If you are a person of faith who feels called to share biblical teachings with others, you may be wondering, Should I go to seminary? But
2 Nephi 26:33 states that “all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” Most people in Nephi’s time assumed that the gods of each nation only loved their own nation. Nephi taught otherwise. He also showed that the Gentiles would enthusiastically accept Jehovah as their God. This would take place because God simply lays down the conditions that people have to keep for Him to accept them, and those that keep His commandments become part of His kingdom, as was the case for ancient kings who laid down conditions for their subjects. It isn’t where people are from that matters to God, it’s what they do.
When I taught seminary, a few times a year I used to love to give a "silent" lesson, and over the years I realized how much the students loved them.
Amulek specifically mentioning his women, children, father, and kinsfolk as being part of his household provides interesting insight into the social structure of Book of Mormon societies and peoples. Far from the nuclear families prevalent today, this added detail “suggests an interesting pattern of kin connections” known in many ancient cultures, including ancient Mesoamerica. Later in the account, Alma and Amulek were forced to witness the horrendous execution of those who believed their preaching. This included women and children, and apparently members of Amulek’s own family. By first coming to know Amulek and his family, readers are able to empathize with them when the narrative makes a tragic turn for the worst.
I have completed the year! My seniors have had their last day of seminary for the rest of their lives (until they're called to be seminary teachers)! I have 14 seniors graduating this year, and I am so proud of them. I wasn't too diligent with blogging my lessons toward the end. But here are my last thoughts for the book of Moroni. As I was reading the book of Moroni, I noticed that the entire book had a theme; the Holy Ghost. Chapters 2-6 are instructions on how to operate and organize the church. Basic church ordinances are mentioned, and they are all to be performed by the power of the Holy Ghost or in preparation to receiving the Holy Ghost. Chapters 7-8 give us direction on how to discern good from evil by the Spirit of Christ. Each of us is born with the light of Christ. By following this light, we can be led to lay hold upon every good thing, which good cometh of Christ. We're also taught to exercise faith, hope, and charity, and how those things bring the Holy Ghost to dwell with us continually. In contrast to the previous chapters, Chapter 9 shows us what happens to a society of people who no longer have the Spirit to dwell with them after being a Zion people. This chapter probably hit me the hardest. Mormon is describing a people (the Nephites) who have degenerated to canibalism, hatred, family abuse, sexual offenses, perversion, murder, and torture. They are without civilization and are "past feeling". They are beyond being affected by the Holy Ghost. In Moroni 10:4-5 (one of our Scripture Masteries this year), Moroni promises us that if we read the Book of Mormon and ponder the words we read in our hearts, God will manifest the truth of the book to us by the power of the Holy Ghost. We must specifically ask Him if it's true. We must be sincere and have true intentions to act upon what we have read (which is an exertion of our faith). Because the Book of Mormon IS TRUE, our faith will access this power! That's a promise from a prophet of the Lord, who is the keyholder of the record of the Stick of Ephraim. Moroni was the principle figure in the transmission of the record to this dispensation, and the protector of this record. I prefer my class work through their impressions and figure things out on their own rather than me feeding them my thoughts. So I asked my class, "Why do you think the Book of Mormon ends with so much emphasis on the Holy Ghost?" Here are a few of their answers: * It's really important, in these last days, for us to discern what is true from what is not, and that will be taught to us by the Holy Ghost. * By qualifying for the presence of the Holy Ghost, it protects us from becoming hardened, so we don't become like the Nephites and Jaredites. * The Holy Ghost keeps us from being deceived by Satan. Sometimes what looks good to our eyes is deceiving. If we listen to the Holy Ghost with our hearts, regardless of what "looks" good, we will always be led to good. * The Holy Ghost will teach us the truths in the Book of Mormon, which was written for us. We don't always understand everything we read in the Book of Mormon, but if we keep the Holy Ghost with us, He will keep teaching us new things as we are ready to learn. * Moroni knows that we need the Holy Ghost, more than anything, to bring us to Christ. It was pretty profound for them to realize how important Moroni's last words were to them. I'm so proud of this class. They have progressed through the year beautifully. They've grown to think for themselves and apply the principles of the gospel to their every day lives. They've learned to sift through the scriptures for what's important and to "see" more clearly. I'll miss them and seminary in general. Class, I love you and wish you all the best!
The Book of Mormon’s rich accounts of warfare contain some of the most exciting and interesting material in the thousand-year narrative. These stories have captured the imagination of Latter-day Saints of all ages, from young children in Primary to popular fiction writers. Perhaps less recognized, these chapters have also caught the attention of some with both academic and professional military expertise. These scholars have found the Book of Mormon accounts of wartime strategy to be strikingly realistic.
In Sidom, Alma and Amulek found some of their converts who had fled from Ammonihah. These people humbled themselves and worshiped God “before the altar . . . that they might be delivered from Satan, and from death, and from destruction.” According to Bokovoy, “the earlier laws of Exodus identify altars as places of refuge where someone who had unintentionally committed manslaughter could seek asylum.” Bokovoy remarked, “the Book of Mormon identifies the altar as a place where people could seek deliverance, albeit in a spiritual sense.” This understanding of altars in the Book of Mormon leads to greater appreciation for God’s love and protection of His children through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
In Ether 12, Christ told Moroni that if men would come unto Him, He would show them their “weakness.” Some might assume this means that Christ would show us our weaknesses. However, the Book of Mormon authors never use the word weaknesses at all. Instead, they use the word weakness to refer to the actual condition of being weak: weak-ness. The Lord allows people to experience this weakness associated with mortality, “that they may be humble” (Ether 12:27). We all experience the weakened condition that is part of being human, and this is meant to invite us to experience Christ’s grace.
Last year, I was released from my calling as an early-morning seminary teacher in Caldwell, Idaho. I taught for four years and so I know…
Seminary and institute instructor Stephen Hunsaker returned to Education Week for another dating lecture, focusing on the flags to look out for when searching for an eternal companion.
1. “In the pre-mortal world before we left the presence of Heavenly Father, He warned and cautioned us about new experiences we would have in mortality. We knew that we would have a physical body of flesh and bone. Never having been mortal before, we had no experience dealing withContinue Reading
If you're a teacher, here is a list of ideas and activities for classrooms or other youth groups so students can get to know each other better.
Practically since the Book of Mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. Amidst the hundreds of passages of potential geographic significance, Alma 22:27–34 is widely regarded as the most comprehensive statement available on the configuration of Book of Mormon lands. Despite the limited space on the plates, Mormon—as a historian and military leader—may have included these details because he knew how important geography is to understanding historical events. All this geographical information not only adds another layer of complexity, but also strengthens the sense that the text describes a true historical reality.
Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed 170 years ago today. I have pulled some of my best photographs to help you journey with the Prophet and his brother to the Carthage Jail. I have drawn from eyewitnesses to help the story come alive for you. "Wake up the world for the conflict of justice. Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again!-
The church was established in Zarahemla by Alma the Elder, when his group rejoined the Nephites. So why does his son, Alma the younger, have to establish the church again in Zarahemla? A review of the previous chapters (Alma 4-5) explains why.
King Benjamin’s inspired speech in Mosiah 2–5 is rich with parallelisms, chiasmus, and other literary techniques that highlight and emphasize core doctrinal principles. One such doctrinal subject is the Fall, which Benjamin emphasizes in a chiastic frame at Mosiah 3:18–19. According to Benjamin’s formulation, the Fall of Adam and Eve, with the result that the natural (fallen) man is an “enemy to God,” can only be overcome through the Atonement of Jesus Christ by “putting off the natural man.” But beyond merely conveying this crucial doctrine, Benjamin added poetic depth to this teaching through his skilled use of chiastic structuring.
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