Sunday, February 5, 2017

Lesson 7: “The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel”

Purpose
To help class members understand and seek the blessings that come from the first principles and ordinances of the gospel: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and confirmation.

Member Study Guide Scriptures/Questions
  1. What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? How can we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ? (See D&C 19:23; 88:118; Alma 32:27.)
     
  2. What is repentance? (See D&C 58:42–43.) Why do we need the Savior's Atonement to be forgiven of our sins? (See 2 Nephi 2:6–9.)
     
  3. What are the purposes of baptism? (See D&C 18:22;49:13–14.) What qualifications must a person meet to be baptized? (See D&C 20:37.)
     
  4. What is the difference between the power of the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost? (See Bible Dictionary, "Holy Ghost," 704.)
     
  5. 2 Nephi 25:23
     
  6. Alma 42:13–24
     
  7. D&C 18:10–13
     
  8. D&C 19:15–19
     
  9. Articles of Faith 1:3

Additional Historical Resources
 

Discussion and Application
The Lord restored the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith "line upon line, precept upon precept" (D&C 128:21). Some of the first truths to be restored were the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Read the fourth article of faith.


1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel.

The gospel began with an act of faith on the part of Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith—History 1:11–14). The appearance of Moroni also occurred in response to an act of faith by Joseph, who recorded that he had "full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation" as he prayed for forgiveness (Joseph Smith—History 1:29).
  • What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? Why is it important that we center our faith in Jesus Christ?
     
  • How can we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ? (See D&C 19:23; 88:118; Alma 32:27.) What experiences have helped you strengthen their faith in Christ.
     
  • What are some circumstances in daily life that require us to exercise faith in Christ? How has faith helped you overcome discouragement, weaknesses, or other difficulties? How can faith in Christ strengthen our relationships with others?
     
  • How can we demonstrate our faith in Christ? (See D&C 20:69; James 2:14–17.) How does faith in Christ affect our desire to do good works?
     
  • Read D&C 8:10 with class members. What can we accomplish without faith? What can we accomplish with faith? (see D&C 35:9; 42:48–51; 63:9–11; Moroni 7:33.) How have you seen the power of faith manifested?
     
  • One frequently repeated message in the Doctrine and Covenants is the importance of praying with faith. For example, in D&C 10:46–52 the Lord says that the Book of Mormon was preserved because the ancient prophets had "faith in their prayers" that it would be preserved. What is the role of faith in our prayers?
     

2. Through sincere repentance, we can partake of the blessings of the Atonement.

Repentance is a major theme in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord teaches the doctrine of repentance and repeatedly emphasizes the need to repent. He promises great blessings to those who repent—and punishments for those who do not.
  • What is repentance? (See D&C 58:42–43)
     
  • What is the difference between true repentance and merely breaking a bad habit or changing a behavior?
    President Ezra Taft Benson explained: "Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. … True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13)" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 71).

    Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that "repentance requires both turning away from evil and turning to God" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 40; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 30).
     
  • Read D&C 18:11–13 and D&C 19:16–19. What do these passages teach about the Savior's love for us? Why do we need the Savior's Atonement to be forgiven of our sins? (See also 2 Nephi 2:6–9.) Why is it necessary that we repent to be forgiven of our sins? (see forgiveness, Alma 7:14)
     
  • Why is faith in Jesus Christ necessary for us to truly repent?
     
  • What are the consequences of not repenting of our sins? (see D&C 1:33, 19:17–18, and D&C 29:17.)
     
  • What does the Lord promise as we truly repent of our sins? (see D&C 1:32, 58:42, and D&C 109:53.) How has repentance blessed your life?
     
  • Why do we sometimes find it difficult to forgive ourselves or others even though the Lord has promised to forgive us when we repent?
     
  • How can we become more repentant? Why do we sometimes procrastinate our repentance? How can we overcome any pride, discouragement, complacency, or anything else that may keep us from repenting?

    Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: "Repentance is a rescuing, not a dour doctrine. It is available to the gross sinner as well as to the already good individual striving for incremental improvement" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 40; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 30).


3. Baptism is an essential ordinance.

Faith and repentance lead to baptism, the first ordinance of the gospel. In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord revealed the purposes, qualifications, and instructions for baptism. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, John the Baptist restored the priesthood authority that is necessary to perform this ordinance.


4. Through the ordinance of confirmation, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead and a "personage of Spirit" (D&C 130:22). After baptism by water, Church members receive the gift of the Holy Ghost through the ordinance of confirmation (D&C 33:15; 35:5–6). This ordinance is also called the "baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost" (D&C 20:41). The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without … the baptism of the Holy Ghost" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 314).
  • What is the difference between a manifestation of the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost?
    Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: "Manifestations of the Holy Ghost are given to lead sincere seekers to gospel truths that will persuade them to repentance and baptism. The gift of the Holy Ghost is more comprehensive. … [It] includes the right to constant companionship, that we may 'always have his Spirit to be with [us]' (D&C 20:77)" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 80; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 60).

    Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve compared the manifestations of the Holy Ghost that a person can receive before baptism to flashes of lightning that "[blaze] forth in a dark and stormy night." He compared the gift of the Holy Ghost that a person receives after baptism to "the continuing blaze of the sun at noonday, shedding its rays on the path of life and on all that surrounds it" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 262).
  • Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost does not automatically ensure that the Holy Ghost will always be with us. What must we do for the Holy Ghost to be with us continually?

    President Joseph Fielding Smith said, "The Holy Ghost will not dwell with that person who is unwilling to obey and keep the commandments of God or who violates those commandments willfully" (Church News, 4 Nov. 1961, 14).
  • What are some functions of the Holy Ghost?
    1. D&C 18:18; 39:6; 42:14; 75:10; 79:2; John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Nephi 10:19; Moroni 10:5.
    2. D&C 39:6; John 14:16
    3. D&C 42:17; 100:8; John 15:26; Alma 5:46.
    4. D&C 11:12.
    5. D&C 11:13; 76:10.
    6. D&C 84:33; 3 Nephi 27:20
    7. D&C 31:11; 75:27; 84:85.
       
  • How has the Holy Ghost blessed you in these or other ways?
     
  • How can we enjoy these blessings more fully in our lives?


5. We must endure to the end in faith to receive eternal life.

When we are baptized, we enter the path that leads to exaltation. However, this single experience does not ensure that we will be exalted. As the Lord frequently admonishes in the Doctrine and Covenants, we must also keep the covenants we made at baptism to endure faithfully to the end of our lives.
  • Read 2 Nephi 31:19–20 and D&C 14:7. What does it mean to endure to the end? What blessings has the Lord promised us if we endure to the end?
     
  • What experiences have taught you the value of remaining true to your beliefs and covenants?
     
  • Read D&C 24:8. Explain that enduring to the end includes remaining faithful during the trials of life. How can we remain faithful during difficult times?
     
  • What has helped you endure difficult experiences?
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Lesson 6: “I Will Tell You in Your Mind and in Your Heart, by the Holy Ghost”

Purpose
To help class members learn to recognize personal revelation through the Holy Ghost and to encourage them to seek this blessing in their lives.

Preparation

  1. Prayerfully study Doctrine and Covenants 6, 8, 9, 11, and the other scriptures in this lesson.
  2. Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
  3. To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
    1. a. “Oliver Cowdery’s Gift.”
    2. b. “Joseph Smith’s Support at Home.”
    3. c. Additional historical material for this lesson.

 Additional reading:

  1. Two Lines of Communication - Dallin H. Oaks - October 2010 General Conference.
  2. Finding Answers - Ensign Feb. 2011 - By Joseph Fielding McConkie.

Discussion and Application

1. Understanding how the Holy Ghost communicates with us

Revelation can come in many ways. Some of these include appearances by the Lord or His messengers, voices from the Lord or His messengers, visions, and dreams. Usually, however, revelation comes as the Holy Ghost communicates thoughts to our minds and feelings in our hearts. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead. He is a revelator who teaches, comforts, warns, strengthens, and guides us. The Holy Ghost communicates with us in a variety of ways.

A. Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3; 85:6. (He uses a still, small voice to communicate to our minds and hearts.) See also 1 Kings 19:12; 1 Nephi 17:45; Helaman 5:30.
  • Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: “Visions do happen. Voices are heard from beyond the veil. I know this. But these experiences are exceptional. … Most of the revelation that comes to leaders and members of the Church comes by the still, small voice or by a feeling rather than by a vision or a voice that speaks specific words we can hear. I testify to the reality of that kind of revelation, which I have come to know as a familiar, even daily, experience to guide me in the work of the Lord” (“Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 14).
  • Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: “These delicate, refined spiritual communications are not seen with our eyes nor heard with our ears. And even though it is described as a voice, it is a voice that one feels more than one hears” (That All May Be Edified [1982], 335).
  • Why is it important to understand this principle of how the Holy Ghost communicates? 
  • What are the dangers of expecting divine communication to come in more dramatic or spectacular ways? 
    • Elder Dallin H. Oaks cautioned:
    • “Some [people] have looked exclusively for the great manifestations that are recorded in the scriptures and have failed to recognize the still, small voice that is given to them. … We need to know that the Lord rarely speaks loudly. His messages almost always come in a whisper. … “Not understanding these principles of revelation, some people postpone acknowledging their testimony until they have experienced a miraculous event. They fail to realize that with most people … gaining a testimony is not an event but a process” (Ensign, Mar. 1997, 11–12, 14).
B. Doctrine and Covenants 6:15; 11:13–14. (He enlightens our minds.)
  • In what ways does the Spirit enlighten our minds? 
    • Answers could include that the Spirit can enlighten our minds with new ideas or insights, flashes of inspiration, and strong feelings or impressions (see, for example, D&C 128:1). 
    • The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that revelation may come as “sudden strokes of ideas” that flow into our minds as “pure intelligence” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 151).
C. Doctrine and Covenants 6:22–23. (He brings peace to our minds.)
  • Oliver Cowdery stayed in the home of Joseph Smith’s parents for a time before meeting the Prophet. During this time, Oliver had prayed and received a peaceful assurance that Joseph’s calling and work were divine. Oliver then traveled to Harmony, Pennsylvania, and began his labors as scribe for Joseph in the translation of the Book of Mormon. Soon thereafter, Oliver desired a “further witness” of the assurance he had received earlier (D&C 6:22).
    • What did the Lord reveal to Oliver Cowdery about his desire for a “further witness” of the Prophet’s divine mission? (See D&C 6:22–23.) 
    • How can we become more trusting of the peace that the Spirit speaks to our minds?
D. Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–8. (He may cause a burning in the bosom.) See also Luke 24:32.
  • Although the context of D&C 9 has to do with Oliver Cowdery’s attempt to translate the Book of Mormon, the principles also apply to personal revelation. A burning in the bosom is only one way the Holy Ghost can communicate with us.
    • President Boyd K. Packer explained: “This burning in the bosom is not purely a physical sensation. It is more like a warm light shining within your being” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 77; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 60).
    • Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “I have met persons who told me they have never had a witness from the Holy Ghost because they have never felt their bosom ‘burn within’ them. What does a ‘burning in the bosom’ mean? Does it need to be a feeling of caloric heat, like the burning produced by combustion? If that is the meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely, the word ‘burning’ in this scripture signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity” (Ensign,Mar. 1997, 13).
E. Doctrine and Covenants 98:12. (He often reveals things “line upon line, precept upon precept” rather than all at once.)
  • We usually receive revelation in accordance with our preparation to receive it. As we become more prepared, more is revealed to us. 
    • Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve taught:
      • “When we seek inspiration to help make decisions, the Lord gives gentle promptings. These require us to think, to exercise faith, to work, to struggle at times, and to act. Seldom does the whole answer to a decisively important matter or complex problem come all at once. More often, it comes a piece at a time, without the end in sight” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1989, 40; or Ensign, Nov. 1989, 32).

2. Cautions about personal revelation
A. Doctrine and Covenants 109:44. (We should pray that the Lord’s will be done—and be willing to submit our will to His.) See also Matthew 6:10.
  • Why is it important to submit our will to God’s will when we seek personal revelation?
  • How can we recognize when God answers “no”? (Answers could include that we will have negative feelings, confusion, feelings of unrest and uneasiness, or a “stupor of thought” [D&C 9:9].)
  • How should we respond when a sincere prayer about something we desire very much is not answered the way we want? 
  • How can such experiences help us?
B. Doctrine and Covenants 88:68. (We should remember that revelation will come in the Lord’s own time and way.)
  • We do not always receive revelation at the time or in the way we expect. If we try to force revelation to come when and how we want it, we may be deceived. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught:
    • “The Lord will speak to us through the Spirit in his own time and in his own way. Many people do not understand this principle. They believe that when they are ready and when it suits their convenience, they can call upon the Lord and he will immediately respond, even in the precise way they have prescribed. Revelation does not come that way. …  “The principle stated in [D&C 88:68] applies to every communication from our Heavenly Father: ‘It shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.’ We cannot force spiritual things” (Ensign, Mar. 1997, 10–11).
C. Doctrine and Covenants 28:2, 6–7; 43:2–4. (We receive revelation according to our stewardship and responsibilities.)
  • The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “It is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 21).
  • Shortly before his call as an Apostle, Dallin H. Oaks explained: “Our Heavenly Father’s house is a house of order. … Only the President of the Church receives revelation to guide the entire Church. … The person who receives revelation for the ward is the bishop. … Individuals can receive revelation to guide their own lives. But when one person purports to receive revelation for another per-son outside his or her own area of responsibility—such as a Church member who claims to have revelation to guide the entire Church or a person who claims to have a revelation to guide another person over whom he or she has no presiding authority according to the order of the Church—you can be sure that such revelations are not from the Lord” (“Revelation,” New Era, Sept. 1982, 45–46).
  • Why is this principle important for governing the Church? 
  • Why is it important to understand in our relationships with other people?
D. Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–14; 50:23–24. (We should discern whether the revelation has come from God.)
  • It is important for us to discern whether a revelation is truly from God. Sometimes what we think is a revelation may be a projection of our own desires. And sometimes false revelations may come from Satan.
  • How can we discern whether a revelation has come from God? (See D&C 11:12–14; 50:23–24. Answers could include that revelations from God will be in accordance with scripture and the counsel of the living prophets. They will be edifying. They will not lead us to do something that is contrary to the principles of righteousness.) 
    • The First Presidency said: “When … inspiration conveys something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear. … Anything at discord with that which comes from God through the head of the Church is not to be received as authoritative or reliable” (in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [1965–75], 4:285).

3. When revelation is not received or recognized
  • What should we do when personal revelation does not come when we desire it?
a. Be patient and continue to wait faithfully on the Lord (D&C 98:2). He will answer in His time. Exercising patience helps us grow spiritually and develop attributes of godliness. Read the second paragraph of the letter that is quoted in Official Declaration 2 (pages 293–94 in the Doctrine and Covenants), pointing out that even prophets must exercise patience as they seek divine guidance.
b. Increase our efforts to be in tune spiritually so we can receive and recognize the whisperings of the Spirit.
c. Increase our efforts to study and pray, recognizing that we may not have done this as long, as faithfully, or as honestly as we should.
d. Be more faithful in obeying the commandments (Isaiah 59:2).
e. Set the matter aside for a while. Flashes of inspiration often come when we least expect them, while our minds are no longer consumed by the matter.
f. Recognize that we may be seeking counsel on matters that we should determine for ourselves, using our best judgment based on study and reason. In these cases the Lord may leave us to decide on our own (for examples, see D&C 58:25–28; 60:5; 61:22; 62:5). The Lord often allows us to make our own decisions in righteousness.
g. Evaluate whether we may have received an answer already but have not accepted it because it was not what we hoped for or expected. If we insist on what we want, we may close off the Spirit’s communication with us.

  • Elder Boyd K. Packer counseled:
  • “Sometimes you may struggle with a problem and not get an answer. What could be wrong? It may be that you are not doing anything wrong. It may be that you have not done the right things long enough. Remember, you cannot force spiritual things. Sometimes we are confused simply because we won’t take no for an answer. … “Put difficult questions in the back of your minds and go about your lives. Ponder and pray quietly and persistently about them. “The answer may not come as a lightning bolt. It may come as a little inspiration here and a little there, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’ (D&C 98:12). “Some answers will come from reading the scriptures, some from hearing speakers. And, occasionally, when it is important, some will come by very direct and powerful inspiration. The promptings will be clear and unmistakable” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 29–30; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 21).
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Lesson 5: “This Is the Spirit of Revelation”

Purpose
To help class members understand how to prepare to receive personal revelation and to encourage them to do so.

 Preparation
Doctrine and Covenants 6, 8, 9,

Joseph Smith—History 1:8–17

Class Member Study Guide

To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
“Oliver Cowdery’s Gift.”
Additional historical resources

Discussion and Application

1. Our need for personal revelation

One of our greatest blessings is that the heavens are open and the Lord communicates with His children through continuing revelation. “Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God. … Continuous revelation from God to his saints … makes possible daily guidance along true paths and leads the faithful soul to complete and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. … Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion” (Bible Dictionary, “Revelation,” 762).
  • Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve said, “No one of us can survive in the world of today, much less in what it soon will become, without personal inspiration” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 29; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 23). Why do you think personal revelation is so important in our day?
  • What are some decisions or situations in which personal revelation can help us? 

2. Understanding what we should do to receive revelation

A. Doctrine and Covenants 9:8; Joseph Smith—History 1:8–10. 

  • What can we do to study out a question in our own minds?
    Joseph Smith gave deep thought to settling the question of which church was right. He also invested much time and effort, attending meetings, studying the scriptures, and searching longer than two years for an answer. We can look to Joseph Smith as an example of how to study matters out in their minds as they seek revelation.
  • Why does the Lord expect us to study matters out in our own minds before receiving revelation? How has studying matters out in your mind helped you grow spiritually?

B. Doctrine and Covenants 138:1–11; Joseph Smith—History 1:11–12. (Ponder and meditate on the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets.) Pondering the scriptures was the catalyst for both of the revelations recorded in these passages.

  • Why is it important to study and ponder the scriptures when we seek revelation? How has scripture study helped you when you have sought revelation from the Lord?
    Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve explained:
    “Scripture reading may … lead to current revelation on whatever [subject] the Lord wishes to communicate to the reader at that time. We do not overstate the point when we say that the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to assist each of us to receive personal revelation.
    “Because we believe that scripture reading can help us receive revelation, we are encouraged to read the scriptures again and again. By this means, we obtain access to what our Heavenly Father would have us know and do in our personal lives today. That is one reason Latter-day Saints believe in daily scripture study” (“Scripture Reading and Revelation,” Ensign, Jan. 1995, 8).

C. Doctrine and Covenants 6:5, 14; 8:1; 42:61; 88:63–64. (Inquire of the Lord in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you will receive.)

Elder Boyd K. Packer said, “No message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than ‘Ask, and ye shall receive’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 26; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 21). Praying with faith is a vital part of the process of receiving revelation. Most of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are answers to questions that the Prophet Joseph Smith asked the Lord.
  • What does it mean to “ask in faith”? (D&C 8:1; see also 1 Nephi 15:11; Moroni 10:4.)
    The following questions from President Spencer W. Kimball can help us understand what it means to pray with faith: “Do you offer a few trite words and worn-out phrases, or do you talk intimately to the Lord? Do you pray occasionally when you should be praying regularly, often, constantly? … When you pray, do you just speak, or do you also listen? … Do you give thanks or merely ask for favors?” (“Prayer,” New Era, Mar. 1978, 17).
  • What does it mean to ask “with an honest heart”? (D&C 8:1;).
  • Read Joseph Smith—History 1:13–16. What can we learn about prayer from this passage? 
  • What does the Lord promise as we ask in faith, with an honest heart? (See D&C 6:14; 42:61.) How have these promises been fulfilled in your life?

D. Doctrine and Covenants 63:23; 76:5–10; 93:1, 28; 101:7–8. (Be obedient and serve God.)

  • Why is obedience important as we seek revelation from God?
    Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “The way to revelation is righteousness” (The Lord’s Way [1991], 34). He also taught, “We cannot have the companionship of the Holy Ghost—the medium of individual revelation—if we are in transgression or if we are angry or if we are in rebellion against God’s chosen authorities” (“Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 9).

E. Doctrine and Covenants 5:24; 19:23; 112:10; 136:32–33. (Be meek and humble.)

  • Why is humility important as we seek revelation from God?
    David Whitmer recalled that one morning when Joseph Smith was getting ready to resume translating the Book of Mormon, “something went wrong about the house and he was put out about it. Something that Emma, his wife, had done. Oliver and I went upstairs and Joseph came up soon after to continue the translation but he could not do anything. He could not translate a single syllable. He went downstairs, out into the orchard, and made supplication to the Lord; was gone about an hour—came back to the house, and asked Emma’s forgiveness and then came upstairs where we were and then the translation went on all right. He could do nothing save he was humble and faithful” (quoted in B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:131).

F. Doctrine and Covenants 25:10; 30:2. (Focus on the things of God rather than the things of the world.)

  • Why is it important to focus on “the things of [God]” rather than “the things of the earth” as we seek revelation? (D&C 30:2.) How can we free ourselves from the concerns and noise of the world as we seek revelation?
    Elder Boyd K. Packer taught:
    “Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings. Such words as quiet, still, peaceable, Comforter abound in the scriptures. …
    “The world grows increasingly noisy. Clothing and grooming and conduct are looser and sloppier and more disheveled. Raucous music, with obscene lyrics blasted through amplifiers while lights flash psychedelic colors, characterizes the drug culture. Variations of these things are gaining wide acceptance and influence over our youth. …
    “This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless.
    “The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer.
    “Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 27–28; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 21–22).
    While serving in the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught:
    “Divine guidance is so crucial … that we need to go out of our way to put ourselves in a situation in which such special help can be given. President David O. McKay spoke of how the morning hours, before we are cluttered with the cares of day, are especially conducive to inspiration. Others have felt that solitude and reading the scriptures can create an atmosphere conducive to the Spirit and can be developed. After all, to read the words of Christ already before us is a good thing to do before asking for more” (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward [1977], 121).
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Lesson 4: “Remember the New Covenant, Even the Book of Mormon”

Purpose
To help class members recognize the Lord’s hand in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and to encourage them to study the Book of Mormon, follow its teachings, and share it with others.

 Preparation
  1. Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:
    1. Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65; Doctrine and Covenants 3; 5; 10; 17; 20:5–15; 84:54–62.
    2. Our Heritage, pages 5–10.
  2. Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
  3. To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
    1. “Book of Mormon Translation.”
    2. “The Contributions of Martin Harris.”
    3. “The Experience of the Three Witnesses.”
    4. “Ministry of Joseph Smith: The Book of Mormon.”
Discussion and Application

 1. Joseph Smith’s preparation to receive and translate the Book of Mormon
  • In the three years after the First Vision, Joseph Smith suffered “severe persecution” but remained true to his testimony (Joseph Smith—History 1:27). 
    • How can we remain true to our testimonies even when we face persecution?
  • When Joseph was 17 years old, he was visited by Moroni. (Moroni was the last prophet to write in the Book of Mormon and had buried the gold plates in about A.D. 421.) 
    • What was Joseph praying for on the night Moroni appeared to him? (See Joseph Smith—History 1:28–29.) 
    • What can we learn from Joseph’s example when we feel “condemned for [our] weakness and imperfections”?
Read Joseph Smith—History 1:30–59.
  • When Joseph Smith was first shown the gold plates, he was not prepared to receive and translate them. 
    • How did the Lord prepare Joseph to receive and translate the plates? (See Joseph Smith—History 1:33–35, 42, 44–46, 53–54.) 
    • How has the Lord prepared you (or how is He preparing you now) to fulfill your responsibilities? 
    • How can you prepare yourself to fulfill future responsibilities?
  • How did Joseph’s father respond when Joseph told him of Moroni’s visit? (See Joseph Smith—History 1:50.) 
    • What does this suggest about Joseph’s integrity and trustworthiness? 
    • Why is it important to support our family members in their efforts to follow the Lord? 
    • How can we better support family members and others as they follow the Lord?
2. The miracle of the Book of Mormon’s preservation

 Satan tried to stop the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. He tempted men to try to steal the gold plates, and people continued to persecute Joseph Smith and his family (Joseph Smith—History 1:60–61.) However, the Lord thwarted all of Satan’s attempts to keep the Book of Mormon from coming forth.

 One example of the miraculous preservation of the Book of Mormon occurred when one of Joseph Smith’s scribes, Martin Harris, lost 116 pages of the translated manuscript. (See D&C 3 and D&C 10, which the Lord revealed after the pages were lost).
  • After the 116 pages of manuscript were lost, the Lord chastened Joseph for fearing man more than God (D&C 3:7.) Joseph lost his gift of translation for a time (D&C 3:14; 10:1–2.) 
    • In what way had Joseph feared man more than God? 
    • How might our actions sometimes show that we fear man more than God? (See D&C 30:1–2.) 
    • What can we do to overcome our fear of man? (For some answers to this question, see D&C 3:8; 10:5.)
  • How was the Lord’s love for Joseph Smith evident after the 116 manuscript pages were lost? (See D&C 3:8–10; 10:1–3.) 
    • What experiences have shown you that if you are faithful, God will be “with you in every time of trouble”? (D&C 3:8.) 
    • What experiences have shown you that “God is merciful”? (D&C 3:10).
  • What was the plan of those who had stolen the 116 manuscript pages? (See D&C 10:10–19, 29–33.)
  • What had the Lord already done centuries earlier to defeat the plan of those who stole the manuscript pages? (See D&C 10:38–39; see also 1 Nephi 9:2–5; Words of Mormon 1:3–7.)
  • What did the Lord instruct the Prophet to do to spoil the plan of those who had taken the manuscript? (See D&C 10:40–45.)
  • What does the account of the lost manuscript pages teach about the Lord’s power? (See D&C 3:1–3; 10:14, 43; and 1 Nephi 9:6.) 
    • How can this knowledge help us when we experience setbacks and disappointments?
  • Read D&C 3:16, 19–20 and D&C 10:46–52, 60–66. 
    • What can we learn from these verses about the purposes of the Book of Mormon? 
    • How are these purposes being fulfilled today?
3. Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
  • As Joseph translated the Book of Mormon, he learned that the Lord would permit three witnesses and a few others to view the plates (see the references to these witnesses in 2 Nephi 27:12–14 and Ether 5:1–3.) 
  • In addition to the Three Witnesses, eight others were shown the gold plates (“The Testimony of Eight Witnesses,” Book of Mormon). All of the Three Witnesses and three of the Eight Witnesses later left the Church. Only a few returned, but none ever denied his testimony of what he saw.
  • In the last year of his life, David Whitmer published this testimony in response to false accusations:
    • “It is recorded in the American Encyclopaedia and the Encyclopaedia Britannica, that I, David Whitmer, have denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the divinity of the Book of Mormon, and that the other two witnesses, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, denied their testimony to that book. I will say once more to all mankind, that I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof. I also testify to the world, that neither Oliver Cowdery nor Martin Harris ever at any time denied their testimony. They both died reaffirming the truth of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon” (Address to All Believers in Christ [1887], 8; as quoted in B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:145).
  • The Savior is also a witness of the Book of Mormon. Read D&C 17:6 and D&C 19:26.
    • In what ways can we be witnesses of the Book of Mormon? (See Moroni 10:3–5.)
  • The Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses testified of things that they saw and heard. Today millions of members of the Church testify of the Book of Mormon because they feel the witness of the Holy Ghost. While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said:
    • “The strength of the Church is not in … its thousands of houses of worship across the world, nor in its universities. … The strength of this church lies in the hearts of its people, in the individual testimony and conviction of the truth of this work” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1973, 73–74; or Ensign, July 1973, 49).
4. Our duty to “remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon”
  • In September 1832 the Prophet Joseph received a revelation in which the Lord said that “the whole church [was] under condemnation” (D&C 84:55.) 
    • Why was the Church under condemnation? (See D&C 84:54–56.) 
    • What did Church members need to do for the condemnation to be lifted? (See D&C 84:57–58, 60–62.)
      • President Ezra Taft Benson said:
        • “If the early Saints were rebuked for treating the Book of Mormon lightly, are we under any less condemnation if we do the same?” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 4; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 4–5).
      • “The Lord is not pleased with us in the manner of attention we’re giving the Book of Mormon, a new witness for Christ. We need it in our homes, we need it in our families. It was written for us today” (Church News, 9 Nov. 1986, 10).
    • What can we do to give more attention to the Book of Mormon in our personal lives, in our families, and in our Church assignments? 
    • What blessings come to us when we give proper attention to the Book of Mormon? 
    • How have you been blessed through your study of the Book of Mormon? 
      • President Ezra Taft Benson declared:
        • “There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called ‘the words of life’ (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance. … [You will also enjoy] increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, [and] increased spirituality and righteousness.”
        • “These promises,” President Benson assured, “are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 6; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 7).
  • The Savior has commanded us to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon across the earth (D&C 84:62.) 
    • What can each of us do to further this effort? 
      • President Benson said: 
        • “The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the earth with the Book of Mormon. … In this age of the electronic media and the mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way. We have the Book of Mormon, we have the members, we have the missionaries, we have the resources, and the world has the need. The time is now!” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 4; or Ensign, Nov. 1988, 4–5).
    • The Book of Mormon, translated by a young prophet in humble circumstances, is now indeed flooding the earth. The Book of Mormon or selections from it have been published in more than 90 languages. More than 100 million copies have been printed.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)