Author: admin (Page 3 of 4)

President Russell M. Nelson

The adversary never stops attacking. So, we can never stop preparing! The more self-reliant we are—temporally, emotionally, and spiritually—the more prepared we are to thwart Satan’s relentless assaults. …

I am not saying that the days ahead will be easy, but I promise you that the future will be glorious for those who are prepared and who continue to prepare to be instruments in the Lord’s hands. (Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 75–76)

We have been promised that “if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear” [Doctrine and Covenants 38:30]. This assurance has profound implications today. The Lord has declared that despite today’s unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ, and have learned how to draw upon His power, need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 94)

President Dallin H. Oaks

We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 9)

Elder Quentin L. Cook

The storms and temptations of this life are often unpredictable. But this we know: they will come! In order to overcome the challenges and temptations that each of us inevitably faces, it will require righteous preparation and the use of divinely provided protections. We must determine to be temple worthy regardless of what befalls us. If we are prepared, we shall not fear. (Quentin L. Cook, “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad Times,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 39)

Parables of the Lost

 

Here is the link for Tuesday’s Assignment: Luke 15

Work through the assignment, and then fill out the form below. Submitting the form will give you credit for Tuesday.

Recognizing my individual worth

On a page in your study journal, consider making a simple drawing of a shepherd holding a sheep or a father hugging his son. Use the space surrounding this drawing to record the following:

• Words or phrases (including those from Luke 15) that remind you of how beloved you and all others are to Heavenly Father, even when you and others need to repent.
• Ways you can treat those who need to repent with compassion, including yourself.
• As you think about how you treat yourself and those around you, how do you want to apply what you learned today?

Fill out the form below so that Brother Crockett can get to know you a little better.

Salt has long been used to preserve food, add flavor and to purify.  At the time of Christ, salt was more valuable than gold.  If contaminated by other elements, salt loses its savor and becomes ineffective, or “good for nothing.”

As believers in Christ, He has a special purpose for us. We are to add flavor to and purify our surroundings. Think of the characteristic about which Jesus taught in Matthew 5:3-13. How much better would the world be if Christians flavored the world with more meekness and humility?

STAY SALTY!

Scenario:

Imagine that you have a friend named Meghan who is a member of the Church, but her mother is not. Her mother believes in Jesus Christ and the Bible but doesn’t belong to any particular church. Meghan asks you, “Can’t my mother go to heaven without being baptized if she lives a good life?”

Act in Faith

(2 Minutes) Read paragraphs 5–7 of the section “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022). On your paper, write down words and phrases that could help YOU answer Meghan’s question.

(2 Minutes) Discuss with your group members what you wrote down and how these words/phrases would be helpful in this scenario.

(2 Minutes)  What specific things could you do to invite MEGHAN to act in faith?

Examine Concepts and Questions With an Eternal Perspective

(2 Minutes) Read paragraphs 8–10 in the same section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. On your paper, write down words and phrases that could in answering Meghan’s question.  

(4 Minutes) Discuss with your group SPECIFIC WAYS you could use what you know about the Plan of Salvation to help form an answer to Meghan’s question.

Use Divinely Appointed Sources

(2 Minutes)  Read paragraphs 11–12 in the same section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.  On your paper, write down words and phrases that could help answer Meghan’s question.

(2 Minutes) Discuss with your group members what you wrote down and how these words/phrases would be helpful in this scenario.

Group Work

(10 Minutes) Use the Divinely Appointed Sources below to find doctrinal answers to Meghan’s question.  Make sure each person in the group has an assignment and that each person contributes at least ONE truth or doctrine that will be used in your final answer.  Write the person’s name next to their assignment.

“Baptism” Bible Dictionary  _____________________

“Baptism” Topical Guide (find FOUR scriptures that help understand what baptism is and why it is important)   ________________________

Gospel Library App >>  Gospel Topics >> Baptism

• Messages from Church Leaders  ________________________
• Learning Resources  __________________________
• Study Manuals  __________________________
• Teachings of Presidents  _________________________

Putting It All Together

(7 Minutes)  Give everyone a chance to share what they discovered.  Then, doing your best to use something from EACH group member, decide from Start to Finish how you would answer Meghan’s question: “Can’t my mother go to heaven without being baptized if she lives a good life?”  You only have THREE MINUTES to teach her.  Make sure to focus your responses on “Examining Questions With An Eternal Perspective” and using “Divinely Appointed Sources.” And also include one thing you could do to invite Meghan to ACT IN FAITH.

Paintings such as “Christus Consolator” took much thought and preparation BEFORE the painting even began. The artist would have very specific purposes in layout, use of light and dark, characters and objects used, and positioning.

In this painting, Carl Block places Christ as the central figure. Where is Christ looking? Upon what is He standing? Notice the position of Christ’s arms and hands. What is Carl Block trying to convey about Christ with this painting?

Now look at the seven people surrounding Christ. Where are they looking? What expression is on their faces? What are they wearing? FYI: The woman wearing black to the right of Christ would be a widow. Why does one character have a staff? Why is one in chains?

With Which Character Can YOU relate?

Take a moment to review these seven characters and what they represent. With which characters can you relate? Why? If you could pick one character that would BEST represent your CURRENT relationship with Christ, which would it be? Why?

---

The world today is so saturated with doctrines of men that it is easy to forget and lose faith in that all-important account of the Savior’s life and ministry—the New Testament. This sacred volume is the centerpiece of scriptural history, just as the Savior Himself should be the centerpiece of our lives. We must commit ourselves to study it and treasure it!

Elder L. Tom Perry ““The Sabbath and the Sacrament,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 6)

Use these icons below to help you memorize your Old Testament Doctrinal Mastery references.

President Russell M. Nelson

I am intrigued that Joseph Smith—an unschooled young man in rural America—could have translated [the Book of Mormon]. That unlikely scenario relates to Isaiah’s remarkable prophecy:

“I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder.” (Isa. 29:14.) … 

Truly, this latter-day work is precisely that. Think of the short time Joseph took to translate the Book of Mormon. Working from April to June of 1828, Joseph translated the 116 pages that Martin Harris later lost. Joseph began translating again on Tuesday, April 7, 1829, with Oliver Cowdery as scribe. The manuscript was completed eighty-five days later, on June 30 of that year. Of course, not all of that time was spent working on the translation. … Conservatively estimated, this left sixty-five or fewer working days on which the prophet and his scribes translated this book, which contains 531 pages in its current edition. … That calculates to an average of eight pages per day. Consider this when you translate a book, or as you schedule your own reading of the Book of Mormon. (Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, July 1993, 61–62)