Next WeekLesson 5: “This Is the Spirit of Revelation”Reading assignment: Doctrine and Covenants 6; 8; 9; Joseph Smith—History 1:8–17

•Why is personal revelation vitally important in our day?

•What can we do to study out a question in our own minds?

•Why should we study and ponder the scriptures when we seek revelation?

•Why is it important to focus on “the things of [God]” rather than “the things of the earth” as we seek revelation? How can we free ourselves from the concerns and noise of the world as we seek revelation?

•What do these verses teach about how to receive personal revelation?

This WeekLesson 4: “Remember the New Covenant, Even the Book of Mormon”Reading assignment: Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65; Doctrine and Covenants 3; 5; 10; 17; 20:5–15; 84:54–62; Our Heritage, pages 5–10

•What were some of the challenges that Joseph Smith faced while he translated the Book of Mormon? •What does the account of the lost manuscript pages teach about the Lord’s power? •Who were the Witnessess of 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? (D&C 84:54–56.) What did Church members need to do for the condemnation to be lifted? (D&C 84:57–58, 60–62.)

“Remember the New Covenant, Even the Book of Mormon”

What were some of the challenges of the Bringing forth of the Book of Mormon?

• Video of Martin Harris

Does Father in Heaven Change his mind?  1 The aworks, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot bebfrustrated, neither can they come to naught. 2 For God doth not awalk in crooked paths, neither doth he bturn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his ccourse is one eternal round.

D&C 3:1-3

I did inquire, and the answer was that he must not. However, he was

not satisfied with this answer, and desired that I should inquire again. I

did so, and the answer was as before.

Still he could not be contented, but insisted that I should inquire once

more. After much solicitation I again inquired of the Lord, and

permission was granted him to have the writings on certain

conditions; which were, that he show them only to his brother,

Preserved Harris, his own wife, his father and his mother, and a

Mrs. Cobb, a sister to his wife.

In accordance with this last answer, I required of him that he should

bind himself in a covenant to me in a most solemn manner that he

would not do otherwise than had been directed. He did so. He bound

himself as I required of him, took the writings, and went his way.

Where should we place our trust?  7 For, behold, you should not have afeared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and bdespise his words— 8 Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and asupported you against all the fiery bdarts of thecadversary; and he would have been with you in every time of dtrouble.

D&C 3:1-3

Using the Book of Mormon…. And all other Scripture, but particularly 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?

57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent

and remember the new acovenant, even the bBook of Mormon and

the cformer commandments which I have given them, not only to

say, but to ddo according to that which I have written—

58 That they may bring forth afruit meet for their Father’s kingdom;

otherwise there remaineth a bscourge and judgment to be poured out

upon the children of Zion….

61 For I will aforgive you of your sins with this commandment—

that you remain bsteadfast in your minds in csolemnity and the spirit

of prayer, in bearing dtestimony to all the world of those things

which are communicated unto you.

62 Therefore, ago ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place

ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into

all the world unto every creature.

Using the Book of Mormon In Our Lives

In 1832, as some early missionaries returned from their fields of labor, the Lord reproved them for treating the Book of Mormon lightly. As a result of that attitude, he said, their minds had been darkened. Not only had treating this sacred book lightly brought a loss of light to themselves, it had also brought the whole Church under condemnation, even all the children of Zion. And then the Lord said, “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon” (D&C 84:54–57).

Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov 1986, 4

How did the Brother of Jared know to use clear stones for light?

Seeing and learning from patterns and principles in the scriptures…

(Presents the problem after hard work…) 19  Presents the problem after hard work…And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish…

(Father gives some instruction, but not about the light…) 20 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.

 (Father gives Brother of Jared the responsibility…) 25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?

Ether 2:19-25

(Brother of Jared seeks out answer in great faith…)1 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the amount, which they called the mount bShelem, because of its exceeding height, and did cmolten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent dglass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying: 2 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be aangry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are bunworthy before thee; because of the cfall our dnatures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires….. 6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the aLord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his bfinger. Ether 3:1-6

(Learning from Noah) 16 A awindow shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a aflood of bwaters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the c

breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

Genesis 6:16-1716 a windowHEB tsohar; some rabbis believed it was a precious stone that shone in the ark. Ether 2:23 (23–24).

. . . the purpose of the gospel is . . . to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature (from the film Every Member a Missionary, as acknowledged by Franklin D. Richards, CR, October 1965, pp. 136-137; see also Brigham Young, JD 8:130 [22 July 1860]).

Thus, the journey of a lifetime is to progress from bad to good to better and to experience the mighty change of heart--and to have our fallen natures changed.

May I suggest that the Book of Mormon is our handbook of instructions as we travel the pathway from bad to good to better and to have our hearts changed.

Elder David A. Bednar, In the Strength of the Lord Brigham Young University–Idaho Devotional January 8, 2002

BAD

Good

Better

How has the scriptures, particularly Book of Mormon,

been a handbook of instructions for you in your life?

Continuing to see and learn from patterns and principles in the

scriptures… How do we become Better?

Fear Duty Love

FEAR: To the restored Church the Lord has stated time and time again that fear is not of God and will not enter the hearts of those who love the Lord and live righteously: "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you" (D&C 68:6).

DUTY: Men who only carry out that which is within their duty and go no further have no claim to any reward beyond the scope of that duty and are unprofitable servants. (Luke 17:7-10)

LOVE: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment…The logic of this is simple, clear, and unequivocal: the proof of love of God is love of one's brother. This becomes the fundamental commandment of Christianity. (Mark 12:30-31).

Elder Howard W. Hunter; Motivations for Good , Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 46-49

Fear Duty Love

Elder Howard W. Hunter; Motivations for Good , Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 46-49

FEAR

What examples are there of those we know or in Scripture that have been motivated by FEAR?

FEAR

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, a

clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the bfruit of the tree. 25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were aashamed.

1 Nephi 8:24-25

DUTY

What examples are there of those we know or in Scripture that have been motivated by DUTY?

Nephi 

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

1 Nephi 2: 16

Laman & Lemuel 

7 And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord? 9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.

1 Nephi 15:7-9

VS.

LOVE

What examples are there of those we know or in Scripture that have been motivated by LOVE?

Fear Duty Love

FEAR: To the restored Church the Lord has stated time and time again that fear is not of God and will not enter the hearts of those who love the Lord and live righteously: "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you" (D&C 68:6).

DUTY: Men who only carry out that which is within their duty and go no further have no claim to any reward beyond the scope of that duty and are unprofitable servants. (Luke 17:7-10)

LOVE: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment…The logic of this is simple, clear, and unequivocal: the proof of love of God is love of one's brother. This becomes the fundamental commandment of Christianity. (Mark 12:30-31).

Elder Howard W. Hunter; Motivations for Good , Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 46-49