Mormon Life - Scriptures tag

Teachings of George Albert Smith 10: The Scriptures, the Most Valuable Library in the World

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:04:00 -0600

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "God loves all His children. He wants all of them to return to Him. He desires everyone to be in tune with the sacred music of faith." - Quentin L. Cook

Excerpt from "In Tune with the Music of Faith" by Elder Quentin L. Cook, April 2012 General Conference:

Clearly, a dividing line between those who hear the music of faith and those who are tone-deaf or off-key is the active study of the scriptures. I was deeply touched years ago that a beloved prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, emphasized the need to continually read and study the scriptures. He said: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”24

I hope we are reading the Book of Mormon with our children regularly. I have discussed this with my own children. They have shared with me two observations. First, persistence in reading the scriptures daily as a family is the key. My daughter in a lighthearted way describes their early-morning efforts with mostly teenage children to consistently read the scriptures. She and her husband wake up early in the morning and move through the blurry mist to grasp the iron railing that lines their staircase to where their family gathers to read the word of God. Persistence is the answer, and a sense of humor helps. It requires great effort from every family member every day, but it is worth the effort. Temporary setbacks are overshadowed by persistence.

The second is how our youngest son and his wife are reading the scriptures with their young family. Two out of their four children are not old enough to read. For the five-year-old, they have five finger signals to which he responds in order for him to participate fully in the family scripture reading. The signal for finger 1 is for him to repeat, “And it came to pass” whenever it appears in the Book of Mormon. I have to admit that I love the fact that the phrase appears so often. Incidentally, for the interest of young families, finger signal 2 is “And thus we see”; fingers 3, 4, and 5 are chosen by the parents based on the words contained in the chapter they are reading.

We know that family scripture study and family home evenings are not always perfect. Regardless of the challenges you face, do not become discouraged.

To read the full talk, click here.

Comparing the use of 'Christian' and 'saint' in scriptures

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:22:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

If a man were fraudulently attempting to establish in the 19th century a counterfeit of the original Church of Jesus Christ, his claimed revelatory writings would likely contain the descriptive term “Christian” with some degree of regularity. During the 19th century, “Christian” was the common term used to refer to a follower of Jesus Christ, as well as a member of any of the many churches that worshipped him.

In our present-day society, the term “Christian” remains as the universally accepted word that refers to a follower of Christ or any of the religions that are founded upon his teachings. But such common use of the word “Christian” has not always been the case.

FHE: Scripture Study

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high." -Richard G. Scott

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “The Power of Scripture,” by Richard G. Scott,

Ensign, Nov 2011, 6

Thought:

Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.

(Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign, Nov 2011, 6.)

Song:

“Search, Ponder, and Pray,” Children’s Songbook, p. 109.

Scripture:

And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.

(2 Nephi 4:15)

Lesson:

Preparation: Write the following scriptural references on slips of paper:

1. Jacob 3:2 (word 21)

2. Matthew 24:35 (word 9)

3. Psalm 46:8 (word 2)

4. Doctrine and Covenants 5:6 (word 13) 5. Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 (word 5) 6. 1 Nephi 7:12 (word 18)

7. Isaiah 34:16 (word 2)

8. Abraham 3:25 (word 12)

On a large sheet of paper write the following scripture:

___1____ upon the ___2____ of Christ; for ___3____, the ___4____ of Christ will

___5____ you all ___6____ what ___7____ should ___8____.

Procedure: Divide the slips of paper among the class. One at a time have them look up their scriptures, read it to the group, and find the puzzle word. Fill in the words until the entire phrase has been finished.

Have your family members find 2 Nephi 32:3 in their scriptures. Read the scripture with your class and discuss what it means.

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Building Blocks for Better Lessons, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998], p. 58.)

Story:

One evening two young missionaries met Sasha on the street of a city where he still resides. They asked whether he believed in God. He continues:

"I was confused. I knew from my experience that when someone comes to you in the darkness and asks for ten kopecks, your answer does not matter much, because there is going to be a fight within a minute or two. Earlier, I had considered religious believers to be mentally sick people, and yet these young men seemed like quite normal people.

"I agreed to make an appointment with the missionaries. Oh, I tortured them so much! I asked them many silly, cynical questions, and I even supposed that they were agents of the CIA.

"Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!), I had lost my job then and had time to read the Book of Mormon and the Bible all day long. The experience of reading these two books of scripture hour after hour, day after day, completely transformed my life. I found the truth. As I met with these wonderful young men, my cynicism gradually but fully dissolved. In our meetings and through my personal reading of the scriptures day after day, I became a new person, with a new outlook on the world.

"As I read the Book of Mormon, I realized that there are not inherently good and bad people in the world. All of them have a choice, either to follow the power of good or the power of evil. Life on this earth may be unjust, but there is a future existence—even a new world—where justice and mercy will reign, and where we will be judged with mercy and righteousness by our Savior.

"Instead of contempt for people, I have come to see that we need to help them overcome their weaknesses and temptations. The gospel helped me to understand the reason for the actions of people. Now I am sorry for the rich man who spends his life concerned only for his wealth. I am sorry for my neighbor who killed a cat that had scratched his new car by accident. I began to care for wicked people, flatterers, and impudent fellows—not condoning their actions, but feeling concern for their welfare. They are all unhappy people, alienated from God, and I need to help them find him.

"Since my baptism and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, I have committed to our Heavenly Father that I will always try to help lift others throughout the rest of my life. As Alma explained [see Mosiah 18:8-10], when I accepted baptism I promised to be a comfort and a strength to others. And I will."

Sasha is a dedicated servant of the Lord who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. He is a man who shows great love to others. He now manages a new private company in his city.

(Howard L. Biddulph, Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996].)

Activity:

All titles to the books of the Bible can be found among these letters. Those books which are prefixed with Roman numerals appear only once and so there are fifty-seven titles to be found. Draw a circle around each title as you find it. the titles are written forward, backward, up, down, or diagonally in any direction. Work together as a family or give each person their own copy.

(Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1968], p.37.)

Refreshment

Fruit Pizza Dessert

4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1⁄2 cup butter or margarine

1 1⁄4 cups flour

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

1 recipe Cream Cheese Topping

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

3 fresh peaches, sliced, or 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Cream Cheese Topping

12 ounces cream cheese

1⁄3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 cup non-dairy frozen whipped topping

In a large bowl combine cream cheese and butter or margarine. Mix until well blended. Add flour and salt. Mix well. Form into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to form a 12-inch circle. Place in a 12-inch greased tart or pizza pan. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork. Bake at 425° F. for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool.

Meanwhile, prepare the Cream Cheese Topping by combining cream cheese, sugar, and lemon juice. Mix until well blended. Fold in whipped topping.

Spoon over crust. Arrange fruits in circles atop the filling, working toward the center of the tart— arrange strawberries around outer edge of pan, then kiwi fruit slices, fresh peach slices or mandarin oranges, and more strawberries in the center. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

(Julie Badger Jensen, The Essential Mormon Cookbook, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2004], p. 18.)

To access the PDF version of this lesson, click here.

Missionary preparation: Pruning our olive trees

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:39:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Zenos’ allegory about olive trees blossomed with new life when our youth Sunday School class read from the perspective of preparing for missionary service.

Book of Mormon prophet Jacob used the allegory to preface a powerful plea to know the importance of repentance and make wise decisions.

I imagine Jacob gathering his extended family for a lesson, maybe around a fire or nestled inside a crude building on a cool jungle night. I imagine him sitting with the brass plates on his knees — the same ancient record full of family history and prophetic writings that his older brothers retrieved from Jerusalem and carried across the ocean to the new world.

Digital versions of LDS scriptures gaining popularity

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:46:00 -0600

source: standard.net

Technology has brought about many changes in our lives, and now electronic gadgets have made their way into Sunday meetings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Members are reading their scriptures from smartphones, tablets, e-readers and iPads rather than from the traditional bound books of scripture.

Many who use the newest devices to study find them easier to use when searching for specific passages of scripture. Others like the fact that they weigh less and are easier to carry than the bound books.

Additional Scripture Translations Now Online

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:11:00 -0700

source: ldsmediatalk.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has published additional translations of the triple combination online in Albanian, Cebuano, Czech, Icelandic, and Indonesian in the scriptures section of LDS.org (scriptures.lds.org) and in the Gospel Library mobile app.

Danish: The first foreign language edition of the Book of Mormon

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:20:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Editor's note: This is one in a series on the Book of Mormon translations and translators.

Latter-day Saints in Denmark were the first to read the Book of Mormon in their native tongue.

Elder Erastus Snow of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Peter Olsen Hansen labored with a few others to produce the first Danish translation of the Book of Mormon for the LDS Church's Scandinavian mission in 1851. It was the first edition of the Book of Mormon to be translated from English into another language.

Book of Mormon translation: The Philippines

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:09:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Editor's note: This is one in a series on Book of Mormon translations and translators.

An article titled “Translation and Transculturation in the Pacific,” by Lowell Bishop and Bruce Van Orden, part of a collection in the book “Pioneers in the Pacific,” details the struggles of getting the Book of Mormon translated for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. The Philippines provide a prime example of years-long work.

New languages, content, features available on Gospel Library app

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:23:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

In an effort to provide additional Church content to more people around the world, the free Gospel Library app is now available in more than a dozen languages across five platforms.

At mobile.LDS.org, members can download the app for Android, Apple, BlackBerry, webOS, and Windows Mobile, gaining instant access to the scriptures, general conference addresses, Sunday manuals, and other Church materials on their mobile devices.

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)

New triple combination published in Russian

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:30:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

A new triple combination edition of the scriptures featuring the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price bound together in one volume is now available in Russian.

Scriptures.lds.org Provides Pictures and Videos

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:13:00 -0700

source: ldsmediatalk.com

The scriptures on the Church website (scriptures.lds.org) now provide access to gospel art and New Testament videos.

Decanonization has occurred in Mormon scriptures

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:59:00 -0700

source: standard.net

Mormon Life says: I had no idea Lectures on Faith used to be included in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Remember the Lectures on Faith sections in the Mormon scripture, “Doctrine and Covenants?” No? But they were there for 86 years? I’m reading an 1918 “Doctrine and Covenants” and sure enough, there’s Lectures on Faith.” What about “Section 101″ in early D&C editions, the “Article on Marriage” that says men and women should only have one spouse? No, haven’t heard of that one either? It was eventually deleted by church leaders and replaced by Section 132, which details celestial marriage and having multiple wives. Decanonization of scripture is not talked about much in the LDS church, and it’s certainly far less frequent than examples of added scripture in Mormon canon, but it does happen.

Where are all the missing scriptures?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:31:00 -0700

source: feastuponthewordblog.org

Mormon Life says: "Are they missing, or are we just unwilling to recognize the traditions and sacred writings of other cultures as scripture?"--Interesting thought. How much scripture are we still missing or not recognizing? If we take Nephi seriously, perhaps quite a bit!

Latter-day Saints are quick to quote Nephi in defending the logic behind recognizing extra-biblical scripture such as the Book of Mormon. We are even at times uncharitable, labeling as fools (2 Nephi 29:4) those who accept the Bible but reject additional scripture. But if we continue reading that passage, Nephi seems to set us up to fall into our own foolish trap.

Competent to Proclaim and Defend the Savior: 30 Years of the LDS Scriptures

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:56:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

“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 of Judah. They will develop a gospel scholarship beyond that which their forebears could achieve. They will have the testimony that Jesus is the Christ and be competent to proclaim Him and to defend Him.”

That’s what President Boyd K. Packer (then Elder Packer), President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said in 1982 about what the recently released edition of the scriptures could do for the rising generation. Now, 30 years after the publication of a new edition of the triple combination in English (which came two years after a Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Bible), an entire generation has grown up benefitting from these scriptures with their cross-references, word explanations and etymology, references to the Joseph Smith Translation, the Topical Guide, the Bible Dictionary, and the gazetteer and maps.

New triple combination published in Estonian

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:27:00 -0600

source: news.lds.org

A new triple combination edition of the scriptures, featuring the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price bound together in one volume, is now available in Estonian.

The new volume is available immediately from local Church distribution centers, from the Online Store, and online at the scriptures section of LDS.org. This edition brings the number of publication languages for the triple combination to 43.

Available Formats of LDS Scriptures

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:45:00 -0600

source: ldsmediatalk.com

Mormon Life says: A useful list in the digital era. Did you know that scriptures.lds.org not only has the scriptures text, but also audio recordings to listen to online or download MP3 files to use on other devices? This includes the Holy Bible (both Old Testament and New Testament), Triple Combination, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.

A new page Available Scriptures Formats also lists additional ways to access the scriptures.

FHE: Zion

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:05:00 -0600

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The Lord has said that Zion is "the pure in heart." Use this lesson to discuss how you can make your home, ward, and stake more like Zion. Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read “Come to Zion,” by D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, Nov 2008, 37.

Thought:
In our families and in our stakes and districts, let us seek to build up Zion through unity, godliness, and charity.

(D. Todd Christofferson, “Come to Zion,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 37.)

Song:
“High on a Mountain Top,” Hymns, #5.

Scripture:
Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn.
(Doctrine and Covenants 97:21)

Object Lesson:
Read as a family Moses 7:18 and look for four ways the Lord describes Zion. (One heart, one mind, dwelt in righteousness, no poor among them.) List these four things on a sheet of paper (or poster board), leaving plenty of room between each item to write more information. Have your family search D&C 82:8–20 for verses that match the four items listed. Write these verses next to the appropriate item as they are found. When they are finished, your sheet of paper may look like the following chart:

Creating Zion
One heart: 14–15, 19.

One mind: 14–15, 19.

Dwelt in righteousness: 10–11, 14– 15.

No poor: 12–13, 17– 19.

Discuss the following questions:

• Which of these principles do you think is most important and why?
• How would you describe what living in Zion would be like?
• What do you think would be the best part of living in Zion?
• What can we do to create Zion in our home?
• What could we do to help our own ward and stake become more Zion- like?

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 173.)

Story:
As a young boy growing up in southern Utah, the concepts of Zion were much less clear to me than they are today. We lived in a small town not far from Zion National Park. In church we often sang the familiar words:

Israel, Israel, God is calling,
Calling thee from lands of woe.
Babylon the great is falling;
God shall all her tow’rs o’erthrow.
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Ere his floods of anger flow.
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Ere his floods of anger flow.

In my little-boy mind, I saw the magnificent cliffs and towering stone pinnacles of that national park. Meandering through the high-walled canyons flowed a river of water—sometimes placid, sometimes a raging torrent. You can probably imagine the confusion experienced as this little boy tried to put together the words of the hymn with the familiar surroundings of that beautiful park. Though it was not a perfect fit, lodged in my mind was the impression that Zion was something majestic and divine. Over the years, a grander understanding has emerged. In the scriptures we read, “Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—the pure in heart.”

(Keith B. McMullen, “Come to Zion! Come to Zion!” Ensign, November 2002.)

Activity:
Make the treat together and deliver some to your neighbors or someone who might be lonely.

Refreshment
Peanut Butter Cookies

5 1/4 cups all- purpose flour
2 teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
3/4 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and set aside. Mix flour, soda, and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside. Cream together butter, shortening, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Then stir in peanut butter. Add flour mixture and stir until well blended. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Using a fork dipped in flour, flatten each cookie slightly in a crisscross pattern. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges. Do not overbake. Makes 5 dozen 3-inch cookies.

(Lion House Christmas, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2006], p. 115.)

To get the PDF version of this lesson, click here.

'Scriptures are true' - Response to Primary 2011 theme

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:03:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

For the first 10 minutes of class each week, Sean Dolan helps the 10 and 11-year-old boys of the Winder 5th Ward, Salt Lake Winder West Stake, open their scriptures and study, mark and discuss the verses they read.

In the middle of the Primary room of the Provo Canyon Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont North Stake, hangs a bulletin board with photos of each Primary child holding on to the iron rod.

In the Spring Creek 22nd Ward, Salt Lake Olympus Stake, Primary, the children hold their scriptures, they hug their scriptures, they hoist them in air while singing the children's song, "Scripture Power."

From a child's perspective

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:59:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

Mormon Life says: Their answers are adorable. Children were asked to complete the following sentences:

"I know the scriptures are true because ..."

"I know the scriptures are true because they teach me a lot about life's lessons — like the Good Samaritan story makes me want to help others." — Jacob Tai, 11, Hong Kong China International Branch