Lesson 19: Defending Religious Freedom

1. Religious freedom is the sacred privilege to believe and act as we choose—to define ourselves and then live in the way our consciences dictate—while at the same time respecting others’ rights (D&C 134:4). I

2. Robert D. Hales, “Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom,” Ensign,  May 2015.

3. Dallin H. Oaks, “Balancing Truth and Tolerance, ”Ensign, Feb. 2013.

4. “Why We Need Religious Freedom,”mormonnewsroom.org/article/why-religious-freedom.

5. “An Introduction to Religious Freedom,”mormonnewsroom.org/article/introduction-religious-freedom.

6. “The central issue in that premortal council was: Shall the children of God have untrammeled agency to choose the course they should follow, whether good or evil, or shall they be coerced and forced to be obedient? Christ and all who followed Him stood for the former proposition—freedom of choice; Satan stood for the latter—coercion and force” “The scriptures make clear that there was a great war in heaven, a struggle over the principle of freedom, the right of choice” “The war that began in heaven over this issue is not yet over. The conflict continues on the battlefield of mortality” (TPC: ETBenson, 61).

7.  “Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man” (TPC : David O. McKay [2003], 208).

8.  Mosiah 29:10–11, 16–18, 25–27, 32

9. Alma 30:7–9; D&C 134:4

10. “Religious freedom, or freedom of conscience, is critical to the health of a diverse society. It allows different faiths and beliefs to flourish. Religious freedom protects the rights of all groups and individuals, including the most vulnerable, whether religious or not” (#5)

11. “There are four cornerstones of religious freedom that we as Latter-day Saints must rely upon and protect. “The first is freedom to believe. …“The second cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to share our faith and our beliefs with others. …“The third cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to form a religious organization, a church, to worship peacefully with others. …“The fourth cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to live our faith—free exercise of faith not just in the home and chapel but also in public places” (RDHales).

12. Freedom to believe, share, organize, and live. - How would the restriction of any of these four cornerstones inhibit opportunities for spiritual growth?

13. Alma 2:1-5, 12, 27-28-  Amlici

14. Alma 46:4–5, 10. 11-16, 19-22 Amalikiah and Moroni

17. Alma 44:1–5 – Zerahemnah

18. In the Book of Mormon, religious freedom was often threatened through persecution and war. How do individuals and groups threaten religious freedom today?

19. “Challenges to religious freedom are emerging from many sources. Emerging advocacy for gay rights threatens to abridge religious freedom in a number of ways. Changes in health care threaten the rights of those who hold certain moral convictions about human life. These and other developments are producing conflict and beginning to impose on religious organizations and people of conscience. They are threatening … to restrict how religious organizations can manage their employment and their property. They are bringing about the coercion of religiously-affiliated universities, schools and social-service entities. … In these and in many other circumstances, we see how religious freedom and freedom of conscience are being subtly but steadily eroded” (#5)

20. Articles of Faith 1:11.

 21. “If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a ‘Mormon,’ I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves. “It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul—civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human race” (TPC,  Smith [2007], 345).

22. “Brothers and sisters, we are responsible to safeguard these sacred freedoms and rights for ourselves and our posterity. What can you and I do? “First, we can become informed. Be aware of issues in your community that could have an impact on religious liberty.  “Second, in your individual capacity, join with others who share our commitment to religious freedom. Work side by side to protect religious freedom.  “Third, live your life to be a good example of what you believe—in word and deed. How we live our religion is far more important than what we may say about our religion” (Hales).

23. mormonnewsroom.org.        topics    Religious Freedom

24. Humbly and gratefully I take as my theme for these brief remarks the following words from the inspiring opening address by President David O. McKay at the Friday morning session of this great conference. "Efforts are being made to deprive man of his free agency, to steal from the individual his liberty . . . There has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that constitute the foundation of the Constitution of the United States" I therefore speak on the subject: "Protecting Freedom—An Immediate Responsibility."

The scriptures make clear that there was a great war in heaven, a struggle over the principle of freedom the right of choice (see  Rev. 12:7-9  D&C 29:36-38  D&C 76:25-27  Moses 4:1-4

History, both sacred and secular, clearly records that the struggle to preserve and safeguard freedom has been a continuous one. Prophets of God as watchmen on the towers, have proclaimed liberty. Holy men of God have led the fight against anarchy and tyranny. Moses was commanded to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof"  Lev. 25:10

A year ago in a great general conference address on freedom and how it is threatened today, our beloved President warned us, saying, "I do not know that there was ever a time in the history of mankind when the Evil One seemed so determined to take from man his freedom." He went on to explain that "pernicious efforts and sinister schemes are cunningly and stealthily being fostered to deprive man of his individual freedom and have him revert to the life of the jungle."("Man's Free Agency," The Improvement Era, Dec. 1965, pp. 1073, 1099.)

Still earlier the First Presidency warned the Saints that "Satan is making war against all the wisdom that has come to men through their ages of experience. He is seeking to overturn and destroy the very foundations upon which society, government, and religion rest. He aims to have men adopt theories and practices which he induced their forefathers, over the ages, to adopt and try, only to be discarded by them when found unsound, impractical, and ruinous. He plans to destroy liberty and freedom—economic, political, and religious, and to set up in place thereof the greatest, most widespread, and most complete tyranny that has ever oppressed man. He is working under such perfect disguise that many do not recognize either him or his methods . . . Without their knowing it; the people are being urged down paths that lead only to destruction. Satan never before had so firm a grip on this generation as he has now." ("Message of the First Presidency," The Improvement Era, Nov. 1942, p. 761.)

In spite of the scriptural evidence and the counsel of modern-day prophets during the past more than 100 years, there are still some who seem to feel we have no responsibility to safeguard and strengthen our precious God-given freedom. There are some who apparently feel that the fight for freedom is separate from the gospel. They express it in several ways, but it generally boils down to this: Just live the gospel; there's no need to get involved in trying to save freedom and the Constitution or to stop Communism.

Of course, this is dangerous reasoning, because in reality you cannot fully live the gospel without working to save freedom and the Constitution, and to stop Communism.

In the war in heaven, what would have been your reaction if someone had told you just to do what is right—there's no need to get involved in the fight for freedom?

Of course, the war in heaven over free agency is now being waged here on earth, and there are those today who are saying "Look, don't get involved in the fight for freedom. Just live the gospel." That counsel is dangerous, self-contradictory, unsound.

Alma 48:11-17

Should we counsel people, "Just live your religion. There's no need to get involved in the fight for freedom"? No, we should not, because our stand for freedom is a most basic part of our religion; this stand helped get us to this earth, and our reaction to freedom in this life will have eternal consequences. Man has many duties, but he has no excuse that can compensate for his loss of liberty.

"Next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States." (The Instructor, Feb. 1956, p. 34.)

I have personally witnessed the heart-rending results of the loss of freedom. I have been close to the godless evil of the socialist-communist conspiracy on both sides of the iron curtain, especially during my service as European Mission president at the close of the war and today, and also during eight years in the Cabinet.

In fact, freedom-loving people have been brought under Communist bondage at the average rate of 6,000 per hour, 144,000 per day, 52 million per year since the end of World War II.

But here in America, the Lord's base of operations—so designated by the Lord himself, through his holy prophets—we of the priesthood, members of his restored Church, might well provide the balance of power to save our freedom. Indeed we might, if we go forward as General Moroni of old and raise the standard of liberty throughout the land.

Today our Prophet and President has said: "No greater immediate responsibility rests upon members of the Church, upon all citizens of this Republic and of neighboring Republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States." Is this plain enough? In view of this solemn warning, how can any member of the Church fail to act to help save our freedom? We must not be lulled away into a false security. (ETB, Oct. 1966)

25. Elder Dallin H. Oaks  made the comment during an address to the second annual Sacramento Court/Clergy Conference at Congregation B’nai Israel in Sacramento, California.

“There should be no belligerence between religion and government, Governments and their laws can provide the essential protections for believers and religious organizations and their activities. Believers and religious organizations should recognize this and refrain from labeling governments and laws and officials as if they were inevitable enemies.”

Those skeptical of or hostile to believers and their organizations “should recognize the reality—borne out by experience—that religious principles and teachings and their organizations are here to stay and can help create the conditions in which public laws and government institutions and their citizens can flourish.”

“Office holders remain free to draw upon their personal beliefs and motivations and advocate their positions in the public square. But when acting as public officials they are not free to apply personal convictions — religious or other — in place of the defined responsibilities of their public offices,” he said. “A county clerk’s recent invoking of religious reasons to justify refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples violates this principle.”

Lesson 18: Preparing for the Final Day of Judgment

1. Mortal life is the time for us to prepare to meet God. The Book of Mormon explains what happens to our spirits between death and the Resurrection. After our spirits are restored to our immortal bodies, we will stand before the judgment seat of God, where our actions and the desires of our hearts will determine our eternal reward.-                        The Old Testament gives little info about the resurrection.

2. Dallin H. Oaks, “Resurrection,” Ensign, May 2000.

3. D. Todd Christofferson, “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2014.

4. “Understanding Death and Resurrection,” chapter 37 in TPC: Brigham Young (1997), 273–78.

5. How might people who do not understand the purpose of their mortal lives and do not believe in life after death live differently from people who do understand these things?

6. Alma 34:32–34 - This life is the time for us to prepare to meet God.

7. “We understand we have come to earth to learn, to live, to progress in our eternal journey toward perfection. Some remain on earth but for a moment, while others live long upon the land. The measure is not how long we live, but rather how well we live.” (TSMonson,“He Is Risen,” Ensign, Nov. 1981). It doesn’t much matter, how we die. It matters a lot how we live.

8. “There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is ‘not this day.’ ‘Someday I will repent.’ ‘Someday I will forgive him.’ ‘Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.’ ‘Someday I will start to pay tithing.’ ‘Someday I will return to the temple.’ ‘Someday …’ The scriptures make the danger of delay clear … This day is a precious gift of God. The thought ‘Someday I will’ can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity” (HBEyring”Ensign,  May 2007).

9. Alma 40:6–7, 11–14. Between death and resurrection, the spirits of the righteous dwell in paradise and the spirits of the wicked dwell in spirit prison. Spirit Prison is NOT for those who died in ignorance, but for those who knew the ways of righteousness and rejected them. (Ogden II p. 43)

10.Mosiah 16:6–11  Because Jesus Christ has broken the bands of death, we will each be resurrected and receive an immortal body. The righteous will inherit endless happiness, and the wicked will be delivered to endless damnation.- Vs. 6- Prophetic past tense!

11. 2 Nephi 9:12–13- Paradise will deliver up righteous spirits, and spirit prison will deliver up wicked spirits. Spirits will be restored to their bodies and become immortal souls.

12. Mosiah 15:21–26 -The righteous will come forth in the First Resurrection, as well as those who died in ignorance and little children. The wicked have no part in the First Resurrection. (Tiered Resurrection) D&C 88:97-102-4 Trumps

13. Alma 11:40–45 All people, wicked and righteous, will have their spirits and bodies reunited in their perfect form and will stand before God to be judged according to their works. Clearest explanation anywhere of universal salvation (resurrection) and limited salvation (exaltation)

14. Alma 40:4–5, 19–24 - There is a time between death and Resurrection when spirits go to the spirit world. After that, there is a time appointed for the spirits of all people to be eternally restored to their perfect bodies and stand before God to be judged. “Bodies will come up as they were laid down, but will be restored to their proper, perfect frame immediately. Old people will not look old when they come forth from the grave. Scars will be removed. No one will be bent or wringkled. How foolish it would be for a man to come forth in the resurrection who had lost a leg and have to wait for it to grow again. Each body will come forth with its perfect frame.” (JFSmith, DS 2:292)

15. “The Apostle Peter referred to the fact that God the Father, in His abundant mercy, ‘hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (1 Pet. 1:3; see also1 Thes. 4:13–18). “The ‘lively hope’ we are given by the resurrection is our conviction that death is not the end.

16. Alma 5:15–21 - We cannot be saved unless we have been washed clean through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. (Alma asks us to imagine ourselves before God to be judged- Lying?

17. “I know of nothing that is more important or necessary at this time than to cry repentance, even among the Latter-day Saints, and I call upon them … to heed these words of our Redeemer. Now he has stated definitely that no unclean thing can enter his presence. Only those who prove themselves faithful and have washed their garments in his blood through their faith and their repentance—none others shall find the kingdom of God” (TPC, Joseph Fielding Smith [2013], 91).

18.  Alma 7:21–25 - (13 DO's in vs. 23 & 24)

_______________

19. -"The “lively hope” we are given by the resurrection is our conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity but merely a necessary step in the destined transition from mortality to immortality. This hope changes the whole perspective of mortal life. The assurance of resurrection and immortality affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality, how we live our mortal lives, and how we relate to those around us.

The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love, such things as the physical, mental, or emotional deficiencies we bring with us at birth or acquire during mortal life. Because of the resurrection, we know that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary!

The assurance of resurrection also gives us a powerful incentive to keep the commandments of God during our mortal lives. Resurrection is much more than merely reuniting a spirit to a body held captive by the grave. We know from the Book of Mormon that the resurrection is a restoration that brings back “carnal for carnal” and “good for that which is good” (Alma 41:13; Alma 41:2–4 and Hel. 14:31). The prophet Amulek taught, “That same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world” (Alma 34:34). As a result, when persons leave this life and go on to the next, “they who are righteous shall be righteous still” (2 Ne. 9:16), and “whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life … will rise with us in the resurrection” (D&C 130:18).

The principle of restoration also means that persons who are not righteous in mortal life will not rise up righteous in the resurrection (see2 Ne. 9:16; 1 Cor. 15:35–44; D&C 88:27–32). Moreover, unless our mortal sins have been cleansed and blotted out by repentance and forgiveness (see Alma 5:21; 2 Ne. 9:45–46; D&C 58:42), we will be resurrected with a “bright recollection” (Alma 11:43) and a “perfect knowledge of all of our guilt, and our uncleanness” (2 Ne. 9:14; Alma 5:18). The seriousness of that reality is emphasized by the many scriptures suggesting that the resurrection is followed immediately by the Final Judgment (see 2 Ne. 9:15, 22; Mosiah 26:25; Alma 11:43–44;Alma 42:23; Morm. 7:6; Morm. 9:13–14). Truly, “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God” (Alma 34:32).

The assurance that the resurrection will include an opportunity to be with our family members—husband, wife, parents, brothers and sisters, children, and grandchildren—is a powerful encouragement for us to fulfill our family responsibilities in mortality. It helps us live together in love in this life in anticipation of joyful reunions and associations in the next.

Our sure knowledge of a resurrection to immortality also gives us the courage to face our own death—even a death that we might call premature. Thus, the people of Ammon in the Book of Mormon “never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it” (Alma 27:28).

The assurance of immortality also helps us bear the mortal separations involved in the death of our loved ones. Every one of us has wept at a death, grieved through a funeral, or stood in pain at a graveside. I am surely one who has. We should all praise God for the assured resurrection that makes our mortal separations temporary and gives us the hope and strength to carry on.

We are living in a glorious season of temple building. This is also a consequence of our faith in the resurrection. Just a few months ago I was privileged to accompany President Hinckley to the dedication of a new temple. In that sacred setting I heard him say:

“Temples stand as a witness of our conviction of immortality. Our temples are concerned with life beyond the grave. For example, there is no need for marriage in the temple if we were only concerned with being married for the period of our mortal lives.”

This prophetic teaching enlarged my understanding. Our temples are living, working testimonies to our faith in the reality of the resurrection. They provide the sacred settings where living proxies can perform all of the necessary ordinances of mortal life in behalf of those who live in the world of the spirits. None of this would be meaningful if we did not have the assurance of universal immortality and the opportunity for eternal life because of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Oaks, 2000)

“Christ’s victory over death ended the human predicament. Now there are only personal predicaments, and from these too we may be rescued by following the teachings of him who rescued us from general extinction.” Maxwell The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, ed. Cory H. Maxwell (1997), 287.

President Thomas S. Monson tells of a Robert Blatchford who, 100 years ago “in his book God and My Neighbor, attacked with vigor accepted Christian beliefs, such as God, Christ, prayer, and immortality. He boldly asserted, ‘I claim to have proved everything I set out to prove so fully and decisively that no Christian, however great or able he may be, can answer my arguments or shake my case.’ He surrounded himself with a wall of skepticism. Then a surprising thing happened. His wall suddenly crumbled to dust. … Slowly he began to feel his way back to the faith he had scorned and ridiculed. What had caused this profound change in his outlook? His wife [had] died. With a broken heart, he went into the room where lay all that was mortal of her. He looked again at the face he loved so well. Coming out, he said to a friend: ‘It is she, and yet it is not she. Everything is changed. Something that was there before is taken away. She is not the same. What can be gone if it be not the soul?’”³⁵(Christofferson)

Lesson 17: The Power of the Word

1. Book of Mormon prophets went to great efforts to produce and preserve scripture that would bless us in our day. As we study and abide by the words of prophets, we can receive power to overcome Satan, navigate their way through mortality, and eventually obtain eternal life.

2. Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign , Nov. 2011.

3. D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture,” Ensign , May 2010.

4. “We owe [a great] debt to those who faithfully recorded and preserved the word through the ages, often with painstaking labor and sacrifice—Moses, Isaiah, Abraham, John, Paul, Nephi, Mormon, Joseph Smith, and many others. What did they know about the importance of scriptures that we also need to know?” (DTChristofferson).

5. 1 Nephi 3:19–20 and 5:21–22 - Scriptures preserve God’s words and commandments as communicated through His prophets.

6. Omni 1:14–17; Mosiah 1:3–5; 1 Nephi 4:13

7. Alma 37:3–4, 8 

8. “The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. …“The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don’t have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence” (DTChristofferson).

9. 1 Nephi 8:21–24, 29–30. What is the Iron Rod?

10.  1 Nephi 15:23–24 If we hold fast to the word of God, we will never spiritually perish and the adversary will not be able to overpower us.

11. “Let me suggest that holding fast to the iron rod entails, in large measure, the prayerful, consistent, and earnest use of the holy scriptures as a sure source of revealed truth and as a reliable guide for the journey along the strait and narrow path to the tree of life—even to the Lord Jesus Christ” (DABednar, Ensign, Oct. 2011)

12. 2 Nephi 3:12; 2 Nephi 32:3; 2 Nephi 33:4–5; Jacob 2:8; Jacob 7:10–11; Alma 5:10–13; Alma 31:5;

Alma 37:2, 8–10; Helaman 3:29–30; Helaman 15:7–8

13. Alma 37:38–46

14. Alma 37:38–42; 1 Nephi 16:28.

15.  Alma 37:43–46 - parallels  Alma drew between the Liahona and the words of Christ.

16. “A constant flow of living water is far superior to sporadic sipping. “Are you and I daily reading, studying, and searching the scriptures in a way that enables us to hold fast to the rod of iron … ? Are you and I pressing forward toward the fountain of living waters—relying upon the word of God? These are important questions for each of us to ponder prayerfully” (DABednar [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Feb. 4, 2007], 7, lds.org/broadcasts).

There Must Be 50 Ways to Read the Scriptures (Here is a start)

1. Notice the punctuation.    There are 65 Exclamation Points- See Elder Gifford Nielson's Oct. 2013. The Bible has 773,692 words. 3,566,480 letters. 1189 chapters The longest sentence in the Bible (KJV) is in (Eph 1:3-14). Jesus asked 107 questions in the Bible. Longest Book Psalms.  Shortest 3 John.  Shortest verse: John 11:35: "Jesus wept"  Longest verse: Esther 8:9. Shortest Chapter 117.  Longest Psalms 119

2. Read the Book of Mormon is one sitting (17 Hours) or the Bible in one Week (84 hours-if you read a page in 5 minutes) Reading the Bible in a month would be pretty impressive. About 3 hours a day!

3. Read looking for miracles.  Jesus performed 30 in the Gospels.   There are 10 places where people were raised from the dead in the Bible:  1) Elijah raised the widow's son (1 Kin 17:17-24).   2) Elisha raised the Shunammites son (2 Kin 4:18-37).   3) A dead man came to life when his body was set on the dead bones of Elisha (2 Kin 13:20-21).  4) Jesus raised a widow's son (Lk 7:11-15).  5)Jesus raised the daughter of Jarius (Lk 8:41-42,49-56).  6)Jesus raised Lazarus (John 11:1-46).  7) Jesus was resurrected (Mt 28)(Mk 16)(Lk 24)(Jn 20-21).  8)Many dead saints came out of their graves after Jesus' resurrection (Mt 27:51-53).  9)Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) (Acts 9:36-51).   10) Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12).

4. Look for the names of the Savior-Circle them in a special color when you find them.  He is called by 100 different names in the Book of Mormon. He is not mentioned in 6 of 239 chapters. God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther. Jesus called himself the "Son of Man" 75 times in the Gospels.

5. Look for scriptures that refer to other scriptures. "It is written" occurs 62 times in the NT. Lev. 19:18 is quoted 9 times in the NT. (Love your neighbor as yourself)

6. Learn a little Hebrew while you read. Look up proper names on Google and find out what they mean in their original language. Beth is the 2nd letter in the Hebrew Alphabet. It also means "house" In this context it is used to describe 40 different places in the Bible. Example: Bethlehem=House of bread.

7. Read Mormon 8 and Moroni 1 and 10. As you read, ask yourself, What was Moroni's hope for our day?" What did he want us to do with the Book of Mormon? What would I say to Moroni if I had the chance?" (Preach My Gospel p. 14)

8. Use Preach My Gospel as a study guide. Look Up the Scriptures as you read the text. This would be a great way to prepare us for missions.

9. Memorize a theme, word or event from every chapter in the Book of Mormon. Then work on the D&C. The Pearl of Great Price would be easy. Now go back because you probably forgot the Book of Mormon before you go on to the New Testament. If you can do the Old Testament don't tell anyone. It would be regarded as prideful. Once you have something memorized you can review large volumes of scripture while driving in the car or trying to go to sleep. I lay in bed  and say 1 Nephi 1 call, 2 leave, 3 return 4 Laban 5 Contents 6 Intent 7 Ishmael 8 Dream 9 2 records 10 Jews 11 Believest? 12 Nephites 13 America 14 2 Churches 15 Inquired? 16 Liahona 17 Ship        18 Ocean 19 Like Unto Us 20 Refined 21 Save Children 22 Righteous Preserved...

10. Circle all of the "alls" (All is a very high percentage!)

11. Search all of the scriptures containing a key word. I searched the Book of Mormon for all those words about "signs".  Other words: wisdom, Urim and Thummim.

12. Study the life of a person. Use "Who's Who in the Book of Mormon, D&C or Bible"

13. Use the guide to conference talks as you read.   scriptures.byu.edu

14. Read the scriptures in another language.

15. Read the scriptures reading out loud.

16. Read along with a recording of the scriptures.

17. We use to read the scriptures out loud as a family each from our own computer.

18. We would draw pictures in our scriptures when our children were small.  Chickens use stickers.

19. Listen to the scriptures as you drive in your car. I once listened to the whole Book of Mormon on a solo trip to California and back.

20. One time through the Book of Mormon I decided to pick my favorite verse in each chapter and underline it in Green. I call them Gary's Green Verses. Sometimes I will thumb through my scriptures just reading Gary's Green.

21. Ask people who you love what their favorite scripture is. Write their name next to their scripture in your scriptures or in your journal or on your computer or garage wall.

22. Look for patterns and scriptures that talk about other scripture. This is especially interesting when the Bible testifies of the Book of Mormon (Isaiah 29; Ezekiel 37; Revelation 14:6-7) and when the Book of Mormon confirms Bible truths (2 Nephi 3. The D&C is a great clarifier of difficult Bible passages (D&C 77; D&C 113)

23. Search the scriptures for doctrinal concepts. I have a friend who read the scriptures looking for evidence of the creation and all of creation as a witness of Jesus Christ. He is now studying baptism.

23. Make a list of little gems, proverbs if you will that you glean as you read the scriptures; ie Proverbs 3:5-6; Alma 37:35; Alma 41:10; Gen. 39:9...

24. Here's a novel idea-A chapter a day! If you start today you can read the BoM in 239 days!

25. Look for Conjunctive Adverbs in the Scriptures.  The purpose of a conjunctive adverb is to show a relationship between clauses such as comparing or contrasting, showing a sequence of events, or showing a cause and effect. They are used frequently, especially in the Book of Mormon. Writers used them to tell us the WHY. Here's a list of some we see in the scriptures. Accordingly, Also, Besides, Consequently, Wherefore, Hence, Henceforth, However, Indeed, Likewise, Meanwhile, Moreover, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Otherwise, Rather, Still, Subsequently, Then, Thereafter.

26. When reading one of the Standard Works, look for footnotes to another of the Standard Works. When reading the Book of Mormon during an Old Testament Gospel Study year, look for OT cross references and take the time to look them up. The next year when reading the Book of Mormon change to New Testament.

27. Dedicate a pre-determined number of minutes each day at a certain time to reading. I like to read the scriptures while I am riding my stationary bicycle for 5 miles. It is not a great way to "study" the scriptures. It is a great way to be productive with my exercise time.

28. Acts 8:26-38- Read the Scriptures with a commentary. There are so many good ones. My favorite for the Book of Mormon is "Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon" in 4 volumes by McConkie, Millet and Top.

29. Read the scriptures looking for promises & patterns: Moroni 10:4; D&C 52:14; 41:14; 88:122; 1:37-38; Malachi 3:8-10 is a great beginning. Send me what you find.

30. Stop Reading the Scriptures- 1 Nephi 19:23; Jacob 4

31. Memorize 1)Articles of Faith 2)Books of Scripture 3)Top 10 Scriptures used in Conference, The Living Christ, The Proclamation to the World on the Family.

32. In 2013 I made my own commentary of the Book of Mormon as I read 1 chapter a day from July 14-December 11 and put what each chapter meant to me on that day.

33. Summary of Approved Adjustments for the 2013 Edition of the scriptures. 39th &40th sections of the D&C refer to “James Covill,” identified as a Baptist minister. His last name should be spelled “Covel” and that he was actually a Methodist minister.

34. Get your name on the Ward Weekly Bulletin!

35. Pray BEFORE reading the scriptures each day.

36. Look for contrast between good guys & bad. Nephi-Laman; Abindadi-Noah, Jacob-Sherem….

37. Assign people in your family to represent different points of view or to look for words or phrases.

38. At the end of your reading ask: "What happened? or Why? or what would I have done?

39. Invite a Gary to your personal or family scripture study. Like my friend Fred.

40. Submit your favorite idea to glp24@yahoo.com

"When I was a young man, my parents joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We knew that the missionaries had been teaching them, but my parents had taken the missionary lessons alone.

After this surprising announcement, my brothers and I began to listen to the missionaries as well, and they each received the message of the Restoration with gladness. Although I was curious, my heart was not into changing my life. I did, however, accept the challenge to pray about whether the Book of Mormon was the word of God, but I did not receive an answer.

You might ask why Heavenly Father did not answer that prayer; I certainly wondered. I have learned since that the promise made by Moroni is accurate. God does answer our prayers about the truthfulness of the gospel, but He answers them when we have “a sincere heart” and “real intent.”¹ He does not answer just to respond to our curiosity.

Why did the trials of these sons of Mosiah strengthen their faith and commitment rather than cause them to murmur or doubt? The key is that “they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.”¹⁴ We will all face trials and have questions, but remember that we must be “continually holding fast to the rod of iron.”¹⁵ “The words of Christ will tell [us] all things what [we] should do.”¹⁶ We must make scripture study a daily part of our lives, as this will open doors of revelation." (Elder James B. Martino, CR, Oct. 2015)

Lesson 16: Repentance and Forgiveness

1. In order to be cleansed from sin, we must exercise faith in Jesus Christ unto repentance. As we sincerely repent, we can receive a remission of sins, which brings joy and peace of conscience to our souls. We can retain a remission of sins throughout our lives as we faithfully keep God’s commandments and love and serve one another.

2. D. Todd Christofferson, “The Divine Gift of Repentance,” Ensign  Nov. 2011.

3. Neil L. Andersen, “Repent … That I May Heal You,” Ensign , Nov. 2009.

4. Craig A. Cardon, “The Savior Wants to Forgive,” Ensign, May 2013.

5. “We need a strong faith in Christ to be able to repent” (DFUchtdorf,  Ensign, May 2007)

6.  Alma 34:15–17, In order to receive the merciful blessings of forgiveness, we must exercise faith in Jesus Christ unto repentance.

7.  3 Nephi 9:13–14, 19–22 If we come unto Christ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, He will receive us and redeem us from our sins.

8. “What are a broken heart and a contrite spirit? … The Savior’s perfect submission to the Eternal Father is the very essence of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Christ’s example teaches us that a broken heart is an eternal attribute of godliness. When our hearts are broken, we are completely open to the Spirit of God and recognize our dependence on Him for all that we have and all that we are. The sacrifice so entailed is a sacrifice of pride in all its forms. Like malleable clay in the hands of a skilled potter, the brokenhearted can be molded and shaped in the hands of the Master.

“A broken heart and a contrite spirit are also preconditions to repentance [see 2 Nephi 2:6–7]. … When we sin and desire forgiveness, a broken heart and a contrite spirit mean to experience ‘godly sorrow [that] worketh repentance’ (2 Corinthians 7:10). This comes when our desire to be cleansed from sin is so consuming that our hearts ache with sorrow and we yearn to feel at peace with our Father in Heaven. Those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit are willing to do anything and everything that God asks of them, without resistance or resentment. We cease doing things our way and learn to do them God’s way instead. In such a condition of submissiveness, the Atonement can take effect and true repentance can occur” (Bruce D. Porter, “A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit,” Ensign , Nov. 2007)

9. How might you respond to individuals who want to know how they can know whether they have been forgiven of a past sin?

10. Enos 1:4–8; Mosiah 4:1–3; Alma 36:19–21- As we sincerely repent and receive a remission of our sins, our guilt is swept away, we are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and we feel joy and peace. 

11. "For those who are truly repentant but seem unable to feel relief: continue keeping the commandments. I promise you, relief will come in the timetable of the Lord. Healing also requires time” (NLAnderson,  Ensign,Nov. 2009)

12.  Alma 19:29–30, 33–36

13. “Letters come from those who have made tragic mistakes. They ask, ‘Can I ever be forgiven?’ “The answer is yes! “The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance. Save for those few who defect to perdition after having known a fulness, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. “‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ That is, Isaiah continued, ‘if ye be willing and obedient’ [Isaiah 1:18–19]” (BKPacker Ensign, Nov. 1995).

14. Mosiah 4:11–12, 26-  If we remember God’s love and goodness toward us, stand steadfast in our faith, and love and serve others, we can retain a remission of our sins.

15. “Repentance means striving to change. It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part. Rather, we seek His grace to complement and reward our most diligent efforts (2 Nephi 25:23). Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome. Surely the Lord smiles upon one who desires to come to judgment worthily, who resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength. Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving” (DTChristofferson)

16. Repentance requires both turning away from evil and turning to God. . . Initially, this turning reflects progress from telestial to terrestrial behavior, and later on to celestial behavior. As the sins of the telestial world are left behind, the focus falls ever more steadily upon the sins of omission, which often keep us from full consecration. (NAMaxwell, Ensign, Nov. 91)

2. Enos 1:4-8; Alma 34:14-18; Alma 5:12; Alma 5:54; Alma 12:15; 1 Nephi 12:10

3. 2 Nephi 2:7; 3 Nephi 9:20; Mormon 2:12-14; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Alma 15:3; 14:6; Alma 36:12-18

17.  There can be no repentance without recognition of wrong. Whether by provocation, introspection, or wrenching remembrance, denial must be dissolved. As with the prodigal son who finally “came to himself”, the first rays of recognition help us begin to see “things as they really are”, including distinguishing between the motes and beams. Recognition is a sacred moment, often accompanied by the hot blush of shame.

   After recognition, real remorse floods the soul. This is a “godly sorrow,” not merely the “sorrow of the world” nor the sorrowing of the damned,” when we can no longer “take happiness in sin.” False remorse instead is like fondling our failings.” In ritual regret, we mourn our mistakes but without mending them.

   There can be no real repentance without personal suffering and the passage of sufficient time for the needed cleansing and turning. This is much more than merely waiting until feelings of remorse subside. Misery, like adversity, can have its special uses. No wonder chastening is often needed until the turning is really under way! (Maxwell)

4. D&C 82:7; D&C 58:43; Ezekiel 18:30; Alma 30:55         

   All sins are to be confessed to the Lord, some to a Church official, some to others, and some to all of these. A few may require public confession. Confessing aids forsaking. We cannot expect to sin publicly and extensively and then expect to be rescued privately and quickly, being beaten with only a few stripes. (D&C 42:88-93) (Maxwell)

5. “The voluntary confession is infinitely more acceptable in the sight of the Lord than is forced admission, lacking humility, wrung from an individual by questioning.” (SWKimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 181)

6. “A repentant heart will (a) voluntarily confess (b) accept without question the decision of priesthood leaders. (Harold B. Lee)

7. Lev. 6:4; Helaman 5:52

8. Sometimes, however, restitution is not possible in real terms, such as when one contributed to another’s loss of faith or virtue. Instead, a subsequent example of righteousness provides a compensatory form of restitution. In this rigorous process, so much clearly depends upon meekness. Pride keeps repentance from even starting or continuing. Some fail because they are more concerned with the preservation of their public image than with having Christ’s image in their countenances! Pride prefers cheap repentance, paid for with shallow sorrow. Unsurprisingly, seekers after cheap repentance also search for superficial forgiveness instead of real reconciliation. Thus, real repentance goes far beyond simply saying, “I’m sorry.” In the anguishing process of repentance, we may sometimes feel God has deserted us. The reality is that our behavior has isolated us from Him. Thus, while we are turning away from evil but have not yet turned fully to God, we are especially vulnerable. (Maxwell)

9. D&C 64:9

10. Ironically, some believe the Lord can forgive them, but they refuse to forgive themselves. (Maxwell)

11. Mosiah 4:26; Moroni 8:25-26

12. Retaining a remission of sins depends on continuous love and service to God and man.

13. “I do not believe that any man lives up to his ideals, but if we are striving, if we are working, if we are trying, to the best of our ability, to improve day by day, then we are in the line of our duty. If we are seeking to remedy our own defects, if we are so living that we can ask God for light, for knowledge, for intelligence, and above all, for His Spirit, that we may overcome our weaknesses, then, I can tell you we are in the straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal. Then we need have no fear.” (HJGrant, Gospel Standards, p. 184-5)

14. “Repentance must involve an all-out, total surrender to the program of the Lord. That transgressor is not fully repentant who neglects his tithing, misses his meetings, breaks the Sabbath, fails in his family prayers, does not sustain the authorities of the Church, breaks the Word of Wisdom, does not love the Lord nor his fellowmen. A reforming adulterer who drinks or curses is not repentant. The repenting burglar who has sex play is not ready for forgiveness. God cannot forgive unless the transgressor shows a true repentance which spreads to all areas of his life.” (SWKimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 203)

15. The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins. We truly are blessed each week by the opportunity to evaluate our lives through the ordinance of the sacrament, to renew our covenants, and to receive this covenant promise. (DABednar, April 2016)

16. Too often we look at the offender the way we would look at an iceberg—we see only the tip and not beneath the surface. We do not know all that is going on in a person’s life. We do not know their past; we do not know their struggles; we do not know the pains they carry. Brothers and sisters, please do not misunderstand. To forgive is not to condone. We do not rationalize bad behavior or allow others to mistreat us because of their struggles, pains, or weaknesses. But we can gain greater understanding and peace when we see with a broader perspective.

Certainly those who are less spiritually mature may indeed make serious mistakes—yet none of us should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done. God is the perfect judge. He sees beneath the surface. He knows all and sees all (see 2 Nephi 2:24). He has said, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10)

Forgiveness is the very reason God sent His Son, so let us rejoice in His offering to heal us all. The Savior’s Atonement is not just for those who need to repent; it is also for those who need to forgive. If you are having trouble forgiving another person or even yourself, ask God to help you. Forgiveness is a glorious, healing principle. We do not need to be a victim twice. We can forgive. (Kevin R. Duncan, April 2016)

Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them. If you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep going. If you fall, summon His strength. Call out like Alma, “O Jesus, … have mercy on me.”⁷ He will help you get back up. He will help you repent, repair, fix whatever you have to fix, and keep going. Soon enough you will have the success you seek.

“As you desire of me so it shall be done unto you,” the Lord has declared. “… Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously. … “[Then] whatsoever you desire of me [in] righteousness, … you shall receive.”⁸

I love that doctrine! It says again and again that we are going to be blessed for our desire to do good, even as we actually strive to be so. And it reminds us that to qualify for those blessings, we must make certain we do not deny them to others: we are to deal justly, never unjustly, never unfairly; we are to walk humbly, never arrogantly, never pridefully; we are to judge righteously, never self-righteously, never unrighteously. (JRHolland, CR, April, 2016)