Lesson 43 “How Could Ye Have Departed from the Ways of the Lord?” Mormon 1-6; Moroni 9

Lesson Purpose: Help members see importance of living gospel


1. Mormon given responsibility for sacred records (read Mormon 1)

• Compare the early lives of Mormon and Joseph Smith what things are similar or different?
• What losses did the Nephites experience during this time?

2. The state of Nephites and Mormon’s Leadership (read Mormon 1:19; Mormon 2 and 3)

• What conditions existed among the Nephites as Mormon was given this significant responsibility?

• Ponder the following questions and be prepared to share your thoughts:

1. Why did Mormon rejoice when he saw the people mourning?
2. What is the difference between “sorrowing . . . Unto repentance and “the sorrowing of the damned”? (see also Corinthians 7:9-10)
3. What gave Mormon hope and peace? How can we maintain hope and peace?
4. What is the importance of recognizing blessings we receive from the Lord?
5. Why are we commanded not to seek vengeance? What does that mean to you?

3. Mormon explains the purposes for the records he has abridged and written. (Mormon 3,5)
Sacred Records were written for:

• Mormon 3:17 Gentiles, House of Israel
• Mormon 3:18 Ends of the earth, Twelve tribes of Israel
• Mormon 3:19 Remnant of this people (descendants of Lehi and Ishmael)
• Mormon 5:9 Remnant of Nephites & Lamanites
  
• Mormon 5:14 Unbelieving of the Jews

Purposes of sacred records:

• Mormon 3:20 Judgment seat is for all
• Mormon 3:21 Believe the gospel of Jesus Christ
• Mormon 5:15 Provide witness that Jesus is the Christ
  
• Mormon 5:14 Persuade unbelieving Jews
• Mormon 3:22 To persuade everyone to repent

4. The last battle, the challenge and the promise (Mormon 4,5,6, Moroni 9)
Try to imagine what Mormon was going through as he prepared and fought in this last battle

• Elder Neal A. Maxwell warned: “Only reform and self-restraint, institutional and individual, can finally recsue society! Only a sufficient number of sin-resistant souls can change the marketplace. As Church members we should [can] be part of that sin-resistant counterculture” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 96)

• Moroni 9:25:26 “. . . may Christ lift you up. . .and rest in your mind forever and the grace of God the Father . . . abide with you forever. . ."

Lesson #42 "This is My Gospel" 3 Nephi 27 - 30; 4 Nephi

Hi Everyone - I am relatively new to the art of blogging. We'll try it out and see how it goes! Please feel free to leave your comments, suggestions and questions.

Here are some highlights that we will be covering on Sun Nov 23, 2008

The PURPOSE of this week's lesson is to:
Increase our understanding of the "gospel of Jesus Christ" as the source of true and eternal happiness.

1. The Savior commands His Nephite disciples to call the Church after His name and He expounds His gospel

What was the question the disciples were praying & fasting about" 3 Nephi 27:3
What was so significant about the answer they received? 3 Nephi 27:4-10

"This is my gospel" (3 Nephi 27: 13-20)
3 Nephi 27:13 Jesus’ submission to will of Father
3 Nephi 27:14 Atonement
3 Nephi 27:14-15 Resurrection
3 Nephi 27:14-15 Judgment
3 Nephi 27:16, 19-20 Repentance
3 Nephi 27:16, 20 Baptism
3 Nephi 27:19 Faith in Jesus Christ
3 Nephi 27:20 Gift of the Holy ghost
3 Nephi 27:16-17, 19 Enduring to the end

2. The Savior grants the desires of His twelve disciples and three of the disciples choose to remain on the earth until His Second Coming.

Read 3Nephi 28:7-9 Jesus said that these disciples were "more blessed" because of their desire. What can we learn from this statement?

Translated Beings (3 Nephi 28: 7-40)
3 Nephi 28:7-8, 38 Never taste death or endure pain
3 Nephi 28:8 They will be changed in twinkling of an eye
3 Nephi 28:9, 38 They do not experience sorrow
3 Nephi 28:9, 18,23, 29-30 They help people become converted
3 Nephi 28:19-22 They cannot be killed or harmed
3 Nephi 28:39 Satan cannot tempt them
3 Nephi 28:40 Remain in translated state until Judgment

Why would Jesus want us to know about translated beings?

3. After many years of peace, the majority of the people dwindle in unbelief and reject the gospel

4 Nephi 1:2,13 What was it like among the people ...........How do you imagine it?
4 Nephi 1: 15 Why no contention?..........................Can we feel this same love?
4 Nephi 1: 17 How many –ites were there?....Do we have “ites” in our society? How does gospel help us unite?
4 Nephi 1:20-46 Twelve steps to apostasy.....How many steps do we see today?
1. v 16 All is well
2. v 20 Division and creation of classes
3. v 23 Prosperity
4. v 24 Pride; Costly apparel
5. v 25 Divided possessions
6. v 26 Divided into classes
7. v 27 Churches denied gospel
8. v 27-28 Church leaders administered unworthily
9. v 29 Churches denied Christ
10. v 31 People hardened hearts; sought to kill
11. v 42 Built up secret combinations
12. v 43-46 None that were righteous
4 Nephi 1:48-49 What happened to the sacred records.....Buried up until Mormon gets them

Read 4 Nephi 1:16 When the people remain faithful to the gospel "there could not [have been] a happier people". What is the impact of this statement to you personally?

NEXT WEEK'S STUDY: Mormon 1-6; Moroni 9

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!