Dear Family and Friends
I have had a better week, so far and today I finally figured out how I could get this lesson out to you. It has been very frustrating for me. I guess the church site is down.
I guess they may be working on this area but every time i have tried to gain access to the lessons it responded with the following: Unknown Error
Please try again later.
Status Code: 400
I know that the Church is redesigning their website, so I am hoping that that is the problem. I have told you in the past that I am a slow learner. Well, I guess this is one of those times.
It just dawned on me that I have the lesson book downloaded on my phone so I can get to the lesson from my phone, Yeah!!! I am sorry that I am such an air head some times.
This week we will be studying a few chapters in the book of Alma. Some call these the war chapters. Make sure that you seek for your own inspiration as you do prayerfully study this lesson in Alma 43 -52.
You should think about your family members and friends and about just how you might help them to discover the doctrine which is being taught in these chapters.
If you and your family have read the assigned chapters 43-52 in Alma, then you may want to consider a brief review by asking your family members and friends how they might respond ...
to a person who says “I just don’t see how the was described in the Book of Mormon have any relevance in my life?”After you have finished with your discussion we will move right along ...
it says in the Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual that “It may seem that the events described in Alma 43-52 are not particularly relevant to you.
But as in all scripture, the Lord has a message for you. Prayerfully seek it.” we will continue on from our manual:
When we read these words at the beginning of Alma chapter 43 -- “And now i return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites” -- it’s natural to wonder why Mormon included these war stories when he had limited space on the plates (see Words of Mormon).
It’s true that we have our share of wars in these latter days, but there is value in his words beyond the descriptions of the strategy and tragedy of war. His words also prepare us for the war in which “we are all enlisted” (Hymns, no.250), the war we are fighting each day against the forces of evil.
This war is very real, and the outcome affects our eternal lives. Like the Nephites, we are “inspired by a better cause,” which is “our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our [families].” Moroni called this “the cause of the Christians,” the same cause we are fighting for today (Alma 43:45; 46:12,16).
Alma 43-52
The battles in the Book of Mormon teach us about our battles against evil.
As your family members and friends have studied individually during this week they may have pondered or written their thoughts down in their scripture journals -- those thoughts about just how the Nephites were able to successfully defend themselves against the attacks of the Lamanites.
If you and/ or your family members and friends did keep record of their thoughts now would be a good time to ask them if they would care to share their thoughts or you could share your thoughts with the rest of your family study group. You could also give them some time to find their insights during the lesson.
They would be able to do this using the scripture passages listed in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me, for Individuals and Families. Then as your family members and friends share what they find, ...
you should encourage them to each follow the examples of the Nephites in their defending themselves against evil and how we can recognize satan’s spiritual attacks on you and / or them.
Alma 43-52
The battles in the Book of Mormon teach me about my battles against evil.
Reading about the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites might be more meaningful to you if you look for parallels to your personal spiritual battles. As you read Alma 43-53, notice what the Nephites did that made them successful (or unsuccessful).
Then ponder how you can use what you learned to help you win your spiritual battles. As you study verses like the following, write your thoughts about how you can follow the Nephites’ example:
Alma 43:19 The Nephites were prepared with armor. (I can strive to prepare myself with spiritual armor).
Alma 43:23-24 They sought the prophet’s guidance.
Alma 44:1-4
Alma 45:1
Alma 46:11-20
Alma 48:7-9
Alma 49:3, 12-14
Also notice how the Lamanites and the Nephite dissenters tried to defeat the Nephites. These things can warn you about how the adversary might attack you. As you study, write how Satan might attack you in similar ways:
Alma 43:8 Zarahemla sought to make his people angry so he would have power over them. (When i become angry with other people, I give Satan power over me.
Alma 46:10
Alma 47:10-19
Alma 46:11-22
If we are courageous in defending our faith, we can inspire others to be faithful.
You and your family members and friends should ponder this question: How can you help one another to follow the Moroni ‘s example of being very courageous in the daily defence of their faith in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ? What are some ways that we each can individually defend our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ?
You may want to consider having your family members and friends read through Alma 46:11-12. They are to identify what it was that Moroni did and what it was that he taught, that so inspired his people to be so much more faithful? Now if you will get out your poster board, we will make a chart:)
At the top of your poster board you should write ‘Moroni’s Example’. Then you might want to ask your family members and friends to think about Moroni’s actions and then make some suggestions of what we can do today, what things can we do today to defend our faith, and our beliefs?
You could write their suggestions on your poster board under the heading of ‘Courageously Defending the Gospel Today’. Have your family members and friends think about what truths and what values that our prophet has taught us recently that we should teach and defend today? How are we going to do this?
In what ways can you help your family members and friends to apply in their lives what Moroni did with the title of liberty? You could now ask them to read Alma 46:11-22 and have them be ready to identify those truths which Moroni was teaching to his people and asking his people for their support in these.
What truths and values have our leaders emphasized in our day? You can review some of those teachings by searching the following: For the Strength of Youth, and “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” and the most recent general conference messages, which can be found in the Church magazines.
What challenges do you and your family members and friends have in defending our beliefs in the world today? What can we learn from Moroni’s example? You and you family members may want to create your very own Title of Liberty which will be a reminder to all of you to be courageous in living and defending your beliefs.
Alma 46:11-28; 48:7-17
As I strive to be faithful like Moroni, I will become more like the Savior.
Do you wish you could become more like the Savior and lessen the power of the adversary in your life? One way is to follow the admonition in Alma 48:17 to become “like unto Moroni.”
Pay attention to Moroni’s attributes and actions that are described throughout alma 43-52 but particularly in 46:11-28 and 48:7-17. What impresses you about this “mighty man”? How can attributes and actions like this weaken the power of the devil in your life? Ponder what you feel inspired to do to follow Moroni’s example and become more like the Savior.
Alma 47
Satan tempts and deceives us little by little.
We find in Alma 47 Amalickiah’s treachery in this chapter which shows just how his treachery looks like what Satan does to deceive us. You and your family members and friends may benefit from studying this chapter, then you could initiate a discussion by asking one of your family study group to summarize the account in Alma 47.
A fun way to build interest in your study might be to ask two of your family study group to step into the imagination center and to imagine that they are in fact Amalickiah and Lehonti. In their chosen roles let them tell the story found in Alma 47. Then you and your family members and friends can answer the following question:
What did Amalickiah do that reminds us of things that Satan does to tempt us and to deceive us? You should ask your family study group members to refer to the specific verses as they discuss this question together. The following quotation contains another good example of how Satan slips in to deceive us.
The consequences of giving in to small temptations.
To teach that “ serious sin enters into our lives as we yield first to little temptations,” President Spencer W. Kimball shared this fable:
“[A}camel and his owner … were traveling across the desert sand dunes when a wind storm came up. The traveler quickly set up his tent and moved in, closing the flaps to protect himself from the cutting, grinding sands of the raging storm.
The camel was of course left outside, and as the violent wind hurled the sand against his body and into his eyes and nostrils he found it unbearable and finally begged for entrance into the tent.
“‘There is room only for myself,” said the traveler. “But may i just get my nose in so i can breathe air not filled with sand?’ asked the camel.
“Well, perhaps you could do that,’ replied the traveler, and he opened the flap ever so little and the long nose of the camel entered. How comfortable the camel was now! But soon the camel became weary of the smarting sand on his eyes and ears ... :
“‘The wind-driven sand is like a rasp on my head. Could i just put my head in?’
“Again the traveler rationalized that to acquiesce would do him no damage, for the camel’s head could occupy the space at the top of the tent which he himself was not using. So the camel put his head inside and the beast was satisfied again -- but for a short while only.
“‘Just the front quarters,’ he begged, and again the traveler relented and soon the camel’s front shoulders and legs were in the tent. Finally, by the same process of pleading and of yielding, the camel’s torso, his hind quarters and all were in the tent. But now it was too crowded for the two, and the camel kicked the traveler out into the wind and storm” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church:” Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 106 -- 7).
What advice can you and your family members and friends give to one another that would help us to be more aware of just how Satan tempts us today?
What are the ways that Satan seeks to deceive us today? What can we do to protect ourselves -- Individually and collectively as a family unit?
Alma 47
Satan Tempts and deceives us little by little.
Satan knows that most of us are willing to commit big sins or believe big lies. Therefore, he uses subtle lies and temptations to lead us into seemingly small sins -- as many as he thinks we will accept. He continues to do this until we have strayed far from the safety of righteous living.
You can find this pattern in the account of Amalickiah deceiving Lehonti, found in Alma 47. As you study, ponder how Satan may be trying to deceive you, as described by Elder Robert D. Hales.
“The traitorous Amalickiah urged Lahonti to ‘come down’ and meet him in the valley. But when Lehonti left the high ground, he was poisoned ‘by degrees’ until he died, and his army fell into Amalickiah’s hands )see Alma 47). By arguments and accusations, some people bait us to leave the higher ground. The high ground is where the light is … It is the safe ground” (“Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 74).
See also 2 Nephi 26:22; 28:21-22.
Alma 48: 7-17
As we strive to be faithful like Moroni, we will become more like the Savior.
This is a good place in your lesson to talk about Moroni and his attributes. If you have one available you could begin your discussion with showing your family members and friends a picture of Moroni, such as the one found in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me -- for Individuals and Families.
You might want to get out your poster board:) for this part you could divide your family members and friends into pairs or small groups and have them study Alma 44:3-4 and 48:7-13. Ask them to be looking for any words or phrases that they find that might describe Moroni. One example might be that he had great faith.
Have them call out these words and /or phrases that they find to describe Moeoni and write them down on your poster board for further discussion later. Be sure that you give them enough time to study the assigned passages well. You may need to take a different approach if you have young children in your family study group.
To begin your discussion you could read together Alma 48:17. After which, you can discuss just how Moroni’s character traits or attributes … like those you and your family members and friends have listed on your poster board. Discuss those attributes which allowed Moroni to overcome Satan’s influence to become more like Jesus.
One last question for this section for you: How can you become more like Moroni? Remember to think about what Moroni’s attributes are during this next week. You could have your family members and friends make a list of ways that they can emulate those traits in their daily lives.
Alma 48:1-7; 49:1-9; 50:1-6
We can fortify ourselves and our families against the adversary.
Read together with your family study group the following passages: Alma 48:1-7; 49:1-9; 50:1-6. You and your family members and friends may want to have a discussion about how you and they can protect themselves and their families against the subtle attacks and his lies, deceptions and the temptations of the adversary.
As you know we have a great need to have spiritual protection. As you are considering how you can protect yourself and your family members and friends we all need to have spiritual defences against the adversary. How will you protect your family study group? How can they protect their own families?
What can you and your family members and friends learn from the Nephites’ efforts to defend themselves? How can you and your family members and friends build spiritual defenses to protect yourself and your family members and friends against sin and the evil influences all around them?
You could ask your family members and friends to share any ideas of things that have worked for them in the past. What preparations do you need to make for your family study group to be safe/ encourage your family study group to make the needed preparations in their own families as well as in your own family. Why is it important for us to ‘not stop making preparations’? (Alma 50:1).
Alma 50-51
Unity brings safety.
In the circumstances recorded at the beginning of Alma 50, it looked like the Lamanites had noi chance against the Nephites. The armor, fortifications, and united efforts of the Nephites made them seem unconquerable (see Alma 49:28-30 and 50:17-20).
But the Lamanites soon captures many of their cities -- including those that Moroni had fortified (see Alma 51:26-27). How did that happen? Look for answers as you read these chapters (see particularly Alma 51:1-12). Ponder what warnings this account may have for you and your family.
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of your family. Here are some ideas.
Alma 45:2-8
Reading these verses together might inspire your family to hold one-on-one gospel conversations with family members, as Alma did with Helaman.
Alma 46:12-22
The title of Liberty inspired the Nephites to keep the commandments of God and defend their faith. What inspires us to do the same?Perhaps your family could create your own title of liberty -- a flag or banner with the words or images that remind you to keep the commandments of God each day.
Alma 48:7-9; 49:1-9; 50:1-6
As your family reads about the Nephites’ fortifications, you could discuss how you are fortifying your home against the adversary. Children might enjoy building a fort out of objects like chairs and blankets, or they could draw what they imagine the Nephite fortifications looked like.
Alma 51:1-12
What do these verses teach about what can happen within our family when we have contention? How can we increase our unity?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me -- For Primary
Suggested song: “Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth,” Hymns, no. 298.
Improving Personal Study
Ask questions as you study. As you study the scriptures, ask yourself questions that can help you ponder how well you are living by what you read.
The readings for next week are Alma 53-63 as you are reading through these chapters the account therein will inspire you and your family members and friends to be more obedient and develop stronger faith. I hope that you all will read these chapters with an open heart and mind and seek for that inspiration.
As always I hope that you and your family members and friends are keeping safe. That you are doing your best not to get or spread this nasty virus that has changed our lives in so many ways. Please remember who you are !!! You are a child of God, no matter what your age is, you are His child.
Please continue to say your prayers, Heavenly Father is only a prayer away. He is waiting for you to talk to Him! Please continue to study the Book of Mormon with me and all of our cyber study buddies out there in cyberspace. Share with your family and friends what you are learning if you do not have a study group.
I love to study the Book of Mormon. There is great power in this sacred book. I find a difference in my days whenever I take the time to read from this book each day. And I notice the differences in my days when I do not!!! My days simply are not as uplifted and good as they are when I do take the time to read from the Book of Mormon daily.
You should try this yourselves, read from the Book of Mormon each day before you begin your daily routines. Try this for let’s say two weeks, then don't read from it for even just a day and see if you do not notice a hygge difference in your day. You will probably notice something missing or off in your day.
Please make it part of your daily routine to read from the Book of Mormon. I promise you that it will make a hygge difference in your lives. Just give it a try. It takes 21 days to make it a habit, so go for it, reach up and start building this great habit. If you are like me, you may have to begin again and again to keep this habit in your lives.
But i promise that if you keep working at it, it will make a good difference in your lives.. Remember to read with a question in your minds, read with prayer before, during and after your reading. So until my next post, happy reading in the Book of Mormon and keep safe!!
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