Mormon Life - Sabbath tag

{LDS How-to} Keep Your Kids Reverent in Church

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by Mandy Slack
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We know hoping for reverent children in church is like dreaming the impossible dream. But there are a few surprisingly simple ways to achieve it.

If I were to walk into a sacrament meeting and see children sitting quietly, engaged by the sacrament speakers instead of their Cheerios or coloring books, I would probably die of shock. Children just aren’t equipped with the ability to sit still and listen to religious vernacular (or anything) for extended periods of time. (For that matter, most adults even struggle.)

Just because kids have a hard time sitting still doesn’t mean they lack faith, but it does mean your task of keeping peace in the chapel is harder. Here are some ideas that might prevent icy stares from fellow ward members:

Prepare

Life gets busy with kids in the picture, but even minimal preparation will lead to a saner sacrament meeting. Set out clothes on Saturday night (including your own), and make other church preparations—if you’re not running around on Sunday morning, it’s likely both you and your kids will be calmer.

Three hours is a long time for some kids to go without any snacks, so pack something to give them in between. But for the love of every primary teacher, avoid sugar. “That is just not nice,” says Merilee Slack, mother of four boys between the ages of 1 and 7. “Kids get way out of control.” Melissa Morgan, mother of three children between the ages of 2 and 5, suggests feeding the kids before sacrament meeting. “We have sacrament meeting last, so they’re usually pretty hungry by the time it comes around. I try to feed them right before; otherwise all they’re thinking about is the food.”

Make the Time in the Hallway or Foyer Unpleasant

If you have to take your child out of sacrament meeting, make sure wherever you’re taking them is not a fun alternative. Lots of people suggest making the child sit on a parent’s lap and practice being reverent. You can do this anywhere—in the foyer, in an empty classroom, or even the mother’s lounge. Kerri McLennan, mother of three little boys, says, “After they have practiced for a while, we’ll give them the choice to either keep practicing or go back in with everyone else. This works really well.”

Surround Them with Good Examples

Of course you should be a good example if you want your kids to learn reverence, but it also helps to sit near someone else who also displays good Sunday behavior. Jessie Walker and her family started sitting near two young women who her four-year-old daughter, Brett, admires. “I have Brett watch them while the sacrament is being passed and I tell her that what they are doing is thinking about Jesus,” explains Jessie. “She is starting to catch on. I'll catch her looking at them and mimicking what they are doing.”

Provide Reverent Entertainment

Keeping kids reverent must be a universal problem, because there are options everywhere for quiet and spiritual entertainment. Deseret Book even has a Heroes of the Book of Mormon app you can download onto your smartphone, which offers puzzles, a coloring book, and a matching game. It also includes scripture references for study. Here are some other things that you can use to keep your little ones entertained:

• Activity Books—Whether you have babies, toddlers, or little kids, there are activity books to keep your little ones entertained and reverent. Who is This Jesus?, the brand new hidden picture book, showcases touching pictures of Christ but also has subtle pictures hidden in the pages for your kids to find.

• Quiet Books—You can make these books on your own with help from websites like How to Make a Quiet Book or MormonChic. If you’re not so crafty or don’t have the time to take this kind of project on, you can buy quiet books online and in Deseret Book stores.

• Popsicle Puzzles—This easy craft is the answer if you’re a busy mom, but want to make something to help your kids make it through sacrament meeting. You and your child or children could make these puzzles together and have plenty of options for quiet entertainment when Sunday rolls around. Learn how to make popsicle puzzles here.

• Picture Books—Laminate pictures from The Friend or other church books and magazines, then punch a hole in the corner and slide a metal ring in the hole to make a flipbook. You can also laminate pictures of temples or prophets.

• Pipe Cleaners—Jennifer Hsu, writer for mormonchic.com, suggests bringing pipe cleaners in a Ziploc bag. This may seem simple, but I bet it could hold a toddler or baby’s attention for more than an hour.

Make Sure Your Kids Know What You Expect

Kids are bad at reading minds. Let them know why they are in sacrament meeting and what you expect from them while they are there. Make sure they know who is boss. You don’t have to act like a prison guard, but if you give your kids the choice of being reverent or rowdy, they will likely choose to be rowdy. If you let them know that’s not an option, they’ll learn to be reverent.

Your turn: What strategies have worked for your family? Answer by leaving a comment below.

Teachings of George Albert Smith Lesson 6: Sustaining Those Whom the Lord Sustains

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Those called, sustained, and set apart are entitled to our sustaining support." -James E. Faust

Note: As the Church has said, the manual has been prepared as the primary source of lesson material. This supplement, from a general conference address, is only meant as a complement to your study on this lesson's topic.

Excerpt from "Called and Chosen" by President James E. Faust, October 2005 General Conference:

My dear brethren of the priesthood, please accept our appreciation for all you do to carry forward the Lord’s work worldwide. I desire to speak about the sacred offices of those priesthood leaders who have been “called and chosen” 1 to guide the Church in this day. This is a special year for at least two reasons: first, we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith this December, and second, President Gordon B. Hinckley celebrated his 95th birthday this past June. I testify that the Prophet Joseph Smith was called and chosen as the first prophet of this dispensation and that President Gordon B. Hinckley is the present prophet, seer, and revelator of this Church.

When Mike Wallace interviewed President Hinckley some years ago for the television program 60 Minutes, he said, “[People will say] this is a church run by old men.” To this, President Hinckley replied, “Isn’t it wonderful to have a man of maturity at the head—a man of judgment who isn’t blown about by every wind of doctrine?” 2 So if any of you think the present leadership is too old to lead the Church, President Hinckley may need to give you some further counsel about the wisdom that comes with age!

Of the 102 Apostles called in this dispensation, only 13 have served longer than President Hinckley. He has served longer as an Apostle than Brigham Young, President Hunter, President Lee, President Kimball, and many others. It is wonderful to have his inspired leadership. Please forgive me for saying that I myself feel at times that I am standing on the edge of eternity. At age 85, I am the third oldest of all the living General Authorities. I have not sought this honor. I have just lived for it.

To read the full talk, click here.

Young Women Lesson 12: Maturing and Growing in Self-Reliance, Part 2

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:03:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "The Lord is depending on you to assist in the exaltation of your eternal family." -Mary N. Cook Discussion Questions
• How can we strengthen our relationships with our parents?
• How can we keep our parents’ trust?
• How can we keep Heavenly Father’s trust?

Excerpt from "Strengthen Home and Family" by Sister Mary N. Cook, October 2007 General Conference:

Each Sunday, from Mongolia to Manchester to Mississippi, the young women of the Church repeat these inspired words: “We will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation” (“Young Women Theme,” Young Women Personal Progress [booklet, 2001], 5).

While this is the Young Women theme, it applies to all youth in the Church. I hope I can help you, my young brothers and sisters, understand how powerful your individual actions can be in strengthening your home and family, no matter what your circumstances. I understand, for example, that many of you may be the only member of the Church in your family.

For the Strength of Youth reminds us that “being part of a family is a great blessing. … Not all families are the same, but each is important in Heavenly Father’s plan” ([pamphlet, 2001], 10).

All families need strengthening, from the ideal to the most troubled. That strengthening can come from you. In fact, in some families you may be the only source of spiritual strength. The Lord is depending on you to bring the blessings of the gospel to your family.

To read the full talk, click here.

Young Men Lesson 12: Following the Living Prophet

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:03:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "What a great blessing it is to have prophets in our day!" -Claudio R. M. Costa Discussion Questions
• What does the Lord promise when we follow the prophet? (see D&C 21:5–6).
• What are some specific examples of when you or your family has been blessed for following the prophet?

Excerpt from "Obedience to the Prophets" by Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, October 2010 General Conference:

I am a convert to the Church. I am so grateful that God answered my prayer and gave me a knowledge and a strong testimony that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.

Before I made the decision to be baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I studied extracts from the history of Joseph Smith. I prayed after carefully reading each paragraph. If you would like to do this yourself, it may take you 14 hours.

After I read, pondered, and prayed, the Lord gave me the assurance that Joseph Smith was His prophet. I testify to you that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and because I have received this answer from the Lord, I know that all of his successors are prophets too. What a great blessing it is to have prophets in our day!

Why is it important to have living prophets to guide the true Church of Jesus Christ and its members?

In the Guide to the Scriptures, we find the definition of the word prophet: “A person who has been called by and speaks for God. As a messenger of God, a prophet receives commandments, prophecies, and revelations from God” (“Prophet,” scriptures.lds.org; see also Bible Dictionary, “Prophet”).

It is a great blessing to receive the word, commandments, and guidance of the Lord in these difficult days of the earth. The prophet can be inspired to see the future in benefit of mankind.

To read the full talk, click here.

Young Women Lesson 11: Growing and Maturing in Self-Reliance, Part 1

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "People need to realize that regardless of their circumstances, as desperate as those may be, they are entitled to the Light of Christ in their lives." -M. Russell Ballard

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean to “govern yourself”? (See Young Women manual 1, 43).

• How does following the Lord’s standards help us govern ourselves?

• Becoming self-reliant also means learning to live providently. What does provident living mean?

• What does it mean to become spiritually self- reliant? How can we become more spiritually self- reliant?

Excerpt from "Becoming Self-Reliant - Spiritually and Physically" by Elder M. Russell Ballard, talk to Brigham Young University:

From the Church Handbook of Instructions, we learn: “The Savior has commanded the Church and its members to be self-reliant and independent. …

“To become self-reliant, a person must work. Work is physical, mental, or spiritual effort. It is a basic source of happiness, self-worth, and prosperity. Through work, people accomplish many good things in their lives. …

“As people become self-reliant, they are better prepared to endure adversities” and are “better able to care for others in need.” 1

President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988) taught: “Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak.” 2 (See also p. 65 of this magazine.)

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) said: “The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.” 3

William George Jordan put it this way: “The world is busy with its own cares, sorrows and joys, and pays little heed to you. There is but one great pass-word to success,—self-reliance.” 4

From my experience, I believe that a few simple but very important principles can help prepare us to become more self-reliant.

To read the full talk, click here.

Book of Mormon Lesson 9: "My Soul Delighteth in the Words of Isaiah"

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Nephi's small plates are a wonderful witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ, and his inclusion of these chapters from Isaiah is an important element of this testimony.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

It just may be that my salvation (and yours also) does in fact depend upon our ability to understand the writings of Isaiah as fully and truly as Nephi understood them. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, Oct 1973, p. 78)

INTRODUCTION:

Someday I hope to read the Book of Lehi - the source for the 116 manuscript pages that disappeared while in the custody of Martin Harris (see heading to D&C 10). I am anxious to know more about the record of Lehi's father, and the genealogy of Lehi, and the activities of his group in the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 19:1). I believe that many of our questions about Book of Mormon geography might be clarified if we had that record, and I am a fanatic for anything Nephi wrote.

But I am not ready to trade!

If someone offered me the Book of Lehi in exchange for the contents of the small plates which replaced it, I would require about one nano- second to make up my mind and say No! I do not believe that Martin's mistake caused us to give up something magnificent for something pretty good, or that the content of the small plates was a second choice for inclusion in the Book of Mormon. God, knowing long in advance what would happen during the translation, commanded Nephi to make the small plates and to write on them his "ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them" (1 Nephi 19:3). So Nephi made them and he and others wrote on them and Mormon included them with the plates prepared for Joseph Smith for what they called a wise purpose in the Lord (1 Nephi 9:5; Words of Mormon, 1:7).

One of the reasons why these small plates are so valuable is their wonderful witness of the divinity of Christ.

In the introductory material to the Book of Mormon, we have access to the testimony of the three witnesses to the divinity of the book: Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer bear solemn testimony of the miraculous experience that demonstrated to them the reality of Gods involvement with this work. We call them the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. But there are three other witnesses, standing, as it were, just inside the threshold of this book; three witnesses to the divinity of Christ. They are Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah. They stand together, close together, at the portal, bearing a powerful and unified witness of the mission and ministry of the Messiah.

Jesus told the Sadducees that it was impossible to believe the scriptures and not believe in the resurrection (see Matthew 22:31-33). In like manner, it is impossible to believe the Book of Mormon, especially the words of Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah, and not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. It is in large measure for this testimony that Nephi delights in the words of Isaiah.

And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words (2 Nephi 11:2,3)

1. NEPHI TESTIFIES OF ISAIAH'S WRITINGS AND GIVES KEYS FOR UNDERSTANDING THEM (2 NEPHI 11; 25:1-8)

Nephi gives us at least 7 reasons for quoting Isaiah. Since engraving these records on metal sheets cannot have been an easy task (see Jacob 4:1), his desire to record these things in his record must have been exceptional.

• God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words (32 Nephi 11:3).

• My soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ . . . (2 Nephi 11:4).

• My soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers . . . (2 Nephi 11:5).

• My soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death (2 Nephi 11:5).

• And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish (2 Nephi 11:6).

• I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men (2 Nephi 11:8).

• Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men (2 Nephi 11:8).

In 2 Nephi 25, Nephi gives us some keys to help us with Isaiah. 2 Nephi 25 begins Nephi's commentary on the writings of Isaiah, a commentary that includes 2 Nephi 25-30. And Nephi knew we would probably need some help understanding the writings of Isaiah:

NOW I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand. . . (2 Nephi 25:1, emphasis added)

Here are the keys Nephi provides to us.

• They know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews (2 Nephi 25:1). We will have a better ability to understand the messages of Isaiah if we have a better understanding of the way in which the Jews prophesied. In part that understanding comes with exposure. Reading and pondering and re-reading will increase our ability to comprehend.

• For because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy (2 Nephi 25:4). Revelation 19:10 tells us that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. An abiding witness of the divinity of Christ and the purposes of his ministry will assist greatly in clarifying the passages of Isaiah. Also, the spirit of prophecy is closely linked to the spirit of revelation. They are referred to together 9 times in the Book of Mormon. That spirit of revelation will also be of great usefulness in understanding Isaiah.

• There is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews (2 Nephi 25:5) A knowledge of the culture and history of the time periods in which Isaiah wrote will assist us in our understanding.

• In the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass (2 Nephi 25:7) Sometimes, we will understand only after we see the fulfillment: then we will say as we strike our palms to our foreheads, Oh! So thats what it meant! The prophecy in 2 Nephi 12:2,3 is such a prophecy. To those of us who have seen the Salt Lake temple and the know of the gatherings to Utah, in the 1800's for settlement and now for General Conference, the meaning seems perfectly clear.

• Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly . . .I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them (2 Nephi 25:8) Those who think the words of Isaiah (and Nephi's transcription of those words) of little value, will have a great difficulty in understanding the meaning of those words.

2. ISAIAH SEES THE LATTER-DAY TEMPLE AND THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL (2 Nephi 12:1-12)

Viewing the future of his people across the ages, Isaiah saw the temples of the last days and the gathering of Israel. Elder McConkie suggested that it would be a mistake to think that this prophecy had reference only to the Salt Lake Temple:

This great prophecy, as is often the case, is subject to the law of multiple fulfillment. 1. In Salt Lake City and other mountain locations temples, in the full and true sense of the word, have been erected, and representatives of all nations are flowing unto them to learn of God and his ways. In this connection and as part of the general fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, is the fact that one of the world's greatest genealogical societies has been established in Salt Lake City a society to which people of all nations come to do the ancestral research which must precede the performance of vicarious temple ordinances. 2. But the day is yet future when the Lord's house is to be built on that "Mount Zion" which is "the city of New Jerusalem" in Jackson County, Missouri. (D. & C. 84:24.) Mount Zion, itself, will be the mountain of the Lord's house in the day when that glorious temple is erected. 3. When the Jews flee unto Jerusalem, it will be "unto the mountains of the Lord's house" (D. & C. 133:13), for a holy temple to be built there also as part of the work of the great era of restoration. (Ezek. 37:2428.) (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.518)

This gathering will precede millennial judgment and peace on the earth. Nephi reminded us (in the words of Isaiah) that, following this gathering, the Lord would

. . . judge among the nations, and . . . rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more (2 Nephi 12:4)

What a longing we ought to have for a day in which the implements of war become implements of peace - when the financial drain of military expenditure becomes the financial blessing of feeding the multitudes of hungry in this world. I do not mean to belabor this observation, but you might consider what it will mean to this world when the trillions of dollars spent on military activities are redirected to the solving of social problems such as hunger. That one event alone might be able to finance a millennium! Consider the following:

“According to the World Health Organization, hunger is the single gravest threat to the world's public health. The WHO also states that malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality, present in half of all cases. fifteen million children die of hunger every year. Figures on actual starvation are difficult to come by, but according to the FAO, the less severe condition of undernourishment currently affects about 925 million people, or about 14 % of the world population.” (wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation)

President Hinckley quoted Charles Sumner about this matter. He wrote:

Give me the money that has been spent on war, and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens would be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship, consecrated to the gospel of peace (The Ensign, March 1971, p. 20).

From page 160 of the Improvement Era, March 1938, comes this interesting insight:

Nicholas Murray Butler has figured that money spent for the World War could have built a $2,500.00 house, placed in it $1000.00 worth of furniture, put it on five acres of land worth $1000.00 an acre, and have given this to every family in the United States, Canada, Australia, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France. Belgium, Germany, and Russia; could have given to each city of 20,000 or over in each of these countries a five-million dollar library and a ten-million dollar university; and could still with what was left set aside a sum at 5 per cent that would provide a $1,000.00 yearly salary for over 125,000 teachers and a like number of nurses (Reprinted from Treasures I Would Share, Heber J. Grant, Dec. 1937)

It may take divine intervention for this to happen. General Omar O. Bradley, who spent his life commanding and directing military operations, wrote,

We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount . . . Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living (cited in The Life of Mahatma Ghandi, Louis Fischer, p. 349).

Dwight D. Eisenhower, who also knew something of war, offered this observation:

Every gun made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in a final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.

This world in arms is not spending money alone: it is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children . . . this is not a way of life at all, in any true sense.

Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron. (Peace with Justice: Selected Addresses of Dwight D. Eisenhower, pp. 37-38)

We may not have much ability to influence the interactions of nations, but we are commanded to do a couple of things, that if done faithfully by enough people, will make a difference: 1) Renounce war and proclaim peace, (D&C 98:16); and 2) walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all gone astray, everyone to his wicked ways (2 Nephi 12:5).

3. ISAIAH PROPHECIES THAT THE LORD WILL RAISE AN ENSIGN AND GATHER ISRAEL (2 Nephi 15:26-29; 21:12)

The restored church is an ensign to the nations (see 2 Nephi 15:26; 21:12) Established by the power of the priesthood and according to the will of God, it becomes the most powerful force in the world for good. Its emissaries will call to people from throughout the world to come and partake of the goodness of the kingdom. The message of those emissaries is here described as a hiss. The Lord will hiss unto them from the end of the earth. The hissers are the missionary force of the church. We know from the scriptures and from revelation that they must discharge their duty to be hissers before they worry about becoming kissers.

These verses indicate that these hissers will go forth in power!

Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: Their roaring [shall be] like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. (2 Nephi 15:28,29)

The power with which they serve as they declare the reality of the restoration is the message behind this familiar statement from the prophet Joseph Smith:

Our missionaries are going forth to different nations. The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done [History of the Church, Vol. 4: p. 540].

A statement with a similar feeling came from Brigham Young.

When the wicked have power to blow out the sun, that it shines no more; when they have power to bring to a conclusion the operations of the elements, suspend the whole system of nature, and make a footstool of the throne of the Almighty, they may then think to check "Mormonism" in its course, and thwart the unalterable purposes of heaven. Men may persecute the people who believe its doctrines, report and publish lies to bring tribulation upon their heads, earth and hell may unite in one grand league against it, and exert their malicious powers to the utmost, but it will stand as firm and immovable in the midst of it all as the pillars of eternity. Men may persecute the Prophet, and those who believe and uphold him, they may drive the Saints and kill them but this does not affect the truths of "Mormonism" one iota, for they will stand when the elements melt with fervent heat, and the heavens are wrapt up like a scroll and the solid earth is dissolved. (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.442, 443)

IV. ISAIAH AND NEPHI TESTIFY OF JESUS CHRIST S REDEEMING POWER (selected verses)

Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. (2 Nephi 22:5)

He hath done excellent things. What a joy it was to read these Isaiah chapters looking for examples of the wonderful things the Savior has done or is willing to do for us. I found several descriptions worth considering in the context of a testimony of the Saviors redeeming power.

The Lord will wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion. (2 Nephi 14:4)

He will lift up an ensign to the nations. (2 Nephi 15:26)

He gives us light - the light of the life and mission of Christ: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light . . . (2 Nephi 19:2)

He gives us joy. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and increased the joy - they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. (2 Nephi 19:3)

He will lift our burdens, and give us relief from the rod and the staff: For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor. (2 Nephi 19:4)

He will judge us righteously. He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek . . . (2 Nephi 21:3,4)

He will gather his people. And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people . . . (2 Nephi 21:11)

He will be our strength, our salvation, our protection, a shadow, a refuge, a covert from storm and from rain. (2 Nephi 22:2; 14:6)

He will give us living water. . . . with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (2 Nephi 22:3)

He will put an end to the influence of the wicked. The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the scepters of the rulers. (2 Nephi 24:5)

He will give the earth a time to rest and heal. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into singing. (2 Nephi 24:7)

CONCLUSION:

Doesn't the review of these descriptions of the Savior make you desire to break forth into singing and to cry out with Ammon?

Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. (Alma 26:16)

Young Women Lesson 9: Honoring Parents

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "There are countless ways in which you can show true love to your mothers and your fathers. . . .They have sacrificed much and continue to sacrifice in your behalf." -Thomas S. Monson

Discussion Questions

• What can you do to strengthen your relationship with your parents?

• How can we show respect to our parents and grandparents even when their beliefs or opinions are different than ours?

Excerpt from "Be Thou an Example" by President Thomas S. Monson, April 2005 General Conference:

My, how your parents love you, how they pray for you. Honor them.

How do you honor your parents? I like the words of William Shakespeare: “They do not love that do not show their love.” There are countless ways in which you can show true love to your mothers and your fathers. You can obey them and follow their teachings, for they will never lead you astray. You can treat them with respect. They have sacrificed much and continue to sacrifice in your behalf.

Be honest with your mother and your father. One reflection of such honesty with parents is to communicate with them. Avoid the silent treatment. The clock ticks more loudly, its hands move more slowly when the night is dark, the hour is late, and a precious daughter has not yet come home. If you are detained, make a telephone call: “Mom, Dad, we’re OK. Just stopped for something to eat. Don’t worry; we’re fine. Be home soon.”

A number of years ago, while attending a youth gathering at the Clarkston, Utah, cemetery, where each of the group viewed the memorial which marks the grave of Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, I noticed another marker—a small stone in which was inscribed a name and this poignant verse: “A light from our household is gone; a voice we loved is stilled. A place is vacant in our hearts that never can be filled.”

To read the full talk, click here.

Young Men Lesson 9: Respect for Mothers and Their Divine Role

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Perhaps the reason we respond so universally to our mothers’ love is because it typifies the love of our Savior." -Bradley D. Foster

Discussion Questions

• How has your mother influenced your life for good?

• How is your family blessed when you respect and honor your mother?

Excerpt from "Mother Told Me" by Elder Bradley D. Foster, April 2010 General Conference:

The Lord has placed upon parents the primary responsibility for the spiritual nurturing of their children. Sometimes this responsibility falls to a single parent. My own mother was relatively young when my father died, leaving her alone with four children. But she faced her adversity with faith and courage, promising us that if we stayed on the road of truth, the end would be better than the beginning. Like the children of valiant mothers in the Book of Mormon, “we [did] not doubt our [mother] knew it” (Alma 56:48). Brothers and sisters, I understand in a personal way the great influence of mothers.

My good friend Don Pearson shared an experience that highlights this influence. One night his four-year-old son asked him to read a bedtime story. Eric had picked out his favorite book: The Ballooning Adventures of Paddy Pork, a story about a family who lived on the isles of the sea and traveled from island to island by hot-air balloon. It was a picture book that had no words, so Brother Pearson made up words to the story.

“Paddy is in a hot-air balloon. He is landing on an island now. He is dropping a line over the side of the balloon.”

Eric stopped him. “Dad, that is not a line. It’s a rope.”

Brother Pearson looked at Eric and back at the picture book, and then he continued: “Paddy is getting out of the balloon and climbing down the tree. Oh no! His coat is caught on a limb!”

Again Eric stopped him. “Dad, that’s not a coat. It’s a jacket.”

By now Brother Pearson was somewhat perplexed. He said, “Eric, there are no words in this book, just pictures. Why do you insist that it’s a jacket?”

Eric answered, “Because Mother told me.”

To read the full talk, click here.

Teachings of George Albert Smith Lesson 5: The Holy Priesthood - For the Blessing of God's Children

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "A feeling of responsibility for others is at the heart of faithful priesthood service." -Henry B. Eyring

Excerpt from "Man Down!" by President Henry B. Eyring, April 2009 General Conference:

I am grateful for the honor and the blessing of speaking to the priesthood of God. My purpose tonight is to help you to be brave and bold in your priesthood service.

You will need bravery and you will need boldness because you are enlisted in the Lord’s army in the last dispensation. This is not a time of peace. That has been so since Satan arrayed his forces against our Heavenly Father’s plan in the premortal existence. We don’t know the details of the combat then. But we know one result. Satan and his followers were cast down into the earth. And since the creation of Adam and Eve, the conflict has continued. We have seen it intensify. And the scriptures suggest that the war will become more violent and the spiritual casualties on the Lord’s side will mount.

Almost all of us have seen a battlefield portrayed in a film or read the description in a story. Over the din of explosions and the shouts of soldiers, there comes a cry, “Man down!”

When that cry sounds, faithful fellow soldiers will move toward the sound. Another soldier or a medic will ignore danger and move to the injured comrade. And the man down will know that help will come. Whatever the risk, someone will run low or crawl to get there in time to protect and give aid. That is true in every band of men joined in a difficult and dangerous mission which they are determined to fulfill at any sacrifice. The histories of such groups are full of stories of those loyal men who were determined that no man would be left behind.

Here is one instance from an official account. 1 During fighting in Somalia in October of 1993, two United States Army Rangers in a helicopter during the firefight learned that two other helicopters near them had fallen to the earth. The two rangers, in their relative safety aloft, learned by radio that no ground forces were available to rescue one of the downed aircrews. Growing numbers of the enemy were closing in on the crash site.

To read the full talk, click here.

Book of Mormon Lesson 8: "O How Great the Goodness of Our God"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: As you study these chapters of the Book of Mormon, ask yourself: if Jacob had spoken many things, what is there about this message that is so important for us that it was recorded on the small plates?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Let this message be sounded in every ear with an angelic trump. Let it roll round the earth in resounding claps of never-ending thunder. Let it be whispered in every heart by the still, small voice. Those who believe the Book of Mormon and accept Joseph Smith as a prophet thereby open the door to salvation; those who reject the book outright or who simply fail to learn its message and believe its teachings never so much as begin to travel that course along the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. [Elder Bruce R. McConkie, C.R., Oct. 1983, p. 104]

INTRODUCTION:

Notice the language of Jacob, who had "been called of God, and ordained after the manner of [the Lord's] holy order, . . . having been consecrated by [his] brother Nephi" (2 Nephi 6:2). He addressed the people of Nephi over a period of a couple of days (see 2 Nephi 9:54). 2 Nephi 6-10 is a record of that sermon. But this was not his only sermon. He said, ye know that I have spoken unto you exceedingly many things. (2 Nephi 6:2) Notice also that in these verses, Jacob will speak concerning things which are, and which are to come. (2 Nephi 6:4) Jacob tells us why he is delivering this message.

Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children. (2 Nephi 9:3)

As you study these chapters and this commentary, ask yourself this important question: if Jacob has spoken exceedingly many things, why are these things recorded on the small plates? What is there about this message that is so important for us? Perhaps a part of the answer can be found in Jacobs marvelous descriptions of the wonderful things the Savior has done and will do for us.

1. JACOB TEACHES ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAVIOR (2 Nephi 6-8)

As you read 2 Nephi 6-8, look for words that are related to what the Savior is willing to do for his people. You may wish to mark and reflect on some of the following phrases and words. You may also find others that deserve attention:

• (2 Nephi 6:11) merciful

• (2 Nephi 6:12) saved

• (2 Nephi 6:14) manifest himself

• (2 Nephi 6:14) recover,

• (2 Nephi 6:17) deliver

• (2 Nephi 7:2) redeem

• (2 Nephi 7:5-9) help,

• (2 Nephi 7:5-9) justify

• (2 Nephi 8:3,12) comfort

• (2 Nephi 8:4-6) light,

• (2 Nephi 8:4-6) salvation,

• (2 Nephi 8:4-6) judge

• (2 Nephi 8:16) covered [protected]

• (2 Nephi 8:22) pleads

What do these words indicate about the character of the Savior?

Review D&C 19:18,19; Mosiah 3:7; Luke 22:44. What do these verses add to your knowledge of the character and love of the Savior?

What does the Savior ask us to do in response to the things he is willing to do for us?

• 2 Nephi 8:4 - Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation

• 2 Nephi 8:7 - Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law

• 2 Nephi 8:7 - Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling

• 2 Nephi 8:9 - Awake, awake! Put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient days

• 2 Nephi 8:17 - Awake, awake, stand up . . .

• 2 Nephi 8:24 - Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem

• 2 Nephi 8:25 - Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion

Jacob has never visited Jerusalem, but he has seen it in vision and has seen that Lehi's prophecies have been fulfilled. (2 Nephi 6:8) He has seen the ministry and death of the Holy One of Israel, and the suffering of the Jews that would thereafter come upon Israel. (see 2 Nephi 6:9,10)

But he has also seen the gathering and has explained the sequence of that gathering in the same way that it has been and will be explained many times in the Book of Mormon:

Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance. (2 Nephi 6:11, emphasis added)

The gathering of the House of Israel to the lands of their inheritance comes after they believe in Christ. We have seen a preliminary gathering taking place in Israel, but the scriptures teach many times, as they teach here, that the real gathering is first to the Church and the Savior, and then to the promised lands. In fact, the meaning of the concept of gathering is first and foremost coming to Christ. First Nephi 10:14 teaches this:

And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.

Second Nephi 10:7 says it this way:

But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance.

It is after she believes in Christ that Israel will be gathered to her lands of promise. This is exactly what has happened to those who have already been gathered - the members of the Church in our day. If you read carefully Jacobs description of those who will return - who will be gathered - you will see that these are people filled with the joy of conversion and testimony:

Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away. (2 Nephi 8:11)

Speaking of the apostasy of Israel, ancient and modern, and of the distance that sometimes exists between the bridegroom and the bride, Jacob reminds us who has moved.

Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.(2 Nephi 7:1)

Jacob teaches that we need light to make our way through mortality, and he makes it most clear that the Savior is the source of the only light will truly dispel the darkness

Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? (2 Nephi 8:10)

But so many are walking by the uncertain light of tiny sparks from the fires they have tried to kindle for themselves. We have too often been satisfied to walk in the gloom of uncertainty when we have been invited in the brilliance of the light of celestial splendor.

Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand - ye shall lie down in sorrow. (2 Nephi 7:11)

2. THE ATONEMENT REDEEMS US AND SAVES US FROM DEATH AND HELL (2 Nephi 9)

Second Nephi 9:6-10. According to Jacobs explanation, why are we in need of the kind of help mentioned in 2 Nephi 9: 6-8?

Why would Jacob refer to death and hell as an awful monster? (2 Nephi 9: 10,19,26) Without the Saviors help or redemption or deliverance, what would happen to us? (2 Nephi 9:7-9)

2 Nephi 9:11-13. What did the Savior do to overcome this monster, death and hell?

We noted above that the Savior asks us to do certain things. Read 2 Nephi 9 find and mark verses or passages that describe our responsibility if we desire to receive the full blessings of the atonement. Review the following list and focus on the meanings and applications of these passages.

• 2 Nephi 9:18. Believe in the Holy One of Israel; endure the crosses of the world; despise the shame of the world.

• 2 Nephi 9:21. Hearken unto the Saviors voice.

• 2 Nephi 9:23. Repent, be baptized, and have faith.

• 2 Nephi 9:24. Endure to the end.

• 2 Nephi 9:39. Be spiritually minded.

• 2 Nephi 9:41. Come unto the Lord; walk the straight and narrow course.

• 2 Nephi 9:50,51. Feast on that which will not perish.

• 2 Nephi 9:52. Remember the words of God, pray continually, and give thanks.

Notice that in 2 Nephi 9:7, the sacrifice of the Savior is called an infinite atonement. (See also 2 Nephi 25:16; Alma 34:12) The Atonement is infinite because it affects all men. It is infinite because it reaches out into the universe to an infinite number of worlds. It is infinite because its effects remain throughout an infinite number of years.

Jacob rejoices in the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace (2 Nephi 9:8) in bringing to pass the death and resurrection of all men. Without the resurrection, according to 2 Nephi 9:8,9)

• Our spirits would be subject to Satan

• Our spirits would become like him

• We would become devils

• We would become angels to a devil

• We would be shut out from the presence of God

• We would be consigned to dwell with the father of lies

• We would be in misery

Speaking of this, Elder McConkie wrote:

"O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace!" Jacob exults. Why? Because if there were no atonement, there would be no resurrection; and if there were no resurrection, "our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the Father of lies, in misery, like unto himself." (2 Ne. 9:89.) That is to say, if there were no resurrection, which comes by the grace of God, all men would be sons of perdition, the most horrible and awful punishment in all the eternities. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p.347)

When we stand before the judgement bar of God, Jacob tells us, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness . . . (2 Nephi 9:14)

Pres. Joseph F. Smith, speaking of that perfect knowledge, said,

May I say to you that in reality a man cannot forget anything? He may have a lapse of memory; he may not be able to recall at the moment a thing that he knows, or words that he has spoken; he may not have the power at his will to call up these events and words; but let God Almighty touch the mainspring of the memory, and awaken recollection, and you will find then that you have not even forgotten a single idle word that you have spoken. I believe the word of God to be true, and therefore, I warn the youth of Zion, as well as those who are advanced in years, to beware of saying wicked things, of speaking evil, and taking in vain the name of sacred things and sacred beings. Guard your words, that you may not offend even man, much less offend God. (Gospel Doctrine, p. 311)

3. CERTAIN ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS CAN KEEP US FROM THE BLESSINGS OF THE ATONEMENT (2 Nephi 9)

In 2 Nephi 9:27-44, Jacob discusses a number of attitudes and actions that are dangerous to us in our pursuit of eternal life. As you read this chapter, try to locate and ponder the attitudes and actions that Jacob warns against.

Read and mark the following phrases from 2 Nephi 9:27-38.

A. Woe to the person that has the gospel and the commandments, but sins thinking Ill repent later! (9:27)
B. Woe to the wealthy who despise the poor! (9:30)
C. Woe to those who refuse to listen to the Gospel and the truth! (9:31)
D. Woe to those who refuse to see the truth and beauty of the Gospel! (9:32)
E. Woe to the hard-hearted sinner! (9:33)
F. Woe to those who communicate with an intent to deceive! (9:34)
G. Woe to those guilty of premeditated murder! (9:35)
H. Woe to those who are immoral in any way! (9:36)
I. Woe to those to whom things are more important than God! (9:37)
J. Woe to any who are guilty of any of these things and die without repenting! (9:38)

Why might these things be a barrier to receiving the full blessings of the atonement?

4. IN SPITE OF INIQUITY, GOD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANTS WITH ISRAEL (2 Nephi 10)

• 2 Nephi 10:2. What will happen to many of the seed of the Nephites?

• 2 Nephi 10:3. What will the Jews do to the Savior?

• 2 Nephi 10:5. What attitudes and problems will cause them to do this terrible thing?

• 2 Nephi 19:6. What two things will happen to them because of their iniquities?

In spite of this rebellion and wickedness, Jacob testifies that God will remember his covenants and be merciful (see 2 Nephi 10:2)

• 2 Nephi 10:7. When will this restoration begin to take place?

• 2 Nephi 10:14. Who will become the king of Israel? What else will the Savior do for them and for us?

• In what ways are we like the Jews described in this chapter? How patient has the Lord been with you in your weaknesses? The following quote may be helpful:

No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not his character [to do so]. He is an unchangeable being; the same yesterday, the same today, and he will be the same throughout the eternal ages to come. We have found that God. We have made Him our friend, by obeying His Gospel; and he will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; by we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trails and difficulties the better and purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments. (George Q. Cannon, Collected Discourses, 5 vols. [1897-92], 2:185; Cited in Come Unto Me by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Satellite Broadcast, March 2, 1997)

CONCLUSION

As you look at Jacobs concluding remarks in 2 Nephi 10:23-25, remember the question we asked at the beginning of this lesson. Why was this sermon included on the small plates when so many other things were left out?

Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen. (2 Nephi 10:23-25)

What does Jacob tell us we can do if we will apply all that he has taught us? (Cheer up your hearts (2 Nephi 10:23) What admonitions does Jacob give as part of his conclusion? (2 Nephi 10:23,24) What wish does he express for us in his conclusion? (2 Nephi 10:25)

I have a favorite hymn. I feel in the lyrics, apparently written in the middle of the dark ages, the kind of love for the Savior that Jacob must have had to write these chapters we have just studied.

JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE

(text attributed to Bernard de Clairvaux)

Jesus, the very thought of thee,

With sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far thy face to see

And in thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,,

Nor can the mem'ry find

A sweeter sound than thy blest name,

O Savior of mankind!

O hope of every contrite heart,

O joy of all the meek,

To those who fall how kind thou art!

How good to those who seek!

Jesus, our only joy be thou,

As thou our prize will be;

Jesus be thou our glory now,

And through eternity.

(Hymns, 141)

Young Men Lesson 8: "Honour Thy Father"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:03:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Discussion Questions

• How has your father influenced your life for good?

• What are some qualities your father has that you would like to emulate in your life?

Excerpt from "The Love of God" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2009 General Conference:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continually growing and becoming better known throughout the world. Although there will always be those who stereotype the Church and its members in a negative way, most people think of us as honest, helpful, and hardworking. Some have images of clean-cut missionaries, loving families, and friendly neighbors who don’t smoke or drink. We might also be known as a people who attend church every Sunday for three hours, in a place where everyone is a brother or a sister, where the children sing songs about streams that talk, trees that produce popcorn, and children who want to become sunbeams.

Brothers and sisters, of all the things we want to be known for, are there attributes above all others that should define us as members of His Church, even as disciples of Jesus Christ? Since our last general conference six months ago, I have pondered this and similar questions. Today I would like to share with you some thoughts and impressions that have come as a result of that inquiry. The first question is:

How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ?

The Savior Himself provided the answer with this profound declaration: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with Him.

But this may present a problem for some because there are so many “shoulds” and “should nots” that merely keeping track of them can be a challenge. Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles—many coming from uninspired sources—complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person’s good idea—something that may work for him or her—takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of “good ideas.”

To read the full talk, click here.

Teachings of George Albert Smith Lesson 4: The Prophet Joseph Smith: God's Instrument in Restoring Truth

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:03:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Through Joseph Smith have been restored all the powers, keys, teachings, and ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation." - Tad R. Callister

Excerpt from "Joseph Smith - Prophet of the Restoration" by Elder Tad R. Callister, October 2009 General Conference:

Suppose for a moment someone told you these three facts about a New Testament personality and nothing more: first, the Savior said of this man, “O thou of little faith” (Matthew 14:31); second, this man, in a moment of anger, cut off an ear of the high priest’s servant; and third, this man denied knowing who the Savior was on three occasions, even though he had walked with Him daily. If that is all you knew or focused upon, you might have thought this man a scoundrel or a no-good, but in the process you would have failed to come to know one of the greatest men who ever walked the earth: Peter the Apostle.

Similarly, attempts have been made by some to focus upon or magnify some minor weaknesses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, but in that process they too have missed the mark, the man, and his mission. Joseph Smith was the Lord’s anointed to restore Christ’s Church to the earth. When he emerged from the grove of trees, he eventually learned four fundamental truths not then taught by the majority of the contemporary Christian world.

First, he learned that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate, distinct beings. The Bible confirms Joseph Smith’s discovery. It tells us that the Son submitted His will to the Father (see Matthew 26:42). We are moved by the Savior’s submission and find strength in His example to do likewise, but what would have been the depth and passion of Christ’s submission or the motivational power of that example if the Father and the Son were the same being and in reality the Son was merely following His own will under a different name?

To read the full talk, click here.

Book of Mormon Lesson 7: "I Know in Whom I Have Trusted"

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We can learn a great deal from Nephi's resolve to stay close to the Lord and flee from the wickedness he faced among his brothers.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Speaking of the new editions of the Scriptures, Elder Packer said:

The stick or record of Judah - the Old Testament and the New Testament - and the stick or record of Ephraim - the Book of Mormon, which is Another Testament of Jesus Christ - are now woven together in such a way that as you pore over one you are drawn to the other; as you learn from one you are enlightened by the other. They are indeed one in our hands. Ezekiel's prophecy stands fulfilled.

With the passing of years these scriptures will produce successive generations of faithful Christians who know the Lord Jesus Christ and are disposed to obey his will.

The older generation has been raised without them, but there is another generation growing up. The revelations will be opened to them as to no other in the history of the world. Into their hands now are placed the sticks of Joseph and Judah. They will develop a gospel scholarship beyond that which their forbears could achieve. They will have the testimony that Jesus is the Christ and be competent to proclaim him and defend him. (Elder Boyd K. Packer, C.R., Oct. 1992, p. 75)

INTRODUCTION:

After you have reviewed the material in 2 Nephi 3, find a copy of the Joseph Smith Translation and read Genesis 50. You can read several verses in the Appendix to the LDS edition of the Bible if you cannot find the complete text. Compare the two chapters and you will once again see a witness to the significance of the contents of the brass plates, and even more you will sense the depth of the prophetic power of Joseph, the son of Israel.

1. LEHI TEACHES THAT HIS DESCENDANTS WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH AND THE BOOK OF MORMON (2 Nephi 3)

These the things Lehi knew about Joseph Smith:

• God would raise him up as a seer to the descendants of Joseph (2 Nephi 3:6)

• He would be a choice seer ((2 Nephi 3:7) Remember what Ammon taught Limhi about the role of a seer? He said, . . . that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God. But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known. (Mosiah 8:16,17) But Joseph Smith would be more than a seer: he would be a choice seer. (2 Nephi 3:7)

• This seer would be a descendant of Joseph of Egypt. (2 Nephi 3:7)

• He would bring the descendants of Joseph to a knowledge of the covenants the Father made with the ancestors of Joseph. (2 Nephi 3:7)

• He would be commanded to do only the work assigned by the father. (2 Nephi 3:8)

• God would make him great. (2 Nephi 3:8)

• He would be great like unto Moses. (2 Nephi 3:9)

• He would have power to bring forth the word of God to the descendants of Joseph. (2 Nephi 3:11)

• He would have power to convince the descendants of Joseph of the truth of the Biblemy word, which shall already have gone forth among them. (2 Nephi 3:11)

• Out of weakness he would be made strong. (2 Nephi 3:13)

• Those that seek to destroy him would be confounded. (2 Nephi 3:14)

• His name and the name of his father would be Joseph also. (2 Nephi 3:15)

• He would be the spokesman to declare the writings of the descendants of Joseph. (2 Nephi 3:18)

• He would rise up mightily among the descendants of Lehi's son, Joseph. (2 Nephi 3:22; see footnote 24a)

I have in the notes above identified Joseph Smith as the spokesman in 2 Nephi 3:18. Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggested that identification also:

The Lord said to Joseph of old: "I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman." As Moses wrote and Aaron proclaimed the law given in the Old World, so someone in the New World, someone of the seed of Joseph, would write the Lord's law, and yet another, a spokesman, would declare it. In this case the writer and the spokesman are not identified by name; rather, we are left, based on our knowledge of what has transpired in this and previous dispensations, to identify those whose missions were of such import as to have them revealed thousands of years before the events transpired. Mormon wrote the Book of Mormon, quoting, condensing, and summarizing front many ancient records as the Spirit directed. And Joseph Smith translated the ancient word by the gift and power of God and proclaimed it to all men, and to the seed of Joseph in particular, as the mind and will and voice of Him by whom salvation comes.

With this in mind, note these words of the Lord: "And I, behold, I will give unto him [Mormon] that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins [the Nephites], unto the fruit of thy loins [the Lamanites]; and the spokesman of thy loins Joseph Smith] shall declare it." [2 Nephi 3:18] That is, Mormon wrote the Book of Mormon, but what he wrote was taken from the writings of the Nephite prophets; and these writings, compiled into one book, were translated by Joseph Smith and sent forth by him unto the Lamanites unto whom, as the title page of the Book of Mormon attests, they were originally written. And further, they are sent forth to all the seed of Joseph, whether in the Lamanite branch of Israel or not. (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.425 p.426)

Note the content of 2 Nephi 3:12. This remarkable prophecy about the future of the sticks of Judah and Joseph is the inspiration behind the Quote of the Week above. Because of the new editions of the scriptures, the sticks of Judah and Ephraim have begun to grow together, to the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions and establishing peace. This combination of sticks or books will also assist to bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of their fathers - their connection with the House of Israel and the covenant people - and to a knowledge of those very covenants.

2 Nephi 3:19 again testifies of the inspiration accompanying the selection of content for the Book of Mormon. We noted in Lesson 1 that Moroni had seen our day (Mormon 8:34,35) and that the Book of Mormon was written by the spirit of prophecy and revelation (see the Title Page). Now Lehi tells us this:

And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith. (2 Nephi 3:19)

2. NEPHI LAMENTS HIS SINFULNESS BUT GLORIES IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD (2 Nephi 4)

Lehi blessed the children of Laman and Lemuel, and he said something remarkable to them, for he declared, I know if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it. (2 Nephi 4:5,9) This prophecy must be specific for the children of these two sons. Laman and Lemuel were certainly brought up in the way [they] should go and they departed from it rather dramatically. But Lehi offers this observation as a testimony. I know . . . One is left with the feeling that in conjunction with his many prayers for his oldest sons, he had prayed mightily over his grandchildren, the offspring of those sons, and the Lord had assured him that the sins of these children would be visited on the heads of their parents, for if these children were taught righteously, they would be righteous.

Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents. (2 Nephi 4:6)

The promise of Lehi to his grandchildren requires an additional note here. Sometimes children, in spite of the purest love and the finest teaching parents can provide, seem to drift away, in somewhat the manner of Laman and Lemuel. But we have a promise:

Years ago President Joseph F. Smith gave us an answer and a promise when he said, If you will gather your children around you once a week and instruct them in the gospel, they will not go astray (David B. Haight, A Foundation Whereon Men Cannot Fall, Ensign, July 1972, 108).

Referring to this same promise of President Smith, in the October General Conference of 1970, Elder Boyd K. Packer taught:

In the Church, Monday night has been designated and set aside, Churchwide, for families to be at home together. Instruction has recently gone out, from which I quote:

"Those responsible for priesthood and auxiliary programs, including temple activities, youth athletic activities, student activities, etc., should take notice of this decision in order that Monday night will be uniformly observed throughout the Church and the families be left free from Church activities so that they can meet together in the family home evening." (Priesthood Bulletin, September 1970.)

With this program comes the promise from the prophets, the living prophets, that if parents will gather their children about them once a week and teach the gospel, those children in such families will not go astray (Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, p. 108)

In 1965, Harold B. Lee recalled a promise made by President Wilford Woodruff:

For over half a century, the leaders of this Church have counseled with parents in the home to gather their children around them in a weekly Home Evening and there teach the truths of salvation honesty, sobriety integrity, and chastity. One of our leaders has promised that if parents would do this, "ninety-nine out of every hundred children . . . will observe them through life." (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 267-268.) (Harold B. Lee, CR, April 1965, p. 15

Sometime after these final lessons, Lehi waxed old and died. Not many days later, Nephi’s brothers were angry with him again, because of the admonitions of the Lord. Nothing these bitter and violent brothers had ever done has had even the smallest shadow of success in keeping Nephi from telling the truth. What an example he sets for us. President Joseph F. Smith spoke to parents about this kind of courage in our relationships with our children.

God forbid that there should be any of us so unwisely indulgent, so thoughtless and so shallow in our affection for our children that we dare not check them in a wayward course, in wrongdoing and in their foolish love for the things of the world more than for the things of righteousness, for fear of offending them. (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p.286)

Nephi always dared to check [his brothers] in a wayward course. He never flinched, and his affection for them was not shallow. If they needed the admonitions of the Lord, they got them, even though such steadiness infuriated them and the outcome of his preaching was a forgone conclusion. And this time was no exception. Nephi was constrained to speak unto them (2 Nephi 4:14) and he did. God help all of us never to exercise restraint when under the influence of such constraint. We must reprove betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy ghost . . . (D&C 121:43)

2 Nephi 4:16-35 changed my life. At a time when I was desperate to know that in spite of my weaknesses the Lord loved me and needed me, the witness came. As I read these verses, I was healed and loved and lifted, soaring as on eagles wings to a whole new awareness of the goodness of the Father and the Son. The Son taught me how to say what Nephi said in 2 Nephi 4:21.

My gratitude to Nephi for including this psalm is enormous. He could have left it out. In his books, filled with page after page of portraits of his greatness, we would never have missed these few verses of windows into his weaknesses. But he allowed us to see how human he was, how much like us he was, how much need of the help of the Lord he had. I came to believe, reading these verses, that as he was in some ways like me, I could finally learn to be something like him.

The cause of his distress - his sin, his yielding to temptations - was anger. Why am I angry . . .? Angry at whom? His brothers, we suppose, who were angry at him and who would soon (in the next chapter) try to kill him again. But he knew that this anger (or any other sin) did not serve him, or hurt his brothers. It simply paved the way for Lucifer to attack.

Why am I angry because of mine enemy? Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. (2 Nephi 4:27,28, emphasis added)

Review the appeals Nephi makes in his prayer. He prays for wonderful things! (2 Nephi 4:31-34)

3. THE ANGER OF LAMAN AND LEMUEL INCREASES AGAINST NEPHI, AND THE LORD COMMANDS THE FOLLOWERS OF NEPHI TO SEPARATE FROM THE FOLLOWERS OF LAMAN. (2 Nephi 5)

As we mentioned in lesson #5, the hearts of Laman and Lemuel had become hard like unto a flint and the Lord seemed to have no way to soften them anymore. (See 2 Nephi 5:21) Thus, Nephi and Zoram and Sam and their families, and Jacob and Joseph [the] younger brethren, and also [his] sisters, and all who would go with [him] . . . did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. (2 Nephi 5:6,7)

Notice the contrast in the lifestyles of these two groups:

The Nephites lived after the manner of happiness (2 Nephi 5:27). Since I want my family to live in the same way, I read 2nd Nephi 5 for insights into the way they lived, and the things that caused them to be happy. I found four things:

• And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses (2 Nephi 5:10, emphasis added). Wickedness never was happiness (Alma 41:10), but obedience is. If we observe, that is watch carefully to insure that we are keeping the judgements and statutes and commandments, we will be much more likely to be happy.

• And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind (2 Nephi 5:11, emphasis added).

[The Nephites did learn to] build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance . . . And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands (2 Nephi 5:15, 17, emphasis added). Any truly happy person will be engaged in worthwhile enterprise of some kind. Work is a key to happiness.

Spencer W. Kimball said, Work brings happiness, self-esteem, and prosperity. It is the means of all accomplishment; it is the opposite of idleness. We are commanded to work. (See Gen. 3:19.) Attempts to obtain our temporal, social, emotional, or spiritual wellbeing by means of a dole violate the divine mandate that we should work for what we receive. Work should be the ruling principle in the lives of our Church membership (See D&C 42:42; D&C 56:17; D&C 68:3032; D&C 75:29)(Spencer W. Kimball, And the Lord Called His People Zion, Ensign, Aug. 1984, 4).

In contrast to this, the Lamanites

. . . did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey. (2 Nephi 5:24)

• And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass (2 Nephi 5:12, emphasis added). Elder Nelson taught: Happiness comes when scriptures are used in shaping our lives (Russell M. Nelson, "A More Excellent Hope," Ensign, Feb. 1997, 63).

• And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine (2 Nephi 5:16, emphasis added).

Of course the Lamanites had been cursed. And they had been marked with a skin of blackness so that the Nephites would know they were cursed and stay away. Their cursing was a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. (2 Nephi 5:20,21; see also 2 Nephi 1:17,18,22) They were cut off from the presence of the Lord. They had no scriptures. They had no priesthood. They had no revelations. They had no temple. They had little or no access to the Spirit. A sore cursing indeed! We would be astonished if we were told, given these descriptions, that the Lamanites were immersed in happiness.

CONCLUSION:

It seems to me that there is another reason for this separation, in addition to the danger faced by Nephi. It has to do with the influence that Laman and Lemuel and their lifestyle might have on the others who went with Nephi.

When my mother remarried after 19 years of widowhood, she married a man of steel and certainty. He was my old scoutmaster and he was rugged. She learned not long after their wedding that her new husband suffered from a chronically sore big toe. It pained him greatly, but it was just a sore toe and he was tough as saddle leather. However, she was tougher and she got him to the doctor. An examination revealed melanoma. The toe was amputated.

One might ask, Why? It was just a toe. The disease was serious but it was localized in an appendage a long way from the center of things. Why all the fuss? We all know the answer. Cancer doesnt secure a toehold (sorry!) and stay put. It is always looking for an opportunity to expand. When you find a cancer, you get it out. My stepfather had waited too long to do that very thing. Within a year of the surgery, he was bedridden and riddled with cancer. All that could be done was to make him comfortable and wait for him to die. Nephi leaving Laman and Lemuel is an act of killing the cancer. Nephi must have known the great need to get away from the disease. And so, with all those who feared the disease, he packed up and pulled out.

The Lord has warned us many times about the danger of allowing such a condition to remain where it can influence us. In Numbers 16, the Lord warned the congregation about those who had rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Moses counseled the people:

Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. (Numbers 16:26)

That is exactly what Nephi did. He departed. In the October 1999 Conference, President Packer said it this way:

Young Latter-day Saints, shape up! Face up! Take hold of your lives! Take control of your mind, your thoughts! If you have friends that are not a good influence, make changes, even if you face loneliness, even rejection. (Ensign, Nov. 1999, p. 24)

If we do not depart from those who would lead us into wickedness, then what the Lord said to Israel may well become true unto us:

. . . they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. (Judges 2:3)

Young Men Lesson 7: "A Mighty Change of Heart"

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Consider the state of your changed heart. Do you detect any rejection setting in as a result of the tendency of the natural man to become casual?" - Dale G. Renlund

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean to have a mighty change of heart? (see Mosiah 3:19; 5:1–2).

• How does a mighty change of heart affect your actions or behavior?

Excerpt from "Preserving the Heart's Mighty Change" by Elder Dale G. Renlund, October 2009 General Conference:

In December 1967 the first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town, South Africa. The dying man’s diseased heart was removed, and a healthy heart from a deceased donor was sewn in its place. Since then, over 75,000 heart transplants have been performed worldwide.

In each heart transplant recipient, the patient’s own body recognizes the new, lifesaving heart as “foreign” and begins to attack it. Left unchecked, the body’s natural response will reject the new heart, and the recipient will die. Medicines can suppress this natural response, but the medications must be taken daily and with exactness. Furthermore, the condition of the new heart must be monitored. Occasional heart biopsies are performed wherein small pieces of heart tissue are removed and then examined under a microscope. When signs of rejection are found, medications are adjusted. If the rejection process is detected early enough, death can be averted.

Surprisingly, some patients become casual with their transplanted hearts. They skip their medicines here and there and obtain the needed follow-up less frequently than they should. They think that because they feel good, all is well. Too often this shortsighted attitude puts the patients at risk and shortens their lives.

A heart transplant can prolong life for years for people who would otherwise die from heart failure. But it is not “the ultimate operation,” as Time magazine called it in 1967. 1 The ultimate operation is not a physical but a spiritual “mighty change” of heart. 2

To read the full talk, click here.

Young Women Lesson 7: Homemaking

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:02:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "I believe it is by divine design that the role of motherhood emphasizes the nurturing and teaching of the next generation." - L. Tom Perry

Discussion Questions

• What kind of feeling do you want in your future home?

• What gifts and talents can help us contribute to a happy home now and in the future?

• What skills and attitudes do we need to further develop to have successful and happy homes?

Excerpt from "Mothers Teaching Children in the Home" by Elder L. Tom Perry, April 2010 General Conference:

I recently had the opportunity to travel with Elder Donald L. Hallstrom to visit five cities in the great central area of the United States. In each city we visited, we would hold a meeting with the full-time missionaries, followed by a meeting with the stake and ward leaders regarding missionary work. Between each of the two meetings, the stake Relief Society would prepare a light dinner for us to afford us time to meet with the stake presidents. When we reached Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two young families appealed to the Relief Society to let them prepare and serve the dinner. The two husbands manned the kitchen. The two mothers supervised the table arrangements and the serving of the food. Three young children handled the table setting and the serving of the food under the supervision of their mothers. This was an opportunity for the mothers to have a teaching opportunity with their children. It was very special to watch the children respond to every detail as they were taught by their mothers. They carried out their assignments completely and fully.

The experience caused me to reflect on the training I had received from my mother. Like the prophet Nephi and also like so many of you, I was born of goodly parents (see 1 Nephi 1:1).

One of my nieces recently shared with me four notebooks my mother had filled with notes as she prepared to teach her class in Relief Society. I would imagine these notebooks—and there are others I have not yet examined—represent hundreds of hours of preparation by my mother.

Mother was a great teacher who was diligent and thorough in her preparation. I have distinct memories of the days preceding her lessons. The dining room table would be covered with reference materials and the notes she was preparing for her lesson. There was so much material prepared that I’m sure only a small portion of it was ever used during the class, but I’m just as sure that none of her preparation was ever wasted. How can I be sure about this? As I flipped through the pages of her notebooks, it was as if I were hearing my mother teach me one more time. Again, there was too much in her notebooks on any single topic to ever share in a single class session, but what she didn’t use in her class she used to teach her children.

I believe it is even safe to say that while my mother was an enormously effective teacher among the sisters at Relief Society, her best teaching occurred with her children in the home.

To read the full talk, click here.

Book of Mormon Lesson 6: "Free to Choose Liberty and Eternal Life"

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: What would you say to your children if it were the last thing you would ever say to them? Consider this as you reflect on Lehi's words in this lesson.

Quote of the week:

I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase, mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to that counsel. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity the pure love of Christ will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.

-Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1960, p.112 p.113

INTRODUCTION:

One of the messages that the Book of Mormon sends to us across the years is that parents (particularly fathers) have an obligation to bless their children and to teach their children and to bear testimony to them. The Book of Mormon contains several chapters in which Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and Moroni are engaged in this work. When we read such things in this book, we must do more than believe the doctrine: we must follow the example. In fact, we will devote a lesson to this matter - lesson #29 when we study Alma 36-39. This lesson and the next will focus on what seem to be Lehi's final admonitions to his children. Nephi tells us this of these teachings:

And it came to pass after my father, Lehi, had spoken unto all his household, according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, he waxed old. And it came to pass that he died, and was buried. (2 Nephi 4:12)

You might ask yourself what you would say to each of your children if it were the last thing you would ever say to them. As you consider this, reflect on the topics of which Lehi speaks, testifies, and prophesies.

1. LEHI EXHORTS HIS SONS TO REPENT, OBEY THE LORDS COMMANDMENTS, AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Nephi 1)

The concept of mercy suggests receiving something we do not deserve. Anything that we receive that we have earned comes as a result of justice. Lehi begins his lessons to his offspring by speaking to Laman and Lemuel. He tells them that they are only alive because of the mercies of God is sparing their lives during their rebellions upon the waters. By rights and by the demands of justice, they should have been swallowed up in the sea. (2 Nephi 1:2)

He speaks of the mercies of God in warning them to flee from Jerusalem (1 Nephi 2:2) (which he knows by a vision has been destroyed [2 Nephi 1:4]), and in giving them a land of promise (2 Nephi 1:3,5).

Lehi says six things about this land of promise that you ought to mark in your scriptures. They are:

• It is a land which is choice above all other lands (2 Nephi 1:5).

• The Lord God . . . covenanted with [Lehi, that it] should be a land for the inheritance of [his] seed” (2 Nephi 1:6).

• It is also a land for all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord (2 Nephi 1:6).

• There shall none come unto this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord ((2 Nephi 1:6).

• If the inhabitants serve the Lord, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore they shall never be brought down into captivity (2 Nephi 1:7).

• This land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations (2 Nephi 1:8).

Notice the penalty pronounced upon the people of this land, if they should dwindle in unbelief.

He will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten (2 Nephi 1:11).

This will come as a result of dwindling in unbelief. Notice the areas of dwindling mentioned in 2 Nephi 1:10. Try to give a grade to American society in each of these areas for the year 2012. Has this nation dwindled since the days of our ancestors?

People who dwindle, lose their belief in

The creation by God of the earth and all men

The scriptural record of the great and marvelous works of the Lord.

The possibility and ability to do things by faith

The commandments

The infinite goodness of the Lord

The Messiah

In how many of these beliefs is America (not the Church) still solid?

The warning given by Lehi here to his oldest sons might well be given to much of Western society.

O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe (2 Nephi 1:13).

In the next verse: Awake! and arise from the dust . . . (2 Nephi 1:14).

And in verse 23:

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).

How is sin like sleep? What is there about the condition of Laman and Lemuel that is like sleep? Like a "deep sleep"? Like "the sleep of hell"? How is sin like groveling in the dust and dirt? What precisely does Lehi mean when he uses the words awake and arise? Lehi is certainly comparing wickedness to sleep. And the fact that he calls it "the sleep of hell" makes it pretty clear who is dispensing the sleeping pills. The comparison is intriguing. People who are in a deep sleep are hard to arouse. They are unaware of their surroundings. Danger can approach unobserved. It is impossible for them to make good decisions or to think clearly.

Twice in 2 Nephi 1 Lehi uses another image related to sleeping.

2 Nephi 1:13: Shake off the awful chains by which you are bound.

2 Nephi 1:23: Shake off the chains with which you are bound.

Each of their journeys into iniquity has increased the holding power of Satan over these boys. He did not start off with chains, of course. "In the beginning, he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords [his chains] forever" (2 Nephi 26:22).

This approach works very well because no one fears a flaxen thread. If a powerful enemy approached with an extensive chain forged with great links, even the bravest among us would run like an antelope. But when we see that he is only carrying a small, fragile, nearly invisible thread made of weakest of all natural fibers, we hold our place and trust in our strength. We can break a flaxen thread anytime we want to. With such insignificant restraint he will never be able to take us any place we do not want to go.

And so he takes us to the movies to watch sex and violence and to hear profanity. And he takes us to the TV for more of the same. And all the while he is singing lullabies and giving us the old pacifier and telling us that we are safe and that all is well.

And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell (2 Nephi 28:21).

And all the while, the amount of profanity is increasing and the intensity of the sex is expanding (we really have come a long way, baby) and the degree of violence is multiplying. Lucifer is building a mighty cord from tiny flaxen threads; one that; if we allow him enough time to work on it, will be strong enough to pull a train up a hill. It will be nearly impossible to break. But we are having a nap and do not notice. He is so careful about it.

In 2 Nephi 1:21, Lehi says it this way: "Arise from the dust, my sons, and be men."

In a very real sense, Laman and Lemuel are babies, crawling in the dirt. They blame every-thing on somebody else. 440 years after this, their descendants will still be complaining that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren (Mosiah 10:12).

Let me create a hypothetical conversation between Lehi and his sons, with a few scriptural inserts.

Lehi: Sons, why did you try to kill Nephi?

L&L: He sought power and authority over us (see 2 Nephi 1:25)

Lehi: No, he sought the glory of God, and your own eternal welfare (2 Nephi 1:25). Now tell me, why do you murmur so much about Nephi?

L&L: He spoke plainly to us and he was sharp with us and he got angry at us (2 Nephi 1:26).

Lehi: Let me see if I understand this: You have tried to kill him at least three times, and you are upset that he got angry and spoke sharply and plainly to you? His sharpness was the sharpness of the word of God, and his anger was the truth, which he could not restrain (2 Nephi 1:26).

By the way, Lehi told Laman and Lemuel to wake up because Satan had power over them. Nephi once discovered that because of his anger at his brothers, he had given place for the enemy of [his] soul (2 Nephi 4:27). Notice who told Nephi to wake up.

Can you see why Lehi tells his boys to be men? And in the verses following this injunction, Lehi gives some wonderful clues about what true manhood really is. There is nothing here about slam dunks or beer commercials or fast cars or movie stars. Lehi would not have given a half a sentence to the manhood of Stallone or Van Damme or Schwartzeneggar. Here are some of the things suggested by this chapter that comprise manhood:

• be determined (2 Nephi 1:21)

• be in one mind and in one heart (2 Nephi 1:21)

• put on the armor of righteousness (2 Nephi 1:23)

• shake off the chains (2 Nephi 1:23)

• arise from the dust (2 Nephi 1:23)

• rebel no more (2 Nephi 1:24)

• be an instrument in the hands of God (2 Nephi 1:24)

• don't seek for authority or power (2 Nephi 1:25)

• speak plainly and truthfully (2 Nephi 1:26)

One final note, also related to manhood. Lehi tells Zoram that he has been a true friend to Nephi. Consider the implications of true friendship.

Many years ago I taught the gospel to a wonderful man in Sorocaba, Brazil. He was a mechanic who had recently left his place of employment and began to repair cars in his garage. But following his baptism, the family came on hard times and he returned to his former workplace in order to return to financial solvency. Not long after, I found that he had started smoking again.

Why? I wanted to know. What happened?

He told me something like this: All my old friends work there and they all smoke. They keep offering me cigarettes and trying to get me to smoke. It is really hard to say no all the time.

He and I had a sincere visit about what constitutes a real (a true) friend. True friends help you reach your righteous goals. They direct you to Christ. They stand by you in your struggles and trials. When a true friend sees you walking a tightrope over a towering waterfall, he does not stand on the side and throw rocks at you.

2. LEHI TESTIFIES OF THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST (2 Nephi 2:1-10)

The promise Lehi makes to his 5th son in 2 Nephi 2:2 is so sweet that it is worth writing on your fridge in black marker:

And he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.

This sounds suspiciously like the promise made in D&C 90:24:

Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another (emphasis added).

D&C 100:15 says:

Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church (emphasis added).

Lehi's testimony of the atonement in these verses is one of the clearest witnesses of grace in all of the standard works. Lehi says to Jacob, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer (2 Nephi 2:3). I wonder how long you would have to read in the standard works to find a man more consistently righteous than Jacob. But Jacob will not be saved because of his righteousness. He will be saved because of the righteousness of Christ. To put this in other words, no amount of obedience and righteousness can earn us entrance into the Celestial Kingdom. Paul taught this with great clarity in Romans.

For by the law is the knowledge of sin; therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight (JST Romans 3:20).

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . . . (Romans 3:23,24).

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:31).

Or, as Lehi said it with startling simplicity, you cant earn exaltation, because salvation is free (2 Nephi 2:4). This being true, we have a great responsibility.

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. (2 Nephi 2:8)

The merits of Christ are synonymous with his grace and are mentioned several times in the scriptures. They are worth a scripture chain, beginning with the verse above.

2 Nephi 31:19
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. (emphasis added)

Alma 24:10
10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son. (emphasis added)

Helaman 14:13
13 And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits. (emphasis added)

Moroni 6:4
4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith. (emphasis added)

D&C 3:20
20 And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen. (emphasis added)

3. LEHI TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF OPPOSITION AND THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE GOOD FROM EVIL (2 Nephi 2:11-30)

It seems to me that there are 5 great conditions discussed in this chapter, four of which make agency possible, the fifth being agency itself. Together they create an environment where agency can exist and make us accountable for the choices we make within the framework of this freedom God has given us. As I reviewed the significant scriptures in 2 Nephi 2 and tried to outline them, I found that I had made an acronym, one that has helped me remember and teach the attributes and requirements of agency for several years. The acronym derived from these verses is P-O-L-K-A

P: Power to chooseWherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other (2 Nephi 2:16).

O: God placed man in an environment of Opposition; that is, in a place where there was an Opportunity to choose. For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility (2 Nephi 2:11).

L: God gave unto man Laws, so that he would know what God wanted him to choose. And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin . . . (2 Nephi 2:13).

K: God gave man Knowledge and taught all men sufficiently that they would Know the difference between good and evil, that is, between obeying a law, and breaking it. And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. . . (2 Nephi 2:5).

A: These conditions, taken together (Power to choose, the Opportunity to choose, the Laws that help us know what to choose, the Knowledge of what is good and what is evil) comprise what we call Agency, or freedom of choice: Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself (2 Nephi 2:27).

The key to our agency was the action of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Lehi's comments about this seem to be paraphrase of Moses 5:10-11, and give clear evidence that the book of Moses as we now have it in the Pearl of Great Price was in fact engraven on the Plates of Brass. Lehi wrote

And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin (2 Nephi 2:22,23).

The comparable text in Moses says

And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient (Moses 5:10,11).

CONCLUSION:

Lehi's lessons are all Christ-centered. Christ has the keys to Laman’s and Lemuel's chains. He has given Lehi the land of promise. He has set the perfect example of true manhood and true friendship. And he has provided the blessing of an infinite and eternal atonement. Without his merits, his mercy, his grace, the effects of the fall would be irreversible. And he has placed us in an environment where we can choose for ourselves, with our agency, whether we want the blessings of these gifts. Lehi was correct: How great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth . . . (2 Nephi 2:8).

Book of Mormon Lesson 5: "Hearken to the Truth, and Give Heed unto It"

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The family of Lehi experienced a great test in the wilderness. Like the early Saints in Kirtland and Missouri, this was an opportunity for them to declare their commitment to the Lord.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

I bless you with increased understanding of the Book of Mormon. I promise you that from this moment forward, if we will daily sup from its pages and abide by its precepts, God will pour out upon each child of Zion and the Church a blessing hitherto unknown.

President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1986, p. 78

INTRODUCTION:

"Behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." (1 Nephi 20:10)

The wilderness journey of the family of Lehi was a furnace. In much the same way that the experiences of Palmyra and Kirtland and Missouri and Nauvoo refined the Church and distinguished between the faithful and the faltering members, the wilderness offered opportunities for colony members in Lehi's group to discover and to declare themselves and their commitment. The Lord has promised to prove us in all things (see D&C 98:14,15) to see if we will abide in his covenant regardless of the hazard or sacrifice involved. The eight year journey (1 Nephi 17:4) from Jerusalem to Bountiful was just such a proving ground. The divergent responses of Nephi (and Sam) and Laman (and Lemuel) to their experiences teach great lessons about submission and rebellion. Nephi walks in a brighter and brighter light, while Laman and Lemuel, in order to compel their obedience, are subjected to greater and greater clubs. In fact, an appropriate title for this lesson might be Clubs and Lights.

[Teaching Note: For you who are teaching these lessons in a Gospel Doctrine setting, the flow of this lesson will not follow exactly the lesson divisions of Lesson #5 in the Book of Mormon Teacher's Manual. But it should be a simple matter to take the concepts discussed below and apply them to the manual if it is appropriate to use these notes, and if you desire to do so.]

1. CLUBS AND LIGHTS

As you consider the following descriptions of Laman and Lemuel, you might want to review Elder Neal A. Maxwell's talk, "Lessons from Laman and Lemuel." (See Ensign, November 1999, pp. 6-8.)

As you review the following events, be sensitive to the increasing moral and spiritual distance between Laman and Lemuel and their two younger brothers.

My guess is that Nephi and Laman were not too far apart at the beginning of 1st Nephi. But (as noted in Lesson #2) something significant happens in 1 Nephi 2.

A. LEAVING: Both sons were required to leave nearly everything behind and follow a visionary father into the wilderness. They left friends, relatives, activities, property, inheritances, and comforts, and departed. Both of them departed. What Laman might have said when the announcement of the family's exodus was made we do not know. But he went. At the Valley of Lemuel, we see the first signs of difference in the boys.

We are told that Laman and Lemuel were stiffnecked

Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart. And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them. Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father. (1 Nephi 2:11-13)

Nephi, however, had his heart softened.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. (1 Nephi 2:16)

Take a look at 1 Nephi 2:14. What is required at this point in the story to soften the hearts of Laman and Lemuel and coerce them into obedience?

And it came to pass that my father did speak unto [Laman and Lemuel] in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.

Lehi gave a great Family Home Evening, and they trembled and cowered and complied.

B. GETTING THE PLATES: In Lesson #2 we discussed this event at great length. But note again that Laman and Lemuel complain about the difficulty of the task (1 Nephi 3:5); that they are ready to return home at the first hint of failure (1 Nephi 3:14); and that they become violent when their initial efforts are unsuccessful (1 Nephi 3:28).

Meanwhile, Nephi expresses his willingness to do anything the Lord commands (1 Nephi 3:7); he declares his determination to succeed or die in the attempt (1 Nephi 3:15); and accomplishes his objective while being led by the Spirit (1 Nephi 4:6).

What effort is required now to restrain Laman and Lemuel? An angel comes to warn and counsel (1 Nephi 3:29).

C. GETTING THE FAMILY OF ISHMAEL: During the return trip to the Valley of Lemuel, Laman and others rebel and desire to return to Jerusalem (1 Nephi 7:6,7); they become angry at Nephi and try to kill him (1 Nephi 7:16).

Nephi, assuming the role of leadership the angel assigned to him in 1 Nephi 3:29, preaches to the rebels (1 Nephi 7:8-15); he receives strength according to his faith in Christ to free himself from the bands with which he is bound. (1 Nephi 7:17,18). Can you see how the distance between these Nephi and Laman is increasing?

In this instance, Laman and Lemuel are subdued by the miracle of Nephis escape and by the pleading of members of Ishmaels family (1 Nephi 7:20).

D. LEHI'S DREAM: Lehi received a warning in this dream about the character of his sons and their response to righteousness. Before and after describing the dream, he expressed his great fear for the welfare of Laman and Lemuel (1 Nephi 8:4,36). In the dream, Laman and Lemuel refused to come and partake of the fruit (1 Nephi 8:17,18); when Lehi preached to them as he had in 1 Nephi 2, it did not seem to be effective (1 Nephi 8:37,38); Laman and Lemuel disputed about the dream and its implications (1 Nephi 15:2,3); they did not inquire of the Lord (1 Nephi 15:8,9).

Nephi, however, gave his father reason to rejoice (1 Nephi 8:3); he came and partook of the fruit (1 Nephi 8:14-16), and after hearing the explanation of his father, wanted to see for himself (1 Nephi 10:17; 11:1); he was shown the images of his fathers dream and given a divine explanation of their meanings (1 Nephi 11-15).

E. THE BROKEN BOW: After sufficient preparation and the appearance of the Liahona, the colony of Lehi left the valley and departed into the wilderness. During the journey, Nephi broke his bow. Laman and Lemuel were hungry and angry (1 Nephi 16:18,20); they hardened their hearts again and complained against the Lord (1 Nephi 16:22).

Nephi was hungry too, of course. All of them did suffer much for the want of food. (1 Nephi 16:19) And the bows of Laman and Lemuel were as useless as Nephi’s (1 Nephi 16:21). But Nephi, instead of blaming and complaining, made a new bow and asked his murmuring father for directions (1 Nephi 16:21-25). He then procured food for the family (1 Nephi 16:30-32).

In this instance a written message from the Lord was required to humble Laman and Lemuel and the others.

And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written. And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives. (1 Nephi 16:26,27)

F. THE DEATH OF ISHMAEL: At a place called Nahom, Ishmael died and was buried. The daughters of Ishmael mourned and murmured against Lehi and Nephi (1 Nephi 16:34-36). Laman, however, did more than mourn and murmur. He plotted the murder of Lehi and Nephi (1 Nephi 16:37,38).

Laman and Lemuel have in the past been controlled by their fathers preaching, by the appearance of an angel, by the display of Gods power and the pleading of women, and by a written message from God. What happens this time soften their hearts and to restrain them from their murderous intentions? They hear the voice of God.

And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, yea, even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch that the Lord did bless us again with food, that we did not perish (1 Nephi 16:39, emphasis added).

G. THE WILDERNESS: The journey from Jerusalem to Bountiful seems to have led this small group of Israelites through one of the most desolate sand deserts on earth.

The Rub' al Khali means the "empty quarter" because it is empty. It's the worst desert in the world. The worst parts of the Sahara have Tuaregs and an occasional tree and some water in them. Not long ago they were quite wet. But not the "empty quarter." There is nothing in it, and yet they [Lehi's family] crossed that. And they had a journey of eight years in the desert (Hugh Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 1, p.122).

The reaction of Laman and Lemuel to these experience was to say that they would have been better off dead.

. . . we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions (1 Nephi 17:20).

But speaking of the same experiences, Nephi rejoices in the blessing of God upon him and his people:

AND it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness. And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings. And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness (1 Nephi 17:1-3).

H. BUILDING A SHIP: It is not likely that anyone in Lehis group had had any experience with the building of ships. The derision of Laman and Lemuel to Nephis announcement that he was going to build a boat and cross the ocean is not difficult to understand.

And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters (1 Nephi17:17).

They complained against Nephi, did not want to labor, did not believe that Nephi could build a ship, and did not believe that he was inspired to do so (1 Nephi 17:18). When he preached to them (1 Nephi 17:23-47), they became angry with him and were about to kill him (1 Nephi 17:48).

Nephi, when commanded to build a ship, did not offer any excuses and asked only one question.

And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me? (1 Nephi 17:9)

This is a beautiful insight into the character of this prophet. How he has grown from those first weeks in the Valley of Lemuel! How would you respond if the Lord commanded you to gather your immediate family together and build a temple? A motor home? A space ship? These assignments can be no less difficult for us than the ship-building was to be for Nephi.

When challenged and threatened by his brothers who did not want to help him, Nephi was filled with anguish and pain (1 Nephi 17:47); when they tried to kill him, he was filled with power (1 Nephi 17:48). For many days, his brothers were confounded and could not contend against Nephi and did not dare to touch him (1 Nephi 17:52).

Finally, at the Lords command, Nephi touched them:

And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken. And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee (1 Nephi 17:54,55).

Can you see how large a club the Lord is using on Laman and Lemuel now to soften their hearts? This divine shaking is a much different thing than the sermon Lehi delivered in the Valley of Lemuel.

I. CROSSING THE OCEAN: Following the cooperation of his brothers and the completion of the ship, which even Laman and Lemuel acknowledged to be good, the voyage to the promised land began. But their commendable behavior did not last long.

And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness. And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us. And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness . . . (1 Nephi 18:9-2).

Nephi preached (of course) (1 Nephi 18:10), and as usual, he paid for it. He remained bound tightly for four days (1 Nephi 18:14). Behold [my wrists] had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof 1 Nephi 18:15). Finally, fear convinced Laman and Lemuel that they had made another grave mistake and Nephi was untied. But Nephi made no recriminations and self-righteous warnings to his brothers here either.

I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions. (1 Nephi 18:16)

Nephi took the compass and it worked, and he prayed and the storm ceased (1 Nephi 18:21).

It is at this time that Nephi gives us a compelling insight into what has been happening to his older brothers since they left Jerusalem:

And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me (1 Nephi 18:20, emphasis added).

Now, we are told, only the fear of destruction could soften the hearts of Laman and Lemuel.

J. DEATH OF LEHI: Even though this event falls within the confines of a later lesson, it shows how far Laman and Lemuel have drifted from Nephi, and the final state of men who have hardened their hearts time after time, and who have ignored repeated attempts by loved ones and the Lord to change the course of their lives. When Lehi died (2 Nephi 4:12), Nephi tells us this:

And it came to pass that not many days after his death, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me because of the admonitions of the Lord. (2 Nephi 4:13)

They became so angry that they decided again (for at least the fourth time) to kill Nephi (2 Nephi 5:2,3). These two have always tried to blame others for their problems, never taking responsibility for themselves.

Nephi got angry too, because of his brothers (2 Nephi 4:27), but he knew it was a sin, and tried to control it, taking the responsibility upon himself for his weaknesses (2 Nephi 4:17-35).

Because of the decision of Laman and Lemuel to kill Nephi, he departed into the wilderness with the righteous members of his family and the records. Why did the Lord warn Nephi to leave his brothers this time, rather than intervening again in these tumultuous events to soften the hearts of Laman and Lemuel? Why did he not reach for an ever larger club to compel obedience? The answer is in 2 Nephi 5:21. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint . . . (emphasis added) The Lord seems to be saying to Nephi and to us, It is no longer possible to soften these hearts. They are too hard. You must leave them or I must destroy them.

Remember that in 1 Nephi 2:16, Nephi cried unto the Lord and the Lord softened his heart. The softness of his heart enabled him to have a multitude of experiences that were incomprehensible to his big brothers, whose hearts, with multiplying layers of spiritual scar tissue, were growing harder and harder. I suppose many of us have some of the heart problems of Laman and Lemuel. Unless we have done what Nephi did, it may be difficult for us to hear the whisperings of the Spirit, and to submit cheerfully to the will of God. But one of the loveliest messages of the gospel is that the Lord can change our hearts if we will let him.

And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. (Mosiah 5:2)

2. INSIGHTS FROM 1 NEPHI 19-22

And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land. (1 Nephi 18:23)

What is the first recorded commandment given to these pioneers when they reached the land of promise (see 1 Nephi 19:1)? Nephi indicates in 1 Nephi 19 a number of reasons for keeping the records on the large and small plates, but he does tell us that he intends only to write things that he considers sacred (1 Nephi 19:6), and the primary reason is in 1 Nephi 19:6.

And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.

This desire of Nephi's is reflected in much of the content of the final four chapters of 1 Nephi. Those chapters provide some wonderful insights into the practice of true Christianity. Some observations follow:

• And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his longsuffering towards the children of men (1 Nephi 19:9). 600 years before the birth of Christ, Nephi knew how he would be received by the world. What evidence can you see that mankind considers Christ and his mission to be of little value? What activities would be like scourging him and smiting him and spitting on him in the year 2012? In 1 Nephi 19:7 Nephi tells us that the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet. What reactions to Christ and his gospel have you seen that would fit this description?

• . . . and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel (1 Nephi 19:10). This verse gives a wonderful example of the plain and precious things that have been removed from the Bible by the hands of wicked men. How many other clear and compelling prophecies of Christ have been removed from the scriptures to cause people to stumble?

• The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up (1 Nephi 19:11). The Lord means to get everyone in the House of Israel to listen. Some he will visit with his voice, and others with natural disasters (see also D&C 43:20-25; 88:89-91). You belong to the house of Israel. How will he get you to listen?

• And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel. And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations (1 Nephi 19:13,14). What are the two reasons given here for the suffering of the Jews? 1) They scourge and despise the Holy One of Israel; and 2) they turn their hearts aside from him. When will the Lord remember the covenants which he made to their fathers? (See 1 Nephi 19:15-17).

• And I did read many things unto [Laman and Lemuel] which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning (1 Nephi 19:23). This verse is an aggressive endorsement of the writings of Isaiah. No Old Testament prophet bore a plainer or purer witness of Christ than Isaiah. As evidence of this, Nephi copies 2 chapters (48,49) from the writings of Isaiah onto the small plates at this location.

• Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness. Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is the Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name (1 Nephi 20:1,2). Israelites in these verses call themselves the covenant people (the house of Jacob), they have been baptized, they swear by the name of the Lord and speak of him a great deal; they claim to be of the holy city where the people of God dwell, and yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness. Their problem is that they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel. (1 Nephi 20:2) What does the word stay mean in this context? In my dictionary the definition is given as follows:

Stay: [N] a heavy rope of cable, usually of wire, used as a brace or support, as for the masts of a ship. [V] to support, hold or prop up. To strengthen, comfort, or sustain in mind or spirit. To cause to rest on, upon, or in, for support.

Isaiah and Nephi are telling us that all pretensions of righteousness are meaningless unless we find our strength, our support, our rest, in Christ.

• Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten mebut he will show that he hath not. For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (1 Nephi 21:14-16) I know that it is possible for a woman to forget her nursing child. My wife did. We left our 5 month old child at the school where we had gone to register an older son for little league. We were nearly home when my wife remembered, and screamed. I nearly rammed a school bus. Adam Kimball had slept through it all, but the simple truth is that Lydia had forgotten him, at least for a few moments. But the Lord will never forget us. We are engraved with the nails of crucifixion on the palms of his hands. Our walls - our defense, our safety, our welfare - are his continual concern.

When Nephi quotes Isaiah, he nearly always gives a commentary to assist us in understanding. 1 Nephi 22 is his commentary on the previous two chapters of Isaiah.

CONCLUSION:

In 1 Nephi 22, the Lord and Nephi make at least 7 wonderful statements about the righteous. As you reflect on the lessons of Laman and Lemuel and the teachings of Isaiah, consider these promises:

He will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous. (22:16)

He will preserve the righteous by his power. (22:17)

The righteous shall not perish. (22:19)

The righteousness need not fear. (22:22)

They are those who shall not be confounded. (22:22)

The righteous must be led up as calves of the stall. (22:24)

And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power. (22;26)

We are eleven years into a new millennium . Sometime near this time the seventh seal will be opened, and sometime after that, Christ will come in glory. In the meantime, we are told that all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people. (D&C 88:91) But with the promises of 1 Nephi 22 secured by our righteousness, we will understand why the Lord said to his disciples, be not troubled (D&C 45:35; JSM 1:23).

Book of Mormon Lesson 4: "The Things Which I Saw While I Was Carried Away in the Spirit"

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The vision of the tree of life symbolizes both the tragedy of disobedience and the beauty of eternal life. And it is our responsibility to help wanderers on the path know where they should be going.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

I bless you with increased understanding of the Book of Mormon. I promise you that from this moment forward, if [you] will daily sup from its pages and abide by its precepts, God will pour out upon each child of Zion and the Church a blessing hitherto unknown.

(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1986, p. 78)

INTRODUCTION:

Can you feel Nephi's wrenching heartache from the following verse?

O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways are just. (2 Nephi 26:7)

In the visions of 1 Nephi 12 and 13, Nephi saw the future of the promised land. He saw the Nephites and the Lamanites and the Gentiles. Among other things, he saw that

. . . the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the angel; and because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed. (1 Nephi 12:19)

Can you imagine your own feelings if you were to discover by revelation that the descendants of your siblings would one day destroy your own posterity?

But Nephi never stumbles. His confidence that the ways of God are just is absolute. He continues on throughout his life doing what has to be done when it has to be done. The understanding of what will be done by the descendants of Laman and Lemuel never restrains him from loving them and preaching to them and encouraging them. I stand in awe at the power of this prophet, and his unfaltering willingness to do the right thing.

1. NEPHI SEES THE FUTURE OF HIS DESCENDANTS AND HIS BROTHERS DESCENDANTS (1 Nephi 12)

The vision of Nephi in these chapters is a tour conducted by the angel who began the instruction in 1 Nephi 11. Note as you read this chapter the things to which Nephi's attention is directed by this heavenly messenger, using the words look and/or behold. Ask yourself why Nephi was instructed to focus on these things rather than the others that might have been presented. Why did he include these accounts in this record? Speaking to his brother Jacob many years later, Nephi instructed him to write

. . . a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi. . . .

And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people. (Jacob 1:2,4)

What is there about the accounts of 1 Nephi 12 that could be considered most precious? Do these verses include the heads (the most significant parts) of sacred preaching, great revelation, or prophesying? Why is this material in the book at all?

• AND it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Look, and behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and beheld the land of promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea. (1 Nephi 12:1, emphasis added) In verses 1-7 Nephi sees the Land of Promise, multitudes of people, wars and rumors of war (and great slaughters with the sword 1 Nephi 12:2), many generations, the destructions at the crucifixion, the vapor of darkness, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven (1 Nephi 12:6).

• And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed. (1 Nephi 12:7,8, emphasis added) Nephi learns (and we learn) that the twelve apostles of the Lamb . . are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel. They will therefore judge the twelve ministers of thy seed . . . (1 Nephi 12:9) The twelve disciples of Nephis seed will judge thy seed [the seed of Nephi] (1 Nephi 12:10)

• And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him. (1 Nephi 12:11, emphasis added) At this point Nephi saw the righteous interlude of 4th Nephi, wherein three generations and many of the fourth generation are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him. It is in this part of the Book of Mormon that we get the most powerful scriptural record available that it is possible for a society to live in perfect righteousness. (1 Nephi 12:11)

• And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. (1 Nephi 12:14, emphasis added) As Nephi records the final Nephite/Lamanite battles, notice the depiction of some of the symbols of Lehi's dream. Why is the Lord showing him and us this explanation? What in our own day corresponds to these visions of Nephi? He saw people gathered together to war and called war the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw . . . (1 Nephi 12:16) How much filthy water is there in the world today? He saw the mists of darkness and temptations which blind eyes and harden hearts and lead the children of men into broad roads where they perish and are lost. (1 Nephi 12:17) If you watch your television this week, look for people whose eyes are blinded and whose hearts are hardened to the truths that you love so much. What kind of broad (forbidden, strange [1 Nephi 8:28,32]) roads do you see such people following? What evidence to you see of people inhabiting the great and spacious building? Is there any evidence of pride and vain imaginations visible around you? Look carefully at verse 18. How dangerous is it to allow ourselves to be led about by our pride and vain imaginations? For that matter, what are vain imaginations? Finally, Nephi sees the destruction of his people, and that afterward, the Lamanites went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land. (1 Nephi 12:20)

• And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief. (1 Nephi 12:22, emphasis added) And Nephi watched the disintegration of the Lamanites until they reached the situation they were in when the Restoration began.

2. NEPHI SEES THE FORMATION OF A GREAT AND ABOMINABLE CHURCH, THE COLONIZATION OF THE AMERICAS, THE APOSTASY, AND THE RESTORATION OF THE GOSPEL (1 Nephi 13)

In 1 Nephi 13 the vision of Nephi shifts its focus to the Gentiles of Europe and America, and the discovery and founding of the Americas. Among the first things he notices (he is again directed to Look! by the angel (1 Nephi 13:1) is the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches. (1 Nephi 13:5) Bruce R. McConkie said,

The titles church of the devil and great and abominable church are used to identify all churches or organizations of whatever name or nature whether political, philosophical, educational, economic social, fraternal, civic, or religious which are designed to take men on a course that leads away from God and his laws and thus from salvation in the kingdom of God. (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.137)

But in this chapter Nephi saw the formation of particular church - one that would in the time and place of this vision, accomplish certain significant things. As you read of this church, think about the answers to the following questions:

• (13:5) How does this church treat the saints?

• (13:6) Who is the founder of this organization?

• (13:7,8) What are the desires of this organization? Can you see any similarities between this establishment and the building mentioned in 1 Nephi 8:27?

• (13:9) Why do they destroy the saints and bring them into captivity?

• (13:26) What does this church do to the scriptures?

• (13:27) Why do they do this to the word of God?

The answers to these questions will help you understand why this church is called most abominable. The reasons for this title must include the attack by this church on the Bible - what Nephi has earlier called the Iron Rod.

As Nephi sees the discovery and colonization of America, he tells us of a remarkable, divine involvement in this process. Note the following descriptions of the Lords part in the establishment of America:

• (13:11,14) He disperses the Lamanites

• (13:12) He inspires Columbus

• (13:13) He inspires other Gentiles

• (13:13) His Spirit helps the Gentiles prosper

• (13:16-19) God helps them win the Revolutionary War

• (13:30) They are lifted by the power of God above all other nations.

With regard to the inspiration attending Columbus, the following may be useful:

From my first youth onward I was a seaman and have so continued until this day . . . . The Lord was well disposed to my desire, and He bestowed upon me courage and understanding; knowledge of seafaring He gave me in abundance, of astrology as much as was needed, and of geometry and astronomy likewise. Further, he gave me joy and cunning in drawing maps and thereon cities, mountains, rivers, islands, and harbours, each one in its place. I have seen and truly I have studied all books - cosmographies, histories, chronicles, and philosophies, and other arts, for which our Lord unlocked my mind, sent my upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my emprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me. (Jacob Wasserman, Columbus, Don Quixote of the Seas, pp. 19-20, 46)

Orson Pratt spoke of an even more dramatic divine involvement in the journeys of Columbus:

In those early and perilous times, our men were few, and our resources limited. Poverty was among the most potent enemies we had to encounter; yet our arms were successful; and it may not be amiss to ask here, by whose power victory so often perched on our banner? It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose mounds, bones and remains of towns, cities and fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and, by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world.

This same angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by visions, respecting this New World. Trammelled by poverty and by an unpopular cause, yet his persevering and unyielding heart would not allow an obstacle in his way too great for him to overcome; and the angel of God helped him - was with him on the stormy deep, calmed and troubled elements, and guided his frail vessel to the desired haven. Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water. (Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, p.368, Orson Hyde, July 4, 1854)

Nephi's discussion of the history of the Bible is worth a close look. Note that when the Bible came from the Jews (from the mouth of a Jew (1 Nephi 13:24), it contained the fulness of the gospel. If went forth from the Jews in purity. (1 Nephi 13:25) It was after (1 Nephi 13:26) these things went forth from the apostles to the Gentiles that the records fell into the hands of the great and abominable church. From the Bible they removed many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. (1 Nephi 13:26) Since Satan is the founder of this church (1 Nephi 13:6), the removal of these things is not a great surprise. These things were removed in order to pervert the right ways of the Lord and to blind the eyes and harden the hearts of those who might otherwise accept the truth. How successful was this effort? We are told that

because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God - because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them. (1 Nephi 13:29)

A later verse (13:32) tells us that the Gentiles were in awful state of blindness . . . because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen. You can understand what happens to the Gentiles when you realize that with the removal of pieces of the iron rod—“many plain and precious things”—the willingness of the Gentiles to grab hold and hang on is severely diminished. How can they stay on the path without the rod as a guide? The river and mists claim frightening numbers of them.

The efforts of the great and abominable church to destroy the converting power of the bible caused (1) many to stumble, (2) Satan to have great power, and (3) the Gentiles to be in an awful state of blindness.

Some historical records tell us of the very process of which we are speaking. Consider the implications of the following quotes:

The translation of the Septuagint from Hebrew to Greek illustrates the problems that have attended translations ever since. Aside from the sorry state of the text due to scholastic incompetence, there was a far more serious problem, namely, the theological bias of the translators. This caused them to change the meaning or paraphrase texts that were either unclear or embarrassing to them. Concrete terms in Hebrew came out as abstract terms in Greek. Expressions about God deemed by the Greek translators to be crude or offensive because they described Deity as the Holy Man that he is, rather than the immanent spirit they supposed him to be were changed or toned down or deleted entirely. Passages setting forth the so-called anthropomorphic nature of Deity were simply assumed by the translators to be false and were translated, paraphrased, and changed accordingly. . . .

As long as inspired men are the keepers of holy writ; as long as prophets and apostles are present to identify and perfect the scriptures by revelation; as long as scriptural translations (as in the instance of the Book of Mormon) are made by the gift and power of God all will be well with the written word. But when the gospel sun sets and apostate darkness shrouds the minds of men, the scriptural word is in jeopardy. (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.403)

And this quote:

In a very old text, Peter is reported as saying in a letter to James regarding the use of his own writings in the church: "They think they are able to interpret my own words better than I can, telling their hearers that they are conveying my very thoughts to them, while the fact is that such things never entered my mind. If they take such outrageous liberties while I am alive, what will they do after I am gone!" (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol.3, Ch.4, p.28)

The fact that there are three Synoptic Gospels instead of one poses the greatest riddle of New Testament criticism: Why are there three, and why do they differ? The very "multiplicity of the Gospels" is adequate evidence that someone has been manipulating the records.

Some experts think they have a pretty good idea of the sort of people responsible. They were people who had received the gospel from the apostles, but immediately after the passing of the apostles proceeded to make basic alterations, deliberately disregarding some of the most important teachings. They were not the old Jewish-Christian communities, but various local churches of gentile composition, into whose hands the record came at an early time (in the 70's and 80's A.D.), and by whom the alterations - especially deletions - were made. The changes consisted in new interpretations of the scriptures, not in corruptions of the text, and in substantial omissions. (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol.7, Ch.2, p.26 p.27)

Of course the scholars have made a determined and laudable effort to restore the Bible to is pristine condition, using texts from as long ago as 325 A.D. But by then it was too late, because it was after these plain and precious things were taken away [that the Bible went forth] to all the nations of the Gentiles. (1 Nephi 13:29) Robert J. Matthews wrote,

As we read the words of the angel [in I Nephi 13], we discover that the world has never had a complete Bible, for it was massively, even cataclysmically, corrupted before it was distributed [Robert J. Matthews, "The Book of Mormon as a CoWitness with the Bible and as a Guide to Biblical Criticism," LDS Church Educational System Symposium on the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1982), p. 57)]

The only mistakes the newer translations can correct are those made since 325 A.D. when Constantine ordered 50 copies of the Bible made and sent to all the major Roman cities.

Nephi learned that the Lord had a solution for this corruption of the text before it ever took place. Nephi was promised: Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness . . . (1 Nephi 13:32). What would he do to counteract the effects of the crippling damage done by this Satanic organization?

. . . after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the LambI will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.

For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. (1 Nephi 13:34,35)

Part of the restitution of these plain and precious things would come through the Book of Mormon. Other parts would be restored in another way.

I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true. (1 Nephi 13:39, emphasis added)

The verse above and the one following it suggest an interesting and often overlooked purpose of the Book of Mormon and the other two books of scripture that have come forth with the restoration.

These last records . . . shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them. (1 Nephi 13:40, emphasis added)

3. NEPHI SEES THE BLESSING PROMISED TO THE FAITHFUL; HE ALSO SEES THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GREAT AND ABOMINABLE CHURCH

(1 Nephi 14)

In the Book of Mormon, a Jew seems to be anyone from the land of Judah. Everyone else is a Gentile. Understanding these terms will help with the study of 1 Nephi 14.

In 1 Nephi 13 the great and abominable church was a specific organization in a specific time and place. But following the restoration, we are told that there are only two churches, and everybody belongs to one or the other:

Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth. (1 Nephi 14:10)

If the Gentiles will hearken when the Lord manifests himself unto them in word and in power, he promises to take away the stumbling blocks mentioned in 1 Nephi 13:29,34. (1 Nephi 14:1) The word referred to here is of course the word we are studyingThe Book of Mormon, and the words of living prophets. The power is that which comes from the word of God (see 1 Nephi 15:24; Alma 31:5; Hel 3:29)

To have these blessings the Gentiles must repent. Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent it shall be well with them . . . (1 Nephi 14:5) If they refuse to repent, a different fate awaits: thou also hast heard that whoso repenteth not must perish. Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God. (1 Nephi 14:5,6)

How powerful is the great and abominable church at the time period referred to in 1 Nephi 14?

. . . she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. (1 Nephi 14:11)

How powerful is the Church of the Lamb?

And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw. (1 Nephi 14:12)

What project does the great mother of abominations undertake?

And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God. (1 Nephi 14:12)

Since the numbers in this battle are so unequal, how will the saints survive?

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. (1 Nephi 14:14)

What are the people of the covenant armed with? How would you go about arming yourself with righteousness so that you could partake of the power of God in great glory?

I remember a sergeant with whom I served in the Army. He had been in Viet Nam for two tours of duty, and, like all good soldiers, loved to tell his stories to people who would hold still long enough to listen. I heard him say this on one occasion. The US Army SOP (Standard Operations and Procedures) required a soldier going into combat to carry with him a basic load - a certain amount of ammo, a couple of grenades, some smoke, perhaps a flare or two, etc. But, he said in absolute seriousness, I always took a double basic load!

This sergeant did not want to take the chance of exhausting his supply of ammunition during a battle when his life and the lives of comrades were on the line. This seems to be a wonderful idea. What a tragedy it would be if we found ourselves in a battle when the only weapon available to us was our righteousness, and we had an insufficient supply. We must not hope for just enough righteousness to get by. I saw a bumper sticker once. The caption read, How much sin can I get away with and still go to heaven? I have a fear about that attitude. We need a double basic load of righteousness for the battles ahead.

CONCLUSION

We all have neighbors who are stumbling, and who are in that awful state of blindness, and over whom Satan has power. They are the modern victims of a plague of worldliness caused by the damage done to the Bible. But this is a plague for which we have the cure. And our Father will surely hold us responsible for those with whom we come in contact if we make no attempt to offer them the divine remedy for the malady from which the suffer.

Book of Mormon Lesson 2: "All Things According to His Will"

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:05:00 -0700

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: What we are reading in First Nephi is a journal. Knowing by inspiration that the record he was creating would be preserved for us, Nephi gave instructions to his seed about the nature of the things that should be included.

Quote of the week:

Either the Book of Mormon is true, or it is false; either it came from God, or it was spawned in the infernal realms. It declares plainly that all men must accept it as pure scripture or they will lose their souls. It is not and cannot be simply another treatise on religion; it either came from heaven or hell. And it is time for all those who seek salvation to find out for themselves whether it is of the Lord or of Lucifer. (Bruce R. McConkie, C.R., October 1983, p. 1060

I. LEHI LEAVES JERUSALEM AND TAKES HIS FAMILY INTO THE WILDERNESS. (1 Nephi 1,2)

What we are reading in 1st Nephi is a journal. The Lord intends to do miraculous things with this journal, and Nephi prepares it in such a way that it can be preserved, but it is nevertheless a journal. Nephi calls it a record of my proceedings in my days. (1 Nephi 1:1) He later tells us that it is a journal of his spiritual experiences. He says, And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God. (1 Nephi 6:3, emphasis added)

Knowing by inspiration that the record he was creating would be preserved for us, he gave instructions to his seed about the nature of the things that should be included. He said, "Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men" (1 Nephi 6:6).

Like Nephi, we ought to keep a journal. President Kimball taught:

Let us then continue on in this important work of recording the things we do, the things we say, the things we think, to be in accordance with the instructions of the Lord. For those of you who may not have already started your books of remembrance and your records, we would suggest that this very day you begin to write your records quite fully and completely. We hope that you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.349)

The brethren have spoken about this often. This note from the records of Oliver Huntington is most interesting.

Many times have I wished that my father had kept an account of his life, that I might look over it, and see his bygone days, deed and fortune; and never did he make the scratch of a pen towards it, until he had seen sixty cold winters; and as yet I know but very little of his life, not enough to make any record of, although I have a very short account written, but which is beyond my reach at present, if not forever. Like men in general I presume to suppose, that I shall have a posterity; and that may; like me; wish to know of their father's life, that they might view it, and perhaps profit thereby, or at least, have the satisfaction of knowing it. This is one object that induces me to write; that my nearest kindred, might know of their kinsman. I write also for a satisfaction to myself, to look over my past life, dates and events, and to comply with a requirement, oft repeated by the prophet Joseph Smith, "That every man should keep a daily journal." (Oliver Huntington Autobiography, BYUSpecial Collections, p.26)

Nephi did not begin this record when he was in Jerusalem, nor did he write it while he was journeying in the wilderness. It seems likely that Lehi kept a record of the events of the journey of his family, but Nephi did not. The account on the small plates was begun about 570 BC. (See 2 Nephi 5:28-31) On this note it might be entertaining to note that I saw a personalized license plate in Arizona many years ago that looked like this: 2NE5-31. I suspected when I saw it that it was a Book of Mormon reference, and so I looked and it was.

2 Nephi 5:30
And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.

2 Nephi 5:31
Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.

The large plates were begun about 590 BC, according to 1 Nephi 19:1.

AND it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them. (1 Nephi 19:1)

Lehi lived in or near to Jerusalem. In the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, there came many prophets, prophesying. (1 Nephi 1:4) We know from Old Testament chronology studies that Ezekiel, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah were contemporaries of Lehi. Their message was that the people . . . must repent or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed. (1 Nephi 1:4) The book of Jeremiah suggests something about the iniquity of Jerusalem and the imperative need they had for repentance:

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon [Jerusalem]. (Jeremiah 5:1)

The Lord was apparently willing to pardon Jerusalem if one righteous man could be found, one just and truth-seeking man. It is difficult not to think of the Lords willingness to spare Sodom for ten righteous (see Genesis 18:32).

From this account we learn that Lehi believed the prophets and that he loved his people, for when he heard of the impending destruction of the city (1 Nephi 1:4), he prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people. (1 Nephi 1:5) What happened next seems to be a common experience among those called to teach and prophesy, particularly among those who are the leaders of dispensations and restorations. Hugh Nibley explained it this way:

[Lehi] ran home to his house in Jerusalem and threw himself on the bed. Then he thought he was carried away, and he saw what happened. He saw the Council of the preexistence. He saw the plan, the Lord coming down, and the twelve apostles. He saw how it all worked out. From then on he was one happy man. He could do nothing but rejoice after that. He went out and tried to preach, ran into real trouble, and had to leave town. (Hugh Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 1, p.41)

In many respects this is the experience of Moses (Moses 1) and Abraham (Abraham 3) and a multitude of other prophets who are shown the plan in conjunction with their calling. Jeremiah refers this experience in this way:

For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? . . . I have not sent these [false] prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. (Jeremiah 23:18,21,22, emphasis added)

After his vision, Lehi went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. (1 Nephi 1:18) The people mocked him (1 Nephi 1:19). When he continued preaching, they were angry with him and they sought to kill him (1 Nephi 1:20). They could not. In response to their attempt, however, Nephi promises to show . . . that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. (1 Nephi 1:20) Nephi will show us this truth about 30 times in 1st and 2nd Nephi. This is a great promise and a true principle, one that we must teach our children and each other again and again. The tender mercies of the Lord are over us (we who are chosen) and will make us mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Like Nephi his son, Lehi was determined to go and do the thing the Lord had commanded him, knowing that the Lord would prepare a way. He took his family and left all else behind, departing into the wilderness. He led his family to the shores of the Red Sea, and three more days after that, until he found a river of water (1 Nephi 2:5,6). It is here that we get the first hint that all is not well in the family of Lehi.

And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness! And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord! (And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness! (1 Nephi 2:9,10)

Read 1 Nephi 2:11-13 carefully. Laman and Lemuel had three problems according to these verses.

Nephi 2:11

Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.

1 Nephi 2:12

And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.

1 Nephi 2:13

Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.

Can you see the attitudes that impede their spirituality?

• They are worldly. They murmured because they had to leave their land and their gold and their silver and their precious things.

• They dont know the dealings of God. They did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.

• They dont believe the prophets. Neither did they believe . . . the words of the prophets

It is worth a note here that Nephi does believe the prophets, including his father. It cannot have been any easier for him to say goodbye to Jerusalem than it was for his brothers, but he had great desires to know the mysteries of God and cried unto the Lord who did visit [him], and did soften [his] heart that [he] did believe all the words which had been spoken by [his] father; wherefore, [he] did not rebel against him like unto [his] brothers. (12 Nephi 2:16)

The extent of his belief is indicated by his language throughout his writings. Nowhere in his written record does Nephi ever question his father. He does not even write my father said the Lord spake unto him in a dream. He writes The Lord spake unto my father in a dream. (I Nephi 2:1; see also 1 Nephi 11:5)

Notice what Nephi does after his encounter with the Lord in 1 Nephi 2:16. He does the same thing Lehi did after his vision in 1 Nephi 1. He bears testimony to his brothers of the things he has seen and heard, and he prays for them.

And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words. But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them. (1 Nephi 2:17,18)

I have come to believe in the truthfulness of this sequence. If the Lord knows of our willingness to teach and testify of anything he lets us see and hear, he will let us see and hear many things. Notice as you study this record how often in the Book of Mormon the Lord shows his will and his purposes to his prophets and they immediately begin to share what they have learned with those around them.

There is another great principle alluded to in 1 Nephi 2. I call it the Recognition of the Real Problem principle. So many times we go before the Lord asking for help solving our problems when we have not yet identified what the problem really is. For example, the Israelites wanted Moses to get rid of the poisonous serpents. (Numbers 21:7) But the serpents were not the problem. The problem was that the Israelites had not been willing to keep the promise they made at Mt. Sinai (see Exodus 24:3,7). The serpents were a reminder. Certain Jews wanted to make Christ a king, probably because he had the ability to solve any and all social problems. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. (John 6:15) Jesus knew that the problems of the Jews were not social: they were spiritual, and he refused the throne.

Here in 1 Nephi 2, the Lord explains the relationship between the Nephites and the Lamanites. I wonder how many prayers were offered by Book of Mormon people pleading with the Lord to solve the problem of the Lamanites. But the Lamanites were never the problem. The scriptures teach it in this way:

And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren. For behold, in that day that they [the Lamanites] shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they [thy seed] shall rebel against me also. And if it so be that they [thy seed] rebel against me, they [the Lamanites] shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance. (1 Nephi 2:22-24)

Hugh Nibley explained it this way:

No matter how wicked and ferocious and depraved the Lamanites might be (and they were that!), no matter by how much they outnumbered the Nephites, darkly closing in on all sides, no matter how insidiously they spied and intrigued and infiltrated and hatched their diabolical plots and breathed their bloody threats and pushed their formidable preparations for allout war, they were not the Nephite problem. They were merely kept there to remind the Nephites of their real problem, which was to walk uprightly before the Lord. (Since Cumorah, p. 376)

II. NEPHI AND HIS BROTHERS RETURN TO JERUSALEM TO OBTAIN THE PLATES OF BRASS (1 Nephi 3,4)

Somewhere in these lessons we will discuss the divergence of Laman and Nephi. While Nephi is walking in a brighter and brighter light, Laman is descending into deeper and deeper darkness. One example of that appears when Lehi commands his sons to return to Jerusalem for the plates of Brass. Laman and Lemuel murmured (what a shock!) saying it is a hard thing . . . Well, it was hard. We are talking about a distance of around 250 miles through some pretty desolate country. And at the end of the journey they must convince a greedy, wicked, drunken, violent man to give them something incredibly valuable. Lehi knew it was a hard thing, and so did Nephi. The difference is in their responses to the difficulty. Laman and Lemuel seem to say, The prophet has spoken, however . . . But Nephi says, The prophet has spoken, therefore . . . What kind of a response are you most likely to give when President Monson or your Stake President or your Bishop asks you to do something difficult?

The importance of the plates of brass is described in several places.

• They contain a record of the Jews (1 Nephi 3:3)

• They contain Lehis genealogy (1 Nephi 3:3)

• They will enable this colony to preserve their language (1 Nephi 3:19)

• They contain the words of the prophets (1 Nephi 3:19)

• They contain the commandments of the Lord (1 Nephi 5:21)

• They contain the mysteries of God (Mosiah 1:3)

• Those who studied them would profit thereby (Mosiah 1:7)]

Following the request of his father, Nephi made the statement that has become the most familiar of all Book of Mormon scriptures.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. (1 Nephi 3:7)

Sometimes we focus so much on Nephi's obedience that we miss the reaction of his father. I identify with Lehi here. "And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord." (1 Nephi 3:8, emphasis added) How great to have a son like Nephi! We would all be exceedingly glad to have a son with such faith.

Following Laman's failure to secure the plates (and remember that Laman is the only source for this account), the older brothers are ready to return to the valley of Lemuel. We tried. We failed. Lets get out of here before someone gets hurt. Nephi will have none of it, of course. He swears an oath But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us. (1 Nephi 3:15)

This matter of swearing with an oath in ancient days was far more significant that many of us have realized.

For instance: Nephi and his brethren were seeking to obtain the brass plates from Laban. Their lives were in peril. Yet Nephi swore this oath: As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us. (1 Nephi 3:15)

Thus Nephi made God his partner. If he failed to get the plates, it meant God had failed. And because God does not fail, it was incumbent upon Nephi to get the plates or lay down his life in the attempt. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, C.R., April 1982, pp. 49, 50)

The words of the oath are significant as well.

. . . the oath is the one thing that is most sacred and inviolable among the desert people: "Hardly will an Arab break this oath, even if his life be in jeopardy," for "there is nothing stronger, and nothing more sacred than the oath among the nomads," and even among the city Arabs, if it be exacted under special conditions. But not every oath will do: to be most binding and solemn an oath should be by the life of something, even if it be but a blade of grass; the only oath more awful than "by my life" or (less commonly) "by the life of my head," is the wa hayat Allah, "by the life of God," or "as the Lord liveth," . . . (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol.5, Part.1, p.103 p.104)

The second attempt is an effort to purchase the plates with the wealth of Lehi, who had enough of it to tempt Laban to commit four murders. And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property. (1 Nephi 3:25) The loss of the property made Laman and Lemuel angry with Nephi, whose plan had failed so miserably, and with their father, who had initiated the enterprise. That anger may have come from fear and a brush with death, but it probably also derived from the fact that if they should return now to Jerusalem, they have much less to return to. They begin to beat their little brothers with a rod. (1 Nephi 3:28)

The angel who called a halt to these activities made two announcements: (1) The Lord has chosen Nephi to be your ruler, and (2) Go back again; the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands. As soon as the light of this angelic presence began to dim, Laman and his sidekick were back at it. How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us? (1 Nephi 3:31) This is an interesting insight into the character of these two, and also into the character of those who have demanded positive proof of the plates and of the restoration. Luke 16:31 says it this way:

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31)

The Doctrine and Covenants says it like this:

Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you. (D&C 5:7)

Those who do not believe Lehi are not likely to believe, even when they have seen an angel. Those who do not believe Josephs account of the Book of Mormon and the restoration are not likely to believe Moroni himself declaring the truth in glory and thunder. The response of Laman and his brother to the angel is powerful evidence that miracles do not convert people.

We do find a moment here when Nephi and his brothers are in complete agreement. As Nephi prepares to make a third attempt to secure the plates he tells us that he caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. (1 Nephi 4:5) No arguments here at all. If they had to make another attempt to separate the murderous Laban and this sacred record, this is just the way they wanted to make it.

What happened next is spectacular. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban. This is faith and courage of the highest order. Nephi does not know how he will get the plates. But he knows that he is under divine command to get them and he knows where they are. He goes, therefore, toward the house of Laban. Laman and Lemuel were unsure about how the Lord could deliver Laban into their hands (1 Nephi 3:29). Nephi wasn't sure either. But Nephi was sure that the Lord could deliver Laban, and so he went. He crept. His life had been threatened already by Laban. And he went, he said, being led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. (1 Nephi 4:6)

There is a principle of revelation here as well. Sometimes the Spirit leads us, step by step, without revealing the end until we are upon it.

Many years ago, a young man walked into our garage early in the morning and rode off on my sons BMX bicycle. Mike, a twelve-year old, had worked hard and for a long time for the money to buy that bike. It was his most precious possession. A small child from the bus stop came to tell my wife what had happened. She was in a house coat, just up from bed. She got the kids out the door for school, then dressed, and got in the car. Sitting there she told the Lord how much the bike meant to our son and asked for help in finding it. She then drove to a busy thoroughfare, turned west, traveled half a mile, turned right, then right and left and into a cul-de-sac where she found the bike and the young man, who was waiting for a friend. She went, being led by the Spirit from corner to corner and street to street.

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene, one step enough for me."

Hymns, No. 119

What in the world was Laban doing drunk in full ceremonial armor in the middle of the night on the streets of Jerusalem? We know that he had been out by night among the elders of the Jews (1 Nephi 4:22) perhaps in secret meetings concerning the alliance of Judah with Egypt. Jeremiah talks a great deal about the elders and their animosity towards him because of his insistence that Judah maintain its relations with Babylon rather than changing allegiance and trusting in Egypt.

And Nephi kills Laban; reluctantly, of course. He said in his heart, Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. This is the only time I have found in the records of this young man when he showed any trace of reluctance to obey the Lord instantly. His hesitation says much for his character and for the truthfulness of the story. Some have been troubled by this act, even considering it immoral. If you have an inclination to read an excellent piece on this matter, read I Have a Question in the Ensign, September 1976, pp. 83,84, wherein Jeffrey R. Holland answers the question, How can I explain Nephi's killing Laban to my non-member friends? Some really reject it as scriptural.

The final quote of that article is excellent:

One who does not understand Nephis relentless determination to enter that city and obtain those records, no matter what the cost to his own life or others, will never understand why it was so fundamentally necessary to bring forth the Book of Mormon in this dispensation, or why the forces of hell tried to wrench those plates from the boy prophet, or why every one of us must search the scriptures and live by every word of God. As with Nephis traveling through the wilder-ness, it is wisdom in the Lord that we, too, should carry the sacred records with us on our own journey toward the promised land. (See 1 Nephi 5:22) Our only alternative is to dwindle and perish in unbelief. (1 Nephi 4:13)

On this matter of obeying God regardless of the nature of his instruction, Joseph

Smith said,

God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another time He said, "Thou shalt utterly destroy." This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conductedby revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Five 184243, p.256)

After securing the plates, Nephi insisted that Zoram accompany the family into the wilderness, and made an oath that he should be a free man if he would. (1 Nephi 4:33) It was probably important for Zoram to come along for a couple of reasons. First, with the plates gone from the treasury, and Laban dead, the keeper of the treasury would be the prime suspect, keys and all. In addition, Zoram would have known enough to point pursuit after the right family, and perhaps even in the right direction. Now we were desirous that he should tarry with us for this cause, that the Jews might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, lest they should pursue us and destroy us. (1 Nephi 4:36) I suspect that it was for this reason that the Lord did not command the family to take the plates when they first left the city. With a base camp over 200 miles away, they were able to flee to safety after obtaining the record. Such a flight might not have been possible with the whole family along.

Notice that after Nephi made his oath to Zoram, Zoram made one of his own. Following that, Nephi wrote, our fears did cease concerning him.

When you give your word, can fear cease? Do people who know you know that your integrity is absolute. Abraham Lincoln once made a promise that, on reflection and examination, turned out to have been a mistake. He pondered over the matter. Well, he thought, I have said it, and be the consequences what they may, it shall not be my fault if I fail to do it. (Lincoln and the Lady, by Ted Gibbons, p. 16from a letter by Abraham Lincoln written in April, 1838)

III. NEPHI AND HIS BROTHERS BRING THE BRASS PLATES TO THEIR FAMILY (1 Nephi 5)

Sarai mistakenly thought that the greatest danger to her sons was the wilderness through which they were required to travel for the plates of brass (see 1 Nephi 5:2). She may not have known much about Laban. But her concerns were legitimate. She had mourned for her sons, believing them dead, and had accused her husband of being a visionary man and of leading the entire family to destruction. (1 Nephi 5:2) But Lehi was not worried. He had received a promise, much like the one given to King Mosiah in Mosiah 28:7. Lehi told his wife, I know that the Lord will deliver my sons. (1 Nephi 5:5) This reminds us of the declaration of the Lord that A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. (JST Mark 6:6) Sarai did not believe him. But when she saw her husbands words fulfilled in every respect, when her sons returned safely to her, she bore her own testimony:

Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. (1 Nephi 5:8)

I admire Sarai a great deal for having come so far on the basis of faith in, and love and respect for, her husband. It is easy to understand why the conditions in the valley and the extended absence of her sons should have caused her to murmur. All of us have a tendency to respond to discouragement and discomfort and danger with consternation and dread. But if she had followed Nephis example in 1 Nephi 2:16, the journey of her sons to Jerusalem might have been less traumatic. At any rate, there is not indication that she every murmured again.

Lehi examined the plates when he had received them, and gave us a brief accounting of the contents: They contained (see 1 Nephi 5:12-16)

• The five books of Moses

• And also a record of the Jews

• And prophecies of the holy prophets

• And many prophecies of Jeremiah

• A genealogy of the family of Lehi in which he learned that he was a descendant of

Joseph and therefore related to Laban.

Lehi prophesied three things about these plates:

(1) these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed. (1 Nephi 5:18)

(2) these plates of brass should never perish (1 Nephi 5:19)

(3) neither should they be dimmed any more by time. (1 Nephi 5:19)

IV. NEPHI AND HIS BROTHERS RETURN TO JERUSALEM FOR ISHMAEL AND HIS FAMILY (1 Nephi 7)

No mention is made of any objection by Laman and Lemuel when Lehi sent them back to Jerusalem again. Like some of the youth in our own day, they may have preferred romance to reading the scriptures. They were not sent to find a willing family with many daughters, but to get a specific familythe family of Ishmael. In the Journal of Discourses, Erastus Snow reported that Ishamels sons married Lehis daughters. (See JD, Vol. 23. p. 184) The married sons of Ishmael are mentioned first in 1 Nephi 7:6. Hugh Nibley said of Ishmael and Lehi:

Lehi, faced with the prospect of a long journey in the wilderness, sent back for Ishmael, who promptly followed into the desert with a large party; this means that he must have been hardly less adept at moving than Lehi himself. The interesting thing is that Nephi takes Ishmael (unlike Zoram) completely for granted, never explaining who he is or how he fits into the picturethe act of sending for him seems to be the most natural thing in the world, as does the marriage of his daughters with Lehi's sons. Since it has ever been the custom among the desert people for a man to marry the daughter of his paternal uncle (bint 'ammi), it is hard to avoid the impression that Lehi and Ishmael were related. (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol.5, Part.1, Ch.2, p.40)

The rebellion in the wilderness by Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families came because they were desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem. (1 Nephi 7:6,7) Nephi preached to them, and warned them, as he did every time they rebelled. And every time he did, they beat the stuffings out of him for his trouble. (It is interesting that they rebelled against Nephi and the others. One only rebels against leaders, not followers.) They were not anxious to hear a sermon from Nephi, but when he gave them one, they did not kill him. Like they brothers of Joseph in Genesis 37, they tried to place him in a condition from which he could not escape, thus perhaps escaping direct responsibility for his demise. It is possible that the memory of the angel in the cave prevented Laman and Lemuel at least from taking more drastic action against their brother.

They bound him and planned to leave him to be devoured by wild beasts.

But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound. And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again. (1 Nephi 7:17,18)

Nephi in 1 Nephi 7 was a much different man from the Nephi of 1 Nephi 2. Laman and Lemuel had not changed at all. And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me . . . They experienced no conversion from this miracle either.(1 Nephi 7:19)

Convinced that they had erred, they asked Nephi for forgiveness. And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.

If is one thing to forgive, but perhaps it is another to forgive just moments following an attempt to murder you. But Nephi went a step beyond that. He directed them to the true source of forgiveness.

CONCLUSION:

I stand in reverent awe of Nephi. He is a hero worthy of all emulation. We have been commanded to hold up the light of Christ.

Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold upthat which ye have seen me do. (3 Nephi 18:24)

No one ever did that better than Nephi, who was almost perfect is his emulation of his Savior. That commitment came from his love, of course. And it was manifest in his attitude about every experience in his life. I am pleased beyond measure by the final three words of this great man preceding his final Amen in the Book of Mormon. They are found in 2 Nephi 33:15.

Young Men Lesson 2: The Calling of a Deacon

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "The Lord wants every Aaronic Priesthood holder to invite all to come unto Christ—beginning with his own family." -Larry M. Gibson

Discussion Questions

• How does your attitude about an assignment from the bishop or quorum president affect how you fulfill it? (see D&C 107:99).

• (For teachers and priests.) What can you do to help the deacons in your ward or branch understand the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood and the significance of their callings as deacons?

Excerpt from "Sacred Keys of the Aaronic Priesthood" Brother Larry M. Gibson, April 2011 General Conference:

One of my sons, at age 12, decided to raise rabbits. We built cages and acquired one large male and two female rabbits from a neighbor. I had no idea what we were getting into. In a very short time, our shed was bursting with bunnies. Now that my son is grown, I must confess my amazement at how they were controlled—a neighbor’s dog occasionally got into the shed and thinned out the herd.

But my heart was touched as I saw my son and his brothers watch over and protect those rabbits. And now, as husbands and fathers, they are worthy priesthood holders who love, strengthen, and watch over their own families.

My feelings are tender as I observe you young men of the Aaronic Priesthood watching over, supporting, and strengthening those around you, including your families, members of your quorum, and many others. How I love you.

Recently I watched as a 13-year-old young man was set apart as deacons quorum president. Afterward the bishop shook his hand and addressed him as “president,” explaining to the quorum members that he “addressed him as president to emphasize the sacredness of his calling. The deacons quorum president is one of only four people in the ward who hold keys of presidency. With those keys, he, with his counselors, will lead the quorum under the inspiration of the Lord.” This bishop understood the power of a presidency led by a president who holds and exercises sacred priesthood keys. (See D&C 124:142–43.)

Later I asked this young man if he was ready to preside over this great quorum. His response was: “I’m nervous. I don’t know what a deacons quorum president does. Can you tell me?”

To read the full talk, click here.