Emphasis Scriptures

The word 'began' occurs 621 times in the standard works.

288 of those occurances are found in the list of scriptures highlighted below. These verses have the highest concentration of the word 'began' in the standard works and contain 46.4% of all occurances. Assuming 30 seconds per verse, it would take about 116 minutes to read the entire list.

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3 Ne. 1:22-2:1 (10 in 10 verses)

Alma 4:4-11 (9 in 8 verses)

1 Ne. 18:9-15 (7 in 7 verses)

Mosiah 24:4-10 (7 in 7 verses)

Ether 9:30-10:1 (7 in 7 verses)

Mosiah 21:1-6 (6 in 6 verses)

Hel. 16:12-17 (6 in 6 verses)

Alma 25:6-8 (5 in 3 verses)

Hel. 11:20-23 (5 in 4 verses)

3 Ne. 1:4-7 (5 in 4 verses)

Alma 1:5-9 (5 in 5 verses)


Mosiah 21:15-16 (4 in 2 verses)

 21:15 And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

 21:16 And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger.




Alma 11:46-12:1 (4 in 2 verses)

Alma 14:6-7 (4 in 2 verses)

Alma 17:36-37 (4 in 2 verses)

Hel. 6:16-17 (4 in 2 verses)

4 Ne. 1:24-26 (4 in 3 verses)

Ether 15:1-3 (4 in 3 verses)

Jacob 5:3-6 (4 in 4 verses)

Mosiah 9:11-14 (4 in 4 verses)

Alma 22:21-24 (4 in 4 verses)

Jacob 5:73 (3 in 1 verse)

Mosiah 10:6 (3 in 1 verse)

Mosiah 27:6 (3 in 1 verse)

Alma 24:21 (3 in 1 verse)

Alma 62:48 (3 in 1 verse)

3 Ne. 4:1 (3 in 1 verse)

Jacob 1:15-16 (3 in 2 verses)

Mosiah 19:2-3 (3 in 2 verses)

Alma 2:1-2 (3 in 2 verses)

Alma 8:32-9:1 (3 in 2 verses)

Alma 21:4-5 (3 in 2 verses)

Alma 21:9-10 (3 in 2 verses)

Alma 56:29-30 (3 in 2 verses)

Alma 56:51-52 (3 in 2 verses)

Hel. 11:7-8 (3 in 2 verses)

Morm. 2:10-11 (3 in 2 verses)

Moses 1:20-21 (3 in 2 verses)

2 Chr. 34:1-3 (3 in 3 verses)

Mosiah 20:9-11 (3 in 3 verses)

Alma 12:7-9 (3 in 3 verses)

Alma 50:13-15 (3 in 3 verses)

Hel. 6:34-36 (3 in 3 verses)

4 Ne. 1:42-44 (3 in 3 verses)

Moses 5:1-3 (3 in 3 verses)

2 Chr. 29:27 (2 in 1 verse)

Mosiah 6:4 (2 in 1 verse)

Mosiah 10:1 (2 in 1 verse)

Mosiah 23:5 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 1:22 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 8:4 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 15:17 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 17:28 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 27:2 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 35:15 (2 in 1 verse)

Alma 43:50 (2 in 1 verse)

Hel. 10:18 (2 in 1 verse)

Hel. 11:36 (2 in 1 verse)

Morm. 3:9 (2 in 1 verse)

Ether 6:28 (2 in 1 verse)

Ether 9:26 (2 in 1 verse)

Ether 14:27 (2 in 1 verse)

Judg. 20:39-40 (2 in 2 verses)

1 Kgs. 22:41-42 (2 in 2 verses)

2 Kgs. 8:16-17 (2 in 2 verses)

2 Kgs. 11:21-12:1 (2 in 2 verses)

2 Kgs. 15:1-2 (2 in 2 verses)

2 Kgs. 15:32-33 (2 in 2 verses)

2 Kgs. 16:1-2 (2 in 2 verses)

2 Kgs. 18:1-2 (2 in 2 verses)

2 Chr. 3:1-2 (2 in 2 verses)

Matt. 16:21-22 (2 in 2 verses)

Mark 8:31-32 (2 in 2 verses)

1 Ne. 16:20-21 (2 in 2 verses)

Mosiah 9:8-9 (2 in 2 verses)

Mosiah 11:16-17 (2 in 2 verses)

Mosiah 27:22-23 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 1:28-29 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 2:17-18 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 10:16-17 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 15:3-4 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 15:11-12 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 19:14-15 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 19:18-19 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 32:1-2 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 35:10-11 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 43:35-36 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 44:17-18 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 49:21-22 (2 in 2 verses)

Alma 52:23-24 (2 in 2 verses)

Hel. 1:1-2 (2 in 2 verses)

Hel. 3:21-22 (2 in 2 verses)

3 Ne. 1:17-18 (2 in 2 verses)

3 Ne. 8:3-4 (2 in 2 verses)

Ether 6:18-19 (2 in 2 verses)

Ether 11:7-8 (2 in 2 verses)

D&C 101:46-47 (2 in 2 verses)

Exact Word Count

  FULL PART ALL
OT 105 0 105
NT 74 0 74
BM 418 0 418
1 Ne. 22 0 22
2 Ne. 2 0 2
Jacob 14 0 14
Enos 3 0 3
Jarom 1 0 1
Omni 1 0 1
Mosiah 67 0 67
Alma 165 0 165
Hel. 42 0 42
3 Ne. 39 0 39
4 Ne. 8 0 8
Morm. 15 0 15
Ether 38 0 38
Moro. 1 0 1
DC 5 0 5
PGP 19 0 19
TOTAL 621 0 621

Mosiah 2:8
And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.

Mosiah 4:4
And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you.

Mosiah 6:4
And Mosiah began to reign in his father's stead. And he began to reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the whole, about four hundred and seventy-six years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.

Mosiah 9:8
And we began to build buildings, and to repair the walls of the city, yea, even the walls of the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city of Shilom.

Mosiah 9:9
And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley, and with neas, and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of fruits; and we did begin to multiply and prosper in the land.

Mosiah 9:11
Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt in the land for the space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy, lest by any means my people should wax strong in the land, and that they could not overpower them and bring them into bondage.

Mosiah 9:13
Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his people that they should contend with my people; therefore there began to be wars and contentions in the land.

Mosiah 9:14
For, in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land of Nephi, away on the south of the land of Shilom, when my people were watering and feeding their flocks, and tilling their lands, a numerous host of Lamanites came upon them and began to slay them, and to take off their flocks, and the corn of their fields.

Mosiah 10:1
And it came to pass that we again began to establish the kingdom and we again began to possess the land in peace. And I caused that there should be weapons of war made of every kind, that thereby I might have weapons for my people against the time the Lamanites should come up again to war against my people.

Mosiah 10:6
And it came to pass that king Laman died, and his son began to reign in his stead. And he began to stir his people up in rebellion against my people; therefore they began to prepare for war, and to come up to battle against my people.

Mosiah 10:21
And it came to pass that we returned again to our own land, and my people again began to tend their flocks, and to till their ground.

Mosiah 11:1
And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.

Mosiah 11:16
And it came to pass that the Lamanites began to come in upon his people, upon small numbers, and to slay them in their fields, and while they were tending their flocks.

Mosiah 11:17
And king Noah sent guards round about the land to keep them off; but he did not send a sufficient number, and the Lamanites came upon them and killed them, and drove many of their flocks out of the land; thus the Lamanites began to destroy them, and to exercise their hatred upon them.

Mosiah 11:20
And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was Abinadi; and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold, thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me, saying, Go forth, and say unto this people, thus saith the Lord-- Wo be unto this people, for I have seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their whoredoms; and except they repent I will visit them in mine anger.

Mosiah 12:1
And it came to pass that after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them, saying: Thus has the Lord commanded me, saying-- Abinadi, go and prophesy unto this my people, for they have hardened their hearts against my words; they have repented not of their evil doings; therefore, I will visit them in my anger, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations.

Mosiah 12:19
And they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words.

Mosiah 13:33
For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began-- have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?

Mosiah 15:13
Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed.

Mosiah 15:26
But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection.

Mosiah 17:2
But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he believed the words which Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them; therefore he began to plead with the king that he would not be angry with Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace.

Mosiah 17:12
But the priests lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain.

Mosiah 17:14
And now when the flames began to scorch him, he cried unto them, saying:

Mosiah 18:1
And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi--

Mosiah 19:2
And now behold, the forces of the king were small, having been reduced, and there began to be a division among the remainder of the people.

Mosiah 19:3
And the lesser part began to breathe out threatenings against the king, and there began to be a great contention among them.

Mosiah 19:10
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue them, and did overtake them, and began to slay them.

Mosiah 19:27
And it came to pass that Limhi began to establish the kingdom and to establish peace among his people.

Mosiah 20:9
And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had come up, that the people of Limhi began to fall upon them from their waiting places, and began to slay them.

Mosiah 20:11
And it came to pass that the people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites before them; yet they were not half so numerous as the Lamanites. But they fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight.

Mosiah 21:1
And it came to pass that Limhi and his people returned to the city of Nephi, and began to dwell in the land again in peace.

Mosiah 21:2
And it came to pass that after many days the Lamanites began again to be stirred up in anger against the Nephites, and they began to come into the borders of the land round about.

Mosiah 21:3
Now they durst not slay them, because of the oath which their king had made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on their cheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb ass--

Mosiah 21:6
And it came to pass that the people began to murmur with the king because of their afflictions; and they began to be desirous to go against them to battle. And they did afflict the king sorely with their complaints; therefore he granted unto them that they should do according to their desires.

Mosiah 21:15
And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

Mosiah 21:16
And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger.

Mosiah 22:1
And now it came to pass that Ammon and king Limhi began to consult with the people how they should deliver themselves out of bondage; and even they did cause that all the people should gather themselves together; and this they did that they might have the voice of the people concerning the matter.

Mosiah 23:5
And they pitched their tents, and began to till the ground, and began to build buildings; yea, they were industrious, and did labor exceedingly.

Mosiah 23:19
And it came to pass that they began to prosper exceedingly in the land; and they called the land Helam.

Mosiah 23:28
Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children.

Mosiah 24:4
And he appointed teachers of the brethren of Amulon in every land which was possessed by his people; and thus the language of Nephi began to be taught among all the people of the Lamanites.

Mosiah 24:7
And thus the Lamanites began to increase in riches, and began to trade one with another and wax great, and began to be a cunning and a wise people, as to the wisdom of the world, yea, a very cunning people, delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder, except it were among their own brethren.

Mosiah 24:8
And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children.

Mosiah 24:10
And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.

Mosiah 26:37
And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairs of the church; and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly in the affairs of the church, walking circumspectly before God, receiving many, and baptizing many.

Mosiah 27:1
And now it came to pass that the persecutions which were inflicted on the church by the unbelievers became so great that the church began to murmur, and complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid the case before their king, Mosiah. And Mosiah consulted with his priests.

Mosiah 27:6
And there began to be much peace again in the land; and the people began to be very numerous, and began to scatter abroad upon the face of the earth, yea, on the north and on the south, on the east and on the west, building large cities and villages in all quarters of the land.

Mosiah 27:22
And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength-- that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God.

Mosiah 27:23
And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:

Mosiah 27:32
And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them.