel. 12:6
Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.

Hel. 13:27
But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth-- and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet.