Note: HAVE SOMEONE READ THE FOLLOWING

Lesson 19
Have a young man read the following statement by President George Albert Smith about avoiding temptation.

Note: Christ is pleading with me to CHANGE my choices, my habits, my traditions and culture.

D&C 19:18
Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

Note: Just because our burdens are not taken away from us doesn't mean that the Lord is neglecting us.

Mosiah 21:15
And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

Note: I can call Him my Father

Mosiah 5:7
And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.

Note: How to seek and maintain mighty change of heart and forgiveness.

Mosiah 4:26
And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

Note: Second step of gaining a testimony is to search the scriptures.

Alma 32:28
Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Note: First step in gaining a testimony is to believe.

Alma 32:27
But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Note: Keep the gospel of Jesus Christ simple.

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Note: Lehi did not retaliate nor get angry with Sariah when she criticized him.

1 Nephi 5:6
And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

Note: If we are short sighted and do not know what God thinks, expects or wants of us, we can murmur and complain when he chastens or teaches us.

1 Nephi 2:12
And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.

Note: This Book was written for me, my family, my friends, my time. I need to apply, live and teach what it says.

Mormon 8:34
Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

Note: Why we need the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

2 Nephi 29:8
Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

Note: What is the purpose of the Book of Mormon- To show the remnant of the house of Israel the great things the Lord has done for their fathers; to teach the covenants required by the Lord; and to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ, manifesting Himself to all nations.

Title Page
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.

First English edition published in 1830

Note: Why those who leave the Church can't leave it alone.

Lesson 31
The Prophet Joseph Smith made the following statement to a man who wondered why those who had left the Church often fought so fiercely against it: "Before you joined this Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached good and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither. There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can get back on to it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant" (in "Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith," Juvenile Instructor, 15 Aug. 1892, 492).

Note: What do I chose?

Hebrews 11:25
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Note: Withstand temptations with faith in Jesus Christ.

Alma 37:33
Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: Peter raises Tabitha from the dead.

Acts 9:36
¶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Note: Look to God

Isaiah 45:22
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Note: Have faith that all good things come from God

Moroni 7:24
And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.

Note: Yield yourself to God

Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Note: Christ works miracles according to my faith.

2 Nephi 26:13
And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.

Note: He allowed all this to happen because He loves me.

Matthew 27:27
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

Note: Salvation in and through and by Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Note: Home rule: forgive and forget as the Lord does for me

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

Note: Home rule: forgive, be kind and tender hearted.

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Note: Home rule: comfort each other

1 Thessalonians 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Note: Be supportive of one another in the family.

Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Note: In the family, be just and true to each other.

Revelation 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Note: Labor diligently in the kingdom.

D&C 112:5
Contend thou, therefore, morning by morning; and day after day let thy warning voice go forth; and when the night cometh let not the inhabitants of the earth slumber, because of thy speech.

Note: In the family, love one another deeply from the heart.

1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Note: Who determines how tithing funds are used? (See D&C 120. Note that in this revelation, the phrase "the bishop and his council" refers to the Presiding Bishopric. The phrase "high council" refers to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, and Presiding Bishopric constitute the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes.)

D&C 120:1
Verily, thus saith the Lord, the time is now come, that it shall be disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen.

Note: As I am comforted by the mercy and grace of Christ, I then must lead others who are struggling to rely on the comfort He provides.

2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Note: Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are our greatest source of comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Note: Paul and Timothy suffered so much that they despaired in continuing to live. Yet, they trusted not in themselves, but in God.

2 Corinthians 1:8
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Note: Spirit vs Flesh

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Note: Do I have the Lord with me in my countenance so that others recognize Him?

Genesis 39:3
And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Note: - In their determination to obtain a part of the land of Nephi, Zeniff and his people "were slow to remember the Lord [their] God" (Mosiah 9:3). What finally led them to turn to the Lord? (See Mosiah 9:13-17.) How were they blessed when they remembered the Lord and prayed for deliverance? (See Mosiah 9:18; 10:19-21.) As members of the Church, we have made a covenant to "always remember" the Lord (D&C 20:77, 79). What are some things we can do that can help us keep this covenant?

Mosiah 9:13
Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his people that they should contend with my people; therefore there began to be wars and contentions in the land.

Note: - What promises have we made to the Lord? (You may want to discuss promises such as those we make at baptism, when taking the sacrament, and when receiving the priesthood.) How are we sometimes like the second son? How can we strengthen our commitment to the Lord? How can we help each other keep the promises we have made to the Lord?

Matthew 21:31
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Note: As a Bishop, there're Keys to obtain knowledge about how to do His work.

D&C 128:11
Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the Holy Priesthood. For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living.

Note: Pinning away time

D&C 52:14
And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—

Note: Why the Gospel was restored.

D&C 1:17
Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;

Note: When I am called by the Savior (or His servants) to come unto Him, do I receive Him joyfully?

Luke 19:6
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Note: Not one of us has thrown away our last chance. We can change, we can come back, we can claim mercy.

3 Nephi 17:8
For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.

Note: The invitation given to the Nephites, when He ministered to them as the resurrected Christ, is still in force for you and for me:

3 Nephi 17:7
Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

Note: I am a Shepherd of the Lord. Am I doing my part to care for the Lord's sheep that He has entrusted to me?

Ezekiel 34:2
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Note: When we are engaged in the service of God in any manner - do what you do for His glory and honor and not for your own.

Matthew 7:22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Note: God delivers and rescues my soul.

Daniel 6:27
He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Note: The first teachings in this sermon are known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). The word beatitude comes from the Latin beatus, which means fortunate, happy, or blessed.

Matthew 5:1
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Note: All Church leaders are called to help other people become "true followers of ... Jesus Christ"

Moroni 7:48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Note: All Church leaders are called to help other people become "true followers of ... Jesus Christ"

Moroni 7:48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.