Thought: “...[the]
challenge is not to prove that the Book of Mormon is true but to prove to
God that [you] are true. When [you] do this, [you] will know that the book
is true. And when [you] prove that [you] will do what it says, God will tell
[you] more. You remember, the book puts it this way: 3 Nephi 26:9-11. Over and
over again you will have the experience, as you read the Book of Mormon, that
before God will give you light, he will ask if you have already believed what
he has given you. As you prove the Book of Mormon… you will realize it is not
arguments you read. It is not even great examples or wonderful moving stories.
Those will help, and they will hold [your] attention...But [you]...will prove
the Book of Mormon, as [you] will prove all scripture, by...saying, ‘I believe
it is true; I will try it.’ Once [you] have proved [yourself] to God,
then the proof will come to [you] because [you] will see the spiritual fruit...
I bear you my testimony that the book is written in such a way that [you] will
feel there are principles [you] should try...As you read it, you...will know
some things you should do. As you do them, you will have greater light given to
you because you will have proved that you believe. I bear testimony that
however much you have learned from the Book of Mormon before, you should read
it again and prove it. Prove it by proving yourself. Do the things you
feel impressed to do and you will find things in it that you have never seen
before.” (Henry B. Eyring, CES Symposium 1990, The Book of Mormon
Will Change Your Life, pg. 4-5)
Book of the
Week: "Who's
Who In The Book of Mormon" by Robert J. Matthews
"Temple Worship"-Skinner
Gary's "GREEN
VERSES" Fourth Nephi and Mormon
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4 Nephi 15
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Contention was absent because they loved God, not because they
loved each other.
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Mormon 1:15
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Mormon was not visited by the Lord because he lived in an area
where everyone was faithful.
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Mormon 2:19
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Mormon sorrowed for the wickedness of his world, but knew he
would be blessed.
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Mormon 3:20
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Mormon is talking to us about the upcoming judgment of ALL.
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Mormon 4:12
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It is kind of depressing to read just how wicked the children of
Lehi had become.
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Mormon 5:20
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Here's the good news to the people of our day who heed the
warnings of Mormon.
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Mormon 6:21
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It appears that Mormon wants us to prepare for the judgment day!
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Mormon 7:9
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We have the Book of Mormon to testify of the truthfulness of the
Bible.
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Mormon 8:34-35
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My very favorite Book of Mormon verses. Moroni sees us.
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Mormon 9:1-2
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A special message to those who do not believe. The question is:
"When will you?"
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Fourth Nephi
(Changed by Orson Pratt in 1879)
(Originally-
"The Book of Nephi, which is the son of Nephi, one of the disciples of
Jesus Christ.)
25-30% of
time in Book of Mormon but only 49 of 6582 verse=.8%
4 writers; 1)
Nephi the son of Nephi the disciple vs. 1-19; 2) Amos, the son of Nephi Vs.
19-21; II Amos, the son of I Amos vs. 21-47; 4) Ammaron, the son of I Amos vs.
47-49
Zion
- 1.
A city built by Enoch 2. Jerusalem 3.
One of the mountains upon which Jerusalem is built 4. North & South America 5. Jackson County, Mo. 6. Our Church 7. The pure in heart. (Moses 7:12)
Vs. 2 - “A young man came to me not
long ago and said, ‘I made an agreement with a man that requires me to make
certain payments each year. I am in debt, and I can’t make those payments, for
if I do, it is going to cause me to lose my home. What shall I do?’ “I looked
at him and said, ‘Keep your agreement.’ “‘Even if it costs me my home?’ “I
said, ‘I am not talking about your home. I am talking about your agreement; and
I think your wife would rather have a husband who would keep his word, meet his
obligations, keep his pledges or his covenants, and have to rent a home than to
have a home with a husband who will not keep his covenants and his pledge.’”1N. NETanner "Ensign, May, 1997
p. 29-30 Vs. 2, 13, 15, 18 - No
contention for 2 reasons; 1) they love God and 2) they dealt just with one
another. Vs. 4 - Opposition to war cannot
ensure peace, because peace is more than the absence of war. . . . The peace
the gospel brings is not just the absence of war. It is the opposite of war.
Gospel peace is the opposite of any conflict, armed or unarmed. It is the
opposite of national or ethnic hostilities, of civil or family strife. . . .
The Savior and his Apostles had no program for world peace other than
individual righteousness. . . . What can one person do to promote world peace?
The answer is simple: keep God’s commandments and serve his children. (DHOaks, “World
Peace,” Ensign, May 1990, 71) Vs. 17 - History
suggests that we also delete from our personal vocabularies names that
segregate. (RMNelson Ensign, May 1995, p. 34)
15 Steps from
Zion to ripened for destruction; 1) vs. 20-The return of ites. 2) vs. 24-Pride manifested by
the wearing of costly apparel. 3) vs. 25-substance no more common. 4) vs.
divided into classes. 5) vs. 25-26-many churches which denied Christ and were
set up to get gain. 6) churches professed to know Christ yet denied the more
parts of his gospel. 7) True church persecuted. 8) vs. 35-36 - A great
division. 9) vs. 38-A willful rebellion, people teaching their children they
should not believe. 10) vs. 40-wicked outnumber righteous. 11) vs. 42-return of
secret combinations. 12) vs. 43-the righteous also proud in their hearts because
of their exceeding riches. 13) vs. 46-Gadianton robbers spread over all the
land. 14) Mormon 1:8-War spreads over the face of the land. 15) Mormon 1:13-14;
2:15- Holy Ghost gone and the day of grace passes.
The
Book of Mormon
Mormon - 1) age 10 given charge of plates. 2) age 15 visited of
the Lord. 3) age 16 head of the army. 4) age 35 started keeping the record. 5)
age 52 refused to lead army. 6) age 74 still the best man in the army.
Mormon 1
Vs. 8 - 322 BC a war begins which lasts (off and on) 64 years.
Vs. 13 - The 3 disciples are taken away and miracles cease.
Vs. 17 - The word "sake" is defined as "On account
of" in the 1830 dictionary.
Vs. 18 - "treasures lost in earth" see Helaman 13:21-39
Mormon 2
Vs.
13 - Therefore, repentance means
more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world
demonstrate great will-power and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and
the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the
Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if
in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance... repentance involves not just a change of actions, but a
change of heart.... It is not uncommon to find men and women in the world who
feel remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their
actions cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their
sorrow is caused because they are caught and punished for their actions. Such
worldly feelings do not constitute “godly sorrow.” So,
my beloved brothers and sisters, as we seek to qualify to be members of
Christ’s Church—members in the sense in which He uses the term, members who
have repented and come unto Him—let us remember these six principles. First,
the gospel is the Lord’s plan of happiness and repentance is designed to bring
us joy. Second, true repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Third, true repentance involves a change
of heart and not just a change of behavior. Fourth, part of this mighty change
of heart is to feel godly sorrow for our sins. This is what is meant by a
broken heart and a contrite spirit. Fifth, God’s gifts are sufficient to help
us overcome every sin and weakness if we will but turn to Him for help.
Finally, we must remember that most repentance does not involve sensational or
dramatic changes, but rather is a step-by-step, steady, and consistent movement
toward godliness. (ETBenson, Liahona,
March 1990)
"Repentance. which is an
assured passage to an eternal destination, is nevertheless not a free ride...
"Personal suffering “is a very important part of
repentance. One has not begun to repent until he has suffered intensely for his
sins. … If a person hasn’t suffered, he hasn’t repented.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, , pp. 88, 99.)
"Why is it necessary for us to suffer on
the way to repentance for serious transgressions? We often think of the results
of repentance as simply cleansing us from sin. But that is an incomplete view
of the matter. A person who sins is like a tree that bends easily in the wind.
On a windy and rainy day the tree bends so deeply against the ground that the
leaves become soiled with mud, like sin. If we only focus on cleaning the leaves,
the weakness in the tree that allowed it to bend and soil its leaves may
remain. Merely cleaning the leaves does not strengthen the tree. Similarly, a
person who is merely sorry to be soiled by sin will sin again in the next high
wind. The susceptibility to repetition continues until the tree has been
strengthened. DHOaks, Aug. 5, 1990, BYU Fireside)
Vs. 26 - See D&C 3:4, 11
Mormon 3
Vs. 18-20 - "Many passages
of scripture unequivocally confirm that every soul who has ever lived on earth
will be judged. The criteria for judgment are these:
1. Degree of knowledge and
opportunities available during mortal probation (2 Nephi 2:10; 9:25-26; Moroni
8:22.
2. Works, desires, and intents
of the heart (1 Nephi 15:33; Alma 41:13-14; D&C 33:1).
3. Information on records, kept
both on earth and in heaven. (Rev. 20:12; 2 Nephi 29:11; D&C 128:7)
4. A personal knowledge that an
individual's reward is just (2 Nephi 9:46; Mosiah 27:31) and that the judgment constitutes
a proper decision (Mosiah 16:1; 29:12)" (Ogden, Verse by Verse vol. 2 p. 239)
Mormon 4
Note: Vs. 4- The Nephites took the offensive; Vs. 5-God uses the
wicked to destroy the wicked;
Vs. 11- the people delighted in shedding blood, and Vs.12-This is
as bad as it had ever been among the children of Israel. Vs. 14 - women and
children offered as sacrifices (by Lamanites)
Mormon 5
Vs. 1 - Mormon again leads Army
Vs. 10-24 - Mormon speaks to Gentiles and to the House of Israel
in our day. Note especially vs. 20-24
Mormon 6
"A story is told about the great Lincoln in the dark days of
the Civil War. As the president paced the floor wondering who would be the
victor, North or South, his secretary said, 'Mr. Lincoln, I hope the Lord is on
our side." To this the president answered, ' I hope we are on the Lord's
side,' What a difference in point of view. When the whole world is in turmoil,
we can all ask are we on the Lord's side!" (Gilbert Charles Orme, The Four Estates of Man, p. 121)
Vs. 17-22 - Mormon's lament
Mormon 7 -
Vs. 2-9 Mormon speaks to Latter-day Lamanites - 10 Points
Vs. 9-10 - No man can say that this book (laying his hand on the
Bible) is true, is the word of the Lord, is the way, is the guide-board in the path, and a charter by
which we may learn the will of God; and at the same time say, that the Book of
Mormon is untrue; if he has had the privilege of reading it, or of hearing it
read, and learning its doctrines. There is not that person on the face of the
earth who has had the privilege of learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ from
these two books, who can say that one is true, and the other is false” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954],
459).
Mormon 8 - Beginning
of the writings of Moroni
Vs. 1-5 - The loneliest verses in
the Book of Mormon
Vs. 12 - See 3 Nephi 26:9-10
Vs. 14 - This is the same thing
Moroni said to Joseph Smith in 1823.
Vs. 23-25 - The prayers of the
dead!
Vs. 26- 32 - Moroni sees our day
- And speaking of the last days, the prophet Moroni
declared, “Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions
upon the face of the earth” (Morm. 8:31).
Sadly, the effects of this great pollution are perhaps most evident in the mass
media, films, television, and popular music. Of this, Senator Robert D. Byrd
said, “If we in this nation continue to sow the images of murder, violence,
drug abuse, … perversion, [and] pornography …
before the eyes of millions of children, year after year and day after day, we
should not be surprised if the foundations of our society rot away as if from
leprosy” (Michael Medved, Hollywood vs. America, New York: Harper
Perennial, 1992, p. 194). Although there are some uplifting exceptions, in most
areas of the mass media there seems to be a declaration of war against almost
everything the majority treasures most: the family,
religion, and patriotism. Marriage is degraded, while premarital and
extramarital relations are encouraged and glamorized. Profanity and the foulest
of vulgar gutter language bombard the ears of all who listen. Reportedly, in
one R-rated movie, the most common, vulgar four-letter word was spoken 256
times! Human life itself is trivialized by the constant barrage of violence and
killings. Remember that anything that is not good for children is rarely good
for adults. (Joe J. Christensen, Ensign, Nov. 1993 p. 11-13) Vs.
34-41 - Moroni speaks to us!
Mormon 9
Vs. 1 -Written to those who
choose not to believe in Christ.
Vs. 4 - It is his purposse
according to the divine plan, to make all of his creations as happy as it is
possible for them to be under the conditions of their immortal states" (JFSmith,
"Church History and Modern
Revelation 2":68)
Vs. 31 - See also Mormon 8:12,
17.
Vs. 32-33 - see Jacob 4:1-
"cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of
engraving our words upon plates."
