Did anyone watch The Testaments Video?
Chapter 8: Signs of his death, great destruction.
Chapter 9: Voice heard in the darkness.
Chapter 10: The voice continues. Explaining the destruction that has taken place. A reminder that He continues to gather his chicks.
Chapter 11: The saviour Appears & invites all to repent & be baptised.
Did anyone have any insights into this weeks reading they are willing to discuss?
Here are a few things that caught my attention.
And there began to be great doubtings and disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given. (3 Nephi 8:4)
Another verse we can liken to ourselves. Is this anything like it is today? Or is today different?
I don't know if we are days or years away from the second coming, but signs ha e been given. I'd like to think if the sun set & it did not go dark many people would consider it a sign, but I suspect it would be explained away by science or/and hardheartedness.
Another example of the forgiving nature of the saviour. Though at this point he did just destroy 1,000's so a little mercy might be expected!
How often I have gathered you. 10:5-6
Ho often has the saviour gathered you back?
How often we should be prepared to do the same & forgive others? It's hard, especially with repeat offenders. It's easier with your children, but I've not been a parent of a teenager yet. Relative to the Saviour, do we behave like little children or do we behave like teenagers?
What might happen if a chick chose not to gather when called?
For everyone in this zoom call now, we have all strayed many times over our life, but the fact that you are here, joining in, implies you are returning, repentant, and looking for salvation.
Have any of you sinned, repented, been gathered again like a chick, then after time sinned again? In these verses I don’t think the saviour is necessarily only referring to the pride cycle which can manifest itself over months or years but is also referring to our own internal struggles.
There are many questions in the manual. Many are easy to answer like ‘What brings light?’. But you will get more out of your study if you answer the harder ones like ‘How has Jesus Christ been a light in your life?’.
Troy & I saying a prayer amidst the chaos of his latest significant accident then reporting back to me later the Jesus did help him.
When I am in the sorrows of sin, I’m not perfect, none of us are, I do often look to Christ, like Peter sinking/drowning in the water. I know the steps of repentance have the power to save.
Most instances of the light of Christ have been in the numerous church meetings I have been in or in the quiet moments reflecting on questions like this. They tend not to be busts of sunshine but twinkles of the stars.
Something I just noticed is the word ‘reflection’. You cannot have a reflection without some light source. You can't reflect in darkness.
Finally. The most significant chapter in the Book of Mormon.
Many studies around these verses tend to focus on the voice in chapter 11. How does the message in chapters 9 & 10 differ from the voice in chapter 11?
The prophets have been testifying of this moment for 100's of years. And now those prophecies had been fulfilled. All the signs leading up to this point had also been fulfilled but even back then there would have been 'wise' men who explained away the night without darkness etc.
This one, will have been undeniable. A voice everyone heard and a man descending out of heaven.
The voice says "Behold my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name - hear ye him".
Interesting choice of words. "Why not just behold my son, hear him?"
Verse 10: I am Jesus Christ. The prophets were right, here I am.
Verse 11: I I have done everything my father & your father has asked me to do, including taking upon myself the sins of the world.
Verse 14: Come and touch me so you may know I am real & that these marks are further proof the prophets were right, I was killed.
Verses 21-28: Calls for Nephi and gives him authority to baptise. Then gave the authority to others. Then taught the conditions for baptism & how to Baptise.
Verses 29-30: Be one, don't be contentious.
Verses 31-33: Repent & believe & be saved & inherit the kingdom of
Verse 34: Don't believe & be dammed.
Verses 35-36: Repeating that the godhead are one.
Verses 37-38: Repetition
Verse 40: Do not alter what I have told you.
Verse 41: Go tell everyone what I have said.
Of all the things he could have said 1st, why do you think he taught what he did?
According to the 4th article of faith what are the 1st principles & ordinances of the Gospel?
Faith v14: Come forth...that ye may know
Repentance v23, v38: Repent
Baptism v23, v33, v38:
Gift of the Holy Ghost: v35,
Next weeks study is 12-16
Incidentally, I think you will find many similarities between these next chapters and those recorded in the Bible of Jesus Ministry. Why would he teach the people in America any different?
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