Mormon Life - Learning tag

Church News special issue: Learning

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:57:00 -0700

source: ldschurchnews.com

Since 1991, the Church News has devoted a portion of its last issue of the year to a specially selected theme, generally one that can be applied by individuals toward self-betterment in the new year. This issue focuses on the theme of learning. In a revelation given in Kirtland, Ohio, Latter-day Saints were instructed to "seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118). The revelation continues, asking Church members to prepare every needful thing and "establish a house."

Articles for this issue have been selected from the next portion of the revelation "even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119). Guest writers have been asked to address specific aspects of the revelation.

Young Men Lesson 33: Seek Ye Learning

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by Gordon B. Hinckley
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: With this priesthood comes a great obligation to be worthy of it. Brethren, you look like a shirtsleeve priesthood. You look all dressed in white, ready to go to work. And the time has come to go to work.

What a remarkable sight this is. This great Conference Center is filled to capacity, and our words are flung across the world. This is probably the largest gathering of priesthood men that has ever occurred. I congratulate you on your presence tonight.

I recently listened on television to a concert by the BYU Men's Chorus. They sang a stirring number entitled "Rise Up, O Men of God." It was written in 1911 by William P. Merrill, and I discovered a version of it is found in our hymnbook, although I never remember singing it.

The words carry the spirit of the old English hymns written by Charles Wesley and others. The text reads:

Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things. Give heart and soul and mind and strength To serve the King of Kings.

Rise up, O men of God, In one united throng. Bring in the day of brotherhood And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God! The church for you doth wait, Her strength unequal to her task; Rise up, and make her great!

Rise up, O men of God! Tread where his feet have trod. As brothers of the Son of Man, Rise up, O men of God! (Hymns, no. 324; third verse in The Oxford American Hymnal, ed. Carl F. Pfatteicher [1930], no. 256)

The scriptures are very plain in their application to each of us, my brethren. For instance, Nephi quotes from Isaiah saying, "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments - then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea" (1 Nephi 20:18; see also Isaiah 48:18).

The words of Lehi are a clarion call to all men and boys of the priesthood. Said he with great conviction: "Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust" (2 Nephi 1:23).

There is not a man or boy in this vast congregation tonight who cannot improve his life. And that needs to happen. After all, we hold the priesthood of God. If we are boys who have received the Aaronic Priesthood, we are entitled to the ministering of angels to guide and direct, to bless and protect us. What a remarkable and wonderful thing that is. If we have had conferred upon us the Melchizedek Priesthood, we have been given the keys of the kingdom that carry with them eternal powers. These were spoken of by the Lord when He laid His hands upon the heads of His disciples.

With this priesthood comes a great obligation to be worthy of it. We cannot indulge in unclean thoughts. We must not partake of pornography. We must never be guilty of abuse of any kind. We must rise up above such things. "Rise up, O men of God!" and put these things behind you, and the Lord will be your guide and stay.

Said the prophet Isaiah, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).

Some of you young men seem to delight in dressing in a slouchy manner. I know that it is a sensitive subject, but I believe it is unbecoming to young men who have been ordained to the holy priesthood of God. Our language at times matches our dress. We indulge in profanity, taking the name of the Lord in vain. God has spoken plainly against this.

I am confident you have heard this story of President Spencer W. Kimball, but I take the liberty of repeating it. He had undergone surgery in the hospital. A young male nurse had placed him on a gurney and was transporting him. When getting on the elevator, the nurse bumped the gurney and let out an oath using the name of the Lord.

President Kimball, only half conscious, said, "Please, Please! That is my Lord whose name you revile."

There was a deathly silence; then the young man whispered with a subdued voice, "I am sorry." (See The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 198.)

I call your attention to another matter that gives me great concern. In revelation the Lord has mandated that this people get all the education they can. He has been very clear about this. But there is a troubling trend taking place. Elder Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Church Education, advises me that in the United States nearly 73 percent of young women graduate from high school, compared to 65 percent of young men. Young men are more likely to drop out of school than young women.

Approximately 61 percent of young men enroll in college immediately following high school, compared to 72 percent for young women.

In 1950, 70 percent of those enrolled in college were males, and 30 percent were females; by 2010 projections estimate 40 percent will be males, and 60 percent will be females.

Women have earned more bachelor's degrees than men every year since 1982 and more master's degrees since 1986.

It is plainly evident from these statistics that young women are exceeding young men in pursuing educational programs. And so I say to you young men, rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities. Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? We speak of being "equally yoked." That applies, I think, to the matter of education.

In addition, your education will strengthen your service in the Church. A study was made some years ago that indicated the higher the education, the greater the faith and participation in religious activity.

I previously mentioned pornography. It easily becomes an addiction of the worst kind. Let me read to you from a letter I received from a victim:

"I would like to share something with you that I have not been able to share with anyone else. I am a 35-year-old male. For most of my adult life I have been addicted to pornography. I am very ashamed to admit this, . . . but for the most part, my addiction is as real as that of an alcoholic or a drug addict. . . .

"The main reason for my writing is to tell you that the Church can't do enough to counsel the members to avoid pornography. I was first introduced to this material as a child. I was molested by an older male cousin, and pornography was used to attract my interest. I am convinced that this exposure at an early age to sex and pornography is at the root of my addiction today.

"I think it is ironic that those who support the business of pornography say that it is a matter of freedom of expression. I have no freedom. I have lost my free agency because I have been unable to overcome this. It is a trap for me, and I can't seem to get out of it. Please, please, please plead with the brethren of the Church not only to avoid but eliminate the sources of pornographic material in their lives. Besides the obvious things like books and magazines, they need to turn off cable movie channels in their homes. I know many who have these services and claim that they are able to screen the bad things out, but this is not true. . . .

"Pornography and perversion have become so commonplace in our lives that the sources of this material are everywhere. I have found pornographic magazines by the roadside and in dumps. We need to talk to our children and explain how evil these things are and encourage them to avoid looking at them when they come across them. . . .

"Finally, President Hinckley, please pray for me and others in the Church who may be like me to have the courage and strength to overcome this terrible affliction.

"I am unable to sign my name, and I hope that you will understand."

The computer is a wonderful instrument when it is properly used. But when it is used to deal with pornography or so-called chat rooms or for any other purpose that leads to evil practices or evil thoughts, then there must be self-discipline enough to turn it off.

The Lord has declared, "Purge ye out the iniquity which is among you; sanctify yourselves before me" (D&C 43:11). No one can mistake the meaning of those words.

He says further, "The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple" (D&C 93:35). There is no equivocation there. The Lord has spoken plainly that we must take care of our mortal body and avoid that which would do it harm.

He has made to each of us a great promise. Said He, "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers" (D&C 112:10).

And further: "God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now" (D&C 121:26).

All of us would do well to study the life of the Master and try to emulate His words and doings. We would likewise do well to study the life of the Prophet Joseph. From his example, each of us could learn much concerning our own behavior.

My brethren, I testify of the truth of these eternal qualities. I testify that if we will make an effort to improve our lives, the result will become evident. God bless you, each of you, my dear brethren. Of these things I testify, humbly and gratefully, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Old Testament Lesson 31: ''Happy Is the Man That Findeth Wisdom''

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). AUTHOR'S NOTE: I feel a need to say once again that it is not my intent to show you a better or even a different way to teach these lessons. The manual is the product of inspiration, correlation, and prophets. The lessons as prepared and presented there are the expression of the Church with regard to teaching these materials. I have a quiet but continuous fear that these lessons I am writing will pull some of you away from the place you ought to be.

Please spare me that condemnation. If these musings show you undiscovered insights in the scripture blocks covered in each lesson, I will be delighted. If they assist you in understanding the doctrine and the word, I will be content. If they cause you who are teaching to set aside correlated materials to teach something else, I will be devastated.

Introduction This is what the Bible Dictionary says about Proverbs:

The Heb. word rendered proverb is mashal, a similitude or parable, but the book contains many maxims and sayings not properly so called, and also connected poems of considerable length. There is much in it that does not rise above the plane of worldly wisdom, but throughout it is taken for granted that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (1:7; 9:10). The least spiritual of the Proverbs are valuable as reminding us that the voice of Divine Inspiration does not disdain to utter homely truths. The first section, chs. 1-9, is the most poetic and contains an exposition of true wisdom. Chs. 10-24 contain a collection of proverbs and sentences about the right and wrong ways of living. Chs. 25-29 contain the proverbs of Solomon that the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah , copied out. Chs. 30 and 31 contain the "burden" of Agur and Lemuel, the latter including a picture of the ideal wife, arranged in acrostic form. The book is frequently quoted in the N.T., the use of ch. 3 being specially noteworthy.

The Proverbs are wonderful! They are rather like scriptural bumper stickers. I have often invited classes to rewrite them in more modern English on horizontal half sheets of cardstock and have then covered the walls of my classroom with them. Unlike some parts of the Old Testament, these gems are almost always clear and therefore penetrating. And almost all of them bridge the gap between ancient and modern Israel.

For example, how would you re-write these?

"As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion" (Prov. 11:22).
"The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute" (Prov. 12:24).
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23).
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" (Prov. 6:6).

Ecclesiastes is also a treasure house of wisdom, but it must be understood in the context of the information given in the Bible Dictionary:

A Greek translation of the Hebrew Koheleth, a word meaning "one who convenes an assembly," sometimes rendered Preacher. The book of Ecclesiastes consists of reflections on some of the deepest problems of life, as they present themselves to the thoughtful observer. The epilogue (Eccl. 12:9-14) sets forth the main conclusions at which the writer has arrived. The author describes himself as "son of David, king in Jerusalem" (1:1).
The book of Ecclesiastes seems permeated with a pessimistic flavor, but must be read in the light of one of its key phrases: "under the sun" (1:9), meaning "from a worldly point of view." The term vanity also needs clarification, since as used in Ecclesiastes it means transitory, or fleeting. Thus the Preacher laments that as things appear from the point of view of the world, everything is temporary and soon gone - nothing is permanent. It is in this light also that the reader must understand 9:5 and 9:10, which declare that the dead "know not any thing," and there is no knowledge "in the grave." These should not be construed as theological pronouncements on the condition of the soul after death; rather, they are observations by the Preacher about how things appear to men on the earth "under the sun." The most spiritual part of the book appears in chapters 11 and 12, where it is concluded that the only activity of lasting and permanent value comes from obedience to God's commandments, since all things will be examined in the judgment that God will render on man.

It would be worth your while to take a careful look at Lesson 31 in the Gospel Doctrine manual for the Old Testament. The writers offer wonderful insights about many of the most important messages of these books. I would like to focus on a few other principles that are emphasized in these pages.

I. AVOIDING SIN AND SINNERS. "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (Prov. 1:10).

This warning is delivered so many times in the Old Testament in one form or another that it is easy to ignore. I am intrigued by the use of the word "entice" in this verse. What does it suggest to you? How do sinners entice others to sin? How are we enticed by the media? By advertizing? How is enticing different from encouraging or inviting or persuading? I think that enticing is an appeal to the natural man within us all. James said,

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:14).

Of course, behind the enticements to evil, if we look carefully, we will see the bitter countenance of Satan.

"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually" (Moro. 7:12).

We can also be enticed by righteousness.

"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God" (Moro. 7:13).

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father" (Mosiah 3:19).

Moroni tells us that we can judge clearly between the enticements of good and evil. The difference is clear enough that we "may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night" (Moro. 7:15).

It is to this truth that Solomon alludes when he says, "Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird" (Prov. 1:17).

Did you ever try to catch a wild bird with your hands? This is not an activity likely to offer much success. And while we are not usually as wary as birds, Moroni has promised us that we can discern the difference between good and evil very clearly. We can, if we are wiling, always see the net being spread. Lucifer will attempt to disguise his tempters and his temptations, of course, so we must be wary and watchful.

Provers returns to this theme near the end of the book:

"Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long" (Prov. 23:17).

II. IMMORALITY. As you make your way through Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, you will find a powerful collection of warnings about this matter. For the writer of these books, immorality is almost always described in feminine terms, but if you will, when you see the word "woman" or "strange woman", think "immorality", the messages of these passages will be quite clear.

"And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her" (Eccl. 7:26).

Two of the most powerful passages about immorality in the standard works are in the book of Proverbs. The first is in Provers 7. Watch for the "enticing" as you read this chapter.

"My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding" (Proverbs 7:1-8).
"Void of understanding" Those who understand what is at stake will avoid immorality as they would avoid poisonous serpents and runaway trucks.
"Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night . . ." (Proverbs 7:8,9).
"In the twilight, in the evening . . ." How much of immorality takes place in the hours between sunset and sunrise?
"And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart" (Proverbs 7:10).

"The attire of an harlot" How important is modesty of mind and dress? In 1913 Joseph F. Smith warned about "the present day fashions [which] are abominable, suggestive of evil, calculated to arouse base passion and lust, and to engender lasciviousness, in the hearts of those who follow the fashions, and of those who tolerate them" (Conference Report, October 1913, p.8).

What were people wearing in 1913 to cause that kind of concern?

"She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner." (Proverbs 7:11,12).
"lieth in wait at every corner"

How many times a day to you encounter immoral words, images, situations? Elder Ezra Taft Benson said,

Recently, a young man commented that if he quit reading books, watching television, seeing movies, reading newspapers and magazines, and going to school, there was a chance he might live a clean life. This explains, in large part, the extent to which the insidious evil of sexual promiscuity has spread . . . (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.409-410).

We must be vigilant and careful as we protect our lives and thoughts from this plague.

"So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon" (Proverbs 7:13-17).
"I have decked my bed"; "I have perfumed my bed" The images of immorality are almost always made to appear appealing and beautiful.
"Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves" (Proverbs 7:18).
"let us solace ourselves with loves" The acts of immorality are so often referred to as love. Whatever else might be happening to the young person in this passage of scripture, it is not love!
"For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed" (Proverbs 7:19, 20).
"the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey" The "goodman" is is the husband in this story. The message here is that no one will ever know.
"With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks" . . . (Proverbs 7:21,22).
"as an ox goeth to the slaughter" How I pray and long for the members, and particularly the youth, of this church to see clearly what is at stake in this business of immorality.
"Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life" (Proverbs 7:23).
"knoweth not that it is for his life" We know. It is all about spiritual life and death
"Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her" (Proverbs 7:24-26).
"she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her" Jacob mentions, for example, David and Solomon (Jacob 2:24) who were "certainly strong men slain in part by immorality."
"Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death" (Proverbs 7:27).
"Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death" Satan's message that her house is the way to pleasure and fulfillment, that its chambers are chambers of freedom and love and self-expression, is among the most pernicious of Satanic lies in 6000 years of lies and deceit.

The second of these passages is in Provers 9. Again, as you review these verses and my commentary, ignore gender issues. This is a message for everybody.

"A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing" (Proverbs 9:13).

The quality of simpleness applied to the young man in Proverbs 7 is here applied to the woman.

"For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city . . ." (Proverbs 9:14)
"in the high places of the city" I think it used to be more difficult to find immoral images and opportunities than it is now. They glare at us and call to us from the magazine stands in our grocery stores, and from the programs on our TV's and from the alluring screens of our computers and our multiplexes.

"We are coming apart at the seams. Anyone can see that. Just read any newspaper any day. Evil has unclothed herself and walks the streets in brazen, impudent defiance "(Boyd K. Packer, "What Every Freshman Should Know," Ensign, Sept. 1973, 38).

"To call passengers who go right on their ways . . ." (Proverbs 9:15)
"To call passengers" How many escape the call? I am not speaking of submission here. But everyone hears the call. It is an evil echo permeating the pathways and highways of almost the entire planet.
"Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him . . ." (Proverbs 9:16)
"Whoso is simple, let him turn in" Some submit at once. They are not made for resistance and refusal.
"Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant" (Proverbs 9:17).
"she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet . . ." Others must be cajoled or enticed. "The experience will be wonderful, exciting, pleasurable, all the more because it will be our little secret."
"But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell" (Prov. 9:18).
"her guests are in the depths of hell" Read the 38th Psalm (verses 1-12) and see where the knowledge of his sins has taken David.

III. HONOR THE SANCTUARY. I was flying from California to Utah one Sunday, hoping to make it in time to fulfill a high council speaking assignment. The topic was reverence. The plane was delayed and for a while I thought I would be too late to give my message. Actually, I entered the chapel as the opening song began. But while I was waiting and flying, I found myself captivated by a few verses in Ecclesiastes 5.

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words" (Eccl. 5:1-3).

I think this passage is an appeal for reverence in the house of God. I have applied that message to chapels and temples. The first footnote in the chapter leads to the Topical Guide heading, Reverence.

What are the activities that are mentioned in these verses that sabotage reverence?

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God" Don't move around once you have arrived. Sit down and prepare for worship and edification.
"Be not rash with thy mouth" This warning comes in other ways in this passage. "Let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing." "a fool's voice is known by multitude of words" We ought to be quiet. The phrase "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10; D&C 101:16) might be more of an invitation that a commandment. "Don't move. Don't speak. Listen and meditate and you will feel my presence and my power. You will know who I am."
"For a dream cometh through the multitude of business"

We ought not to be conducting business during the meetings or while in the chapel waiting for meetings. I am not certain what the meaning of the word "dream" is in this phrase, but I suspect that it has something to do with being unaware of ones actual surroundings.

Conclusion The book of Ecclesiastes ends with this injunction:

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (12:13).

This is the underlying message of all scripture, including the two books we have studied in this lesson.

FHE: Learning

Thu, 27 May 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "You have a duty to learn as much as you can. Please encourage your families, your quorum members, everyone to learn and become better educated. If formal education is not available, do not allow that to prevent you from acquiring all the knowledge you can." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf Conference Talk: For more information on this topic read "Two Principles for Any Economy," by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Ensign, Nov 2009, 55-58.

Thought: You have a duty to learn as much as you can. Please encourage your families, your quorum members, everyone to learn and become better educated. If formal education is not available, do not allow that to prevent you from acquiring all the knowledge you can.

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy," Ensign, Nov 2009, 55-58)

Song: "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus," Children's Songbook, p.57.

Scripture: [Learn] Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:79)

Lesson: Invite your family to fill in the blank of the following sentence: "It is impossible for a man or woman to be saved in ____________." To help them, read D&C 131:5–6. Ask:

What does the word "impossible" mean?
What do you think "ignorance" means? (A lack of knowledge or learning.)
Why do you think it is impossible for a man or woman to be saved in ignorance?
Why is it important to gain knowledge?
What kind of knowledge do you think is more important for our salvation in the eternities, a knowledge of God or a knowledge of math, sports, and music?

After some discussion, read the following statement by Elder James E. Talmage:

"Not all knowledge is of equal worth. The knowledge that constitutes the wisdom of the heavens is all embraced in the Gospel as taught by Jesus Christ; and wilful ignorance of this, the highest type of knowledge, will relegate its victim to the inferior order of intelligences." (The Vitality of Mormonism, 278.)

Discuss ways your family can gain the most important knowledge.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 295.)

Story: [Remember] the dramatic experience that brought Alma to his sense and induced him to apply his heart unto wisdom. This transformation marked the beginning of a phenomenal career.

Almost immediately after Alma's conversion, King Mosiah appointed him state historian. During the rest of his life - a period of about twenty years - in church, historical, judicial, governmental, military, missionary gospel teaching, and prophetic service, he learned nearly every fundamental thing a human being can learn in this life. In intellect, experience, faith, service, and wisdom, Alma has few peers in sacred history.

His prowess as a historian is further witnessed by the fact that 120 pages - almost one-fourth of the 491 pages of the Nephite record, which covers a time period of 1,000 years - are devoted to the twenty years during which he was the dominant figure in the Nephite nation.

A year after his appointment as historian, when under the reign of King Mosiah the form of government was changed, Alma, by the voice of the people, "was appointed to be the first chief judge." In this capacity he was both chief justice and administrative head of state. As chief justice, the record says, "he did judge righteous judgments." (Mosiah 29:42-43.)

As head of state, he was also commander in chief. Unlike ordinary commanders in chief, however, he himself led his armies in the field.

After several successful military campaigns and a succeeding period of peace and prosperity, a moral decline set in among church members. Alma became so concerned that he did a most unusual thing: he resigned his positions as chief judge, head of state, and commander in chief. "And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people . . . [and] preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no [other] way that he might reclaim them. . . ." (Alma 4:19.)

For the remainder of his life - about ten years - Alma carried on a missionary and gospel teaching campaign seldom, if ever, excelled. As a matter of fact, he and those who were with him began at the time of their conversion "to teach the people, . . . 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. . . ." (Mosiah 27:32.)

Alma was a great prophet and received many revelations. As to his own knowledge of the things he taught, he said:

Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things . . . are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. (Alma 5:45-46.)

Alma's life experiences ranged from the sorrow of the damned to the joy of the redeemed. From his experiences he learned much. Being a historian, he learned from history; being chief high priest, he learned from church discipline; being head of state, he learned statecraft; being chief justice, he learned the law; being commander in chief, he learned the lessons of war; being a righteous man, he became acquainted with God.

(Marion G. Romney, Learning for the Eternities, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1977].)

Activity: Play "Clap Seven."

The players are seated in a circle. One person begins the counting, starting with "one." The count continues to the right until "seven" is reached. Instead of saying "seven" the player claps his hands and the count reverses direction. Any number ending in "seven" or a multiple of seven, or a number containing seven, is not spoken but is clapped. The direction of the count is automatically reversed on each clap. Any time a mistake is made, the count starts over with "one." (Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 150.)

Refreshment Bananas Foster over Ice Cream

1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon pineapple extract
2 bananas, sliced
vanilla ice cream

Put margarine, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave for 1 minute on full power. Stir for 1 minute, then add extract and bananas. Microwave for 30 seconds. Serve over vanilla ice cream. Makes 5 servings.

(Lion House Entertaining, [Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2001] p. 55.)

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