Royal's Ramblings: December 2020

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Post # 267 -- Come, Follow Me -- Week # 50 -- December 21–27 -- Christmas -- “He Shall Come into the World to Redeem His People"

Dear Family and Friends

Wow!! Can you believe it? This crazy year of 2020 is coming to an end, can you believe it? It’s hard for me to believe that Christmas is already here. I know that it has seemed as if we have been sort of frozen in time. In March --- waiting for summer to arrive.

We were unable to take field trips to our favorite places so it seems like summer has never really come -- even though we are sitting in the snow and freezing temperatures. With the storm we had all day yesterday and the icy roads I drove on last night you know that it is surely winter.

As the teacher of your little family scripture study group you might want to think about how you can help your family members and friends strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

This you can do as you study this Christmas lesson about the birth of Jesus Christ during this week. There may be some things in your lesson which will help you to help your friends and family members . we begin our lesson right from our manual -- Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.

The Christmas season is a time to reflect on and express gratitude for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As you read and ponder this week about His birth and life, consider how your study of the Book of Mormon this year has strengthened your testimony that He is the Savior of the world. Record impressions that come to you.

You can do this sharing activity together or you can pair off and share with one another how learning about Jesus Christ from the Book of Mormon during this year of 2020 has strengthened you and your family member’s faith in Him and in His teachings. Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.

From Nephi to Moroni, every Book of Mormon prophet was committed to the sacred purpose summarized on the book’s title page: “The convincing of [all people] that Jesus is the Christ.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/bofm-title?lang=eng

One prophet saw Him as a premortal spirit, and another saw His birth and ministry in a vision. One stood on a wall to proclaim the signs of His birth and His death, and another knelt before His resurrected body, touching the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. All of them knew this essential truth: “There is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who … cometh to redeem the world” (Helaman 5:9).

9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

So during this Christmas season, as believers around the world celebrate the goodness and love of God in sending His Son, ponder how the Book of Mormon has strengthened your faith in Christ. As you think about His birth, ponder why He came and how His coming has changed your life. Then you can experience the true joy of Christmas—the gift that Jesus Christ gives to you.

1 Nephi 11:13–23; Helaman 14:1–13; 3 Nephi 1:4–22

Jesus Christ was born to be our Savior.

I have a question for you as the teacher to think about: How can you, as the teacher of your family scripture study group use the Book of Mormon to teach your family members and friends about the sacred event of the Savior’s birth?

There are probably many many ways you could do this. but one way is to divide up you and your family members into the three groups and give each group one of the following scripture passages to read together: 1 Nephi 11:13–23; Helaman 14:1–13; and 3 Nephi 1:4–22.

As your groups or pairs are reading their assigned verses, ask your family members and friends to discuss in their group what these scriptures teach them about the birth of the Savior?

Group #1 1 Nephi 11:13–23

13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.

14 And it came to pass that I saw

the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?

15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.

24 And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.

25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

26 And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!

27 And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.

28 And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.

29 And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face, and I saw them not.

30 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them.

31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.

32 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.

33 And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.

34 And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.

35 And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

36 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Group #2 Helaman 14:1–13,

Helaman 14:1–13

Book of Mormon

1 And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written.

2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.

7 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.

8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

9 And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his angel, that I should come and tell this thing unto you; yea, he hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto you; yea, he hath said unto me: Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord.

10 And now, because I am a Lamanite, and have spoken unto you the words which the Lord hath commanded me, and because it was hard against you, ye are angry with me and do seek to destroy me, and have cast me out from among you.

11 And ye shall hear my words, for, for this intent have I come up upon the walls of this city, that ye might hear and know of the judgments of God which do await you because of your iniquities, and also that ye might know the conditions of repentance;

12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.

13 And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.

Group #3 -3 Nephi 1:4–22.

3 Nephi 1:4–22

Book of Mormon

4 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.

5 But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.

6 And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.

7 And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass.

8 But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain.

9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.

10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.

11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.

12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

16 And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

17 And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

18 For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.

19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

22 And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings and deceivings the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord.

Next you could have them share with one another what they have discussed in their groups about what they found during their reading. What teachings were found by each group? then have each group share with the rest of your family scripture study group what they discussed why is it valuable to have the Book of Mormon's witness of the Savior's birth?

As you and your family scripture study group study the birth of Jesus Christ during this week, consider how you can help your family members and friends to strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Some of the ideas found in this week'a outline can help.

Learning about the birth of Jesus Christ has been very important to me throughout the years, as I am sure it has been for each of you and your family members and friends.

As important as it has been to learn about and know for a surety that Jesus was and is the Christ child born so long ago in a manger. It is so much more important to learn about and know just exactly why He was born.

Knowing why He was born is vital to each one of you and your family members and friends. Here is a question for you as teachers of your family scripture study groups: How can you help those you teach to ponder the redeeming power of Jesus Christ?

This may be a great time for you and your family members and friends to share some of the words, phrases, passages, and stories which they have studied during this week. The following might be helpful: this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.

As the teacher for your family scripture study group it is up to you to encourage each of your family members and friends to share how the things they have studied this year has deepened each one of their appreciation of the Savior’s birth and of His redeeming power.

At this time you might consider asking your family members and friends to talk about any special gifts that they have received at Christmas. After each of your little family scripture study group have had a turn to share

You can now begin your discussion about the gifts which God has given to each one of us through His Son. how do we show gratitude for the gifts that we receive? You and your family members and friends could read together the following quote by President Thomas S. Monson found below:

The gifts of the Savior.

President Thomas S. Monson taught:

“I reflect on the contrasts of Christmas. The extravagant gifts, expensively packaged and professionally wrapped, reach their zenith in the famed commercial catalogs carrying the headline ‘For the person who has everything.’ In one such reading I observed a four-thousand-square-foot home wrapped with a gigantic ribbon and comparable greeting card which said, ‘Merry Christmas.’ Other items included diamond-studded clubs for the golfer, a Caribbean cruise for the traveler, and a luxury trip to the Swiss Alps for the adventurer. Such seemed to fit the theme of a Christmas cartoon which showed the Three Wise Men traveling to Bethlehem with gift boxes on their camels. One says, ‘Mark my words, Balthazar, we’re starting something with these gifts that’s going to get way out of hand!’ …

“For a few moments, may we set aside the catalogs of Christmas, with their gifts of exotic description. Let’s even turn from the flowers for Mother, the special tie for Father, the cute doll, the train that whistles, the long-awaited bicycle … and direct our thoughts to those God-given gifts that endure. I have chosen from a long list just four: …

“First, the gift of birth. It has been universally bestowed on each of us. Ours was the divine privilege to depart our heavenly home to tabernacle in the flesh and to demonstrate by our lives our worthiness and qualifications to one day return to Him, precious loved ones, and a kingdom called celestial. … Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives. …

“Second, the gift of peace. In the raucous world in which we live, the din of traffic, the blaring commercials of the media, and the sheer demands placed on our time—to say nothing of the problems of the world—cause headache, inflict pain, and sap our strength to cope. …

“He who was burdened with sorrow and acquainted with grief speaks to every troubled heart and bestows the gift of peace. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27). …

“Third, the gift of love. ‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’ queried the lawyer who spoke to Jesus. Came the prompt reply: ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

“‘This is the first and great commandment.

“‘And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’ (Matthew 22:36–39). …

“Fourth, the gift of life—even immortality. Our Heavenly Father’s plan contains the ultimate expressions of true love. All that we hold dear, even our families, our friends, our joy, our knowledge, our testimonies, would vanish were it not for our Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Among the most cherished thoughts and writings in this world is the divine statement of truth: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16)” (“Gifts,” Ensign, May 1993, 59–62).

Be sure that you discuss with your family members and friends the four gifts President Monson mentioned. What role does the Savior play in these gifts? How can we show our gratitude to Heavenly Father for these gifts?

You might want to consider asking those of your family scripture study group to play and / or sing Christmas hymns, include this as part of your discussion about Christmas to help invite the Spirit.

You and your family members and friends could also explore together some of the Christmas resources listed below:

Christmas resources.

• Matthew 1:18–25; 2; Luke 2

• Gospel Art Book, nos. 28, 29, 30, 31, 81

• Images in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families

• “A Savior Is Born—Christmas Video” (video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_TEOyhy7B

• “Good Tidings of Great Joy: The Birth of Jesus Christ” (video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNhJmH9fDE

• Christmas.ComeuntoChrist.org

• First Presidency Christmas Devotionals (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/broadcasts/first-presidency-christmas-devotionals) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS6fhyIbFNI

This next part comes from our manual --Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

1 Nephi 11:13–36; Mosiah 3:5–10; Helaman 14:1–13; 3 Nephi 1:4–22

Jesus Christ came to earth to be my Savior.

It’s traditional to read the story of the Savior’s birth in the New Testament at Christmastime, but you can also find moving prophecies of this sacred event in the Book of Mormon. For example, prophecies of the Savior’s birth and ministry are found in 1 Nephi 11:13–36; Mosiah 3:5–10; Helaman 14:1–13; and 3 Nephi 1:4–22.

What impressions about Jesus Christ come to you as you read these passages and contemplate the possible meanings of the signs of His birth? How do the testimonies of these prophets in ancient America strengthen your testimony of Christ and His mission?

Monday, December 14, 2020

Post # 266 -- Come, Follow Me -- Week # 49 -- December 14–20 -- Moroni 10 -- “Come unto Christ, and Be Perfected in Him”

Dear Family and Friends

I pray that you are all finding new ways to connect or reconnect with your family members and friends even though you may not be able to visit with them in person due to this nasty virus.

It is so important that we stay connected to and with our family members and friends at least weekly. As it is so easy for people to slip into depression, and if someone lives alone they may need contact daily.

I know when I was sick that week of Thanksgiving I was lonely in my basement room. Even though I could hear my family all around me they were all upstairs and I was the only one down stairs for days.

I know that they came down to check on me occasionally, it came to a point that I just wanted to be around them. so i drug my blanket and pillows upstairs for about 20 minutes, then i went back downstairs to sleep some more.

The next day I came upstairs for a little longer and then a little bit longer each day.Though i was still very weak, i went back to work on Monday as i could not afford to take any more days off.

I do not have time off days so when i have to be at home i lose a day's pay. Well that’s enough of my rambling:)If you and or your family members and friends have had some meaningful experiences as you have been reading and studying the Book of Mormon this year.

You as the teacher can draw on these experiences which you have had to encourage your family members and friends to study the scriptures each day. They too, can help to encourage you as well, to read and study the Book of Mormon every day in your individual and family study.

As you finish reading the Book of Mormon, consider seeking a renewed witness from the Holy Ghost that it is true. As you do, record the impressions you receive.

The Book of Mormon opens with Nephi’s promise to show us that “the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith” (1 Nephi 1:20). The book closes with a similar message from Moroni as he prepared to “seal up” the records: he invited us to “remember how merciful the Lord hath been” (Moroni 10:2–3). Even if we think only of the many mercies recorded in the Book of Mormon, this gives us a lot to think about. What examples come to your mind? You might ponder the merciful way God led Lehi’s family through the wilderness and across the great waters, the tender mercies He showed to Enos when his soul hungered for forgiveness, or the mercy He showed to Alma, a bitter enemy of the Church who became one of its fearless defenders. Or your thoughts might turn to the mercy the resurrected Savior showed to the people when He healed their sick and blessed their little children. Perhaps most important, all of this can remind you of “how merciful the Lord hath been” to you, for one of the main purposes of the Book of Mormon is to invite each of us to receive God’s mercy—an invitation expressed simply in Moroni’s farewell words, “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

What if you and your family members and friends pretended that the prophet Moroni is visiting you at your home today during your regular lesson time.

What do you think your family members and friends would say to Moroni about what he has written for us in Moroni 10?

Do they have any special verses that are meaningful to them that they would want Moroni to know about? Would you and your family members and friends be willing to share any experiences which you and or they have had with these verses?

Moroni 10:3–7

I can know the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost.

You and your family members and friends will possibly gather up some new insights. You will gather up more little packets of light if you will all study very carefully the teachings you will find in Moroni 10:3–5 here below:

Moroni 10:3–5

Book of Mormon

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

You could write from these verses important phrases onto separate pieces of paper to pass out to each of your family members and friends. Then you ask each member of your scripture study group to ponder what their phrase means.

You might want to have a discussion about what each phrase means. Be sure to discuss what each one can do to apply their phrase in their daily lives. Now is a good time for you and your family members and friends to read

You should read together Moroni 10:3–5 [above]. With that said, you should be sure to stop when you come across a phrase that someone in your scripture study group studied this way.

Each person can share his and or her thoughts about their phrase with one another. Get out your journal and encourage your family members and friends to write in their own personal journals where you and they could write down their experiences during the week.

Those experiences which you and they have had with acting on the invitation from Moroni that is found in these verses. You may even want to ask your family members and friends to think about the following situation:

they have a friend or family member who wants to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and needs some encouragement. How can you encourage this person? How might you and / or they use Moroni 10:8–25?

8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the cSpirit of God unto men, to profit them.

9 aFor behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;

10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;

13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;

14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;

15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;

16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.

17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.

18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.

19 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men.

20 Wherefore, there must be afaith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.

21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.

22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.

23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: aIf ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.

24 And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth—that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of \unbelief.

25 And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God.

How can you and/or they use what is found in Moroni 10:3–7?

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

What experiences could you and / or they share? How can we help others understand what it means to know something “by the power of the Holy Ghost”? (Moroni 10:5).

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Moroni 10:3–7

I can know the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost.

The promise in Moroni 10:3–7 has changed the lives of millions of people around the world. How has it changed yours? Whether you are seeking to gain or to strengthen your testimony of the Book of Mormon, Moroni’s invitation applies to you. As you read Moroni 10:3–7, consider reading more carefully than you have in the past. You could examine each phrase, asking yourself questions like these: What does this mean? How can I do this better? What experiences have I had with this? How has the Holy Ghost manifested the truth of the Book of Mormon to me?

Also think about someone who needs to hear your testimony of the Book of Mormon. How will you help that person seek his or her own witness?

Moroni 10:8–25

“Deny not the gifts of God.”

In Moroni 10:8 we are given the admonition to ‘deny not the gifts of God”. Why do you think this admonition to “deny not the gifts of God '' is so particularly important for each one of us in these latter days?

At this point you may want to encourage your family members and friends to take the time to ponder this question as you and or they read Moroni 10:8–18.

9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;

10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;

13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;

14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;

15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;

16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.

17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.

18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.

You might want to ask your family members and friends to share some examples of people they know who are using each of those spiritual gifts which you can find listed in Moroni 10:9–16. [above]

Doing this activity can help to strengthen you and your family members and friends’ belief in those spiritual gifts. You and your family members and friends can find examples of spiritual gifts in several places.

Those examples could come from the scriptures, from Church history, or from yours and /or their own lives. Examples from the Book of Mormon are suggested here below:

Manifestations of spiritual gifts in the Book of Mormon.

• Teaching by the Spirit: Nephi and Lehi (Helaman 5:17–19)

• Exceedingly great faith: Alma, Amulek, Ammon, and others (Ether 12:13–22)

• Healing: Alma (Alma 15:5–11)

• Mighty miracles: The three disciples (3 Nephi 28:19–22)

• Prophecy: Lehi (2 Nephi 1:6–7)

• Beholding of angels: Amulek (Alma 10:7–10)

• Interpretation of languages: Mosiah (Mosiah 28:11–16)

How were these spiritual gifts manifest?“ You and your family members and friends could also discuss how some of the gifts which are described in these verses were manifested in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

Why is it important for someone who is seeking a testimony of the Book of Mormon to believe in spiritual gifts? What do we sometimes do to “deny” these gifts in our lives? How do these gifts help us “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”? As we are counseled in Moroni 10:30–33.

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

Get out your poster board for another way to explore the spiritual gifts which are described in these verses. You should write on your poster board a few questions like the following: What are spiritual gifts?

Who are they given to? Why are they given? and How do we receive them? Read through the questions together with your family scripture study group.

Now ask your family members and friends to search Moroni 10:8–25 to find answers. The following statements by President Brigham Young and President Dallin H. Oaks can also help.

President Brigham Young’s testimony of spiritual gifts.

“Faith. When you believe the principles of the Gospel and attain unto faith, which is a gift of God, he adds more faith, adding faith to faith. …

“The Gift of Healing. I am here to testify to hundreds of instances of men, women, and children being healed by the power of God, through the laying on of hands, and many I have seen raised from the gates of death, and brought back from the verge of eternity; and some whose spirits had actually left their bodies, returned again. I testify that I have seen the sick healed by the laying on of hands, according to the promise of the Savior. …

“Prophecy, Revelation, and Knowledge. Every man and woman may be a revelator, and have the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, and foresee the mind and will of God concerning them, eschew evil, and choose that which is good” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 252–53).

“Lay hold upon every good gift.”

President Dallin H. Oaks told how seeking spiritual gifts blessed his mother: “Having lost her husband, my widowed mother was incomplete. How she prayed for what she needed to fulfill her responsibility to raise her three small children! She was seeking, she was worthy, and she was blessed! Her prayers were answered in many ways, including the receipt of spiritual gifts. She had many, but the ones that stand out in my memory are the gifts of faith, testimony, and wisdom” (“Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72).

You could read the following verses with your family members and friends the following verses Moroni 10:9–16 looking for the spiritual gifts listed there:

9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;

10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;

13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;

14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;

15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;

16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.

Be sure that you make a list of all of the spiritual gifts shared in these verses In addition to the spiritual gifts listed in verses 9–16, what other “gifts of God” have we received or been blessed by? As we can read about in Moroni 10:8.

It may be good for you to share with your family members and friends what Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety. Those listed in the revealed word are simply illustrations of the boundless outpouring of divine grace that a gracious God gives those who love and serve him” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 371).

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Moroni 10:8–25

“Deny not the gifts of God.”

There are many ways a person might “deny … the gifts of God” (Moroni 10:8). Some people deny that these gifts even exist. Others might deny that they have spiritual gifts but recognize them in other people. Still others deny their gifts by simply neglecting them or failing to develop them.

As you read Moroni 10:8–25, look for truths that will help you discover your spiritual gifts and use them with greater power to bless yourself and others. Seek insights about the gifts God has given you or the gifts He wants you to seek. Why is it important to “remember that every good gift cometh of Christ”? (Moroni 10:18).

Consider also this counsel from Elder John C. Pingree Jr.: “So how do we come to know our gifts? We can reference our patriarchal blessing, ask those who know us best, and personally identify what we are naturally good at and enjoy. Most important, we can ask God (see James 1:5; Doctrine and Covenants 112:10). He knows our gifts, since He gave them to us” (“I Have a Work for Thee,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 33).

See Guide to the Scriptures, “Gifts of the Spirit,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Moroni 10:30–33

I can be perfected through the grace of Jesus Christ.

It would be very beneficial for you and your family members and friends to sing the following hymn: Come Follow Me -- hymn # 116 . As you do this I am betting that you too will begin to feel the spirit and bring the spirit into your discussion as well.

116

Come, Follow Me

31243, Hymns, Come, Follow Me, no. 116

1. "Come, follow me," the Savior said.

Then let us in his footsteps tread,

For thus alone can we be one

With God's own loved, begotten Son.
2. "Come, follow me," a simple phrase,

Yet truth's sublime, effulgent rays

Are in these simple words combined

To urge, inspire the human mind.

3. Is it enough alone to know

That we must follow him below,

While trav'ling thru this vale of tears?

No, this extends to holier spheres.

4. Not only shall we emulate

His course while in this earthly state,

But when we're freed from present cares,

If with our Lord we would be heirs.

5. We must the onward path pursue

As wider fields expand to view,

And follow him unceasingly,

Whate'er our lot or sphere may be.

6. For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow'rs,

And glory great and bliss are ours,

If we, throughout eternity,

Obey his words, "Come, follow me."

Text: John Nicholson, 1839-1909

Music: Samuel McBurney, b. 1847

Matthew 4:19

2 Nephi 31:10-21

After the music here is a question to start this section with:What do you feel would help the members of your class accept Moroni’s invitation to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”? (Moroni 10:32).

You could ask your family members and friends to share any of the connections which they have found between the hymn and the truths found in Moroni 10:30–33. After you have had your discussion

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

it's time for you and your family members and friends to answer a couple of questions before you move on to our next section:) What do we learn from these verses and this hymn about what it means to come unto Christ?

What does it mean to be “perfect in Christ”? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–53, 69). Share your feelings about what it means to be “made perfect through Jesus” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:69), and encourage your family members and friends to share theirs.

50 And again we bear record -- fore we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just --

51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus , and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given --

52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all all their sins and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed untothis power;

53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.

69 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.

As you may have noticed this is the last lesson from the Book of Mormon for this year’s study. You and your family members may want to share some of what you and/ they have felt and learned as you have all studied the Book of Mormon together.

You could enhance your sharing session by reading Moroni 10:32–33 together with your family members and friends. Then you could ask your family scripture study group to take a few moments and ponder about how the Book of Mormon has helped you and/or each of them to come closer to Christ.

You might say to them: How has the Book of Mormon helped each one of us to have a greater love for God? How has the Book of Mormon helped each one of us to rely more completely on the grace of Christ?

How has our study of the Book of Mormon helped each one of us to “deny not” the Savior’s power? Now would be a good time for you and your family members and friends to bear your testimonies of the Book of Mormon and its witness of Jesus Christ.

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Moroni 10:30–33

I can be perfected through the grace of Jesus Christ.

Moroni’s admonition to “come unto Christ” involves more than learning about Him or thinking about Him more often or even trying harder to keep His commandments, as important as these things are. Rather, this is an invitation to come unto Christ in the most complete sense possible—to become as He is. As you read Moroni 10:30–33, notice phrases that help you understand what it means to come to Christ completely, such as “lay hold upon every good gift,” “deny yourselves of all ungodliness,” and, of course, “be perfected in him” (italics added).

How is this possible? Look for answers in Moroni 10:30–33. What is the Spirit telling you that you should do to more completely “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”?

See Omni 1:26; Guide to the Scriptures, “Perfect,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

You can encourage your family members and friends to look forward to studying the Doctrine and Covenants together with me and all of our cyber study buddies next year.

You can do this as you review Moroni 10:9–16 together with your family members and friends and explain that these gifts are all evident in the Church today.

Tell them that as we read the Doctrine and Covenants, we will see just how the gifts and the power of God have been used to do His work in the latter days

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.

Moroni 10

Read this chapter together, looking for every time Moroni used the word exhort. List or mark what Moroni is exhorting—or strongly encouraging—us to do. What can we do to follow his exhortations?

Moroni 10:3

What have we learned about the Lord’s mercy as we read the Book of Mormon this year? How has the Lord been merciful to our family?

Moroni 10:3–5

After reading these verses, you might ask family members to share how they have come to know that the Book of Mormon is true. Consider singing together a song about seeking for truth, such as “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109). You might also invite family members to record their testimonies in a family journal.

Moroni 10:8–18

Christmas is a natural time to think about receiving gifts. Perhaps family members could wrap gifts for each other that represent the “gifts of God” mentioned in Moroni 10:9–16. These gifts could also represent other good gifts that come from Christ that they see in one another.

Moroni 10:27–29, 34

Family members could share what they would like to say to Moroni when they “meet [him] before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah.”

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “Search, Ponder, and Pray,” Children’s Songbook, 109.

Here are two more for you to add to your collection of personal study improvement ideas and teaching improvement ideas. I found it works to have them written out on index cards and put into an index card box for safe keeping and where I can find them easily when I need an idea:)

Improving Personal Study

Look for Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Book of Mormon—and all scripture—is to testify of Jesus Christ. What do you learn about Jesus Christ in Moroni 10? What do you feel inspired to do to come unto Him?

Improving Our Teaching

Reserve time for learners to share. “When learners share what they are learning, they not only feel the Spirit and strengthen their own testimonies, but they also encourage other class members to discover truths for themselves” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 30).

Well, here we are again at the end of this lesson. I pray that something that i have shared in this post has helped you in some small way. I have tried to include the whole lesson for you.

Even though there may not always be enough time during your Sunday lesson to cover everything. You can always use parts of the lesson each day along with your individual and or family scripture study.

You can always use parts of the lesson during this upcoming year to help you continue your daily study of the Book of Mormon. It is so important to develop that habit of reading from and studying the Book of Mormon every day.

If you miss a day or two, it's ok, just begin again… and again. I have restarted my daily study of the Book of Mormon so many times I have lost count. The important thing is to begin again.

You will notice as I have. that there is a drastic difference in my daily life when I take the time to study from the Book of Mormon and when I forget or do not take the time to at least read from the Book of Mormon every day.

Next week we will be doing the Christmas lesson. I will do my best to get the lesson out to you on time. So you and your family members and friends can enjoy the lesson all week long:)

Please remember who you are. You are each one a child of God!!! You belong to a heavenly family. You are of eternal birth. You are amazing!!! Until my next post, everyone be safe, and stay healthy and well.

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Post # 265 -- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School -- Week # 48 -- December 7–13 -- Moroni 7–9 -- “May Christ Lift Thee Up”

Dear Family and Friends

Here we are at the beginning of the second week of December. Do you and your family members and friends have any family birthdays this month. We have a few beginning on Monday the 7th. My ex husband and my granddaughter who is turning 14, i believe:)

I love studying this lesson with you and all of our cyber study buddies out there in cyberspace. There are so many things for us to learn in this lesson. I do pray that you and your family members and friends have found this to be true as well:) the following comes to you directly from the Come. Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:

As you study Moroni 7–9, listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and record His messages to you. He can teach you both what you need to know and what you need to do.

Before Moroni concluded the record we know today as the Book of Mormon with his own final words, he shared three messages from his father, Mormon: an address to “the peaceable followers of Christ” (Moroni 7:3) and two letters that Mormon had written to Moroni.

3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.

Perhaps Moroni included these messages in the Book of Mormon because he foresaw similarities between the perils of his day and ours. When these words were written, the Nephite people as a whole were tumbling headlong into apostasy. Many of them had “lost their love, one towards another” and delighted in “everything save that which is good” (Moroni 9:5, 19).

Moroni 9:5, 19

Book of Mormon

5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.

19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.

And yet Mormon still found cause for hope—teaching us that hope does not mean ignoring or being naive about the world’s problems; it means having faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, whose power is greater and more everlasting than those problems. It means “lay[ing] hold upon every good thing” (Moroni 7:19). It means letting the Atonement of Jesus Christ “and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind” (Moroni 9:25).

Moroni 9:25

Book of Mormon

25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

And until the glorious day of Christ’s Second Coming, it means never ceasing the “labor [we have] to perform … [to] conquer the enemy of all righteousness” (Moroni 9:6).

Moroni 9:6

Book of Mormon

6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.

You may want to consider asking your family members and friends to take some time before getting right into the lesson to have a little review of Moroni chapter 7, 8, or 9 . they might want to find a truth which they have found that is meaningful to each one of them. Then they could share that truth which they found and share just how it has blessed each one of them

Moroni 7:3–19

“That which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually.”

Do you know what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus Cheist?one thing is for sure -- we must be able to judge between good and evil. You may want to have a discussion of those truths found in Moroni 7:3–19.

Moroni 7:3–19

Book of Mormon

4 And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men.

5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.

6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.

7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.

8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.

9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.

10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.

11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

In studying these verses you could help you and your family members and friends to avoid judging others “wrongfully” as mentioned in Moroni 7:18.

Moroni 7:18

Book of Mormon

For this next activity, you could divide your family members and friends into two groups who could then search these verses for any counsel which Mormon give us about how to identify what comes from our Heavenly Father, and the other half of your group might look for how to identify what comes from the devil.

Next you would have them share what they hac eac found and examples of those things which invite then “to do good, and to love God, and to serve him” as is mentioned in Moroni 7:13. How do we apply Mormon’s counsel in our daily decisions?

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

How can we make righteous choices and still show love for those around us who do not live the gospel? You know i have often had this very same thought as i am sure many people also wonder. “How can I know if a prompting I have comes from God or from my own thoughts?”

You may even want to get out some poster board and write this question on the top of your poster board. “How can I know if a prompting I have comes from God or from my own thoughts?” then you and your family members and friends could search Moroni 7:13–16 together

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

Be looking for some principles that may help in answering this question. How might these verses help us recognize divine inspiration? It may help to explain that “the Spirit of Christ,” also known as the light of Christ, is sometimes referred to as our conscience. The following statement by President Gordon B. Hinckley could help.

Does it come from the Spirit?

To answer the question “How do we recognize the promptings of the Spirit?” President Gordon B. Hinckley quoted Moroni 7:13 and said: “I don’t think [it’s] too difficult, really. … Does it persuade one to do good, to rise, to stand tall, to do the right thing, to be kind, to be generous? Then it is of the Spirit of God” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 260–61).

and the video “Patterns of Light: Discerning Light” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) may also be helpful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDEXQ-GTYTs

the following comes to you directly from the Come. Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Moroni 7:12–20

The light of Christ helps me judge between good and evil.

Today’s world is full of influential messages; how can we tell which are right and which are wrong? Mormon’s words in Moroni 7 give us several principles we can use to avoid “judg[ing] wrongfully” (Moroni 7:18). As you study Moroni 7:12–20, look for truths that can help you know what will bring you closer to God and what won’t. You might use these truths to help you evaluate the messages you encounter and the experiences you have this week and determine whether or not they invite and entice you to do good (see Moroni 7:13).

See also “Judging Others,” Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; Bible Dictionary, “Light of Christ.”

Moroni 7:21–48

Followers of Jesus Christ seek faith, hope, and charity.

I love this next part about the three- legged stool:) Have you ever seen one? Have you ever tried to sit on one? So, if you have never seen one or tried to sit on one you will need to picture it out in your mind with me. This stool is normally used when milking a cow.

From all of the dairies which I have seen on our field trips I can only imagine that these stools are a bit obsolete nowadays. If you can picture one of these stools with the words faith, hope and charity on each of the legs.

Now I want you to consider how faith, hope and charity are like the three legs on this stool. You may want to read the following statement for more insight. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s statement below:

Faith, hope, and charity.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf compared faith, hope, and charity to a stool with three legs, explaining that these three virtues “stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter. …

“Faith, hope, and charity complement each other, and as one increases, the others grow as well. Hope comes of faith, for without faith, there is no hope. In like manner faith comes of hope, for faith is ‘the substance of things hoped for.’

“Hope is critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment, and procrastination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our charity” (“The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 21, 23–24).

After you have finished reading President Uchtdorf’s statement you might ask your family members and friends to choose one of these attributes and look in Moroni 7:21–48 for what Mormon has taught us about it. You might use the following discussion questions:

Why do we need faith and hope to receive the gift of charity? How do each of these attributes connect us to Jesus Christ? Why are these attributes essential for a disciple of Jesus Christ? What would happen to us if we lost faith? hope? charity? Reading the following statement would be helpful just now:

“The pure love of Christ.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland suggested two possible meanings of the phrase “the pure love of Christ”:

“One … is the kind of merciful, forgiving love Christ’s disciples should have for one another. …

“[Another meaning is] Christ’s unfailing, ultimate, and atoning love for us. … It is that charity—his pure love for us—without which we would be nothing” (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 336).

It would do you well for you and your family members and friends to take several minutes to write any impressions which they’ve had while reading and discussing the scriptures and the two statements above. The following comes to you directly from the Come. Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Moroni 7:20–48

Through faith in Christ, I can “lay hold upon every good thing.”

After teaching about how to distinguish between good and evil, Mormon asked a question that seems relevant today: “How is it possible [to] lay hold upon every good thing?”—especially when the adversary’s temptations are so enticing (Moroni 7:20). Mormon’s answer can be found throughout the rest of chapter 7. As you read verses 20–48, look for truths that help you recognize “every good thing” you have because of Jesus Christ. How does having faith in Him help you seek out things that are good? How can you “lay hold” on more good things?