Talk: Lengthening our Stride

April 1979 President Spencer W. Kimball

“The major strides which must be made by the Church will follow upon the major strides to be made by us as individuals. We have paused on some plateaus long enough. Let us resume our journey forward and upward.”

What does this quote mean?

Over the last 31 years the membership of the Church has increased by 325%. This is an indicator that the Church as a whole has had some strides.

Just because the Church as a whole has made some strides does that mean that all of us have also made great strides?

How has our stakes, wards or personal selves progressed?

How does an athlete work to increase their stride?

1. Determine their strike rate

2. Workouts/Exercises

3. Work on developing their breathing patterns and pacing techniques.

What would be the results for someone who tried to shortcut take a different approach to this pattern?

1. Quite often taking the wrong approach leads to a loss of stride and speed instead of an increase.

2. Not taking the time to evaluate where you are and what you want to accomplish will prevent from being successful, no goal = no success.

3. The wrong exercises could result no benefit or even cause negative results.

4. Not learning to control your breathing or pacing can cause you to become exhausted or prevent you from finishing what you started.

How do we lengthen our spiritual stride?

1. First we must make sure that we have the proper approach

Spiritual Progression Chart

2. Personal introspection about where we are at spiritually. Know where you are and where you want to be.

In order to know where we are, we must first know where we want to be.

Moses 1:39

For behold this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

What is it that the Lord wants for us?

The atonement was designed to help us with this; Physical death, Spiritual death.

How can we help?

Three fold mission of the Church: Missionary work, Perfect the Saints, and Redeem the Dead

3. What activities do we participate in that build or destroy our faith?

a. Foundation activities

b. Covenants

What covenants do we make?

Baptismal Covenants:

• Come into his kingdom and keep his commandments

• Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places

• Always remember him

Reward: His Spirit to be with us

Priesthood Oath and Covenant:

• Be faithful

• Magnify calling

• Give diligent heed to the words of eternal life

• Live by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God

Reward: Sanctified by the Spirit and receive all that the Father hath

Temple Covenants:

• Renewal of Baptism and Priesthood covenants

• Marriage Covenants

• Additional sacred covenants to more fully serve the Lord

Result: Salvation from sin

4. We must stretch ourselves but not go faster than we are able.

We must not push ourselves so hard that we burn ourselves out.

Endure to the end.

Life is not easy everyone has their own unique challenges. It is how we decide to handle these challenges that determine our stride.

“He will not ask us to bear more than we can bear nor thrust upon us that for which we are not yet ready. But likewise, we must not tarry too long when we are ready to move on

“It seems to me that basically there are two major causes for the holding back which we see in the Church: First, sin which results in disinterest or immobilization and guilt; and second, the reluctance of good members of the Church to stretch just a little bit more in the service, instead of being too slow to see the power of their example or too shy about letting their light shine. It is time for us all to take those seemingly small steps forward which will, when compounded, mean major progress for the Church!” (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Let Us Move Forward and Upward, May 1979, 82)

Seminary: 14 2 Nephi 3-5

Background: Nephi has been giving counsel to the group.  He taught about the Fall, Redemption and agency.

Many prophets, including Nephi, saw Joseph Smith and his destiny to bring the world our of spiritual darkness.

Brigham Young in one occasion spoke about this:

"It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the priesthood of the Son of God.  The Lord had his eyes upon him and upon his father, and upon his father's father, and upon their progenitors clear back to Abraham, and from Abraham to the flood, from the flood to Enoch and from Enoch to Adam.  he has watched that family and that blood as it circulated from its foundation to the birth of that man.  he was foreordained in eternity to preseide over this last dispensation." (discourses of Brigham Young).

2 Nephi 3:11

What are some of the Prophet Joseph Smith's major accomplishments?

He translated the Book of Mormon, received the revelations for and wrote them into the Doctrine and Covenants, restored the gospel, received the keys of authority regarding the different dispensations and priesthoods, ran for President, met the president at the white house, was a govenor, was an editor, was a general, saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, met many angels, managed the building of a temple...

President Gordon B. Hinkley said:

"Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of teh Lord.  There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obediance to His commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God. (Ensign, June 1988, 6)

2 Nephi 3:12

What does it mean that the "two will grow together"?

The fruit of the loins of Judah is teh Bible and the fruit of Nephi's loins is the Book of Mormon.  He says that they will grow together meaning that they will be used together to combat false doctrine and to roll out the Gospel of the Lamb.  Nephi already saw in a vision that the Bible will become corrupted and that the Book of Mormon will be preserverd by the Lord to come forth at his due time uncorrupted and translated through his power.  It will be used to clarify the teachings in the Bible, to uphold those teachings that are still pure and to bring back those teachings that were lost due to the corruption.  Neither book should be used alone.  They should be used together.  The Lord has said that "...in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established" (2 Corinthians 13:1).  The Bible and the Book of Mormon are both witnesses or testaments of Jesus Christ.

Elder Boyd K. Packar taught:

"The Stick or record of Judah-the Old Testement and the New Testament-and stick or record of Ephraim-the Book of Mormon, which is another testamenet of Jesus Christ-are now woven together in such a way that as you pore over one you are drawn to the other.  They are indeed one in our hands.  Ezekiel's prophecy now stands fulfilled (Ensign, November 1982, 53)

Has the Book of Mormon had an impact on any of your lives?  How?

How would you respond to the following situations:

• You are a parent and your 8 year old child did not want to be baptized
• Your 10 year old child did not want to go to church because he/she thought it was boring
• Your friend said that they were not going to go no a mission saying "I would not make a good missionary becuase I am not religous"
• Your non member friend says that they could not be like you because both his/her parents were alcoholics
• Pretend you are a Bishop and a member of your ward said "it's my parent's fault I left the church-they never taught me about the scriptures ot anysuch thing"
• A member of your ward said "I do not see a problem with what I have done, my dad does it all the time"

When should parents share in the responsibility for their children's actions?

My personal belief is that a parent has the responsibility to teach their childen the Gospel and how to live in the world.  This includes teaching by action as well as by command.  If they do not do this then they will be held accountable for the actions of their children.  If they do everything thing that they could to teach them the right then they have done their part.  Now everyone has the ability to make their own choices so if their children still choose the wrong chioces after the parent has taught them the right way to live then they have no responsibility for their child's actions.

The First Presidency of the Church said this in the "Family, a Proclamation to the World":
"Parents ahve a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical needs and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.  Husbands and wives-mothers and fathers-will be held accountable before God for teh discharge of these sacred obligations."

[Show a picture of a temple]

Whose house is this?

It is God's

Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-16

What promise has the Lord made to those that enter the temple worthily?

He promises that they shall see God.  Now I know that some have seen God in the temples though I do not think that this scripture means that anyone that goes to the temple worthily will see God in the physical sense.  Though I do believe that we shall "see" God or come to a better understanding of who he is and what he has and will do for us.  We shall come to know him and his work, his plan, and our destiny in that plan.

What is spiritual death?

Spiritual death is being cut off from the Lord.  No longer feeling his influence and relying soley upon yourself to choose your own path.  When Adam fell this was the curse that he had to live with.  In the garden of Eden he and Eve walked and talked with God.  He then was seperated from them as a result of transgression.  Through repentance he later was able to have the Lord in his life though it was not the same as before.  The Lamanites also suffered from a spiritual death as a result of their hard-heartedness.

The Book of Mormon Institute manual had this to say regarding this topic:

1. What was the curse? The curse is clearly defined in verse 20 as being "cut off from the presence of the Lord."
2. What caused the curse?: According to verse 21, the cause of the curse came "because of their iniquity" and "hardened...hearts."  Since the days of Adam's fall, wickedness has resulted in being cut off from the presence of the Lord (see 1 Nephi 2:21;2 Nephi 4:4; 9:6; Alma 9:13; Ether 10:11)
3. What was the mark or sign set upon the Lamanites?  It also explained in  verse 21 that so "they might not be enticing unto my people [the Nephites] the Lord did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them [the Lamanites]."  It would appear that this was done to limit the spreading of more wickedness.  Later Alma suggested this same motive when he explained that "the skins of the Lamanites were dark...that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions" (Alma 3:6, 8).  Throughout scripture we find warnings of the Lord not to marry unbelievers (see Deuternonomy 7:2-3; 2 Corintians 6:14); thje result of doing so was often that the righteous were turned away from the Lord (see Deuteronomy 7:4; 1 Kings 11:4; D&C 74:5).

Seminary: 13 2 Nephi 1-2

Background: Lehi's family is in the promised land.  Lehi and Nephi have been teaching the group.

Show the Book of Mormon Video #4 "Act for themselves"

Our agency gives us the agency to make our own choices.  These choices could lead to destruction or prosperity.

What does "prosperity" mean?

dictionary.com defines "prosperity" as: A successful, flourishing, or thriving condition.

2 Nephi 5:10-13

According to Nephi, what are some ways people can prosper?

Nephi relates their ability to "sow and reap again in abundance" and that they were able to raise herds and flocks of animals.  I am not sure what the land was like in the land of Lehi or what the animal situation.  We also do not completely know about what talents and abilities the persons in this group had.  We know that the Israelites were not unfamiliar with farming and herding though it could be that no one in this group had those skill sets.  So his wonder may be related to their group being able to perform these activities without prior knowledge on how to do it or surprise that they were able to do it in adverse circumstances.  Which ever the case Nephi tells us that they were able to do these things when the odds were against them.

Nephi did not mention money, gold or fine things at all in talking about prosperity.  Why then do some people believe that prosperity only has do with gaining money?

Most people tend to attribute a person's prosperity based upon items that they are interested in.  If a person things about or highly values money then they would attribute prosperity based upon another person's wealth. If a society valued cattle or agriculture or family then they would attribute wealth to others based upon those things.

In what other ways can people prosper?

Physically, spiritually...

1 Nephi 4:14

Elder Dean L. Larsen

"When the lives of the people are in harmony with the Lord's will, all of the essential factors that produce the blessings God deigns to give to his children seem to come into line.  Love and harmony prevail.  Even the weather, the climate, and the elements seem to respond.  Peace and tranquility endure.  Industry and progress mark the lines of the people.  It is as the Lord has promised (Ensign, November 1992, 41)

Why does it seem that the wicked prosper as much as or even more than the righteous?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"These who brood over the prosperity or seeming happiness of the wicked put too much emphasis on material things....

"The possessions of wealth or the acquisition of significant income is not a mark of heavenly favor, and their absence is not evidence of heavenly disfavor." (Pure in Heart [1988], 75).

Elder Spencer W. Kimball Wrote:

"People who are concerned about the prosperity of the wicked are sometimes blinded to their own weakness yet magnify greatly the errors of others....The wicked may prosper for a time, the rebellions may seem to profit by their transgressions, but the time is coming when, at the bar of justice, all men will be judged, 'every man according to their works.' (Revelation 20:13).  No one will 'get by' with anything.  On that day no one will escape the penalty of his deeds, no one will fail to receive the blessings he has earned."  (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 304-5)

2 Nephi 2:5

According to this verse who will qualify for exaltation?

No one.  No one can qualify for exaltation by them self.  Someone MUST step in to help and that someone is Jesus Christ.

Why is it that by the law no flesh is justified or approved before God?

Except for Christ no one has lived the law perfectly.

What kind of help do we need to fulfill the law?

We need the Atonement of Jesus Christ along with his intercession with God in order to fulfill the law.

2 Nephi 2:6-7

What did the Lord do to help us fulfill these laws?

Through his atonement and resurrection he was able to concur the curse of the fall, which was physical and spiritual death.  Through this process he suffered our punishment of breaking the laws of God.

Who receives the blessings of happiness and escapes the punishment inflicted by the spiritual law?

The scriptures tell us that only those who are humble and have a contrite spirit will be able to escape this punishment.  President Ezra Taft Benson taught that pride is the source of all pride, so if we are to route sin out of our lives we must also route pride out of our lives.

What does it mean to have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit"?

This means that you are humble and are willing to submit unto the Lord.

Based upon these statements we can see that it is not that difficult to return back to our Father in Heaven.  It will not be completely easy either because the natural man in us desires to go its own way.  To do those things that are pleasurable to the flesh and not what is right according to the spirit.

Why are you here on this earth?

Elder Russel M. Nelson:

"One of the most important reasons is to receive a mortal body body.  Another is to be tested-to experience mortality-to determine what you will do with life's challenging opportunities.  These opportunities requires you to make choices, and choices depend on agency.  A major reason for your mortal existence, therefore, is to test how you will exercise your agency.  (Ensign, November 1990, 74)

Why must we have more than one choice to exercise agency?

Agency is the ability to act for oneself.  If there are no choices then a person could not act for them self but follow the only options available.  The ability to choose between right and wrong is what gives us agency

Given the consequence of sin why do you think people choose to heed Satan's enticements?

First of all they are called "enticements" for a reason.  He offers us choices that appeal to our our natural selves.  A temptation could not be a temptation if it was not tempting or somewhat desirable.  I also believe that some people cannot see beyond what is happening at that moment and thus are not concerned about how their actions might affect their future state.  There are others that know better but do not care either thinking that they can repent later or that the specific actions will not harm their future outcome.

Elder Marvin J Ashton:

"Avoid Satan's territory of deceit.  It will never lead to happiness.  Evidence to the contrary, there are no successful sinners.  All of us must one day stand before God and be judged according to our personal deeds done in the flesh.  The burdens of the sinner will never be lighter than that of the saint" (Ensign, November 1990, 21).

Additional Material

President Henry B. Eyering:

"One of the effects of disobeying God seems to be the creation of just enough spiritual anesthetic to block any sensation as the ties to God are being cut.  Not only [does] the testimony of the truth slowly erode, but even the memories of what iw was like to be in the light [begin] to seem...like a delusion" ("A life founded in Light," Brigham Yound University 2000-2001 Speeches [2001], 81).

President Joseph Fielding Smith explained:

"Destruction does not mean annihilation.  We know because we are taught in the revelations of the Lord, tha a soul cannot be destroyed.

"Every soul born into this world shall receive the resurrection and immortality and shall endure forever.  Destruction does not mean, then, annihilation.  When the Lord says they shall be destroyed, he means that they shall be banished from his presence. of light and truth, and shall not have the privilege of gaining this exaltation; and that is destruction.  (Doctrines of Salvation, comp Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols, [1954-1956], 2:227-28).  Wickedness destroys the opportunity for a resurrection into a higher degree of glory.

Elder Richard G. Scott:

"Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously.  When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more.  He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit.  To Get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain."  (Ensign, November 1995, 16-17).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

"It is not possible to believe in Christ and his atoning sacrifice, in the true and full sense required to gain salvation, without at the same time believing and accepting the true doctrine of the fall.  If there had been no fall, there would have been no need for a Redeemer or Savior.  And it is not possible to believe in the fall, out of which immortality and eternal life come, without at the same time believing and accepting the true doctrine of the creation: If there had been no creation of all things in a deathless or immortal state, there could have been no fall, and hence no atonement and no salvation.  The Father's eternal plan called for the creation, for the fall, and for the atonement, all woven together into one united whole" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 82).

Seminary: 12 1 Nephi 20-22

Background: Lehi's family is in the promised land, Nephi is teaching the group the teachings of Isaiah.

What is a contract?

A contract is a binding agreement between two individuals.

What is a covenant?

A covenant is like a contract though it is a binding agreement between a person and God.

What is the different between the two?

The difference is that for a covenant one of the parties is God.

1 Nephi 21:1

Why has Israel been scattered?

They were scattered because they did not fulfill their end of the covenant that they made with the Lord and thus were no longer able to received the promised blessings, which included protection from their neighboring nations.

1 Nephi 21:9

Who are the "prisoners" that Nephi speaks of?

These are those who are in darkness or in other words they do not live in the light of the Gospel.  They are those who have passed on from this life and live in Spirit Prison.

Doctrine and Covenants 45:28
1 Peter 3:18-19
Doctrine and Covenants 138:57

How are these prisoners freed?

The prisoners are freed via the Gospel being preached to them while they are in prison and through vicarious work for the dead performed here on earth.

Nephi talks about Israel's complaints to the Lord regarding their trails and his promise to protect them.

1 Nephi 21:14, 21, 24

What brought about the problems that Israel refers to in these objections?

They are brought about because of their dereliction of keeping their covenants with the Lord.  His protection was lifted and they began to experience all sorts of ills including being conquered and eventually scattered by other nations.

What would it take to have these problems removed from Israel?

The Lord has said many times that his "hand is outstretched still".  All they had to do was repent and come back to the Lord.

1 Nephi 21:16

What does Isaiah mean by "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands?"

Isaiah often spoke poetically and in symbols.  He knew the Lord would be crucified for his people and this reference this event reminding them of their redeemer and that they can come back to him if they would repent.

1 Nephi 21:25-26

What will happen to those who harm or oppress Israel?

The Lord said that he will contend with those that contend with Israel.  Isaiah also said: "And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob"

Is Isaiah easy to understand?

From the Book of Mormon Institute Manual

"As Nephi selected passages from Isaiah for his record, he knew that many readers would struggle to understand them.  Even many of the people in Nephi's day could not grasp their meaning.  He mentioned three specific reasons for this difficulty:

1. They did not know "the manner of prophesying among the Jews" (2 Nephi 25:1)
   
2. They were not "filled with the spirit of prophecy" (v. 4)
   
3. They were not "taught after the manner of the things of the Jews" (v. 5)
   

In addition to the reasons Nephi gave, other difficulties exist for modern readers:

1. Most of Isaiah's writings are in poetic form.  The beauty and depth of poetry in one language does not easily translate into other languages.
   
2. Many of Isaiah's prophecies are dualistic in nature.  Consequently, the prophecies can be fulfilled in many circumstances at different times in history.
   
3. Isaiah used extensive symbolism.  Many of the objects and events he referred to were contemporary to his day and are difficult for us to understand today.
   

Three basic guidelines  assist anyone who wishes to understand what Isaiah wrote:

1. Study other scripture.  The scriptures themselves offer many insights into the meaning of Isaiah's writings.  The Bible Dictionary states, "The reader today has no greater written commentary and guide to understanding Isaiah than the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants".  Not only do these books of scripture interpret passages of Isaiah, they contain doctrines and prophecies that shed light on Isaiah's words.  These modern scriptures fill in details that are no as evident in the Bible.
   
2. Seek the spirit of prophecy.  As Nephi mentioned, those who were not "filled with the spirit of prophecy" in his day could not understand the meaning of Isaiah's writings.  The same is true today.  Each serious student of Isaiah must seek revelation through the Holy Ghost to enlighten their mind and to help them read the words by the same Spirit in which they were written-in the testimony of Jesus Christ.
   
3. Study diligently.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915-85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged Latter-day Saints to devote themselves to serious study of Isaiah:  "Read, ponder, and pray-verse by verse, thought by thought, passage by passage, chapter by chapter!  As Isaiah himself asks: 'Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?' His answer: 'them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.' (Isaiah 28:9-10)" ("Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah," Ensign, October 1973, 83).

Why did Nephi include the words of Isaiah?

From the Book of Mormon Institute Manual:

Nephi began the first of his Isaiah citations with these words: "Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all those house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written"

"And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words.  For I will liken his words unto my people, and i will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my redeemer, even as I have seen him.

"And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true.  Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word.  Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words"

If we keep our part of the covenant will life be easy?

From the Book of Mormon Institute Manual:

Intense heat refines metal and removes impurities.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed that affliction can likewise refine and purify each of us: "Most of us experience some measure of what the scriptures cal 'the furnace of affliction' (Isaiah 48:10; 1 Nephi 20:10).  Some are submerged in service to a disadvantaged family member.  Others suffer the death of a loved one of the loss or postponement of a righteous goal like marriage or childbearing.  Still others struggle with personal impairments or with feelings of rejection, inadequacy, or depression.  Through the justice and mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, the refinement and sanctification possible through such experiences can help us achieve what God desires us to become" (Ensign, November 2000, 33-34).

Additional Materials

Book of Mormon Institute Manual

What happened during Isaiah's lifetime, and why are his prophecies still being fulfilled today?

Isaiah prophesied from approximately 740-701 B.C. During his lifetime the kingdoms of Israel and Judah rose in prosperity and struggled with idolatry.  The unrighteousness of the people led to spiritual weakness and political peril.  In a short period of time, Israel and Judah became weak vassal states cowering under the mighty Assyrian empire.  In fact, the scattering of Israel began during Isaiah's lifetime, as many Israel from the northern kingdom of Israel were carried away captive by the Assyrians.

Book of Mormon Institute Manual

In 1 Nephi 20:1-2, the prophet Isaiah chastised the house of Israel for claiming to follow the Lord without keeping His commandments.  They felt that because they were His covenant people and lived in the holy city of Jerusalem, God would always protect them.  Isaiah taught that it is not where you live but how you live that is important.

Book of Mormon Institute Manual

As with other great ancient empires, Babylon's ascendancy to wealth and glory was accompanied by moral decay, wickedness, and iniquity.  Babylon's corruption was so extensive that the very name became a symbol for worldliness, spiritual wickedness, and Satan's kingdom.

God decreed that the Medes should completely destroy Babylon in its wickedness.  Under the rule of Cyrus the Great, an alliance of Medes and Persians dammed the mighty Euphrates River and marched through the riverbed and under the walls of Babylon to capture the city and overthrow the empire as well as spiritual Babylon.  Isaiah foresaw the graphic destruction of the Babylon of his day as a result of the great wickedness of its people.  Consequently, he used the term Babylon in his prophecies to typify the spiritual condition of the latter days and the judgement that would come upon the world at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Seminary: 11 1 Nephi 19

Background: The reach the seashore, the "land of Bountiful" after eight years of travel.  Nephi was commanded to build a boat.  Laman and Lemuel want to kill Nephi though Nephi was filled with the power of God and stopped them.  They finished the ship and departed together into the sea.  The Liahona stopped working due to their the disobedience of Laman, Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael (and their families). Their lives are threatened by storms and they repent release Nephi and the Liahona starts working again.  The finally reach the promised land.

What do you consider most sacred in your life?

How do you feel when people mock or belittle them?

1 Nephi 19:7

What does it mean to "set something as naught?"

It means to treat is as something that is not worth anything.

How is is possible to "trample" the Savior under one's feet?

To trample something means to put it beneath you.  By fighting against the Lord's people and his commandments they are setting his gospel as "naught" or saying that it has no worth and that it is beneath you.

What does "hearken" mean?

To hearken to something is more than just listening to something.  It is listening and then obeying.  Hearken implies action.

1 Nephi 19:18-19

Again, why did Nephi write these words?

That he "might persuade them that they might remember the Lord their redeemer."

How do people today ignore the counsels of the Lord?

There three types of people that ignore the counsel of the Lord; those that hear the counsel but think that it does not apply to them but to someone else, there are those that do not believe in the words and do not follow them, and there are those that believe but do not care to obey the counsel.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught:

"We speak with wonder and horror, and properly we should, of the fact that the Jews, with the scriptures, the miracles, and the mighty works before them, yet rejected their God, and did it so violently and with such a fixed determination that they brought about his death by Roman hands.  To enable us to keep our perspective, however, we need to view with fairness and dispassion how and in what manner he was rejected and ask whether he would be so treated today.  As Jacob said, only the Jews, among all the then existing nations, seeing the miracles he did and being aware of the wonders he performed, would have crucified him. (1 Nephi 19-7-9)   But would others among men have rejected him, and how and in what manner do men reject so great a thing as the ministry of a God among them?" (The Promised Messiah, 494-95)

Common warnings we hear:

• Don't run in the street!
• Don't play with fire!
• Don't take candy from a stranger!

Where have you heard these before?

Why would someone give these warnings?

What is the danger of ignoring these warnings?

If you warned a friend and they ignored the warning and got hurt how would you feel?

1 Nephi 19:13-14

What would happen to the Jews who were at Jerusalem during the crucifixtion?  Why?

Bruce R. McConkie gave the answer to this question:

"Why was Israel scattered?  The answer is clear; it is plain; of it there is no doubt.  Our Israelite forebears were scattered because they rejected the gospel, defiled the priesthood, forsook the church, and departed from the kingdom.  They were scattered because they turned from the Lord, worshiped false gods, and walked in all the ways of the heathen nations.  They were scattered because they forsook the Abrahamic covenant, trampled under their feet the holy ordinances, and rejected the Lord Jehovah, who is the Lord Jesus, of whom all their prophets testified.  Israel was scattered for apostasy.  The Lord in his wrath, because of their wickedness and rebellion, scattered them among the heathen in all the nations of the earth" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 515).

At what point will Israel be gathered by the Lord?

That process has already been started.  Our sending of the missionaries throughout the world is the fulfillment of this prophecy.  The scattered Israel are being gathered in by the Gentiles.

1 Nephi 19:23

What does it mean to liken the scriptures to oneself?

To liken the scriptures means to try to apply them to oneself.

Seminary: 10 1 Nephi 17-18

Background:  Lehi's sons and Zoram marry Ishmael's daughters, they found the Liahona, they left the borders of the Red Sea and went back into the wilderness following the guidance of the Liahona.  Nephi's bow broke and his brother's bows have lost their spring.  Nephi makes a new bow.  He is able to find food though it is sparse and there is not a lot to eat.  Ishmael dies and many in the party are murmuring due to these hardships.

Scenario

Let's say that you are forced to go on a long, hot trip.  Say from San Antonio to Phoenix (about 1000 mile each way).  You have nine people packed into a small car.  The car's air-conditioning unit is broke and all but one window will not roll down.  There is an infant in the car.  You have no food or money.

How do you think everyone would get along?

What are likely areas of contention?

What could you do personally to improve the situation?

1 Nephi 17:1-6

How long have they been traveling in the wilderness?

They had been traveling about eight years.

What were some of the afflictions that they mentioned?

They were in a hot and desolate area, there was not much food, the family did not get a long, their women were traveling pregnant and gave birth while in the wilderness.

How were they blessed during their travel?

The were blessed that the raw meat that they at was "made sweet".  They were blessed that their women were able to provide milk for their children while traveling in the wilderness.  Their children were made strong.  He said that there were many other blessings that were too numerous to write.

After they got to the land of Bountiful by the sea shore the Lord came to Nephi and commanded him to come up into the mountain.

1 Nephi 17:7-8

Why did the Lord command Nephi to go to the mountain?

In the days of Nephi the Lord would many times communicate with his subject in the tops of the mountains when a temple was not available.  Mountain tops were considered to be sacred places.  The Lord also gave Nephi a commandment to build a boat.

1 Nephi 17:9-11

How did Nephi respond to the Lord's commandment?

Even though Nephi had no knowledge how to build a boat, his response was to ask the Lord where he could go to make tools to do as the Lord asked.

What does this tell us about Nephi?

Nephi had complete faith in the Lord and that he could accomplish anything the Lord asked.  Because of that he knew that he could do it so his response was to ask where to find the ore to make the tools.

Additional Material

Book of Mormon Institute Manual, 39

"Why were Laman and Lemuel unable to understand the Lord's will, even after seeing an angel?  Why couldn't they receive a spiritual confirmation of their journey as their younger brother Nephi did? (1 Nephi 17:45).  President James E. Faust (1920-2007) of the First Presidency compared a person's worthiness of receiving the Spirit to receiving a signal on a cell phone:

"Cellular phones are used for much of the communication in our time.  Occasionally, however, we find dead spots where the signal coming to a cell phone fails.  This can happen when the cell phone user is in a tunnel or a canyon or when there is other interference.

"So it is with divine communication.  The still, small voice, though still and small, is very powerful.  It 'whispereth through and pierceth all things' [D&C 85:6]....Perhaps something in our lives prevents us from hearing the message because in our lives prevents us from hearing the message because we are 'past feeling' [1 Nephi 17:45].  We often put ourselves in spiritual dead spots-places and situations that block out divine messages.  some of these dead spots include anger, pornography, transgression, selfishness, and other situations that offend the Spirit (Ensign, May 2004, 67).

President Boyd K. Packer:

"The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear.  It is described as a 'still small voice' [D&C 85:6].  And while we speak of 'listening' to the whispering of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, 'I had a feeling....'

"Revelation comes as words we feel more than hear.  Nephi told his wayward brothers, who were visited by an angel, 'Ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words' (Ensign, November 1994, 60).

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:

"I fear that some members of the Lord's Church 'live far beneath our privileges' with regard to the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Some are distracted by the things of the world that block out the influences of the Holy Ghost, preventing them from recognizing spiritual promptings.  This is a noisy and busy world that we live in.  Remember that being busy is not necessarily being spiritual.  If we are not careful, the things of this world can crowd out the things of the Spirit.

"Some are spiritually deadened and past feeling because of their choices to commit sin.  Others simply hover in spiritual complacency with no desire to rise above themselves and commune with the infinite.  If they would open their hearts to the refining influence of this unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, a glorious new spiritual dimension would come to light.  Their eyes would gaze upon a vista scarcely imaginable.  They could know for themselves things of the Spirit that are choice, precious, and capable of enlarging the soul, expanding the mind, and filling the heart with inexplicable joy" (Ensign, May 2003).

For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God [2001], 20-21

"Choose carefully the music you listen to.  Pay attention to how you feel when you are listening.  Don't listen to music that drives away the Spirit, encourages immorality, glorifies violence, [or] uses foul or offensive language.....

"Dancing can be fun and can provide an opportunity to meet new people.  However, it too can be misused.  When dancing, avoid full body contact with your partner.  Do not use positions or moves that are suggestive or sexual behavior.  Plan and attend dances where dress, grooming, lighting, lyrics, and music contribute to a wholesome atmosphere where the Spirit of the Lord may be present."

Seminary: 09 1 Nephi 16

Background:

Lehi's family is camped by the shore of the red sea, Ishmael's family is with them, Lehi had his dream and Nephi has received a vision that explained to him his father's dream.

1 Nephi 16:1-2

Why do people react differently to the teachings of the prophets?

Nephi said that he spoke hard things to the wicked, according to the truth, though the righteous he has justified.  Only those that are no in line with the teachings of the prophets will find them hard and unbearable.  For the righteous these teachings only confirm to them that what they are doing is right and that they will be blessed for it.

1 Nephi 16:3-5

What counsel did Nephi give his brothers to help them be more receptive to the Spirit?

Nephi counseled them to Keep the commandments, humble themselves before the Lord and hearken unto the truth.  He did this so that they could "...walk uprightly before God."  Or in other words that they my be righteous and not find the truth to be hard but confirming.

How can this counsel help you?

This counsel can help anyone that is desirous to be clean in the sight of the Lord.  Anyone who does not want to find the truth to be hard.  Anyone that desires to stand on the right hand of the Lord as one of his blessed and chosen children.  Someone who desired to inherit all that the Lord has, to receive everlasting happiness and joy in his kingdom.

Elder Robert D. Hales counselled us:

"I have come to understand how useless it is to dwell on the whys, what ifs, and if onlys for which there likely will be given no answers in mortality.  To receive the Lord's comfort, we must exercise faith.  The questions Why me? Why out family? Why now? are usually unanswerable questions.  These questions detract from our spirituality and can destroy our faith.  We need to spend our time and energy building our faith by turning to the Lord and asking for strength to overcome the pains and trials of this world and to endure to the end for greater understanding" (Ensign, November 1998, 14-15).

What is a compass and how is it used?

A compass is a devised to help guide someone based upon where they are in relation to true north and where they want to go.  It cannot really give direction.  A person must use it and determine direction based upon the results of what the compass produces.

1 Nephi 16:9-10

What is the Liahona?

The Liahona was a device that "the Lord prepared" for the use of guiding his servants.  The only ones that we are aware of that have used this or similar devices is Lehi's family though it is possible that others may have benefited from the same or similar devices.  Lehi describes the Liahona as a "round ball of curious workmanship."  It was made of brass and had two spindles.  One was used to provide direction (we are never really told what the other was for).  Later we find out that the Liahona works based upon faith.  When the user has faith then it will point in the right way.  If the user does not have faith then it will no longer function properly.  We are also told that words can be displayed on it to provide instruction and counsel to the user.

How did the Liahona differ from a compass.  A compass will always point in the same direction.  The path that the user much go depends upon the user's interpretation of the results and where they want to go.  They should already have a destination in mind in order to correctly use the compass.  The Liahona on the other hand will only point in the direction that the Lord wants the user to go in assuming that the user has the faith to use it.  If they do not then it will not work.  The Lord is the one with the destination in mind and is the one directing the user where to go.

What do we have today that is like the Liahona?

We have the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.  We have the scriptures, living prophets, patriarchal blessings and so forth.  Although all these things help to give us direction from the Lord the closed thing to the Liahona that we have today is the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  Our ability to be directed by it is dependent upon our faith, and our ability to listen to its promptings.  He can give us instruction as well as direction.  Also like the Liahona we can only get it from the Lord.  It must be bestowed upon a person by someone who has the authority (priesthood) and permission to do so.

In times when we are in tough situations we must rely on the Lord's direction to help us know how we should act.

Ponder these scenarios:

1. You have just been called to serve in the presidency of the priest's quorum.  Your family is excited about your new responsibilities, but a disagreement emerges when they learn that you now have meetings on Sunday morning.  Your parents also have Sunday morning meetings, and your family has depended on you to get your two little brothers ready and then drive all of your brothers and sisters to church.
2. For years your whole family has enjoyed cheering for you at your soccer games.  Changes in the league schedule have placed some games on Sunday.  When you talk to your family, they are surprised that you are worried about playing on Sunday.  All are in favor of continuing the family outings to the games.  You decide to keep the Sabbath but now don't know how to tell your family.
3. Times have been difficult for your family.  Not only is your dad working two jobs, but your mother, your older brothers and sisters, and you have all been forced to take jobs too.  On the way to your late-night job, a drunk driver speeds through a red light and hits your car.  You survive without injuries, but your car is totaled.  even though the accident was not your fault, your entire family is upset at you because they depended on the car.  Even your dad loses his temper.

Nephi also ran in to tough situations.

1 Nephi 16:17-21

What was Nephi's challenge in this passage?

Nephi was one of the primary gatherers of food for their little group.  He owned a steel bow that he used for hunting.  The area in which they were contained sparse amounts of food.  One day his bow broke so that he was no longer able to hunt food.  His brother's bows had lost their spring and the group was no unable to hunt for food.  The group blamed the situation on Nephi even though it was beyond his control.

1 Nephi 16:23

What was Nephi's response?

Nephi's response was to make a new bow and arrow, along with a backup weapon which was a sling.  No one else in the group was showing any initiative to fix the situation.  They just wanted to complain about why their situation was so bad.

How was his response different from his family's?

Nephi was faithful and looking for answers to their issues while everyone else did nothing but murmured.

Nephi then went to his father and asked him to ask the Lord on where he should go to find food for the family.  By doing this he allowed his father to retain his leadership of the group as well as gave him an opportunity to humble himself before the Lord and repent of his murmuring.

When Lehi petitioned the Lord this is when they found out that the Liahona worked by faith they then learned a valuable lesson that if they hoped to reach the promised land that they must remain faithful.

Elder David A. Bednar compared the Liahona to the Spirit:

"The Liahona was prepared by the Lord and given to Lehi and his family after they left Jerusalem and were traveling in the wilderness.  This compass or director pointed the way that Lehi and his caravan should go, even 'a straight course to the promised land'.  The pointers in the Liahona operated 'according to the faith and diligence and heed' of the travelers and failed to work when family members were contentious, rude, slothful, or forgetful.

"The compass also provided a means whereby Lehi and his family could obtain greater 'understanding and his family could obtain greater 'understanding concerning the ways of the Lord'.  Thus, the primary purposes of the Liahona were to provide both direction and instruction during a long and demanding journey.  The director was a physical instrument that served as an outward indicator of their inner spiritual standing before God.  It worked according to the principles of faith and diligence.

"Just as Lehi was blessed in ancient times, each of us in this day has been given a spiritual compass that can direct and instruct us during our mortal journey.  The Holy Ghost was conferred upon you and me as we came out of the world and into the Savior's Church through baptism and confirmation.By the authority of the holy priesthood we were confirmed as members of the Church and admonished to seek for the constant companionship of 'the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeet him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you' (John 14:17).

"As we each press forward along the pathway of life, we receive direction from the Holy Ghost just as Lehi was directed through the Liahona.  'For behold, again I say the Holy ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do' (2 Nephi 32:5).

"The Holy Ghost operates in our lives precisely as the Liahona did for Lehi and his family, according to our faith and diligence and heed" (Ensign, May 2006, 30-31)

Additional Materials

President Ezra Taft Benson:

"Some time ago, a young man came to my office requesting a blessing.  He was about eighteen years of age and had some problems.  There were no serious moral problems, but he was mixed up in his thinking and worried.  He requested a blessing.

"I said to him, 'Have you ever asked your father to give you a blessing?  Your father is a member of the Church I assume?'

"He said, 'Yes, he is an elder, a rather inactive elder.'

"When I asked, 'Do you love your father?' he replied, 'Yes, Brother Benson, he is a good man.  I live him.'  He the said, 'He doesn't attend to his priesthood duties as he should.  He doesn't go to church regularity, I don't know that he is a tithe payer, but he is a good man, a good provider, a kind man.'

"I said, 'How would you like to talk to him at an opportune time and ask him if he would be willing to give you a father's blessing?'

"'Oh,' he said, 'I think that would frighten him.'

"A few days later he came back.  He said, 'Brother Benson, that's the sweetest thing that has happened in our family.'  He could hardly control his feelings as he told me what had happened.  He said, 'When the opportunity was right, I mentioned it to Father, and he replied, "Son, do you really want me to give you a blessing?"  I told him, "Yes, Dad, I would like you to."'  Then he said, 'Brother Benson, he gave me one of the most beautiful blessings you could ever ask for.  Mother sat there crying all during the blessing.  When he got through there was a bond of appreciation and gratitude and love between us that we have never had in our home'" (Ensign, November 1977, 31-32

Ensign February 2001, 79

"A group of Latter-day Saint researchers recently found evidence linking a site in Yemen, on the southwest corner of the Arabian peninsula, to a name associated with Lehi's journey as recorded in the Book of Mormon.

"Warren Aston, Lynn Hilton, and Gregory Witt located a stone altar that professional archaeologists dated to at least 700 B.C. This altar contains an inscription confirming 'Nahom' as an actual place that existed in the peninsula before the time of Lehi"

Seminary: 08 1 Nephi 8-9

Background: Lehi received a dream or vision of the tree of life.  Lehi then instructed his family regarding the vision that the Lord showed him.  Nephi desired to know and see what his father saw so he humbly prayed and asked to see these things.

1 Nephi 10:6

What would it be like if there were no Redeemer?

Nephi mentions that all mankind would be in a lost and fallen state if there were no Redeemer.  Or in other words there would be no hope for redemption.  All mankind would never be free from the curse of the fall or from their own stain that is a result of their imperfections.

Mosiah 3:19

According to King Benjamin, what must a man do to overcome the "Natural Man?"

He said that we need to "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit."  We must become "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things that the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him."

President Joseph Fielding Smith once said:

"The whole plan of redemption is based on vicarious sacrifice, One without sin standing for the whole human family, all of whom were under the curse.  It is most natural and just that he who commits the wrong should pay the penalty-atone for this wrongdoing.  Therefore, when Adam was the transgressor of the law, justice demanded that he, and none else, should answer for the sin and pay the penalty with his life.

"But Adam, in breaking the law, himself became subject to the curse, and being under the curse could not atone for or undo, what he had done.  Neither could his children, for they also were under the curse to atone for the original sin.  Moreover, since we were all under the curse, we were also powerless to atone for our individual sins.

"It, therefore, became necessary for the Father to send his only Begotten Son, who was free from sin, to atone for our sins as well as for Adam's transgression, which justice demanded should be done.  He accordingly offered himself a sacrifice for sins, and through his death upon the cross took upon himself both Adam's transgression and our individual sins, thereby redeeming us from the fall, and from our sins, on condition of repentance."

How can we be redeemed from the curse of the fall?

Jesus came down and offered himself as our redeemer.  Through his life and death he was able to conquer physical and spiritual death.  In order for these acts to be able to cover or redeem us we would need to fulfill our end of the covenant.  We would need to do as he did and as he commanded.

At times it is hard to know how we should act in some situations.  So some may question... Who can receive answers to their prayers?

The answer is simple... Anyone can receive answers to their prayers.  It is a matter of whether we are listening and looking for the answer and willing to accept the answer that is given when it comes.

Nephi provides an excellent example of how revelation is received.

1 Nephi 10:17

Nephi desired to see what his father saw.  Nephi had faith that the Lord would bless him with his desire by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.  He diligently sought for the answers from the Lord.  As a result he was ready for the answer when it came and was worthy to be blessed with a revelation from the Lord.

By what power did Nephi realize the truth would be revealed?

He knew that the Spirit of the Lord is the power by which he would receive truth.

What must we do to receive revelation from the Holy Ghost?

Elder David A. Bednar explained

"The Spirit of the Lord usually communicates with us in ways that are quiet, delicate, and subtle...

"The standard is clear.  If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing.  If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us.  Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us.  Because we estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for us" (Ensign, May 2006, 29-30)

What does the "Mysteries of God" mean?

1 Nephi 10:19

The "Mysteries of God" are the things that are impossible for man to know without divine intervention.

What prevented Nephi's brothers from knowing what their father taught them?

Nephi's brothers did not have faith that the Lord would reveal the answers to their questions so they did not seek the answers.  The Lord has said that he that seeketh will find.  On the other hand he that does not seeketh will not find.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks talked about how our disbelief could prevent us from understanding the things of the Lord:

"Nephi attempted to teach his brothers that they could know the meaning of their father's prophetic utterances, 'which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord' (1 Nephi 15:3).  Nephi told them if they did not harden their hearts and would keep the commandments and inquire of the Lord in faith, 'surely these things shall be made know unto you' (1 Nephi 15:11).

"If we harden our hearts, reject continuing revelation, and limit our learning to what we can obtain by study and reason on the precise language of the present canon of scriptures, our understanding will be limited to what Alma called 'the lesser portion of the word' (Alma 12:11).  If we seek and accept revelation and inspiration to enlarge our understanding of the scriptures, we will realize a fulfillment of Nephi's inspired promise that those who diligently seek will have 'the mysteries of God...unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost' (1 Nephi 10:19)" ("Scripture reading and Revelation," Ensign, Jan 1995, 7).

 Think to yourself... Have you ever had a burning desire to know the answer to a probelm?

Now think about what lengths you might have gone to in order to find that answer.

1 Nephi 13:24-25

In Nephi's vision he saw a "book that proceedeth from the mouth of the Jew."  What is this book?

This "book" that Nephi saw was the Bible or at least the collection of the writings and prophecies that came from the prophets from the middle east area.  Today we call this "book" the Bible.

What did this "book" contain?

It contained the word of the Lord and was pure as it came from the voice of the Lord's representatives.

1 Nephi 13:26

What happened to the "book?"

Nephi saw that shortly after the "book" came forth it was corrupted by Satan to mislead us from understanding the Gospel of the Lord.

Joseph Smith taught about this corruption:

"...many important points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled...it came from the original pen of the original writers...ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors." (History of the Church, 6:57)

1 Nephi 13:29

What happened next?

After Nephi saw the corruption he then saw the book being spread across the world.  It went to all nations and tongues.

The 8th Article of Faith:

"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

Why is the phrase "...as far as it is translated correctly..." not related to the Book of Mormon?

The Bible had gone through many hands over the years.  It was translated by by the power and knowledge of man.  Languages do not always translate cleanly.  Many times one word can be translated in many different ways depending upon context.  So unless the person had the original writer there with them or they have a higher being inspiring them it is very difficult to be able to accurately translate what was written.

The Book of Mormon on the other hand went directly from the writer to the translator.  The translator also was blessed to have inspiration from the Lord as to the correct meaning so that the translation was as accurate as possible.

Lehi's Dream Interpretation Exercise

Additional Materials

Elder Marvin J Ashton

"Sometimes when we are asked to be obedient, we do not know why, except the Lord commanded.  Nephi followed instructions even though he didn't fully understand the wise purpose.  His obedience resulted in blessings to mankind all over the world.  By not obeying our present-day leaders, we plan our seeds in stony places and may forfeit the harvest" (Ensign, November 1978, 51).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

"Why was Israel scattered?  The answer is clear; it is plain; of it there is no doubt.  Our Israelite forebears were scattered because they rejected the gospel, defiled the priesthood, forsook the church, and departed from the kingdom.  They were scattered because they turned from the Lord, worshiped false gods, and walked in all the ways of the heathen nations....Israel was scattered for apostasy.  The Lord in his wrath, because of their wickedness and rebellion, scattered them among the heathen in all the nations of the earth.

"What, then, is involved in the gathering of Israel?  The gathering of Israel consists in believing and accepting and living in harmony with all that the Lord once offered his ancient chosen people.  It consists of having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of repenting, of being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of keeping the commandments of God.  It consists of believing the gospel, joining the Church, and coming into the kingdom.  It consists of receiving the holy priesthood, being endowed in holy places with power from on high, and receiving all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through the ordinance of celestial marriage.  And it may also consist of assembling to an appointed place or land of worship.

"Having this concept of the scattering and gathering of the chosen seed, we are able to understand the prophetic word relative thereto" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 515).

Elder Russell M. Nelson

"Living the Lord's standard requires that we cultivate the gift of the Holy Ghost.  That gift helps us understand doctrine and apply it personally.  Because truth that is given by revelation can be understood only by revelation, our studies need to be prayerful" (Ensign, November 2000, 17)

From the Book of Mormon Institute Manual

"Condescension means a voluntary descent from rank or dignity.  Elder Gerald N. Lund, formerly of the Seventy, commented on how well this word describes the coming of the Savior into mortality: "Here was Jesus-a member of the Godhead, the Firstborn of the Father, the Creator, Jehovah of the Old Testament-now leaving His divine and holy station; divesting Himself of all that glory and majesty and entering the body of a tiny infant; helpless, completely dependent on His mother and earthly father.  That He should not come to the finest of earthly palaces and be...showered with jewels but should come to a lowly stable is astonishing.  Little wonder that the angel should say to Nephi, 'Behold the condescension of God!'" (Jesus Christ, Key to the Plan of Salvation [1991], 16).

President Gordon B. Hinckley

"A host of critics have spoken out against [Christopher Columbus], I do not dispute that there were others who came to this Western Hemisphere before him.  But it was he who in faith lighted a lamp to look for a new way to China and who in the process discovered America.  his was an awesome undertaking-to sail west across the unknown seas farther than any before him of his generation.  He it was who, in spite of the terror of the unknown and the complaints and the near mutiny of his crew, sailed on with frequent prayers to the Almighty for guidance.  In his reports to the sovereigns of Spain, Columbus repeatedly to the sovereigns of Spain, Columbus repeatedly asserted that his voyage was for the glory of God and the spread of Christian faith.  Properly do we honor him for his unyielding strength in the face of uncertainty and danger" (Ensign, November 1992, 52).

Seminary: 07 1 Nephi 6-7

Background:

Lehi's family is living in the wilderness.  They now have the Brass Plates.  They have gathered together seeds of every kind to take with them on their journey to make sure that they would have food to survive. 

1 Nephi 6:4-6

What was Nephi's intent for the words that he recorded on his plates?

Besides the fact that he was commanded to keep a record his intent was to "persuade all men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved."

2 Nephi 33:10-11

Whose words are we reading?

Nephi mentions that these words are the words of Christ.

President Ezra Taft Benson teaches about teachings in the Books of Mormon (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 203).

"The Book of Mormon is the great standard we are to use in our missionary work.  It shows that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  It contains the words of Christ, and its great mission is to bring men to Christ.  All other things are secondary....It does not contain things which are not interested in it.  It is a great sieve."

The purpose of a sieve is to filter the contaminates from a sample material.  In this instance the Book of Mormon is a sieve becuase if someone does not have a testimony of it then everything that came from it or lead up to it would not be true in their eyes.  The Lord would never give a false prophet a book of scripture to translate.  Neither would he give a true prophet a false book of scripture to translate.  It is an all or nothing situation.

Divide the group into two groups and play the Scripture mastery "memory" game.

In games that involve the development of teams, what are common ways in which people choose sides?

Many times sides are chosen by some common element, boys vs girls, adults vs youth, one school or group against another and so forth.  Another common method is to have "captains" to pick teams.  In some situations the whole tries to group people together by skill sets to try to come up with even teams.  The last option that I can think of is where there are two sides and everyone gets an option to select which side they want to be on.

How do some of the potential players feel if they do not get selected, do not fit into any of the selection groups or are chosen last?

To be picked last or left out is never a good feeling.  It leaves the person(s) with the feeling of inadequacies.

In the case of Good vs Evil we are in a situation where we get to choose which side we want to be on.  The Savior wants us to choose his side.  It is not the easy path but it is the most rewarding.

Now back to Lehi's familiy's situation the only thing that they needed now for them to survive was to find spouses for their children.  They was no way to know whether the place that the Lord was taking them would have other peoples or not plus if they were to raise up their children in their beliefs and culture they would need to have spouses of the same culture and faith.  Now the Lord knows all and knew where they were going.  He also had a desire that they would be able to raise their children in the Gospel (otherwise he would not have commanded them to retrieve the Brass Plates).  In order for them to be successful in that they also needed to have spouses who had the same beliefs and culture.  For this reason the Lord commanded them to go back to Jerusalem to invite Ishmael and his family to join them.  I am not sure how familiar they were with Lehi's family though I can only guess that since they were able to get access to his home without being killed (many people in the city wanted to kill Lehi) probably means that they were familiar with eachother.  Also because they believed Nephi and came with them is a good indicator that they had a trust and faith in Lehi and his words though I could be reading too much into this.

While on the trip from Jerusalem to where Lehi was living in the wilderness, Laman, Lemuel and some of the children of Ishmael "rebelled" against Nephi and wanted to go back to Jerusalem.  Here was a situation where the members of this party had to pick sides regarding this confrontation.  Some chose the side to return and others chose to try to convince them to release Nephi and to continue on.

Nephi spoke to remind them of all they have seen and questioned how they could have forgotten these things and hardened their hearts against the commandments of the Lord (1 Nephi 7:15).  As with most people who are not following the commandments of the Lord and are called to task on it they were not happy with Nephi for reminding them of it.  As a result they tied him up with the purpose of leaving him to be eaten by the wild beats in the area.  Nephi petitioned the Lord for help and was able to break the ropes that they bound him with. 

The Book of Mormon institute manual has the following to say regading this verse (page 20):

Laman and those influenced by him were not captived on the journey toward the land of promise.  Nephi ansered their desire to return to Jerusalem by declaring a fundamental doctrine, "Ye have choice".  As President Thomas S. Monson stated, "Each of us has the responsibility to choose.  You may ask, Are decisions really that important?  I say to you, decisions determine destiny.  You can't make eternal decisions without eternal consequences." ("Pathways to Perfection," Ensign, May 2002, 100).

Nephi warned his brothers and those who wanted to go with them that they would parish if they returned to Jerusalem.  Blinded by hardheartedness and disobedience, those rebelling against Lehi and Nephi failed to perceive the truth of Lehi's prophecies concerning the destruction that awaited Jarusalem.  According to the Bible, soon after Lehi's colony left, the city was surrounded by the babylonians, "there was no bread for the people of the land," the "city was broken up," and Zedekiah's army scattered (see 2 Kings 25:1-7).  If Laman and Lemuel had returned to Jerusalem, they would have suffered captivity or death.  Because they chose to follow Lehi and Nephi, they enjoyed the fruit and honey of theland of Bountiful while preparing for an inheritance in the land of promise ( see 1 Nephi 17:3-6).

How can you tell which side people are on today?

A person's actions show who their master is.  A person does not do the works of one master while service the other.  So if a person's actions are not in line with the Lord then they are not service the Lord.

1 Nephi 7:17-20

How did the Lord deliver Nephi from his predicament?

He gave Nephi the power to break his bonds.

Elder Gene R. Cook taught:

"...like Nephi, we can be delivered from our own bonds by the prayer of faith: 'note that they [Nephi, Alma, and Amulek] did not have faith in their own strength; they trusted inthe Lord and relied on his strength.  It is faith in Christ that will deliver us from our own bonds; it is increasing our faith in Christ that will give us added power in prayer'" (Receiving Answers to Our Prayers [1996], 18).

What are some of the advantages of being on the Lord's side?

The benefits are limitless.  Since he can do anything, which means that if he wills and we are faithfully serving him then we can as well.  The imporant thing is if he wills.

Additional Quotes about these chapters that were not included in the lesson plan:

Book of Mormon Insitute Manual (pg 19)

"Book of Mormon brings men to Christ....It tells in a plain manner of Christ and His gospel.  It testifies of His divinity and of the necessary for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him.  It bears witness of the Fall and the Atonement and the first principles of the gospel, including our need of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a spiritual rebirth.  It proclaims we must endure to the end in righteaousness and live the moral life of a Saint" ("We Add Our Witness," Ensign, Mar 1989, 5).

2 Nephi 26:11

"...when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh a speedy destruction..."

Seminary: 06 1 Nephi 5

Background:

This chapter has a large focus from the point of view of Lehi's wife Sariah.  From her point of view they have left all of their comforts, which the scriptures leads us to believe that they were a comfortable family, to live in the wilderness for some period of time maybe for ever.  They are leaving all of their friends and family (with the exception of their children and children's families).  Many of the people in Jerusalem want to kill them.  She knows that they will never be able to return to their home again.  The wilderness contains many wild animals and bandits.  They traveled for 12 to 14 days until they came to the banks of the Red Sea.  The Lord commands, through Lehi, that their sons travel back to Jerusalem to get the Brass Plates. Sariah is now left in a camp where the only male, that we know of, is her husband and they are getting up in age.  After about a month's period of time her sons have not come back (about 12 to 14 days travel in each direction and at least two days while in the city maybe more).

If you were in Sariah's position how would you feel?

It is understandable that Sariah lashes out a bit a Lehi.  We do not know much about her so we do not know how much faith she had in the first place regarding Lehi's visions.  I believe that she did though I can understand that she would start to crack a little at the situation.

1 Nephi 5:1-2

In these verses Sariah expresses her feelings to Lehi and complained against him for being a "visionary" man.  It is interesting that this statement from her is meant to be a slight though Lehi confirms that he is a "visionary" man but uses the term as a source of pride.

1 Nephi 5:4-5

Lehi confirms that he is a "visionary" man and then explains that because of this they were safely lead away from Jerusalem and will be preserved when the city is destroyed.  He consoles her with his testimony that God is the one that directing these events.  He also expresses his faith that the Lord will deliver their children from harm and that they will come back to them safe and sound.

1 Nephi 5: 7

Nephi and his brothers return along with Zoram and the Brass Plates.

1 Nephi 5:8

Sariah expresses that she now knows that the Lord is directing the events. and that he delivered her sons from the hands of Laban.

What was in the Brass Plates?

The Brass Plates contained the writings of the prophets from Moses up to their current time.  I find it interesting that the Israelites refused to believe the prophets and actively chased them away and killed them though they made sure to take the time to write down their words.  The Brass Plates also contained the fullness of the Law of Moses as well as Lehi's geneology.

How will the Brass Plates help Lehi to preserve the commandments of the Lord for his children?

They will help because he will be able to teach his children from them.  Without them their traditions will be lost.

1 Nephi 5:22

What value would we have of bringing our scriptures with us when we travel?

first off we are strongly advised to study the scripture nightly.  If we go somewhere and do not take them with us then we would not be able to follow this advice.  Plus many times we are put into situations where someone asks us about the scriptures or wants to learn more about what we believe.  With out keeping the scripture handy we would have a difficult time providing the answers to those questions.

Seminary: 05 1 Nephi 4

Background:

Lehi and his family is in hiding in the wilderness.  Their people want to kill them.  They have given up all of their possessions.  The Lord, through Lehi, commanded his sons to return to Jerusalem to retrieve the Brass Plates.  After several attempts they were not successful in convincing Laban to give them the plates.  Laman and Lemuel are upset with Nephi and Sam (since Sam is following Nephi's lead) and start to beat Nephi and Sam.  An angel appears to them and tells them to stop and to try again and the Lord would prepare the way.

When they return to Jerusalem (it looks like they retreated outside the city walls after their last attempt since the scriptures talk about them waiting outside the city gates). Nephi goes in by himself while his brothers hide themselves and wait.  In a short period of time Nephi is presented with a delimea.  He finds Laban sprawled in the stread drunk.  Nephi is prompted to kill Laban which is something that against everything that he knew was right.

Joseph Smith taught:

"God said, 'Thou shalt not kill;' at another time He said, 'Thou shalt utterly destry.' This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted-by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom of heaven are placed.  Whatever God required is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire"  (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sol, Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 256)

After Nephi wrestled with the request to take someone's life he chose to follow the command.  He took the sword of Laban and ended his life with it and then put on Laban's clothing in order to impersonate him and try to obtain the plates.

What would have been the impact if Nephi did not obtain the Brass Plates?

One of the elements that helped Nephi to chose the action that he took is that he came to understand the impact that would happen if they did not obtain the Brass Plates.  His family in the wilderness did not have all the words of the prophets or wherewith to teach their children the words of the prophets.  The plates of brass also contained the their geneology and the law of Moses.  Without these plates or something like them it would have been near impossible to teach these to their descendants.  Studies in sociology show that the impact of a person who witnessed an event only have an impact upon the their descendants up to the third generation.  What this means is that what would happen to the Nephites if they did not get the Brass Plates would be similar to what happened to the Mulekites (a group of Isrealites that they meet later in the Book of Mormon).  Eventually they would have lost all of their culture, language, prophetic writings, the Law of Moses and so forth.

What chance did Nephi have of getting the Brass Plates any other way?

Nephi and his brothers had attempted to get the Brass Plates through asking and through giving of treasure and that did not work.  Laban was a scribe which was an important political faction in their culture.  If Laban gave up the Brass Plates he would lose his standing in their society.  Knowing the little tha we know about Laban we know that he is very prideful and has a strong love of money.  Because of which he would never willingly give up the Brass Plates.  It is very possible that other similar plates existed in the possession of others in their community though these plates may have been of particular importance because it held Lehi's geneology.  There is no way to know if any of the other similar sets of plates, if there were any, also had the same geneology.  I am guessing that Laban and Lehi had similar relations and as such Lehi's geneology was in his set of plates.

In the book Stand ye in Holy Places the author wrote:

"Some people have incorrectly felt the Spirit of the Lord has prompted them to do something contrary to what the Lord has already commanded, such as was the case with Nephi.  Today we need not worry that the Lord might prompt us to do something that runs contrary to current commandments.  President Harold B Lee (1899-1973) has taught us who the Lord will give such promptings to: "When there is to be anything different from that which the Lord has told us already different from that which the Lord has told us already, He will reveal it to his prophet and no one else."

How do we know when we are being asked to do something that is against or in-line with the will of the Lord?

There is a three part test that we can use to know if something is the will of the Lord:

1. What do the scriptures have to say about it?
2. What do the prophets have to say about it?
3. Pray and find out what the Spirit directs you to do.

What happened after Nephi slayed Laban?

Nephi disguised himself as Laban and went to where the records were kept.  He then talked to the servant of Laban, Zoram, and convinced him that he was Laban and commanded him to bring the plates with him.  I am assuming that someone of laban's status did not carry the plates himself and in order to keep up appearances Nephi had Zoram carry them as they walked to the city gates.  Once they oassed through the gates Nephi's brothers began to worry since they assumed that Nephi was Laban and began to run.  Nephi wanted to assure them that he was OK and called out to them.  It worked though at the same time caused Zoram to realize that he was not with Laban.  Nephi and his brothers were now in a very difficult position.  If Zoram were to get away from them and let the people know what happened they they would come to find them.  They needed Zoram to peacfully go with them.

How did Nephi calm Zoram?

First Nephi gave him his oath or promise that they did not want to harm him .  He next promised that if he were to come with them that we would be free.  He would no longer be a servant and could live how ever he wished.

Hugh Nibley wrote about the importance of oath making in the Jewish community.

"The reaction of both parties makes sense when one realizes that the oath is the one thing that is most sacred and iniolable among the desert people and their descendants: 'Hardly will an Arab break his oath, even if his life be in jeopardy,' for 'there is nothing stronger, and nothing more sacred than the oath among nomads,' and even the city Arabs, if it be exacted under special conditions.  'The taking of an oath is a holy thing with the Bedouins,' says one authority.  'Wo to him who swears falsly; his social standing will be damaged and his reputation ruined.  No one will receive his testimony, and he must also pay a money fine.'

"But not every oath will do.  To be most binding and colemn an oath should be by the life of something, even if it be but a blade of grass.  The only oath more awful than that 'by my life' or (less commonly) 'by the life of my head' is the wa hayat allah 'by the life of God,' or 'as the Lord Liveth,' the exact Arabic equivalent of the ancient Hebrew hai Elohim.  Today it is glibly employed by the city riff raff, but anciently it was an awful thing, as it still is among the desert people.  'I confirmed my answer in the Bedouin wise,' says [Charles M.] Doughty. 'By his life...he said,..."Well, swear by the life of Ullah" (God)!...I answered and ths even the nomads use, in a greater occasion, but they say by the life of thee in a little matter.' Amoing both Arabs and Jews, says [Samuel] Rosenblatt, 'an oath without God's name is no oath,' while 'both in Jewish and Mohammedan societies oaths by "the life of God" are frequent.'

"So we see that the only way that Nephi could possibly have pacified the struggling Zoram in an instant was to utter the one oath that no man would dream of breaking, the most solemn of all oaths to the Semite: 'As the Lord liveth, and as I live!' (1 Ne 4:32)" (Hugh Nibley, An Approach to the Book of Mormon, 2nd ed. [1964], 104-5).

Elder Richard G. Scott spoke of the importance of personal integrity.

"The bedrock of character is integrity.  Worthy character will strengthen your capacity to respond obediently to the direction of the Spirit.  Righteous character is what you are becoming.  It is more important than what you own, what you have learned, or what goals you have accomplished.  It allows you to be trusted.  Righteous character provides the foundation of spiritual strength.  It enables you in times of trial and testing to make difficult, extremely important decisions correctly even when they seem overpowering" (in Conference Report, Apr. 2003, 80 or Ensign, May 2003, 77).

How important is personal integrity?

Elder Scott had said that it is the "bedrock of [our] character."  If we have no integrity then no one will have cause to trust us or believe anything we say.  We would never be taken seriously.  A man with no integrity is not a man at all.  he is something less.

Seminary: 04 1 Nephi 2-3

Background:

Lehi had been preaching the destruction of Jerusalem unless they repent. As a result the people wanted to kill him and his family. The Lord commanded Lehi and his family to leave Jerusalem. The leave all of their riches and comforts and go into the wilderness which contains many wild animals and bandits.

How would you feel if you were in a similar situation?

I think that most people would find this situation hard and difficult. It would take an enormant amount of faith and sincere prayer to dispel the fear and nervousness that this situation would ultimately cause.

Show map of "potential" route that Lehi and his family took.

 What is the different between Obedience and Murmuring?

Obedience is the act of following the commands of a person who has stewardship over you.  Murmuring means to complain against or defy a person that has stewardship over you.  A person can be doing what someone asks them to do and still be murmuring.  Laman and Lemuel were good examples of this.  They typically did as their father asked though they complained about it, and only did the bare minimum.  They did not have the faith in the words of their father to know that the Lord was directing their activities.

1 Nephi 3:7

This scripture shows Nephi's faith in that what his father asked them to do was coming from the Lord.  He first told his father that he will go and do what is asked and while doing so says 'What the Lord commanded" thus he is expressing his faith in his father that what was being asked of Nephi was coming from the Lord through his father.  Then he expresses his faith in the Lord in being able to accomlish this task.  He said "...for I know that the Lord would not give commandments until the childrent of men save he should prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."  Prior to departing he already had faith that they would be successful in completing this task and that the Lord would prepare the way.  I am sure that this helped to erase any fear that he might have had otherwise since he believe that a higher force was controling the events and that they would turn out well.

Elder H. Ross Workman of the Seventy explained

"murmuring consists of three steps, each leading to the next in a descending path to disobedient." First, when people murmur they begin to question.  They question "first in their own minds and then [plant] questions in the minds of others." Second, those who murmur begin to "rationalize and excuse themselves from doing what they [have] been instructed to do....Thus, they [make] an excuse for disobedience." Their excuses lead to the third step: "Slothfulness in following the commandment."

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency talked about the need for Prayer and the faith to obey the Lord's commandments

"Whoever we are, however difficult our circumstances, we can know that what our Father commands we do to qualify for the blessings of eternal life will not be beyond us...."

Are callings always convenient?

No they are not always convenient and some callings might even create a bit of fear in us.  Personally I have no desire to ever be a Bishopric member.  I have personally seen what they do and the demands, spritual, emptional and temporal, are extremly high.  I truly believe that man by himself could never uphold that calling.  It would require assistance from the Lord to uphold these servants.

We are rarely asked in the church what we want to do.  We are usually asked  to do somethign that would stretch us.  Sometimes in ways that we do not anticipate.  When I servered as an assistant ward clerk I was amazed at the number of callings that are turned down.  Now I am not privy to any of those conversations, nor do I ever want to be, so I have no idea what might be going on in their heads that leads to the turning down of these callings.  I believe that the Lord calls us for a reason and if we have sufficient faith that the Lord would provide a way for us to accomplish what he is asking us to do.  In a previous ward I knew a Bishop that worked out of town all week and was only in town on the weekends.  His calling was tough and he had to get creative to make it work though he was a wonderful bishop.  We may think that our schedule is such that we could not possibly accept a specific calling.  We may think that we are not up to the task.  We might say that it would put a hardship on our family.  I know that the Lord calls us for a reason and if he called us then we would be able to someway fill the calling.  The only think that should keep us, in my oppinion, that should keep us from accepting a calling is unworthyness.

How can you prepare youself to accept a calling?

First and foremost is being worthy.  We must strive to keep our lives in harmony with the Gospel.  Not only will this help to keep us on the path towards salvation but it will also help to prepare us to fill what ever calling the Lord has for us when he has it for us.

 President Joseph F. Smith taught:

"The man who stays with the kingdom of god, the man who is true to this people, the man who keeps himself pure and unspotted from the world, is the man tha God will uphold, that he will sustain, and that will prosper in the land, whether he be in the enjoyment of his liberty or be confined in prison cells, it makes no difference where he is, he will come out all right" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th Edition [1939], 257).

Elder Donald L. Staheli taught:

"When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest in that moment God will endow us with power"