Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
NEPHI 4 & 5
Chapter 4 is sometimes called the Psalm of Nephi. We discovered that the psalm has four parts. We paraphrased the following verses: 15 - 16: I (Nephi) delight in the Lord's words; 17 - 19: Nevertheless....my sins bring me sorrow; 20-25: Nevertheless....I know God has blessed me, guided me, and filled me with His love; 26-27: O then, why...why do I continue to sin? We then read verses 29-35 to discover how Nephi found the strength to face his difficulties.
In verse 17 Nephi talks about his iniquities? We wondered what iniquities Nephi was talking about (OK, I wondered). In verse 13 we learn that Laman and Lemuel are again angry with Nephi. In verses 27 & 28 Nephi is asking why he is angry because of his enemy and he asks God to help him not be angry again because of his enemies. I believe this is the iniquity Nephi is referring to.
We tried to compare chapter 5 to ourselves. In verse 5 the Lord warned Nephi -- the Lord warns us of danger. Nephi was to flee into the wilderness -- we have been warned to flee wickedness. Nephi took all who would go with him -- we have been counseled to associate with good friends who believe as we do. Verse 6 tells us the people who went with Nephi believed in the warnings and revelations of God -- we have been counseled to hearken to the words of our parents, our leaders and our prophet. Verse 7 says that they journeyed many days until they found a new place to live -- for us it sometimes takes significant effort for us to do what we have been prompted to do.
What challenges do we face that the above verses help us with: friends, parties, free time work, school, TV, movies, the Internet, music, books, magazines, etc.? How can the principle of fleeing wickedness apply to these challenges?
Oh, and by the way, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!
In verse 17 Nephi talks about his iniquities? We wondered what iniquities Nephi was talking about (OK, I wondered). In verse 13 we learn that Laman and Lemuel are again angry with Nephi. In verses 27 & 28 Nephi is asking why he is angry because of his enemy and he asks God to help him not be angry again because of his enemies. I believe this is the iniquity Nephi is referring to.
We tried to compare chapter 5 to ourselves. In verse 5 the Lord warned Nephi -- the Lord warns us of danger. Nephi was to flee into the wilderness -- we have been warned to flee wickedness. Nephi took all who would go with him -- we have been counseled to associate with good friends who believe as we do. Verse 6 tells us the people who went with Nephi believed in the warnings and revelations of God -- we have been counseled to hearken to the words of our parents, our leaders and our prophet. Verse 7 says that they journeyed many days until they found a new place to live -- for us it sometimes takes significant effort for us to do what we have been prompted to do.
What challenges do we face that the above verses help us with: friends, parties, free time work, school, TV, movies, the Internet, music, books, magazines, etc.? How can the principle of fleeing wickedness apply to these challenges?
Oh, and by the way, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
JOSEPH AND JOSEPH AND JOSEPH AND JOSEPH AND JOSEPH
Lehi is talking to his son Joseph and tells him about Joseph of Egypt who has a vision about the Nephites and also Joseph Smith. Interesting enough this great prophecy is not included in the Old Testament. It is a great chapter but my favorite verse is, "And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation." (2 Nephi 3:15)
Imagine being Joseph Smith as you are translating the plates that will become The Book of Mormon. He is sitting there with his scribe saying the words from the plates and he says, "his name shall be called after me". Do you think he may have thought, "Oh, Joseph is his name." Then he translates that, "it shall be after the name of his father." "Wow! My father's name is Joseph. My name is Joseph." I don't know if that was Joseph Smith's thoughts...but I can only imagine at that moment the great awakening in our Prophet Joseph Smith as he read his name in print from some ancient plates. That is pretty COOL!
Why so many Joseph's in the title? We had Joseph, Lehi's son, Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith, Senior, Joseph Smith, Jr., and Joseph Wise who was sitting in class learning all about many important Josephs.
Imagine being Joseph Smith as you are translating the plates that will become The Book of Mormon. He is sitting there with his scribe saying the words from the plates and he says, "his name shall be called after me". Do you think he may have thought, "Oh, Joseph is his name." Then he translates that, "it shall be after the name of his father." "Wow! My father's name is Joseph. My name is Joseph." I don't know if that was Joseph Smith's thoughts...but I can only imagine at that moment the great awakening in our Prophet Joseph Smith as he read his name in print from some ancient plates. That is pretty COOL!
Why so many Joseph's in the title? We had Joseph, Lehi's son, Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith, Senior, Joseph Smith, Jr., and Joseph Wise who was sitting in class learning all about many important Josephs.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
2 NEPHI CHAPTER 2
This chapter is filled with important principles of the gospel. We learn that Heavenly Father knew that no mortal could live His law perfectly, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to atone for sin and bring salvation to those who repent. Temporal law came into effect because of the Fall of Adam. Spiritual law includes the commandments of God. We all will die (temporal law) and we all suffer a spiritual death (separation from God) as a result of not keeping the spiritual law completely. According to 2 Nephi 2:8 everyone will escape the punishment inflicted by the temporal law (resurrection). In verse 7 to escape the punishment inflicted by the spiritual law we need to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Elder Scott taught,"This absolute requisite of a broken heart and a contrite spirit prescribe the need to be submissive, compliant, humble (that is, teachable), and willingly obedient." Then he concludes by saying, "Please understand that the way back is not as hard as it seems to you now. Satan wants you to think that it is impossible. That is not true. The Savior gave His life so that you can completely overcome the challenges you face."
Ask your student about the fabulous movie we watched today!
Ask your student about the fabulous movie we watched today!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
1 NEPHI 20-22
Chapters 20 and 21 can be compared to a lawsuit brought against Israel for breaking her covenant with the Lord. Chapter 20 can be compared to the contract. It contains a preamble, historical review, conditions of the contract, witnesses, curses and blessings. Verse 10 talks about affliction. The Lord knows our trials we go through and he knows we can grow from them. Think of a baby chick breaking out of it's shell -- it must go through that hardship. If the baby chick is helped out of the shell, it may die. McKenna shared how a moth in a cocoon has to break out of the cocoon by itself. She told us of a man who found a cocoon and watched as the moth tried to get out. He helped the moth get out by cutting the cocoon. He found that the moth had a swollen body and undeveloped wings. That moth needed to go through "trials" to get strong. So it is with us.
Chapter 22 leaves us full of hope. We learn that the wicked will turn on themselves and will fall by their own hands. "And because of the righteousness of his (the Lord's) people, Satan has no power". A great promise made to us is that the righteous need not fear. Again, we need to decide what side of the fence we want to be on.
Chapter 22 leaves us full of hope. We learn that the wicked will turn on themselves and will fall by their own hands. "And because of the righteousness of his (the Lord's) people, Satan has no power". A great promise made to us is that the righteous need not fear. Again, we need to decide what side of the fence we want to be on.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
WE ARE WARNED
DON'T RUN INTO THE STREET! DON'T BLOW UP ANYTHING! DON'T TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER! DON'T SMOKE! We are warned from early on of things that may cause us harm. The scriptures warn us of things that WILL cause harm. Nephi has warned us, our prophets have warned us that we need to turn to Christ. 1 Nephi 19:7 tells us that the world shall judge Christ to be a thing of naught (to consider something worthless). We need to listen and obey so we do not trample Christ under our feet.
1 Nephi 19:23 is one of our scripture mastery scriptures. How can we liken the scriptures to ourselves? We can ask ourselves questions such as: "what significance does this particular event or principle have for me today? What does the rebellion of Laman and Lemuel teach me? How would I react to.....? What strengths to I have that resemble Nephi?" Questions will help us "liken the scriptures unto ourselves".
1 Nephi 19:23 is one of our scripture mastery scriptures. How can we liken the scriptures to ourselves? We can ask ourselves questions such as: "what significance does this particular event or principle have for me today? What does the rebellion of Laman and Lemuel teach me? How would I react to.....? What strengths to I have that resemble Nephi?" Questions will help us "liken the scriptures unto ourselves".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)