Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Mormon 8

(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.)

Even when you are alone, you can choose to remain faithful. God will hold us accountable for how we treat the poor and those in need.

1. What do you learn about Moroni and Mormon's relationship from this verse? How highly do you value the things of God that your parents esteemed highly?
2. How many Nephites were permitted by the Lamanites to live?
3. What sole purpose remained for Moroni to live? In our day, surrounded by evil, how might we find a similar purpose to do the will of our Father? How can this purpose help us endure the trials and hardships that beset us?
4. What is the power in the scriptures that gives Moroni a purpose to live? Do the scriptures strengthen your purpose to live and remain faithful to the end?
5. How would you feel if you were alone and isolated like Moroni was? How would you get along all by yourself? What would you miss the most after a month alone? What would you miss the most if it lasted a year? What comfort would you find in knowing that sooner or later you would get to join your family?
7. What would it feel like to not only be alone, but also hunted from day to day by your enemies? Think of a time that you felt alone in your beliefs or standards. Did your determination to follow the Savior and keep His commandments during that time increase, stay the same, or decrease? Why?
8. Notice how even with the destruction of the Nephite people, war did not end among the Lamanites?
9. Why did Moroni refrain from giving a lengthy account of the condition of the people upon the land at that time?  Why is it better for us to dwell on the positive aspects of life... even when there seem to be very few?
10-11. What source of strength had The Lord sent Mormon and Moroni? Who else do you know that is an example of standing faithful even when standing alone?
"As we go about living from day to day, it is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what is acceptable and what is not. Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone?... May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand alone in the proceed, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven." -Thomas S Monson, GC, October  2011

12. What greater blessings are we promised if we accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God? What do you number among your greatest blessings?
"I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel. I speak of the gift of the Book of Mormon." -- Ezra Taft Benson, GC, October 1986

13-14. What did Moroni teach is the value of the Book of Mormon? What did he teach about the financial value of the plates? What is of more worth to you, gold or the writings of ancient prophets?
15. What do you think it means that the Book of Mormon could be brought forth only by someone who had and eye single to God's glory? What is the only motive one must have before he could bring the record to light?
16. What does it mean that the Book of Mormon would be brought forth by the power of God?
17. What is promised to those who search for faults in the record? Have you ever heard a person who was of the opinion that one of the general authorities was 'off' a little in how he taught a doctrine or principle? What caution should you view such comments and opinions with? How can recognizing the source of such views protect you from being taken in by wolves in a sheep’s clothing? 
18. What is the reward given to sign seekers? Why does The Lord require faith of his people? Would it be easier or harder to know of His grace and goodness if we were given miraculous signs every time we doubted? Which way requires us to spiritually grow more?
19. How does the promise that our works will come back to us instill in you a desire to serve The Lord and not yourself? How can this promise help you weather and endure trials and challenges in your life?
20. What does The Lord say to us about revenge? Who should we turn our feelings of vengeance over to? Why is it better to turn those feelings over to the Lord? What do those feelings, if harbored, do to our souls? How does turning them over to The Lord actually bless our lives?
21. What warning did Moroni give to those who would try to destroy the work of The Lord? Can you think of any person or people who have condemned the Book of Mormon or tried to destroy the Lords work?
22. Why is it important for you to know that 'the eternal purposes of The Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled'?
23. Why is it so important for us to be familiar with the prophecies The Lord has given through his prophets? Why is Isaiah so often recommended to us to learn and study from his writings? How well do you understand and treasure up the words of Isaiah? How could you come to understand Isaiah's writings better?
24. What power is granted to the faithful by God? How can the miracles listed in this verse symbolize the power you are given over the wicked when you submit your will to The Lord and do his will?
25. How do your prayers help you to be an instrument in the hands of The Lord, to fulfill his purposes and build his kingdom? Is there something you can do to ensure that your prayers help to achieve this outcome? How can praying for the things that have been prophesied to come forth help move Gods work on the earth along?
26. How can you know of a surety that all the Lords promises will be fulfilled? How can your prayers and faith help in the accomplishing of His works? How does patience come in to play as you pray for the Lords purposes to be realized in your life?
27. Do secret works and wickedness exist in your day? How do you have the faith and power to endure through such times as this? Have you seen the hand of The Lord in your life today? How can you recognize His hand more consistently in your life?
28. Do you know of churches that are built up more on the precepts of men than of God? How does this help you to search out and recognize God's truth and power in its fullness?
29-30. Do wars and rumors of wars exist around you? Do you recognize these things as events that have been prophesied? What are they indicators of?
31. What kind of pollutions exist around you? Are they spiritual or temporal? Why do you need to be so very conscious of the spiritual pollution of our day? What do you have that will help to protect you from its dangers?
"As we test the moral environment, we find the pollution index is spiraling upward!" - Boyd K Packer, GC, April 1992

32. Have you ever heard of people paying money to have their sins forgiven? Why is it not possible for our sins to be cleared up that way?
33. What do Moroni's prophecies about the conditions of our day teach you about the value of the Book of Mormon? Why do you think that the Book of Mormon is one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times? If a friend asked you why the Book of Mormon was so important to you, how would your respond?
"We must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study [because] it was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us... each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations... If they saw our day, and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, 'Why did The Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?'" --Ezra Taft Benson, The Book of Mormon - Keystone of Our Religion, 6

34. Have you ever wondered how the prophets Mormon and Moroni decided what stories to include in the abridgement when they had so many records to choose from?
35. How does the fact that Moroni had seen our day help him speak to us as though we were sitting there next to him, receiving the advice he could give us in order for us to find happiness even amidst great evil? What qualified Moroni to give such advice?
36-41? What would you list as the most serious concerns expressed by Moroni? What common theme is found in these verses? How can we fortify ourselves against the sings of this generation? What can we do to overcome pride, selfishness, and greed? What are some of the reasons Moroni gave for why some people in the last days will no help those in need? What are some examples of how people today might love the things money can buy and follow worldly pursuits more than being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?






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