First Speaker
A missionary that just returned from a mission to Germany spoke. He talked about while on his mission he found that people understood the same scripture differently, even people who belonged to the same church.
Second Speaker
A high councilman, who is also the father of the returned missionary who spoke, also spoke to us. He said that previously Europe was a hard place to be called on a mission to gain converts. He stated that before his son left on his mission Elder Uchtdorf spoke and made the statement that shortly the work was going to begin moving forward at a good rate in Germany. This mission found this to be true.
He talked about some of the problems that occurred with bringing forth what we have today as the Bible. He gave a bit of the history that prepared the Earth for the restoration of the church.
It was a lot like a tape that I had at one time that described those events as well. The tape talked about why the restoration was needed and why 1820 was the time to do it. I thought the guy who gave it was named Hyrum Smith. Doing a Google search on Hyrum Smith and restoration is not very effective for finding a talk. I did finally find it. The talk was titled "Why 1820" and was given by Hyrum W. Smith at Rick's college on September 27, 1988. I think when listening to this talk as a young adult it was the first time I had thought about John chapter 6:66-69
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the awords of eternal life.
Some of the things he listed for preparation for the restoration were:
- The printing press needed to be made to make the Bible widely accessible.
- The printing press also had the effect of raising the literacy rate, so that more people could actually read the Bible for themselves.
- There needed to be those raised up that were discontent with national religion who would protest it.
- A free land had to be established where there was no national religion.
- The bible needed to be translating into English since that is the language that was going to be spoke in the free land that he was going to establish.
I also found this talk by Elder Robert D. Hales talking about very similar things.
Sunday School
Book of Mormon Lesson 9
“My Soul Delighteth in the Words of Isaiah”
Here are some points from the lesson manual
| WHY NEPHI QUOTED ISAIAH | |
| 1 Nephi 19:23 | To “more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord” |
| 2 Nephi 11:2–4 | To provide another witness of Jesus Christ |
| 2 Nephi 11:5–6, 8 | To help us (his readers) rejoice |
| 2 Nephi 25:3 | To reveal God’s judgments |
The lesson listed five keys that can help us understand Isaiah.
Key 1: “Liken all scriptures unto us” (1 Nephi 19:23; see also 2 Nephi 11:2, 2 Nephi 11:8).
Key 2: “Know … concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews” (2 Nephi 25:1).
Key 3: “Know the judgments of God” (2 Nephi 25:3; see also verse 2 Nephi 25:6).
Key 4: “Know concerning the regions round about [Jerusalem]” (2 Nephi 25:6).
Key 5: Be “filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:4).
Going into the mountain means to go to our spiritual place, wherever we can have spiritual. The temple is referred to as the mountain of the Lord. Our spiritual places are not always the temple, but it is good imagery.
Priesthood
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith
Chapter 4: The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion p. 57–68
We reviewed the title page of the Book of Mormon which I have included most of it below with some of my own highlights
"Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
"An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ."
We talked about prayer. We must think for ourselves and also ask God when we want inspiration. Sometimes the Lord has said "no" and we continue to walk in our ways and try to make Him change his mind.
Moroni 10:3-5 -
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 amerciful 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 bponder it in your chearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not btrue; and if ye shall ask with a csincere heart, with dreal intent, having efaith in Christ, he will fmanifest the gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
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