Post # 263 -- Come, Follow Me -- Week # 46 -- November 23–29 -- Ether 12–15 -- “By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled”
Dear Family and Friends
Our lesson this week talks about one of my favorite topics. That of having faith in Jesus Christ. In reading through this lesson, so many talks came to my mind, full of information that i want to share with you. Way too much for one post or even ten posts I bet!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Nqlkh7Mq4
Recording impressions can invite further revelation and strengthen your testimony. It also helps you remember your impressions and share them with others in the future.
Ether’s prophecies to the Jaredites were “great and marvelous” (Ether 12:5). He “told them of all things, from the beginning of man” (Ether 13:2). He foresaw “the days of Christ” and the latter-day New Jerusalem (Ether 13:4). And he spoke of “hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God” (Ether 12:4). But the Jaredites rejected his words, for the same reason people often reject the prophecies of God’s servants today—“because they [see] them not” (Ether 12:5). It takes faith to believe in promises or warnings about things we can’t see, just as it took faith for Ether to prophesy of “great and marvelous things” to an unbelieving people. It took faith for Moroni to trust that the Lord could take his “weakness in writing” and turn it into strength (see Ether 12:23–27). It’s this kind of faith that makes us “sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether 12:4). And it’s this kind of faith by which “all things are fulfilled” (Ether 12:3).
You know that the outlines in our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families is here for us to get ideas from, but more importantly it is here for us to do our personal study and for us to pray for and listen for the promptings of the Holy Ghost as to what to teach our family members and our friends.
We should, we must learn to rely on the Holy Ghost because He is the real teacher, we are only the facilitator:) As you study and prepare, ask the Holy Ghost /Holy Spirit to help you to discern which activities would be appropriate in the manual to share with your family study group to help them to discover...
The Holy Ghost will teach you through personal revelation which activities would be appropriate in helping them to discover principles and doctrines that will benefit them in their lives. Once they know a principle and/or doctrine the Holy Ghost can help them to share what they know with you and other family members and friends:)
Make sure you pray for the Holy Ghost every time you study. Teach your family members and friends to pray for the Holy Ghost as well. I have not heard that there is an age limit as to when we can receive personal revelation. We only need to recognize where our revelation is coming from and recognize when it comes to acknowledge it.
Remember to call on the Holy Ghost for you inspiration as you teach this lesson to your family members and friends. Remember the manual is not here to replace the Holy Ghost -- it is here as a helper between you and the Holy Ghost. You should not try to replace your personal revelation with what is in the manual:(
Like the primary song says, “let the Holy Spirit guide…”
143
Let the Holy Spirit Guide
31243, Hymns, Let the Holy Spirit Guide, 143
Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven’s view.
Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.
Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow’r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.
Text: Penelope Moody Allen, b. 1939. © 1985 IRI
Music: Martin Shaw, 1875–1958. © 1915 by J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd. Reprinted by permission G. Shirmer, Inc., U.S. agents. Making copies without written permission of the copyright owner is prohibited.
Moroni 10:5–7
Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–14
I love this hymn. I learned it when I was teaching in the Primary. This song tells us exactly what the Spirit can and will do for each one of us if we choose the right each day. I loved teaching in the Primary but I do not believe that I was a very good teacher because I had not learned to rely on the Holy Ghost as much as I needed to.
During this upcoming week we will be studying chapters 12-15 in the book of Ether. So in your personal study call on, rely on the Holy Ghost and let the Holy Spirit guide you in your teaching. In helping your family members and friends to discover those important principles which they will find in Ether 12–15.
It's time to get out your poster board for this activity. It’s one that can help you and your family members and friends share what you and/or they have learned from the Holy Spirit during your personal and/or family scripture study of chapters 12 --15 of the book of Ether.
You can choose some of your own use or any of the following phrases to help you and your family members and friends share what they have learned this week. You can write on your poster board these phrases or some of your own choosing: phrases like “I have learned that …” “I have a testimony of …” and “I have experienced …”
Have your family members and friends read together the phrases. After you have read the phrases you have written on your poster board, you can ask them to share with the others something from our readings Ether 12–15 that could complete one of the phrases on your board.
Ether 12:2–22
We will receive a witness of truth as we exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
You might want to ask our family members and friends what comes to their mind when you say the word exercise? You could even look the word up in the dictionary and share the definition with them that you find there. Probably when you think of exercise you think of doing something physical?
You could then ask your family members and friends the following questions:What effect does physical exercise have on our bodies? How can we apply this principle to faith? In what ways can we “exercise faith” in Christ? What does it mean to exercise faint in Jesus Christ?
You might have your family members and friends to search through the following scripture passage Ether 12:2–22 look for and then discuss together how the people that are mentioned in this scripture verses exercised faith in Jesus Christ? How can we follow their examples?
According to these verses, what are the results of exercising faith in Jesus Christ? These people who lived so long ago have left us with great examples. So what will you do with their examples? Can you share some examples of faith from your own family? It could be from your family history or from your own life.
Their examples of faith which are found in Ether 12:7–22 provide a vewy good review of the inspiring stories that you’ve studied together in the Book of Mormon. You can also find other examples in Hebrews chapter 11. You may want to have your family members and friends to share other examples of faith that they remember.
How have these examples strengthened their faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father? You have probably noticed that it is so full of deep insights about faith in Jesus Christ. You could have a quick review of chapter 12 of the book of Ether and then you could write on your poster board what you discover about faith,
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Ether 12
Faith in Jesus Christ can lead to mighty miracles.
Many people today, like the Jaredites in Ether’s day, want to see evidence before they will believe in God and His power. However, Moroni taught that “faith is things which are hoped for and not seen” and that you “receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).
Note each time you find the word “faith” in Ether 12, and record what you learn about faith. Look for answers to questions like these: What is faith? What are the fruits of a faith-filled life? You could also record your thoughts about witnesses you have gained “after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).
See also Hebrews 11; Alma 32.
Ether 12:1–9, 28, 32
Faith leads to “hope for a better world.”
If you have a picture of a boat you can post it up where your family members and friends can see it. If you have no picture you can draw one on your poster board -- and don't forget the anchor. Another way you could do this activity is to ask your family members and friends to imagine they see a boat on the water.
Aa you are examining this boat you notice that there are 2 fishermen in the boat with their fishing poles cast out into the water. The water seems still, but it is truly ever moving and it is never really still. The boat is not moving, how is the boat staying in the same place? The answer lies beneath the water.
What is under the water that is holding it in its place? What lies beneath the water that is so very important to that boat and the fishermen? Now would be a good time to ask your family members and friends why an anchor is important to a boat? Point out the picture of the boat and an anchor.
As you are pointing to the boat don't forget to point out the anchor. Remember to make sure that your boat has an anchor. Ask your family members and friends to explain to you what would happen to a boat that has no anchor. What happens to us when we have no hope? How is hope like an anchor?
Read together with your family members and friends Ether 12:4.
Ether 12:4
Book of Mormon
4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
Have them listen for ways that hope is like an anchor, then you could have a discussion about what you have found. about how hope is like “an anchor to [our] souls.” you could also read together the following scripture passages: Ether 12:1–9, 28, and 32.
Ether 12:1–9, 28, 32
Book of Mormon
1 And it came to pass that the days of Ether were in the days of Coriantumr; and Coriantumr was king over all the land.
2 And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him.
3 For he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by faith all things are fulfilled—
4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not.
6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.
28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.
32 And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared.
After you have finished your reading you can discuss together and share insights that you and /or they gain about hope. What do you think we should hope for? You can search through the following scripture verses Ether 12:4; Moroni 7:41; see also John 16:33 to find out what we should hope for.
Moroni 7:41
Book of Mormon
41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
John 16:33
New Testament
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Ether 12:1–9, 28, 32
Jesus Christ gives us “a more excellent hope.”
In addition to profound insights about faith, Ether 12 also has a lot to say about hope—maybe you could note each time the word “hope” appears. What does hope mean to you? What were the reasons that Ether had to “hope for a better world”? (see Ether 12:2–5). How has the gospel of Jesus Christ given you “a more excellent hope”? (Ether 12:32).
See also Moroni 7:40–41; Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 21–24; Preach My Gospel, 117.
Ether 12:23–29
Through the grace of Jesus Christ, weak things can become strong.
Throughout Ether chapter 12 we have learned many truths from Moroni about our weaknesses and our strengths. One way for you and your family members to personalize these truths for yourselves Ether 12, Maybe you and your family members could think of someone who might be feeling a bit discouraged.
Some people become discouraged due to any weaknesses that they may have. You and your family members and friends could search through the following verses Ether 12:23–29 together to find any messages that may be helpful to that person who is feeling discouraged because of the weaknesses that they have.
Ether 12:23–29
Book of Mormon
23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;
24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.
26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.
29 And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith;
Hey, what do you think Moroni would say to this person who is discouraged, if he were here today? What would Moeoni say to encourage this person? Now could be a good time for you and your family members and friends to share any experiences they may have from their own lives.
They could share about those times when the Savior has helped “weak things become strong unto them” as found in Ether 12:27. How is this change different from self-improvement efforts that a person might make without relying on the Savior? You can find more on this topic in the following statement by President Henry B. Eyring, below:`
Ether 12:27
Book of Mormon
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
Spiritual progress requires seeing our weaknesses.
President Henry B. Eyring, commenting on Ether 12:27, taught: “Moroni said that when he ‘heard these words,’ he ‘was comforted’ (Ether 12:29). They can be a comfort to all of us. Those who do not see their weaknesses do not progress. Your awareness of your weakness is a blessing as it helps you remain humble and keeps you turning to the Savior. The Spirit not only comforts you, but He is also the agent by which the Atonement works a change in your very nature. Then weak things become strong” (“My Peace I Leave with You,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 16).
The Savior’s grace can turn our weaknesses into our strengths and Moroni’s experience is but one of many which we find in the scriptures that show us this:) For this next activity you might want to divide your family study group into groups then assign each group to choose someone in the scriptures with a weakness.
If this is not conducive to your family study group you might want to do this all together and choose a few people from the scriptures who had weaknesses. Then together you can talk about just how the Lord made each person in the scriptures strong. You can also look up the following examples below:
Examples: The weak are made strong.
• Enoch (Moses 6:31–34; 7:13)
• Moses (Exodus 4:10–12; 14:31)
• Gideon (Judges 6:12–16; 8:22–23)
• Peter (Luke 5:8–10; 22:55–62; Acts 4:13–21)
• Moroni (Ether 12:23–29)
• Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith—History 1:28; Doctrine and Covenants 35:17; 135:3)
If you chose to divide your family study group into smaller groups give them time to research their person then come back together and write on your poster board the name of the person, their weakness and how the Lord made them strong and where you found it in the scriptures.
The next thing you can do to help you and your family members to understand more about the Lord’s grace would be to look up the word grace in the Bible Dictionary or True to the Faith (pages 77–78). How do the scriptural examples they studied illustrate the power of the Savior’s grace?
Grace
Bible Dictionary
Grace
A word that occurs frequently in the New Testament, especially in the writings of Paul. The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.
It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by His atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.
Divine grace is needed by every soul in consequence of the Fall of Adam and also because of man’s weaknesses and shortcomings. However, grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient. Hence the explanation, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23). It is truly the grace of Jesus Christ that makes salvation possible. This principle is expressed in Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1–11). See also John 1:12–17; Eph. 2:8–9; Philip. 4:13; D&C 93:11–14.
Grace
True to the Faith
Grace
The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to the divine help and strength we receive through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter taught that we should “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
How do we invite this power into our lives? What are some things that we need to do in order to have this power in our lives? Where should we begin? Together with your family members and friends you can make a list of possible things that you can do during this upcoming week to invite this power into your and/or their lives?
Lookingin Ether 12:24 we see that MOroni felt that he was compared somewhat unfavorably to the brother of Jared. Ans as you've probably noticed it is a common thing for some people, more so than others to compare their weaknesses to the perceived strengths of some other person.
Ether 12:24
Book of Mormon
24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
So.Why is it dangerous to compare ourselves to others? I know that this has been one of my weaknesses throughout the years:( According to Ether 12:26–27, how does the Lord want us to see our weakness? You should read together the following statement by President Henry B. Eyring below:
Ether 12:26–27
Book of Mormon
26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
Spiritual progress requires seeing our weaknesses.
President Henry B. Eyring, commenting on Ether 12:27, taught: “Moroni said that when he ‘heard these words,’ he ‘was comforted’ (Ether 12:29). They can be a comfort to all of us. Those who do not see their weaknesses do not progress. Your awareness of your weakness is a blessing as it helps you remain humble and keeps you turning to the Savior. The Spirit not only comforts you, but He is also the agent by which the Atonement works a change in your very nature. Then weak things become strong” (“My Peace I Leave with You,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 16).
How does He want us to see the weakness of others? (see Ether 12:26).
Ether 12:26
Book of Mormon
26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Ether 12:23–29
Jesus Christ can make weak things strong.
When we read Moroni’s powerful writings, it’s easy to forget that he worried about his “weakness in writing” and feared that people would mock his words (see Ether 12:23–25). But God promised that He would “make weak things become strong” for the humble (verse 27), and the spiritual power in Moroni’s writings is convincing evidence that the Lord fulfilled this promise.
After reading Ether 12:23–29, ponder times when God has helped you recognize your weaknesses and made you strong in spite of them. Maybe this is also a good time to think about weaknesses you are currently struggling with. What do you feel you need to do to humble yourself before the Lord and show faith in Him in order to receive His promise to “make weak things become strong”? (Ether 12:27).
As you ponder these verses, the following insight from Elder Neal A. Maxwell may be helpful: “When we read in the scriptures of man’s ‘weakness,’ this term includes the … weakness inherent in the general human condition in which the flesh has an incessant impact upon the spirit (see Ether 12:28–29). Weakness likewise includes, however, our specific, individual weaknesses, which we are expected to overcome (see Doctrine and Covenants 66:3; Jacob 4:7)” (Lord, Increase Our Faith [1994], 84).
See also “Grace,” Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Ether 13:13–22; 14–15
Ether 13–15
Rejecting the prophets brings spiritual danger.
As you know from studying chapter 12 in the book of ether, there are a lot of important truths given therein so you might not want to spend as much time on the other chapters assigned for this week which would be chapters 13-15 in the book of
Ether.
Even so, you might want to consider doing a summary of each of these chapters. You could give the summary or you could assign a summary to 3 of your family members and friends. Whichever way works best for your family study group, and remember to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide your teaching.
One thing that you can do to help your family members and friends to be better able to find meaningful messages within this recorded account would be to ask them one at a time to complete the following phrases: “thus we see … “. I have found this phrase a lot within the scriptures, which you have probably noticed as well during your study.
So, for this activity you write out the phrase “thus we see … “ on your poster board. Then together you can gather answers from your family members and friends with a lesson which you learn from the fall of the Jaredites, after you have completed this activity here are a few questions for you to answer together:
How was their fall similar to the fall of the Nephites? (see, for example, Ether 15:19 and Moroni 8:28).
Ether 15:19
Book of Mormon
19 But behold, the Spirit of the Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power over the hearts of the people; for they were given up unto the hardness of their hearts, and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed; wherefore they went again to battle.
Moroni 8:28
Book of Mormon
28 Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost.
What does the Lord want us to learn from these accounts, and what can we do to avoid the fate of the Jaredites? You and your family members and friends might also want to review just how the end of the book of Ether really connects with Omni 1:19–22; Mosiah 8:8; and Mosiah 28:11–18.
Omni 1:19–22
Book of Mormon
19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did unite together; and Mosiah was appointed to be their king.
20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.
21 And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.
22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward.
Mosiah 8:8
Book of Mormon
8 And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.
Mosiah 28:11–18
Book of Mormon
11 Therefore he took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, and also the plates of Nephi, and all the things which he had kept and preserved according to the commandments of God, after having translated and caused to be written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand of Limhi;
12 And this he did because of the great anxiety of his people; for they were desirous beyond measure to know concerning those people who had been destroyed.
13 And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow.
14 Now these things were prepared from the beginning, and were handed down from generation to generation, for the purpose of interpreting languages;
15 And they have been kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he should discover to every creature who should possess the land the iniquities and abominations of his people;
16 And whosoever has these things is called seer, after the manner of old times.
17 Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records, behold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam.
18 Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Ether 13:13–22; 14–15
Rejecting the prophets brings spiritual danger.
Being king of the Jaredites was, historically, a dangerous position. This was especially true for Coriantumr, as many “mighty men … sought to destroy him” (Ether 13:15–16). In Ether 13:15–22, notice what Coriantumr did to protect himself and what the prophet Ether counseled him to do instead. As you read the rest of the book of Ether, ponder the consequences of rejecting the prophets. What happens to people when “the Spirit of the Lord [ceases] striving with them”? (Ether 15:19).
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.
Ether 12:7–22
As you read these verses together, you might review some inspiring examples of faith you have read about in the Book of Mormon. This could lead to a discussion about examples of faith in your family history or your own lives—consider recording these experiences if you haven’t already.
Ether 12:27
Why does the Lord give us weakness? What is our part in making “weak things become strong”? What is the Savior’s part?
Ether 12:41
Is there a fun way you could teach your children to “seek … Jesus”? One way might be to hide a picture of Jesus and invite your family members to “seek” and find the picture. How do we seek Jesus, and how are we blessed when we find Him?
Ether 13:13–14; 15:19, 33–34
It might be interesting for your family members to compare the experience of Ether with the experiences of Mormon and Moroni (see Mormon 6; 8:1–10). How are they similar? How was the Nephites’ path to destruction similar to the Jaredites’ path? (compare Ether 15:19 with Moroni 8:28). What truths do we learn that can help us avoid what happened to them?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Suggested song: “Faith,” Children’s Songbook, 96–97.
We will begin with the book of Moroni for next week. You and your family members and friends may find it somewhat interesting that originally Moroni did not plan to write any more on the plates after he had finished adding the book of Ether. Though he had stayed alive for longer than he had expected.
You and your family members will have the opportunity to read and study the last messages that Moroni was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write on the plates before he died. I am not sure just how old Moroni was at the time, but I can only imagine that it was a bit of a chore chiseling the messages onto the plates.
Again, I have included a couple of the sections on improving our teaching for your help and learning. I pray that they are indeed helpful to you and your family members and friends with whom you are teaching these lessons to. I know they are beneficial for me and I have been teaching since I was 17:)
Improving Our Teaching
Encourage questions. Children are naturally curious. Sometimes you might see their questions as a distraction from what you’re trying to teach. Instead, see questions as opportunities. They are an indication that children are ready to learn—they give you insight into your children’s concerns and how they feel about what they’re learning (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25–26).
Improving Our Teaching
Teach the “why.” “Sometimes learners—especially youth—wonder how gospel principles relate to them or why they should obey certain commandments. However, if they understand Heavenly Father’s eternal plan for the happiness of His children, the reasons for gospel principles and commandments become clearer and the motivation to obey increases” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 20).
I guess you know where we are? Yes, you got it!! We are at the end of our lesson for this week:) I pray that you and your family members and friends have learned many of the important truths woven throughout these chapters in the book of Ether. Ether too, had a lot to teach Heavenly Father's children.
I pray everyday with my students for all of you who have been sick at any time. I am trying to teach my preschoolers that they should pray for other people. If it is someone they know then we will ask for a special blessing for them to be healed. They are so cute and repeat after me until they learn to pray on their own:)
Remember that there is great power in prayer so don't forget to pray!!! Remember who you are and who you can become, with the Lord’s help!!! Please continue to read and study the Book of Mormon with me and our cyber study buddies out there in cyberspace:) Remember that there is great power in the Book of Mormon!!!
Remember what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ!!! Remember to develop or fine tune your faith so that you can hear the voice of God through the Holy Ghost!!! Remember to act promptly when you are told to do something by the Holy Ghost. Until my next post, remember that you are loved very much!!!
