Mormon 9

(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.)

If we will repent and call upon God, we will be spotless when we come into His presence. Because God is unchangeable, he will provide miracles according to his children's faith. if we pray in faith to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, He will grant us blessings that will help us work out our salvation.

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?

1. Why does Moroni feel a need to speak to those who do not believe in Christ?

2. How long will those who do not believe in God, persist in their unbelief?

3-4. Why would the wicked be miserable in God's presence?

"There can be no salvation without repentance. A man cannot enter into the kingdom of God in his sins. It would be a very inconsistent thing for a man to come into the presence of the Father and to dwell in God's presence in his sins... I think there are a great many people upon the earth, many of them perhaps in the Church - at least some in the Church - who have an idea they can go through this life doing as they please, violating the commandments of The Lord, and yet eventually they are going to come into his presence. They think they are going to repent, perhaps in the spirit world. They ought to read these words of Moroni: 'Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him [Christ] under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are wracked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws? Behold I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell. For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you.'" -- Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:195-196

5. Why do you think it is wrong to wait to repent in this life, believing you can repent in the next life?

6. Why is it so important to Moroni and other ancient prophets that we use our time in this life to repent of our sins? What are some of the most important things you could do now to help you to prepare to meet God?

7. Have you ever witnessed a miracle? Why do you think some people today do not believe in miracles?

8. Where do you go to learn the gospel of Christ? How does regular scripture study help you to understand the gospel and recognize God's hand in your life?

9. If God is unchanging, why would people reason that he treats our dispensation differently from the others?

10. What comfort do you find in knowing that God does not change? How does this help you play solid trust in him? How does it affect your desire to keep the Commandments and follow God's law?

11. How would you show that God is still a God of miracles to a nonbeliever?

12. How grateful are you for the fall of Adam? How does the fall of Adam exemplifying miracles performed by God?

13. How much of a miracle do you personally feel that the atonement is in the lives of those who use it? Is the atonement a daily miracle in your life?

14. Does your nature change at the event of death? What assurance do you have that if you live a life of righteousness you will be happy in the next life as well?

15-16. Can you comprehend the marvelous works of God? Ponder his works in your life and the lives of those around you. Have you seen any miracles lately?

17. What is the power in God's word? If a man had that power in his word would others not consider him to be a man of miracles? Then why not God? What keeps people from recognizing and acknowledging miracles?

18. What scriptural testimonies do we have of the miracles of the Savior and his apostles?

19. How could God cease to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable being? What do we learn about God and the nature of God from this verse and the presence of miracles in our lives?

20. Why did Moroni say miracles ceased among men? What can you do to ensure that God can work miracles in your life?

"Just as important as these ‘ mighty miracles' are the smaller' private miracles' that teach each of us to have faith in the Lord. These come as we recognize and he'd the promptings of the spirit in our lives… I believe that all of us can bear witness to the small miracles. We know children who pray for help to find a lost item and find it. We know of young people who gather the courage to stand as a witness of God and feel his sustaining hand. We know friends who pay their tithing with the last of their money and then, through a miracle, find themselves able to pay their tuition or their rent or somehow I'm taking food for their family. We can share experiences of prayers answered and priesthood blessings that gave courage, brought comfort, or restored health. These daily miracles acquaint us with the hand of the Lord in our lives. "– Sister Sydney S Reynolds, GC, April 2001

21. What does Moroni teach about praying to God for help? What can you do to more fully pray in the name of Jesus Christ?

"We pray in Christ's name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ – when his words abide in us. We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ's name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man's heart. "– Bible dictionary, prayer

22-25. What did the Savior teach his Nephite disciples about those who believe in Him and do His works? How can the signs that follow true servants of The Lord help you know that you belong to His church here upon the earth? Does this knowledge strengthen your testimony? How grateful are you for the restored gospel here upon the earth today? Do you value it as a great gift or are you ever tempted to take it for-granted?

26. What happens to those who try to assume greater authority than God? How do their selfish works become their undoing? How can we focus on extending love to others and maintain humility? How do you avoid the temptation and appeal of pride in your life?

27-31. What specific counsel did Moroni give to latter-day readers in these verses?

27. What do you need to do to work out your own salvation? What role does prayer play in this process?

28. What sort of wisdom is referred to in these verses? How is it wise to give in to no temptations? In order to be unyielding to temptation you must be able to recognize the lures and snares of the devil. How do you gain the ability to recognize spiritual danger so you can firmly avoid temptation?

29. What is worthiness? What spiritual power is in the value of worthiness? How does partaking of the sacrament worthily every week magnify and increase your worthiness? If you are unclean and partake, what spiritual conditions might you expect to realize?

30. How would you feel writing to someone you had never met before? Do you care for these people even though you have never met them? How does it make you feel to know that Mormons message was intended for you?

31. How are imperfections a blessing? Are you aware of your own imperfections? Do you tolerate or condemn the imperfections of others? Have you developed a feeling of gratitude similar to what Moroni expresses in this verse for your imperfections?

32. Why do you think it was important that Moroni let his readers know what language the record he kept was written in?

33. Why did they write the records in reformed Egyptian?

34. What means did The Lord provide for the translation of the gold plates? How does this show that the work of The Lord will always be accomplished? How can this knowledge increase your faith and determination to assist in this great work?

35. How does sharing our own life experiences and the lessons we learn from them with our posterity help us to rid our garments from the sins of our generations?

36. How do the records of a righteous people potentially influence many for good? If you wrote the feelings of your heart in your journal, the lessons you learned, and the regrets you lived with as directed by the spirit, is it possible that those records could one day be used to fulfill the Lords purposes in your own family? Why is this a good reason to keep a journal?

37. How do your covenants bless you? Are the answers you receive proportional to the amount of faith that you exercise? What are some of the experiences that you have had in receiving answers to your prayers?