Live By Every Word (part one)

As the Lord began the process of the restoration it became important that these new young elders know how the spirit of revelation worked.  The Lord begins with Oliver Cowdery by explaining the process of revelation.

D&C  6:14-24
 14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.
 15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;
 16 Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.
 17 I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee--that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are true.
 18 Therefore be diligent; stand by my servant Joseph, faithfully, in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word's sake.
 19 Admonish him in his faults, and also receive admonition of him. Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity.
 20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.
 21 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
 22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
 23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
 24 And now, behold, you have received a witness; for if I have told you things which no man knoweth have you not received a witness?

It is important that it be remembered that this revelation was given by the Spirit to the Prophet Joseph Smith who is dictating it to Oliver who is writing down the words.  Therefore, when it comes through Joseph Smith revealing the time that Oliver had peace spoken to him (that only he and the Lord knew about) he then realizes that Joseph Smith is a conduit of the Spirit which is a sign to Oliver that the work is true.  It is important to note that the Lord uses the word "instruction" in verse 14.  He doesn't give yes and no answers but instead he give experiences which instruct and which allows the receiver to come to correct conclusions. 

Then again Oliver is given another revelation where the Lord explains the revelatory process:

D&C  8:2-3
 2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. 

We are taught in the Law of Moses that in the mouth of two or more witnesses every truth will be established.  Notice that the Lord has two places in our body that receives revelation - our heart and our mind.  The two must be in agreement with each other to establish the truth of the revelation.  Sometimes the feeling in the heart is also called a burning of the bosom:

D&C  9:7-9
 7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
 9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

 

Notice that much of revelation deals with "feelings."   That is very important.  One must learn to know when the spirit is present and when it is confirming an answer by the feelings one receives. 

As in the D&C 6:14-24 revelation - speaking peace to ones mind is a feeling. 

Merry Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/user/mormon?v=9Wxixc0KI58

The Prophet Brigham Young On Progression

I wish to notice this. We read in the Bible, that there is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars. In the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, these glories are called telestial, terrestrial, and celestial, which is the highest. These are worlds, different departments, or mansions, in our Father's house. Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them, They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold sceptres of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course. Will this apply to any of you? Your own hearts can answer. Do you know what is right and just, as well as I do? In some things you do, and in some things you may not know as well; but I will explain what I mean, in the following words-I will do all the good I can, and all I know how to do, and I will shun every evil that I know to be an evil. You can all do that much. I will apply my heart to wisdom, and ask the Lord to impart it to me; and if I know but little, I will improve upon it, that to-morrow I may have more, and thus grow from day to day, in the knowledge of the truth, as Jesus Christ grew in stature and knowledge from a babe to manhood; and if I am not now capable of judging for myself, perhaps I shall be in another year. We are organized to progress in the scale of intelligence, and the least Saint by adhering strictly to the order of God, may attain to a full and complete salvation through the grace of God, by his own faithfulness.    
            (Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 1:, p.313)

The Nobility of Man

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Speaker John Boehner is working against fiscal responsiblity

The Purge of Conservatives!  Several tea party conservative U.S. House members have been removed from their respective powerful committees by Speaker John Boehner, in a move that is being called "vindictive" by some members. It is no surprise Boehner made this move against these anti-tax crusaders, seeing as he just offered the President $800 billion in new revenue (aka tax hikes) in his fiscal cliff counter offer. The members who were pulled from their committees were Kansas Republican Rep. Tim Huelskamp, Michigan Republican Rep. Justin Amash and Arizona Republican Rep. David Schweikert. All three were on either the Budget or Financial Services Committees, each with lots of power in fiscal matters. These conservatives are some of the boldest in the House of Representatives, and Speaker Boehner's decision to remove these men from their posts is a sign of hostility toward fiscal conservatism. These members of Congress were elected to hold firm to their principles of fiscal responsibility and low taxes and they are showing courage by not backing down to the Speaker and his latest $800 billion tax hike! Friends, the establishment of the Republican Party does not welcome tea party conservatives. This report of conservative committee purging comes on the heels of the Republican's counter-offer budget to the President that included a whole host of new taxes. The conservative wave of 2010, and the reelection of a conservative U.S. House this November was not a fluke and the people DEMAND better! The Contract From America was created so that selfish politicians would be held accountable to conservative principles. We salute Representatives Huelskamp, Amash and Schweikert, and thank them for standing up for the same convictions that have made this Contract so strong! So far the backlash to the Speaker's move has been harsh, and the chorus of discontent among conservatives is growing! For that we want to thank you, and hope you keep speaking out against the establishment. We will be right there alongside you every step of the way! In Freedom,  Contract From America Team

The Piano Guys

Eating Information - We Are What We Eat

One Way Out

Assassinated 49 Years Ago - What Really Happened?

This Speaks For Itself

Congressman Ron Paul's Recent Farewell Speech To Congress

The Law of The Harvest by President Howard W. Hunter

"My fellow students, what is true with an individual is also true with a nation. You can absolutely rely on this – a nation cannot violate basic principles with impunity, that is, without paying the awful price, anymore than an individual can violate basic principles with impunity.

 

There appears to me to be a trend to shift responsibility for life and its processes from the individual to the state. In this shift there is a basic violation of the Law of the Harvest, or the law of justice. The attitude of “something for nothing” is encouraged. The government is often looked to as the source of wealth. There is the feeling that the government should step in and take care of one’s needs, one’s emergencies, and one’s future.

 

If you deprive a man of his right to fail in the righteous use of his property, you also deprive him of his right to succeed. If you remove from a man his right to “go to hell,” you likewise remove his free agency to go to heaven. Satan’s entire philosophy is based on a “something for nothing” philosophy: salvation without salvation without effort – a free gift. This counterfeit doctrine was rejected by God our Father.

 

The restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most significant fact since the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What was restored? In a very real sense, the true Law of the Harvest was restored – the law of justice, the law of mercy, the law of love. It was restored in a free country under the influence of a God-inspired Constitution which created a climate of freedom, opportunity and prosperity. The basic virtues of thrift, self-reliance, independence, enterprise, diligence, integrity, morality, faith in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, were the principles upon which this, the greatest nation in the world, has been built. We must not sell this priceless, divine heritage which was largely paid for by the blood of patriots and prophets for a mess of pottage, for a counterfeit, a false doctrine parading under the cloak of love and compassion, of humanitarianism, even of Christianity.

 

The government will take from the “haves” and give to the “have nots.” Both have lost their freedom. Those who “have,” lost their freedom to give voluntarily of their own free will and in the way they desire. Those who “have not” lost their freedom because they did not earn what they received. They got “something for nothing,” and they will neither appreciate the gift nor the giver of the gift."

 

Click below for full talk:

The Law of the Harvest: As a Man Sows, So Shall He Reap. Elder Howard W. Hunter. BYU Devotional. March 8, 1966.

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith - The King Follett Discourse (Part 2)

1.  Why must we comprehend the character of God before we can comprehend ourselves?  page 243

2.  If Joseph Smith brings us a knowledge of God what will we then know about him?  page 345

3.  What is the great secret about God in this discourse?  page 345

4.  Where did God once dwell?  page 346

5.  How are we to become Gods?  page 346

6.  What happens when you go from exaltation to exaltation?  page 347

7.  What process did the Savior follow to progress? pages 347-348

8.  How is God exalted?  page 348

9.  What did Joseph teach about the council in the creation story?  pages 348-352

10.  What is the real name for James?  page 349

11.  What did the prophet teach about the immortality of the spirit?  pages 352-354

12.  What did God do for those spirits that were around him?  page 354

13.  To what part of our makeup do revelations come?  page 355

14.  How are we viewed by God when he instructs us?  page 356

15.  Who can be saved?  pages 356-357

16.  Can you commit the unpardonable sin in the spirit world?  page 357

17.  What is hell?  page 357

18.  What was the contention is heaven?  page 357

19.  Define a son of perdition.  page 358

20.  Which kingdom of glory will King Follett be assigned?  page 359

21.  What correction did the prophet make in Hebrews 6:1-3?  page 360

22.  Did anyone really know the Prophet Joseph Smith?  page 361

23.  Does God have a father?  pages 369-370

24.  Explain 1 Corinthians 8:5.  pages 370-371

25.  What does "Eloheim" mean?  pages 372

26.  From what document did the Prophet learn about intelligences?  page 373

27.  How did the Savior and the Prophet use John 10:30-36?  pages 374-375

28.  What mus a true religion have?  page 375

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - The King Follett Discourse (Part 1)

The Assignment:
These last segments will conclude my postings on the book Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith. I am concluding it with (arguably) the greatest sermon that the Prophet every gave - The King Follett Discourse.  In this posting I encourage the reader to read the sermon before they answer the questions which I will post next week.  The sermon can be found in Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 342-362; 369-376.  The reason for the break in the sermon is because the next day when he would have concluded the sermon he had lost the power in his voice and had to wait for another day to finish the talk.  That other day arrived on June 16, 1844 and the talk was labeled "Sermon in the Grove."  If you note the date, he was killed just eleven days later on Thursday, June 27, 1844.

                                                          Background to the sermon

Importance of the sermon:

Elder Bruce R. McConkie listed what he called:  The Five Greatest Documents in LDS Literature

In no particular order of importance
1.  The "Wentworth Letter" written by the Prophet to a newspaper editor
2.  Lectures on Faith - Seven lectures given to the School of The Prophets
3.  The Father and the Son - A doctrinal exposition by the First Presidency and the Twelve
4.  "The Origin of Man," by the First Presidency
5.  "The King Follett Discourse" and the "Sermon in the Grove"

Who was King Follett?:

• Born in Vermont July 24, 1788 - his parent's last name is Follett and they named him King.
• Baptized a member in the spring of 1831.
• His wife Louisa and six children were members.
• He was the only Mormon actually tried by the Missourians and he was acquitted of robbery charges.
• He helped transform Commerce into Nauvoo.
• He died digging a well march 9, 1844 at the age of 55.
• His funeral was held March 10, 1844.  The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke at his funeral but forgot to mention anything about King Follett.  His family felt bad that the Prophet did not say anything about their husband and father.  The Prophet heard about how the family felt and he felt terrible about it and vowed that in his next major sermon he would honor King Follett.  The actual funeral sermon given March 10, the day of the funeral can be found in Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith on pages 335-341 and is labeled "Discourse of the Prophet - Elias, Elijah, Messiah.  
• The Prophet's next major sermon came at General Conference held on April 5,6,7,8 (Friday thru Monday).  The Prophet gave his major address on Sunday, April 7 and mentioned King Follett several times in the sermon.  The General Conference address came to be known as the "King Follett Discourse" and sometimes it is referred to as the "King Follett Funeral Sermon" but as you know it is actually a General Conference talk.  

Why does the Prophet seem to be defensive at different times in the sermon?  (see page 344 of the sermon for an example):

Some were charging the Prophet with being a fallen prophet

 "Some people say I am a fallen Prophet, because I do not bring forth more of the word of the Lord, Why do I not do it? Are we able to receive it? No! Not one in this room. He then chastened the congregation for their wickedness and unbelief, 'for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son and daughter whom he receiveth,' and if we do not receive chastisements then we are bastards and not sons."    

(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.194)

 Had I inspiration, revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times past, there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something.    

(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.320)

Over two hundred Saints had taken the following oath to kill the Prophet:

 They said that President Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet and his death was necessary to save the Church. An oath had been prepared which each of those present was asked to take. The candidates in turn would step up to the table where Francis M. Higbee, a justice of the peace, was stationed, and he would ask: "Are you ready?" Receiving from each a favorable reply he administered the following oath:       

"You solemnly swear, before God and all holy angels, and these your brethren by whom you are surrounded that you will give your life, your liberty, your influence, your all, for the destruction of Joseph Smith and his party, so help you God!"       

The person taking this oath would then say, "I do," after which he would lay down the Bible on which the oath was taken, and sign his name to a written copy of the oath in a book, which would then be acknowledged by the justice of the peace.       

(Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 4 vols., 4:, p.182-)

It must be kept in mind that most of these people who took this oath were in the audience when the Prophet gave the "King Follett Discourse."  Thus, the statement by the Prophet about sons of perdition on page 358 under the subheading "The Forgiveness of Sins."  Notice he even gives these people advice in that same part of the sermon.  The Prophet found out about their oath to kill him shortly before this sermon.  Two teenage boys had infiltrated the meetings of the mob and had reported the proceedings to the Prophet.  

The Sermon itself:

The estimated time of the sermon was between two and a half to three hours long.  The crowd was estimated at between eight to twenty thousand people.  The Prophet had assigned three clerks to record the talk:  Willard Richards, Thomas Bullock, and William Clayton.  Wilford Woodruff also recorded the talk.  The now published talk is a combination of all their notes harmonized together.  

With his clerks to record his words and thousands of Saints, sinners, gentiles, and dissenters to hear, discuss, and react to his comments, Joseph took the stand at 3:15 P.M., Sunday, 7 April 1844, and delivered the most controversial sermon of his life, unparalleled in Mormonism in historic and doctrinal significance.  Mormonism could never be the same thereafter. The dispersing congregation would alter Joseph's life and significantly change the course of the Church.  (emphasis added)

(The Doctrinal Impact of the King Follett Discourse by Van Hale Fn, BYU Studies, vol. 18 (1977-1978), Number 2 - Winter 1978, p.211)

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Zion

1.  Where will the City of Zion be built that was spoken of by David in Psalm 102?  page 17

2.  Where should one flee to escape the overflowing scourge?  page 17

3.  What law must one enter into in order to become a legal heir of Zion?  pages 22-23

4.  At the Prophet Joseph Smith's time to what units were the bishops assigned?  page 24

5.  Where should the persecuted saints flee?  page 37

6.  In which two locations will deliverance be found?  pages 70-71

7.  What were some of the early saints' mistakes in building Zion?  page 80

8.  Who is to work together to build up Zion?  page 84

9.  What is the common cause and who is responsible to bring it about?  pages 231-232

10.  What must be purged out before Zion can roll forth?  pages 254 see also D&C 56:18; 100:16; 101:18

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Second Coming

1.  What are some of the signs to look for before the second coming?  page 160

2.  Who will be calling for the rocks to fall upon them?  page 160

3.  What must happen to men's hearts to prepare them for the second coming?  page 160

4.  What did Joseph see men doing to their own sons?  page 161

5.  Who will be followed from city to city?  page 161

6.  Will the saints escape all the judgments?  page 162

7.  What are some of the things that must be accomplished before the second coming?  pages 286-287

8.  What did Joseph say about the rainbow in relation to the second coming?  pages 305, 340-341

9.  What must happen before one can see the sign of the coming of Christ?  pages 279-280

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Sealing Powers

1.  The early saints sacrificed much to make their first trip to Missouri to see the location of the Center Place of Zion.  What blessing did they receive for making this journey?  pages 8-9

2.  What does it mean to be "sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise?"  page 149

3.  What are the two comforters?  pages 149-151

4.  What is the seal in the forehead?  page 321

5.  What are the three grand orders of priesthood?  pages 322-323

6.  What is the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood?  page 322

7.  What was the mission of Elijah?  page 323

8.  What is the distinction between the spirit and office of Elias, Elijah, and Messiah?  page 335

9.  What is the spirit and power of Elijah?  pages 337-338

10.  What must we have from our fathers before we can become perfect?  page 338

11.  What did the Prophet say to do with the sealing powers?  page 340

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Sacrifice

1.  Why sacrifice by the shedding of blood?  page 58

2.  Why was Cain's sacrifice rejected?  page 58

3.  How do we know that Abel knew the gospel?  page 59

4.  How do we know that the ancients had the gospel preached to them?  page 60

5.  Why will sacrifices be offered again?  pages 171-173

6.  What do we learn about sacrifice from Abraham's example?  page 322

7.  What keys are given as a reward for the sacrifice of all things?  page 322

8.  What do you become when you have the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood?  page 322

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Resurrection/Translation

1.  What did the Prophet reason about the resurrection?  page 62

2.  Who will be resurrected?  page 84

3.  What is a better resurrection?  pages 170-171

4.  What do we learn about the resurrection of children?  pages 199-200 also, please see footnote 4 at the bottom of the page.

5.  How does the spirit differ from the body?  page 207

6.  What is learned about the resurrection by the Prophet correcting some false doctrine?  pages 208-210

7.  What did Joseph see in vision that gave more understanding to the resurrection?  pages 295-296

8.  What is the morning of the resurrection?  page 296

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Parables from Matthew 13

1.  Why did the Lord use parables?  pages 95-96

2.  What is the explanation of the parable of the sower?  pages 96-97

3.  What is the great mystery contained in the parables?  page 97

4.  What is the explanation of the parable of the tares?  pages 97-98; 100-101; D&C 86

5.  What did the mustard seed represent?  page 98

6.  What was the leaven hidden in three measures of meal?  page 100

7.  What was the treasure in the field?  page 101

8.  What was the pearl of great price?  pages 101-102

9.  How did the parable about the net cast into the sea represent the church?  page 102

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Letter to Editor Seaton

1.  What did the Prophet behold when he viewed our Christian land?  page 13

2.  What did he feel it was "high time" that the Christian world did?  page 14

3.  Joseph stepped forth into the field to tell the Christian world what two things>  page 14

4.  What was the Lord now doing with the remnants of his people and with the gentiles?  pages 14-15

5.  What happened with the Jews and Gentiles in relationship with the covenant that the Lord tried to give them?  pages 14-15

6.  Because of apostasy, what has the Lord withdrawn from the earth?  page 16

7.  How can one escape the judgments that are to come?  page 16

8.  What did the Prophet Joseph Smith say that we learned from the Book of Mormon?  page 17

9.  What did the Prophet prophesy about the United States?  pages 17-18

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Kindness, Love, Friendship

1.  What does perfect love protect against?  page 9

2.  What should ever have the highest place of regard in our hearts?  pages 30-31

3.  What must men lose in order for the lamb and the lion to lie down together?  page 71

4.  What must we do to be justified before God?  page 76

5.  What does the quality of love do for our minds?  page147

6.  What will the quality of love cause us to desire to accomplish?  pages 174-175

7.  What does love do for our capacity to understand the things of God?  pages 178-179

8.  What qualities did the Prophet counsel the Relief Society to have?  pages 226-227

9.  What did the Prophet say about self-righteousness and kindness?  page 241

10.  How did Joseph sy he was able to retain his followers?  page 313

11.  What is one of the grand fundamental principles of "Mormonism?"  page 316

12.  What kind of a spirit should we cultivate?  page 316

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Government of God

1.  What are the designs of God?  page 248

2.  In mans' attempt to govern, what has he failed to do?  page249

3.  What will happen when Christ take the reigns of government?  pages 250-251

4.  How did Abraham govern his family and to what degree was God involved?  pages 251-252

5.  What two factions of government are joined when God governs?  page 252

6.  What is necessary to bring about the restoration of all things?  page 252

7.  What great event will begin the change to where all nations, kindred, tongues, and peoples will serve and obey God?  page 253  (see also Daniel 7:9-22 for the events of Adam-ondi-Ahman)

8.  How are we to be wise according to Joseph's counsel?  page 253

9.  Who should be purged out of our midst?  page 254

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - God, Godhead

1.  What does God see and know?  page 19

2.  What should we not take to the Lord in our prayers?  page 22

3.  What happens to us the nearer we come to god?  page 51

4.  Why does God give us laws to live by?  page 54

5.  What does it take to truly understand the things of God?  page 137

6.  What must we be like to go where God is?  page 216

7.  How does God view us?  page 218

8.  What do we learn about God from this statement about God on page 257 under the heading Men Are Judged According to Their Deeds?  page 257

9.  Anyone who has seen into heaven know what fact about the Godhead?  pages 311-312

10. Joseph says that he has always declared this doctrine about the Godhead.  page 370

11.  How much has God seen and how does he view us?  page 220; 356

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Epistle to the Brethren Abroad

1.  What condition did the Prophet say the world was in?  pages 47-48

2.  What is one of our choicest gifts?  page 49

3.  How do the laws of God differ from the laws of men?  page 50

4.  What do we learn about mans' understanding of God what man must learn?  page 51

5.  What do we learn about the laws of God from the Prophet's hypothetical king found on pages 52-53?

6.  What has God prepared for us that we can inherit His presence?  page 54

7.  What would happen if there were no laws?  page 55

8.  What is the purpose of our existence?  page 56-57

9.  Why did God instruct man to form wise and wholesome laws?  page 57

10. Why did God accept Abel's sacrifice and reject Cain's?  pages 58-59

11. What did Abel have to understand in order to offer and acceptable sacrifice?  page 59

12. What was Abraham's relationship with the gospel and Christ?  pages 60-61

13. What did the Prophet teach about the revelations in the Bible?  page 61

14.  What did the Prophet teach about the parable in Matthew 22?  pages 63-66

15. What happens to a person who is apostate?  pages 66-67

16.  What do men frequently forget?  page 68

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Calling and Election/Second Comforter

1.  What did Paul know was laid up for him when he died?  page 63

2.  What question did Joseph ask the saints about their own crown?  page 64

3.  How is the Church of the Firstborn mentioned?  page 64

4.  How will those admitted to the wedding feast be clothed?  page 65

5.  How do we receive the same promises that the ancients had?  65

6.  What is the "earnest of our inheritance" mentioned in Ephesians 1:14?  page 149

7.  What are the two comforters?  pages 149-151

8.  What is the purpose of the second comforter?  page 151

9.  What is the secret and the grand key?  pages 297-299

10. What is the "more sure word of prophecy?"  pages 298, 303

11.  What were the three rounds of Jacob's ladder?  page 305

12.  What is salvation?  page 305

13.  What are the three grand secrets or keys in 2 Peter 1?  pages 304-306

14.  What did Joseph beseech the saints to do?  page 366

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - The Endowment

1.  What must the Saints not look for in order to be endowed?  page 91

2.  Why is the endowment necessary?  pages 91 - 92

3.  Who will best understand the endowment?  page 237

4.  What does the endowment prepare the endowed for?  page 237

5.  What else does the endowment prepare the endowed for.  page 274

6. What is absolutely necessary to save a person?  see pages 274-275

7.  How must one go about saving their loved ones?  pages 362 - 363, 366.

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Forgiveness

1.  What principles of love and forgiveness are learned from reading the Prophet's letter of forgiveness to William W. Phelps?  pages 165-166

2.  When is the best time to forgive?  page 155

3.  Under what condition can one not obtain forgiveness?  pages 188-189; 339

4.  What is learned about forgiveness in reading "The Spirit of Forgiveness?"  pages 238-239

5.  What spirit do apostates have that make them a son of perdition?  page 358

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Elias, Elijah, Messiah

1.  What type of work is done under the spirit of Elias?  page 335

2.  What was the spirit of Elias called even from the early ages of the world?  page 336

3.  What spirit and power did the early apostles use?  page 336

4.  What will a man with the spirit of Elias not transcend?  page 336

5.  What power or keys does one have that has the spirit of Elijah?  page 337

6.  What is the point of the mission of Elijah?  page 337

7.  What is the power of Elijah sufficient to help us do?  page 338

8.  Without these people we cannot be made perfect. page 338

9.  What is the reserve made in the sealing power?  page 339

10.  What happened to David of old?  page 339

11.  What is the spirit of Messiah?  page 340

12.  What is near when there is no rainbow?  page 340-341

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - The Constitution of The United States

1. What is the political motto of the Church?  page 117

2.  What is considered a heavenly banner?  The Prophet made a list of powerful spiritual/scriptural  blessings, what was included in this list?  pages 147-148

3.  Did the Prophet consider the Constitution to be law?  page 278

4.  What power do the people have under the Constitution?  page 278-279

5.  What was the one fault that the Prophet saw in the Constitution?  page 326

6.  What would the Prophet like to have seen added to the Constitution?  page 327

7.  Why was the Prophet willing to run for president of the United Stakes  page 331-332

8.  What was the Prophet willing to sacrifice to maintain the laws and the Constitution of the United States?  page 332

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Angels

1.  What will not have happened before the destroying angel starts his work?  page 87

2.  What role do the angels play in preparing for the second coming?  pages 100 - 101

3.  What has already commenced concerning angels?  page 102

4.  Who are some of the angels that the Lord will send  page 159

5.  What did the Prophet Joseph Smith say about angels with wings?  page 162

6.  What is the difference between an angel and a ministering spirit?  page 191

7.  Who has ascendancy over angels?  page 312

8.  What do we know about the four destroying angels?  page 321 and D&C 77:8-9

Chiasmus In The Book Of Mormon

This last Sunday I used a slide showing Alma 36 as a Chiasm.  The slide was taken from an article by John W. Welch found in BYU Studies 1969, vol. 10 number 1 on page 83, entitled "Chiasmus In The Book Of Mormon."  I have a link to the individual article (click here).  The Alma 36 example is found on page 14 in this particular article.

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Adam

1.  What did Adam do three years before his death?  pages 38-40

2.  What was Adam's pre-earth name and title?  What is his title as he presides at Adam-ondi-Ahman?  pages 38-39

3.  What is Tower Hill and Spring Hill?  page 122  (Just for interest Spring Hill in Hebrew is Tel Aviv)

4.  When did Adam receive the priesthood?  page 157

5.  What is the grand council that Adam will preside over.  This is mentioned on pages 157 - 158?

6.  What is the stewardship that must be accounted for at this meeting?  page 158

7.  Who is the high priest next to Christ in authority over the earth?  page 158

8.  Why did Adam take his children into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman and bless them?  page 159

9.  To whom was Christ first revealed and through whom does the revelation of Christ come?  page 167-168

10.  Who directs the angels?  Who taught Paul?  pages 168-170

Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith - Revelation

For the next several months each week there will be an assignment from the book Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Book Company.

Some in my Gospel Doctrine Class have asked for assignments so that they can learn additional material.  I felt that assignments from the above book would be helpful for not only understanding the Book of Mormon but also next years course in The Doctrine and Covenants.  The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us so much that is helpful in our scripture study.  Understanding what he taught will be helpful in building our scriptural understanding.

Teachings about Revelation from:   Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith

Questions to ponder and answer:

1.  How much is the Lord willing to reveal?  pages 12-13  See also D&C 76:5-10, 114-118.

2.  What is the order of revelation? pages 21  What should be known before one sees a special revelation from God?  page 22

3.  What may the least Saint know and when?  page 149  Describe the spirit of revelation.  page 151

4.  Explain why revelation is necessary.  page 160  What is the best way to obtain truth and wisdom?  page 191

5.  What does it take to understand God or the devil?  page 205 - 206

6.  What is one great privilege of the priesthood?  pages 111 - 112

7.  What are the oracles of God?  page 272

8.  How is salvation acquired?  pages 324-326

9.  If you have the Holy Ghost you also have this!  page 328

10. To what part of our make up does revelation come  page 355

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's Recent Address To The Harvard Law School

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland recently addressed the Harvard Law School and then held a question and answer session after his talk.  Click here for the address and the question and answer session.

House of Lehi finding

Good guys A farewell from the Judge

Good guys A farewell from the Judge

Things To Ponder