(Below is a list of questions that help me think about each verse as I read it. The numbers represent the verses in the chapter.)
When a group of
people is converted to the Lord, it brings unity and happiness. The sin of
pride creates division and leads to greater wickedness.
1. What does it mean to TRULY repent? What blessings do
those who truly repentant receive?
2. How many of the Nephites were converted? Why were there
no contentions or arguments among all the people? How did they treat each
other?
3. Why were there no poor among them? Why did they have
all things in common? How do you think
you would have liked to live among them? What can you learn from their experience?
4. Imagine what it would be like to live in a land filled
with peace. What can you do to fill your life with peace? Your community with
peace? Your family with peace? Your country with peace?
5. What blessings that did these people enjoy because they
were all converted to the Lord? What blessings do you enjoy through your
conversion to the Lord?
7. In this verse the Lord prospers the people in the
land. In what ways have you seen the hand of the Lord bless you exceedingly in
the things you do?
10. What does this verse teach about the value of
children and families?
11. Make a list of all the promises you can think of
which the Lord has made unto you. Review your list. How does it feel to
recognize all his promises? How many have you received? How many are you
willing to yet work to receive?
12. How do fasting and prayer, and attending church often
help you to obey the higher law that Christ gave? In the world around you, how
many celestial laws do you observe society living by? Do you seek to live celestial
standard? What it can you do to better attain this goal?
13. How does the absence of contention allow for mighty
miracles to be performed among the Lords people?
14. Imagine living 100 years in the absence of
contention, living in peace and love. What will the millennium be like? What
can we learn about the millennium from the Nephite people in this timeframe?
15. What was it that prevented contention from entering
the hearts of men? How did the people feel about their material possessions?
16. What do you think is the difference between things
that bring you temporary happiness and things that can lead to lasting
happiness?
17. How does you need to draw us together as children of
Christ? In what area of your life can you improve your feelings of unity?
18. Imagine living in Zion. How grateful would you feel
for the knowledge of the Lord that you have? What benefits do you think would
come to your family if everyone in your family live like a Zion people? What
can you do in your life to become a Zion individual?
"Your happiness now and forever is conditioned on your degree of conversion and the trans formation that it brings to your life. How then can you become truly converted? Pres. Marion G Romney describes the steps you must follow: 'Membership in the church and conversion are not necessarily synonymous. Being converted and having a testimony are not necessarily the same thing either. Testimony comes when the Holy Ghost gives the earnest seeker witness of the truth. Moving testimony vitalizes face. That is, it induces repentance and obedience to the commandments. Conversion is the fruit or the reward for repentance and obedience.' (1977) "Stated simply, true conversion is the fruit of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience… True conversion yields the fruit of an enduring happiness that can be enjoyed even when the world is in turmoil and most are anything but happy." --Richard G Scott, GC, April 2002
20. What happened to the unity the Nephites once enjoyed?
What do you think could destroy a happy society like the people in this chapter
had?
23. How were these people blessed for their
righteousness? Do you consider your self prosperous? What is true prosperity?
24-25. What was one of the first signs of wickedness
among the people? In what ways do you think pride is that in any of unity?
"Pride is the great enemy of unity. "-Henry B Eyring, GC, October 2008 "Pride is sinful… because it breeds hatred or hostility and places us in opposition to God and our fellow man. At its core, pride is a sin of comparison, for though it usually begins with 'look how wonderful I am and what great things I have done,' it always seems to and with 'therefore, I am better than you.' When our hearts are filled with pride, we commit grave sin, for we violate the two great commandments. Instead of worshiping God and loving our neighbor, we reveal the real object of our worship and love-that image we see in the near. " -Dieter F Uchtdorf, GC, Oct 2010
26-27. What happened to the church? How can the pride of
one or two people affect the happiness of an entire group? Are there elements
of pride in your own life? What can you do to resist pride and to seek help in
increasing unity and righteousness in your life? In your family? In your class or group of friends? Record your
goals and work toward achieving them.
28. How quickly does evil spread? How can we protect
ourselves so that pride and riches do not overtake us?
"When the principles of the Gospel we're practiced among the… [Nephites] they were equal to a very great extent; but when they began to violate the principles of the Gospel; their inequality manifested itself. Some where lifted up in pride, some looked with scorn upon their poor brethren and sisters. Classifications I rose in society which had their origin not in virtue, not in holiness, not in purity, not in any superiority arising from intelligence, but because some were richer than others, some could dress better than others, some could have better surroundings than others, doubtless dwell in finer houses, better furnished, and they were better clad, and had probably finer and nicer food. Distinctions of this kind grew up not out of the gospel, but out of the violation of the principles of the Gospel. Wherever the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is taught,… It makes the man who may know and understand the things of God feel that he is not better then his fellow man, and the woman Who understands the things of God feel that she is not better than her sister… There is something in the human heart of that character that when humans beings are prospering they are apt to be lifted up in pride and to forget the cause or the source of their prosperity; they are apt to forget God, who is the fountain of all their blessings, and to give glory to themselves… God has sent us here and given unto us a mission on the earth not to accumulate riches, not to become worldly minded, not to pile up the things of this world… The happiness of people does not consist in the abundance of worldly things. ". -George Q Cannon, Journal of Discourses, 22:99-101
29. Why do the proud despise the righteous?
30. Why can't the proud and that evil prevent God from
doing his mighty miracles and works among the people? How can we help prepare
the way for his mighty works to be received?
31. What is it about pride that causes people to harden
their hearts against the miracles and goodness of the Lord's work? How soft is
your heart? How can you measure the condition of your heart?
32. In our day we face furnaces of spiritual fire. How do
you come forth from them receiving no harm? What is your greatest protection?
33. How can facing and overcoming spiritual dangers
become a strength to you? How does looking back on the lessons learned remind
you of taming the wild beast and making it your friend?
34. What are some of the characteristics of the prideful
Nephites?
35-37. Were the prideful Nephites also divided? Why is it
so common for the proud to experience further division among themselves?
38. What is the difference between dwindling in unbelief
and willfully rebelling against the gospel of Christ? What did those who read
belled teach their families? Who does hatred originate from?
39. Compare love and its fruits in verse 15 with the
fruits of hate in this verse. Do you ever struggle with feelings of hate? If so
are you prepared to reap its fruits? Would you prefer to enjoy the fruits of
love?
40. We are taught in the Scriptures that straight is the
gate and narrow is the way to the kingdom of heaven and there are few that find
it. Why do you think that the wicked always seem to outnumber the righteous?
What is the easier way? How hard do you seek after the straight and narrow way?
41. How does this verse describe gluttony? How is it like
an illness? Do the people recognize where it is taking them? How can seeking
the spirit in our lives help us to avoid this self-destructive behavior?
42. What new evil began again during these years?
43. What changed about the Nephites, those who were
referred to as righteous, during this time? In what ways have you observed
Satan seeking to warm his way into the thoughts, actions, and attitudes in your
life?
44. How do the righteous feel when they are good people
choosing and embracing the sins of the world?
45. If you were to predict the future of the Nephites from
these verses, what would you say?
46. Cross reference: Alma 45:13-14 The peaceable
followers of Christ were also referred to as disciples of Christ.
46. What does it mean that there were none that were
righteous? What happened to the true believers of Christ? How could they let
their happiness and joy slip from their lives? Have you ever found yourself
clinging to negative feelings rather than turning them over to the Savior so
you can be happy? In what ways can you and your family help to build a Zion
atmosphere in your home and ward and community?
"May I suggest three fundamental things we must do if we are to' bring again Zion,' three things for which we who labor for Zion must commit ourselves. First, we must eliminate the individual tendency to selfishness that snares The soul, shrinks the heart, and darkens the mind… Second, we must cooperate completely and work in harmony one with the other. There must be unanimity in our decisions and unity in our actions… Third, we must lay on the altar of sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord. We meet again by offering' broken heart and a contrite spirit. But if he we followed this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and callings. We learn our duty and execute it fully. Finally we consecrate our time, talents and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. ". -Spencer W Kimball, GC, April 1978
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