BookofMormon101

Book of Mormon 101 Summary

"Any virtue carried to an extreme can become a viceLife moves all too fast. When you feel
weak, discouraged, depressed, or afraid, open the Book of Mormon and read. Do not let too
much time pass before reading a verse, a thought, or a chapter."--Boyd K. Packer.
1. Introduction
1. This was taken from the very last plate and translated by Joseph Smith.
2. Purposes of the Book of Mormon: 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 foreverAnd also to
the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God,
manifesting himself unto all nations.
1. Familysalvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter.
2. Covenants
3. Jesus is the Christconvincing the Jews and Gentiles
3. Why is this order significant?
1. Family teaches us the importance for covenants and prepares us to
receive them. From covenants you receive the Holy Ghost, who testifies
that Jesus is the Christ. You gain a witness of Jesus Christ AFTER
covenants (3 Nephi 5:24-26).
2. Key things to know before reading:
1. Difference between Jew and Gentile
1. In the Book of Mormon, a Jew is anyone who either lives in Israel or is a
literal descendant from Israel; Gentile is everyone else. It is not the same
in the Bible.
2. Who is the God of the Book of Mormon?
1. Christ. 99% of the time when it says "God" in any scripture, it is Christ.
Before the fall "God" in the scriptures was Heavenly Father, but since the
fall is has been Christ almost in all instances.
3. 1 Nephi 1
1. Pattern of Prophets
1. Lehi's experience shows a pattern that follows many prophets: A prophet
receives a book, reads it and gains a witness of its truthfulness,
prophecies about it to share the knowledge with others, and people try
to kill him.

1. This chapter and pattern is especially pointing to Joseph Smith.

The only difference is that they actually killed Joseph Smith.
2. Jeffrey R. Holland said 1 Nephi 1 is "the story of Nephi" and it's no
coincidence that it's in the first chapter of the Book of Mormon.
4. 1 Nephi 2
1. Family
1. The Book of Mormon is a family book. It is the first objective in the
introduction. The Bible rarely speaks of family at all, but it is everywhere in
the BOM; it is always a father passing off the mantle to his son. In fact, it
is the first thing ever mentioned in the BOM: "I Nephi, having been born
of goodly parents"
2. In 1 Nephi 2:4, all Lehi brought into the wilderness was his family and a
few provisions to keep them alive.
1. Family is the most important thing in this life. The very
organization of the church would cease to exist without the
family.
5. 1 Nephi 3
1. Sacrifice your worldly materials, for they amount to nothing in comparison to
things of eternity.
2. In verses 24-26, Laban tried to kill Nephi and his brothers. This is significant,
because according to Jewish law, if a man tries to steal your possessions, kill you,
or kill your family you have the right to take their life.
1. When Nephi is prompted by the spirit in 1 Nephi 4:10-18 to kill Laban, he
isn't breaking any laws. Also note that the 12th article of faith states, "We
believe inobeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." The Holy Ghost
wouldn't encourage him to do something illegal.
6. 1 Nephi 4 and 5
1. What helped them through the wilderness?
1. Family
2. Faith 1 Nephi 6:4
1. In 1 Nephi 4:3, Nephi marvels that his brothers can his brothers
doubt the truth even after seeing angels. Only the witness of the
Holy Ghost can lead to testimony and conversion, not angels.
3. Obedience-- James 2:20 "faith without works is dead."
4. Holy Spirit--nothing more important than following this. Verses 10-18
1. Nephi was led by the Spirit, not knowing before-hand the things
which he should do. Thats why he was successful in retrieving the
plates and his brothers weren't. Nephi would have never thought
on his own to kill Laban.

1. Process for receiving revelation:

1. 10-prompting
2. 12-pray
3. 16-read
4. 18-faith to be guided by the Holy Ghost
5. Fear not
2. Fear--Fear and faith cannot exist in the same place
1. Contrast Laman and Lemuel's fear with Nephi's faith when facing Laban
1. Laman and Lemuel in 1 Nephi 3:31 said, "How is it possible that
the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty
man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then
why not us?"
2. Nephi in 1 Nephi 4:1 says, "Let us be faithful in keeping the
commandments of the Lord; for behold, he is mighier than all the
earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea or even
his tens of thousands?"
2. In this chapter, Zoram was guided by fear, and was therefore hesitant to
follow Nephi. Fear hinders you from being able to be taught and guided by
the spirit.
3. 1 Nephi 4:33 and 37: As we follow the teachings of the prophets and keep
our oaths and covenants we have no need to fear.
4. 1 Nephi 5:1-8
1. Sariah worried for her sons. They had to go back to Jerusalem in
multiple attempts to get the plates, and were therefore gone for
a long time.
1. Never worry when you or a loved one is on the Lord's
errand.
2. Verse 4: Sariah complained that Lehi was a visionary man
and sent her sons on a foolish errand; Lehi, however
understood the blessings of being visionary, because he
knows the importance of this errand and that they will be
protected.
3. Verse 8: After Sariah overcame her fear, she gained a
witness of Heavenly Father's guidance in the errand.
3. Plates
1. Nephi's purpose of keeping plates
1. Two types
1. These plates--Small plates. Nephi started them 30 years
after they left Jerusalem (570 BC), and they contained a

record of the ministry.

2. Those plates-- Large plates. Started 10 years after leaving
Jerusalem (590 BC). Record of Kings, secular history, and
genealogy. 1 Nephi 5:11-16
7. 1 Nephi 6
1. v.4--Purpose of his writing is to bring men unto the "God of Abraham, God of
Jacob, and God of Isaac"--Christ.
2. v.5--He only writes what he feels guided by the Holy Ghost to write. Everything
on these plates is important.
8. 1 Nephi 7
1. Importance of marriage
1. Vs 1-- "that they might raise up seed unto the Lord" was a
commandment given to Adam and Eve before the Fall, which means it is
an eternal commandment. Also shows that the fall needed to happen and
we knew it would happen.
2. Nephi and his brothers to return AGAIN to Jerusalem: once for the plates
(scriptures)and this time for wives. This is was a very long trip and shows
the importance of marriage.
3. About verses 1-5, Bruce R. McConkie says, "Celestial marriage is the
crowning ordinance of the GospelThere is nothing more important as
the creation and perfection of the familyFrom the moment of birth up
to the moment we enter the temple, everything in life is to prepare us
for the holy matrimony in the temple."
2. Significance of Ishmael's family:
1. Erasmus Snow said Ishmael is from the tribe of Ephraim; Lehi is from
Manassah. When Ishmael's daughters married Lehi's sons it welded
together Manassah and Ephraim, which created the prophesied stick of
Joseph.
9. 1 Nephi 8
1. Boyd K. Packer says Chapter 8 is the central message of the Book of Mormon.
(--Boyd K. Packer "The Things of My Soul" Ensign May 1986)
2. The vision of the tree of life
- Man in the white robe: Christ
- Tree of Life: The love of God; 1 Nephi 11:7 Christ is the tree
- Fruit of the Tree of Life: the Atoning sacrifice of Christ; eternal life
- The Iron Rod: The word of God 1 Nephi 11:25
- Mists of Darkness: Temptations of the Devil
- The Great and Spacious Building: the Pride of the World (or the war-zone) note that it
has no foundation 1 Nephi 11:36

- The other fountain: somethingbut it's not filthy

-River of Filthy Waters- depths of hell
-Fountain of Pure Water- eternal life 1 Nephi 11:25
-The Field - The world 1 Nephi 8:20
1. See David A. Bednar's October 2011 talk titled "Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod"
for more details.
1. Four types of people in the dream:
1. Group #1-- 1 Nephi 8: 19-23 Started in the path. Pressed forward without holding
onto the rod. They were lost because they did not hold to the rod. In fact, the
rod is not even mentioned in their context.
2. Group #2-- 1 Nephi 8: 24-28 The scriptures use the word clinging to the rod, but
are not continually holding on like the members of group #3. They reached the
tree of life and partook of the fruit (in other words, participated in the
Atonement). Later this group gets worried of what people are saying about them
and fall away. They caught hold of the rod, but consistently holding on. As a result
of this, they fell away when the real trials came.
3. Group #3-- 1 Nephi 8: 30 Continually holding to the iron rod. This group is the
group that receives eternal life. They are the people who are always reading the
word of god. Note that these people are able to resist the mists of darkness
because of their steadfastness in holding to the rod.
4. Group #4-- 1 Nephi 8: 31-33 This is the group of people who reject the rod and
reject the tree. This means they are rejecting Christ and the word of Christ.
(Laman and Lemuel in Lehi's dream)
2. Lehi's dream as pattern for coming unto Christ
1. Cleave consistently unto the scriptures like those who clung to the iron rod. It's
the only way to Christ
2. The prophets, who are already at the tree, are there to guide us along
3. Boyd K. Packer BYU Devotional January 16 2007: "You are never safe. It is after
you partake of the fruit [baptism] that your trials come. We are living inside the
great and spacious buildingPray. Always Pray. An unseen power will hold our
hand as you hold to the iron rod."
4. Pattern
1. v.30--Fallen at the tree
2. v.8--Cry for mercy
3. v.5--Find Christ
4. v.12--exceedingly great Joy
1. This pattern of being fallen, crying for mercy, finding Christ and
realizing the need for Christ, and having great joy is everywhere in
the BOM

1. Mosiah 4:2-3--King Benjamin

2. Alma 36:16-21--Alma the Younger
3. Adam and Eve experienced the same thing.
5. We must partake of the fruit before we can feel of the love of God.
1. 1 Nephi 9
1. Purpose of Keeping separate plates
1. I Nephi 9:3-6--A wise purpose that he knew not.
1. Many pages got lost by Martin Harris, which may have been Lehi's
record. Also, these plates complete the knowledge that Heavenly
Father knew would be lost.
2. When God asks you to do something don't ask why. You may
never know completely why. Instead, ask "What?" "What would
you have me do?"
2. 1 Nephi 10
1. Nephi started "these plates" 30 years after leaving Jerusalem. In this chapter he
begins to make his own account. Previously he was catching up from what
happened in the past.
2. Jews vs. Gentiles
1. According to BOM's definition of a Gentile, we are included.
2. v.11--The Jews saw Christ face-to-face and denied Him.
3. Gentiles are to gain their witness of Christ through the witness of the
Holy Ghost, not from seeing Him in this life. The Gentiles (especially
Joseph Smith and missionaries) will bring back truth and eventually turn
the hearts of the Jews.
3. 1 Nephi 11--Christ and His ministry in the Old World
"Lehi had a vision of the tree of life. His son, Nephi, prayed to know its meaning In answer he
was given a remarkable vision of Christ." --Boyd K. Packer "The Things of My Soul" Ensign May
1986
*Chapters 11 and 12 are comparing Christ to the tree (1 Nephi 11:7)
1. In scripture, "the spirit" is either the spirit of Christ before he received his body, or it's
the Holy Ghost. If its the Holy Ghost this is the only reported time someone saw him.
2. Condescension
1. Con=with, so descend with man; To step under the rank you hold
2. Two types of condescension in this chapter
1. Heavenly Father came to a mortal and begot a living son
1. Bruce R. McConkie "Condescension is Heavenly Father having a
mortal son."
2. Christ, Jehovah, came down in the flesh as a baby
1. God of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ, yet he came to earth be

3.

4.
5.
6.

like us so we can one day become like him.

2. Christ and Heavenly Father had power to end Christ's suffering but
they knew it was necessary
3. Importance of Christ's condescension-- being half immortal and half mortal
1. Mary as Mother: Christ could die, feel pain, suffer, and sin
2. Elohim as Father: Christ could be resurrected, endure pain, and overcome
sin
1. Because he could sin and didn't made it so he could overcome it
for us.
2. The ability to die + immortality = resurrection
3. 1 Nephi 19:9--Christ had power to destroy us, but He allowed us to
scourge Him. That is condescension.
1. Jacob 4:7--It is because of His condescension that we can do all
things.
4. Jeffrey R. Holland stated, "He knew what would happen in Gethsemane
intellectually and physically, but he had no idea emotionally and spiritually."
4. v.18--Other churches don't have the knowledge of HOW Christ was born. The
Bible says "Mary was carried away in the Spirit." This verse tells us Christ was born
"after the manner of the flesh," or in the same way we are.
5. D&C 93--By the time Christ was baptized at age 30, he had received the fullness
of the Father and a full knowledge of who He was. He had an insight at age 12,
with the story of teaching at the temple. He may have received a witness
sooner, but this is what we have recorded in scripture.
The prophet mentioned in vs.27 is John the Baptist, who would help prepare the way for
Christ. He came before Christ in this life. Also, he died before Christ, which allowed him
to be resurrected when Christ was. Since was resurrected, he has a body and played a
crucial role in bringing forth the Gospel in this dispensation by being able to do the
"laying on of hands" to give Joseph Smith priesthood keys.
In v.11 we learn our spirits look like our bodies
v.30--if we could open our spiritual eyes we would see "angels descending upon the
children of men."
In 1 Nephi 11:16-17, the Spirit asks Nephi if he understands the meaning of the
condescension of God. He admitted that he didn't, but he mentioned what he did know:
1. Never be afraid to tell someone you don't know how to answer their question. In
fact do. Just bear witness of what you DO know.
2. The fact that Nephi was humble enough to acknowledge what he didn't know is
why the Spirit was able to teach him so much about the subject!
1. For the Spirit to effectively teach you, you must acknowledge what you
don't know and be humble enough to admit it.

1. 1 Nephi 12--Christ and His ministry in the New World, Americas

1. Notice how many times it mentions "the twelve" apostles. I counted five just in
verses 6-10. Follow the twelve!
2. Difference between Apostles of the Old World and apostles in the new world
1. The apostles in the Old World had the power of God and priesthood keys.
The church still needed leadership in America, so the 12 disciples were
called.
2. Why Nephites were destroyed--1 Nephi 12:19
1. Pride and Temptation. Pride comes first because it is the worst of
the two. We can control pride more than we can temptation. Also,
we will all be tempted, but it is pride that makes it so we can't
overcome those temptations. If you are humble, temptations will
not hinder your progression.
1. "Pride is the gateway sin to all others. Humility isn't
thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."
Dieter F. Uchdorf
2. "You must lay aside any feeling of pride that is so common
in the world today. By this I mean the attitude that rejects
the authority of God to rule in our lives."--D. Todd
Christofferson
2. 1 Nephi 13--Apostasy and Restoration
1. Things that Nephi saw that have become history:
1. 12:2-8 events leading up the appearance of Christ unto the Lamanites
2. 13: 12--Christopher Columbus
3. 13:14--immigrants coming to America from many nations
4. 13:17--"mother Gentiles" (England) coming to war against America
5. 13:20-26--Book of Mormon going forth and revealing many precious
truths that have been lost in translation of the Bible.
6. 13:39-40--Coming forth of the BOM in all languages
7. 13:41--BOM and Bible combined in ONE--the quad!
8. 14:19-24--John will see and write about many of the same things that
Nephi saw.
2. Great and Abominable Church
1. In this chapter it is an actual church; chapter 14 it is an idea.
1. In 1 Nephi 13, the "great and abominable church" is the 1st and
2nd century church that existed right after Christ was crucified.
2. 1st and 2nd Century Church
1. v.4-6: abominable above all others
2. v.15-29

1. "these things" is referring to the books of the Bible.

2. Many "plain and precious" truths were intentionally taken
out "that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord."
(v.27)
1. Shortly after Christ died, they lost many covenants
and ordinances, such as baptism, which are
essential to enter the kingdom.
2. The removal of many key doctrines was intentional,
but later many things were lost in translation.
3. "an exceedingly great many do stumble"
1. Many people stumble because of the lost truths.
1. Enoch is just one example. The Bible has 97
words on him; we have 5240. The bible says
(Genesis 5) "and Enoch walked with God;
and he was not: for God took him." Our
version of Enoch's story is powerful, but the
Bible's story leads to confusion.
2. Why was this taken out? Because it talks of
Christ and the covenants. Because of the
1st and 2nd Century church, Christ's name
and his covenants cannot be found
ANYWHERE in the Old Testament. His
doctrines, prophecies, and teachings are
there minus the covenants and His name.
3. In 1 Nephi 13:40, it mentions "last records" which will "establish the first" and
restore the "plain and precious truths."
1. The "last records" are the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, the
Joseph Smith Translation, and the Pearl of Great Price.
2. "the first" is the Bible. The Book of Mormon and Bible work together.
3. 1 Nephi 14--Last Days
1. Great and Abominable Church
1. Definition (2 Nephi 10:16)--"He that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and
Gentilefor they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they
who are not for me are against me." In this chapter it is anyone who is
against Christ. There will be many outside the Church who are for God and
many inside the church who will be part of this "great and abominable
church."
1. " Perhaps the Lord needs such men on the outside of His Church
to help it along,' said the late Elder Orson F. Whitney of the

Quorum of the Twelve. `They are among its auxiliaries, and can do
more good for the cause where the Lord has placed them, than
anywhere else. . . . Hence, some are drawn into the fold and
receive a testimony of the truth; while others remain unconverted
. . . the beauties and glories of the gospel being veiled temporarily
from their view, for a wise purpose. The Lord will open their eyes
in His own due time. God is using more than one people for the
accomplishment of His great and marvelous work. The Latter-day
Saints cannot do it all."--Orson F. Whitney (Conference Report,
April 1928)
2. Some people do more good outside the church than they cold if
they had been in it. Think of Abraham Lincoln. If he had been LDS
he would not have been elected. Now he has had his work done
and has surely accepted it. The stories are similar with the
founding fathers and probably the popes.
2. 1 Nephi 14:10 There is no "gray zone." You are either for the church or
against it.
2. 1 Nephi 14:12-14 "I beheld the church of the Lamb of God and its numbers were
few."
1. Right now we are less than .5% of the world population, but eventually
we will have members everywhere
1. Note that the church will get bigger and be on every nation, but it
will always be fairly small. The world will fight against the church.
4. 1 Nephi 15--Gathering of Israel
1. Pattern for Receiving Personal Revelation (same as 1 Nephi 10:1-5)
1. v.11: Desire --> Believe --> Ponder --> Ask
2. v. 8: "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" Have you prayed about it as much as
you have talked about it?
2. v.13-16
1. Joseph Smith and the Gentiles will gather Israel into the "true vine"/"true
fold"/"true olive-tree." All of these mean the "true church."
5. 1 Nephi 16-18: How to Get Through the Wilderness
1. Murmuring
1. Throughout these chapters, Laman and Lemuel murmur nonstop. Nephi
remains obedient, even when Lehi murmurs. Nephi murmurs in 1 Nephi
2:16, but quickly prays to have his heart softened.
2. Liahona
1. How it works
1. Faith-feeling

1. "through the power of the Holy Ghost you can feel your
way through life."--Boyd K. Packer
2. Diligence-heed promptings, follow feelings
3. Great Things--witness gained from following feelings
2. You get to the promised land by following feelings of the Holy Ghost. It is
AFTER doing this that you gain a witness of the Lord. (1 Nephi 17:13-14)
3. "You Will Meet a Wall" by David O. McKay Treasures of Life
1. I hope that someday you will meet a wall that seems
insurmountable, impregnable; but if duty lies beyond that wall, do
not stand back and say, I cannot do it. You may aspire to do it,
but that is not sufficient. Do what James says: Ask God for
power, but add to that faith, an acknowledgment of your own
ability to do what you are able to do.
You can walk from where you stand, up to the wall. When you get there, and you have gone as
far as you can, you will find in answer to your prayer that there is a hidden ladder by which you
can scale it, or there is a door which you could not see from where you were first standing.
Gods hand is shown
1. Nephi's Bow
1. Nephi didn't ask WHY his bow broke. He instead got to work to fix the problem.
He focused on WIN:
1. WIN--What's Important Now?
1. When a problem comes up, don't murmur. Just fix it. If you keep
just focusing on what's going wrong you won't know how to fix it
next time it comes up.
2. Don't just say "I'll be happy when" Learn how to be happy where
you are or you will always be hoping for a better future that will
never come. Make your current situation better.
1. D&C 51:16-18--If you can't make yourself happy no, you
won't be happy later. Don't always say "I'll be happy
when" Instead, pretend you will always be where you are
and find ways to make the current situation better.
2. Don't ignore your trials. That won't make you grow or
make the next trial any easier. Lean how to be happy where
you are. Focus on "what's important now?"
2. Chapter 17 shows us two ways of enduring trials:
1. Laman Lemuel murmured and distanced themselves from God.
2. Nephi looked for blessings and God's hand in his life. He worked to
make the situation better and drew close to God. When you are
enduring trials, look for your blessings.

3. Alma 62:39-42--Trials are like boiling water. They will either harden us like it
does with eggs, or soften us like it does with carrots.
2. Building the Ship
1. Nephi didn't receive all the guidance at once. He had to go to the mountain often
and be taught gradually, line upon line. (1 Nephi 17:1-4)
1. Just as Nephi talked with God in planning the ship, we must plan
everything we do this way.
1. Through prayer, create your day spiritually before you live it. "Plan
your day on your knees."
1. Sincere and consistent prayer is what enables Him to show
us great things.
2. Go to holy places often (i.e. the temple) to receive guidance.
2. Having Faith
1. Ether 12:6 states "ye receive no witness until AFTER the trial of your
faith."
1. Throughout these chapters, Laman and Lemuel witness many
miracles.
1. It is only through the witness of the Holy Ghost that you
can gain a witness of the Savior.
2. 1 Nephi 17:13-17
1. The Lord instructed them, "After ye have arrived in the
promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God."
1. Nephi had to follow solely on faith, and after
arriving there he would gain his witness.
3. Enjoy the Moment
1. "The trick is to thank God for letting you have the ride."--Gordon B. Hinckley BYU
Devotional, September 25, 1973
1. 1 Nephi 17:2--Nephi says the women were strong in the wilderness and
blessed with health enough to give suck to their children.
2. 1 Nephi 17:20-21--Laman and Lemuel say it would have been better if the
women would have died because they endured too much.
2. As with Nephi and the bow, Laman and Lemuel look at what's wrong with the
picture and what they wish it would be; Nephi is thankful and happy in the current
situation.
1. 1 Nephi 19
1. Sacred Text (1 Nephi 19:6)
1. Nephi only writes what is absolutely necessary
1. Jacob 1:1-4; Jacob 7:27
2. Condescension of Christ

1. v.9: Prophecy of Christ's death

1. Christ had power to end his suffering, but he endured for us.
2. Two meanings of "suffer here"
1. Pain
2. Allow
2. v.13-16--Scattering and Gathering of Israel
1. Why Israel was scattered?
1. The Jews turned their hearts away from Him first
2. They are the covenant people, good people, and God
wanted to disperse them around the earth; they just don't
have the truth.
2. How will they be gathered?
1. When they turn their hearts back to Christ, but they will
have to accept Him as the savior. This will happen with
missionary work.
2. Gathering will happen a bit, but not physically in this life. It
will mostly literally happen in the Millenium when they will
"pray in the name of the Savior."
3. Why Nephi quoted Isaiah
1. He saw Christ like Nephi, and could therefore bear a similar witness of Him
2. Since Isaiah lived 700 BC, 100 years before Nephi, he was their recent
prophet whose writing was on the brass plates.
3. Isaiah often spoke messianically, and is the main prophet Christ ever
quoted.
4. He was a prophet, seer, and revelator.
1. Prophet: warn, the watchman on the tower
2. Seer: anointed; The veil is removed, sin removed, sees things we
can't see and reveals them.
1. Moses 6:35--what a seer is
5. Also quoted Isaiah so we could have a direct translation of what he said. If
you compare Nephi's quotes of Isaiah to the book of Isaiah, you can tell
that a TON of information was lost in the translation of the Bible. The
Book of Mormon was only translated once, and it was directly from the
source.
1. Every single verse here is different than the version in the Bible.
1. v.10: tons of prophets we know nothing about.
2. 1 Nephi 20--Speaking to the Jews ("Them")
Boyd K. Packer warned about the barrier of hard language when we hit Isaiah:
"Then, just as you settle in to move comfortably along, you will meet a barrier. The style of the

language changes to Old Testament prophecy style. For, interspersed in the narrative, are
chapters reciting the prophecies of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. They loom as a barrier,
like a roadblock or a checkpoint beyond which the casual reader, one with idle curiosity,
generally will not go.
You, too, may be tempted to stop there, but do not do it! Do not stop reading! Move forward
through those difficult-to-understand chapters of Old Testament prophecy, even if you
understand very little of it. Move on, if all you do is skim and merely glean an impression here
and there. Move on, if all you do is look at the words.
Soon you will emerge from those difficult chapters to the easier New Testament style which is
characteristic of the rest of the Book of Mormon.
Because you are forewarned about that barrier, you will be able to surmount it and finish reading
the book."
(Boyd K. Packer "The Things of My Soul" Ensign May 1986)
1. The Jews are the covenant people, but disobedient. Still, the Lord will not cast them off.
1. Why are the Jews the Lord's covenant people if they were the ones who killed
him?
1. They are the covenant people for what they did in the Pre-mortal
existence, just as the next life is determined by what we do here. Most
of our blessings in this life come from who we were in the pre-mortal
existence.
2. Just as we will not be punished for Adam's sin, the current Jews won't be
punished for their ancestors'.
2. Flee from babylon and flee from chaldeans (v.20). Get away from the world and dont
even get close to it! Packers story of the wagon going near the cliff. Hug the wall,
dont get near the edge! (Boyd K. Packer "the Word of Wisdom: the Principles and the
Promises May 1996)
1. 1 Nephi 21--Talking to us
1. v.1-6--We are all foreordained for certain things; As gentiles, we were
foreordained to gather Israel.
1. Anything we do for God is not in vain.
2. If you feel early on that you will do something, it is most likely something
you were foreordained to do.
2. v.22-23:
1. "to lick up the dust off their feet" means to be destroyed
2. "bring thy sons in their arms and thy daughters shall be carried upon their
shoulders" is about the Gentiles carrying Israel back into the fold.
3. v.14-16--"Thy walls are continually before me"
1. We are literally engraved upon the palms of Christ's hands with the scars
from the cross. Just as a woman cannot forget her child, Christ cannot

forget us.
1. "Wall" has two meanings
1. We are continually before Christ like a wall
2. Walls are trials; He is always aware of our trials and
constantly thinking of us.
2. How to overcome the Devil's design of despair (Ezra Taft Benson, "Do
not Despair" Ensign Oct 1986)
1. Repentance
2. Prayer
3. Service
4. Work
5. Health
6. Reading
7. Blessing
8. Fasting
9. Friends
10. Music
11. Endurance
12. Goals
1. Whenever you are going through a tough time, Ezra Taft
Benson suggests using one of these twelve ways to
overcome Satan's ploys to tear you down.
2. 1 Nephi 22--Nephi explaining the previous chapters of Isaiah
1. v.7--the "mighty nation" is the United States of America in 1776
2. v.8--the "marvelous work among the Gentiles" is the restoration of the Gospel in
1830.
3. v.9--Gathering of Israel through seed of Abraham (the Church)
4. v.13-23--Destruction of the wicked
5. v.24-31--Millennium
1. These things all go in order.
2. The foundation of the US in 1776, namely freedom of religion, had to
come before the Gospel could be restored on earth.
6. We are foreordained to gather Israel "today and always."
1. "Today and Always" by David A. Bednar
3. 2 Nephi 1--Patriarchal Blessing of America
1. v.5-7--the USA is a choice nation, and no one here has ever come by chance.
Everyone on this nation was guided here for a wise purpose.
2. v.8--Our nation is strategically placed for the Gospel. We are located between
two massive oceans for protection.

3. v.7--This nation is reserved for the righteous. When it becomes wicked we are in
trouble.
1. "It is my conviction that when the Savior comes the stars and stripes will
be floating on the breeze." (Ezra Taft Benson, "The Constitution--A
Glorious Standard," BYU Devotional, 16 September 1986)
4. Chains:
1. The chains are any vice (trial, addiction, pride, etc.) that keeps us from
progressing. They limit our agency.
1. Can only be broken through repentance (2 Nephi 2:6-7; 2 Nephi
9:45)
2. Boyd K. Packer ("Armor of God" Conference address, April 1969) suggests
that we must use the shield of faith to overcome our chains, and that it
"takes parents to make the Armor of Faith"
4. 2 Nephi 2--The Fall
1. Justification
1. Justification (v.5) is to be declared guiltless
1. "Just as a man doesn't really desire food until he is hungry, so
does he not desire the Salvation of Christ until he realized why he
needs a Savior." (Ezra Taft Benson "I Know in Whom I Have
Trusted")
2. Jacob was a righteous child, but Lehi tells him it is because of the
"righteousness of thy Redeemer" (v.3) that he will be redeemed.
1. Because we are fallen, we naturally desire the things of the flesh.
3. Salvation is being saved from both temporal AND spiritual death. We will
all be resurrected (overcoming physical death) but salvation is both.
Won't achieve Salvation until we realize our need for a Savior.
2. The FALL
1. Before and after the fall there were just as many positive and negative
points (ex: death, children, joy, misery, sin, and good) 2 Nephi 2:22-28,
but after the fall with the Atonement all the negatives can become
positives
1. In 2 Nephi 2:21 we learn the fall was a commandment given in the
pre-mortal existence. Without it, none of us would have been able
to come and have our probation here on earth.
2. The reason the fall is ok is because there is a plan; in v.4, "the
way" is the plan of salvation.
2. The Book of Mormon will never talk about the fall without talking about
the Atonement too. Because of the Atonement, the Fall can be
overcome. The Bible is missing this knowledge; the word "plan" is never

mentioned in it.
1. Our responsibility:
1. Have a broken heart and a contrite spirit
1. Acknowledge that you sin and rely upon the Savior
2. Be humble enough to change
3. Become something different--Celestial.
2. Difference between resurrection, salvation, and exaltation
1. Resurrection: conquering physical death; we all receive this.
2. Salvation: conquering physical AND spiritual death;
determined individually.
3. Exaltation: a family matter
3. Moroni 8:25-26--Without a broken heart and contrite spirit, we
will only be able to have resurrection. Continually recognize your
sin and use the Atonement for salvation.
4. v.10: Because we are fallen and make mistakes, there had to be a
punishment. That is where Christ comes in; He satisfies both the
law of justice and mercy.
3. v.29--Ever since the pre-mortal existence, Christ enables us to use agency, but
Satan takes it away.
4. The Fall is ok because of the Atonement
1. "We have all seen a toddler learn to walk. He takes a small step and
totters. He falls. Do we scold such an attempt? Of course not. What
father would punish a toddler for stumbling? We encourage, we applaud,
and we praise because with every small step, the child is becoming more
like his parents.
Now, brethren, compared to the perfection of God, we mortals are scarcely more than
awkward, faltering toddlers. But our loving Heavenly Father wants us to become more like Him,
and, dear brethren, that should be our eternal goal too. God understands that we get there not
in an instant but by taking one step at a time.
I do not believe in a God who would set up rules and commandments only to wait for us to fail
so He could punish us. I believe in a Heavenly Father who is loving and caring and who rejoices in
our every effort to stand tall and walk toward Him. Even when we stumble, He urges us not to
be discouragednever to give up or flee our allotted field of servicebut to take courage, find
our faith, and keep trying" (Dieter F. Uchdorf, General Conference address April 2013 "Four
Titles")
1. For a follow-up, see his talk from October 2013 on feelings of guilt toward repentance

(i.e. using the guilt to work you toward repentance like Christ would have you do or
towards misery as Satan hopes) "You Can Do It Now!"
1. "Our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the
number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off and move forward.
That does not mean that we should be comfortable with our weaknesses, mistakes or sins.
No, he said. And there is an important difference between the sorrow for sin that leads to
repentance and the sorrow that leads to despair.
1. 2 Nephi 3--Joseph Smith
1. Joseph in Egypt prophesied of Joseph Smith
1. He would be named after him and Joseph Smith Sr.
2. The "choice seer" mentioned many times in this chapter is Joseph Smith
2. Joseph Smith would be given power to bring forth the Lord's word
1. Brought forth more words than all previous prophets combined.
1. Moses-156,739
2. Paul-50,210
3. Jeremiah-39,694
4. Ezekial-39,400
5. Isaiah-14,000
6. Joseph Smith-505,098
1. This includes all the scripture he helped bring about (Book
of Mormon, Joseph Smith Translation, Pearl of Great Price,
and most of D&C) but not the lectures and other quotes.
With those it is even more!
2. The United States were being prepared and created so the Gospel could
be restored here.
2. 2 Nephi 4--The Song of Nephi (When in discouragement, read thoroughly)
Problem - (4:17-19) Weakness of the flesh.
Solution - (4:20-25) Pray and Remember blessings.
Problem - (4:26-27) Why is flesh still so weak. Nephi is discouraged he cannot overcome the
flesh.
Solution - (4:28-30) Repent, Replace the bad things and Rejoice.
Problem - (4:31-33) Will you help me Lord?
Solution - (4:34-35) Trust Christ.
1. 2 Nephi 5
1. In this chapter Nephi's family is split, but in v.27 it says they "lived after the
manner of happiness." Why were they so happy?
1. 10-Keep commandments
2. 11-Lord was with them

3. 12-scriptures
4. 16-temple
5. 17-industrious
6. 26-Priesthood leaders
7. They physically separated themselves from the wicked.
2. Warnings
1. In verses 5-6, Nephi is warned that they must leave. The Spirit will
ALWAYS warn you before something happens that would affect your
salvation.
1. "We cannot set off on a wrong course without overruling a
warning first." Boyd K. Packer
2. This feeling is not to be confused with fear. Sometimes when you
are going the right direction in life it will be scary, but don't turn
around just because of that.
3. Mark vs. Curse
1. Mark was the change in skin color
1. The skin color was given so the unrighteous would be unenticing
for marriage to the covenant people. If they would repent they
would still have the mark, but would become enticing. T
2. Curse was that they were cut off from the Lord's presence
1. The real curse is being cut off from the Lord's, not being
covenant.
2. They no longer had access to the word of the Lord; they became
heard-hearted and cut off from His presence.
3. In alma 23:16-18, the Anti-Nephi-Lehites repented and "the curse of God
followed them no more." They were no longer cursed to be removed
from His presence, but they still had the mark.
1. This shows us that we can repent and be forgiven by God so we
can live with Him again, but in this life we may still have to deal
with the consequences of our mistake.
2. 2 Nephi 6
1. v.6 "they shall bring thy sons in their arms and thy daughters shall be carried upon
their shoulders." This is talking about the gathering of Israel
1. What was the object of gathering the . . . people of God in any age of the
world? . . . The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby
He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the
glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for
there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and
practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 3078; paragraph
divisions altered.)
The question is frequently asked "Can we not be saved without going through with all those
ordinances, etc.?" I would answer, No, not the fullness of salvation. Jesus said, "There are many
mansions in my Father's house, and I will go and prepare a place for you." [see John 14:12]
House here named should have been translated kingdom; and any person who is exalted to the
highest mansion has to abide a celestial law, and the whole law too.
(History of the Church, 6:184.)
1. We are gathering Israel so they can have temple work and so we can build more
temples.
1. 2 Nephi 7
1. v.1--Divorcement
1. We are the bride.
1. He didn't leave us; we leave Him.
2. We have all been unfaithful and "played the harlot."
2. How to overcome the divorcement
1. 2 Nephi 8:24--Marriage: he will take us back
2. v.2--Reedeem
1. Redeem means "to buy from bondage."
1. In ancient Egypt when a child was taken, the process for getting
them back was called "redeeming."
1. Kidnapper analogy
1. Kidnapper separates child from parents and
remands ransom. If ransom is paid, the child goes
back to their parents. Similarly, we can't return
without Christ's sacrifice.

1. Christ's Crucifixion verses 4-7

1. These verses prophecy all that would happen, but that he would not falter.
1. "plucked off the hair"--They plucked out the hairs of Christ's beard.
2. v.8-9: Stand together and be humble or we will be compelled to be humble
1. Stand together in the covenant

1. 2 Nephi 8--Abrahamic Covenant

1. Blessings of the Abrahamic Covenants
1. Posterity--because you can only have that if you are exalted
2. Priesthood and endless blessings of the priesthood (such as creation)
3. Property: Celestial Earth
2. v.1--In this verse, the "rock" is Abraham and Sarah
1. We are literal descendants from him. The patriarchal blessing declares
your lineage.
3. v.24-25--How to return home
1. Explanation of all these symbolisms found in D&C 113:7-10
1. "put on strength"-Priesthood
2. "Put on beautiful garments"-Marriage
1. Even though we aren't completely faithful, He will take us
back
3. "bands of the neck" =Scattered Israel
1. Authority-laying on of hands
2. Power-a given right that comes from righteousness
1. 2 Nephi 9
1. The Plan is everywhere in the Book of Mormon, but it is never found in the New
or Old Testaments; it was removed by the 1st and 2nd century church.
1. The BOM was needed to restore the knowledge
2. What to look for in this chapter
1. Wo's--Bring you away from Christ
2. O's--Bring you closer to Christ
3. Chapter Outline
1. v.1-3: Introduction
2. v.10: Awful Monster-Death of Body and Spirit
3. v.4-22-Resurrection
4. v.23-49-Spiritual Death
4. Why so many verses on the resurrection?
1. These verses contain an essential doctrine that isn't found anywhere else
in scripture:
1. v.9: "And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we
become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out form the
presence of our God."
2. If we didn't get our bodies back, or if there were no resurrection,
we would become like Satan and not be able to return home to
our Heavenly Father.
1. (1 Corinthians 15:39-40) We all receive resurrection, but

5.

6.

7.

8.

what type of body we receive is conditional.

Why is Satan called "Son of the morning"?
1. This may have to do with when he was born in the pre-mortal existence.
We know he was one of our older brothers and was high in power. This is
also largely why he was so successful in leading so many astray.
v.25-26: Some people will not be held accountable; if they are mentally
handicapped, don't know the law, or some other justification (also extreme
depression and other case) the won't be punished according to the laws of
heaven.
1. Jeffrey R. Holland gave a great talk on this in October 2013 conference,
titled "Like a Broken Vessel."
2. "The mentally-handicapped are celestial; we are not. Treat them well and
they may open the gate for you on judgment day."--Brother Stanley
Johnson
v.27-29: "To be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsel of God."
1. D&C 93:36--"The glory of God is intelligence"
1. Seek education as far as you can and it will do great things for you
in this life and the next. It will often bring you to wealth. This is
fine as long as you keep God as your treasure; don't get your
treasures become your God.
2. God will often lead you to wealth if you truly desire to use it to
bless others. Money is great if you can remain humble
1. "The two groups who have the greatest difficulty following
the prophet are the PROUD who are learned and the
PROUD who are rich." (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign June 1981
"Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet)
2. To be rich and/or educated are both wonderful things as
long as you can be humble.
v.31-38: We will all meet Christ in our resurrected bodies. The Book of Mormon
tells us we will "dwell" with Him or "stand" with Him. (2 Nephi 2:8-10)
1. Dwell=to stay
2. Stand=to be judged
1. How to "dwell" with God is found in 2 Nephi 9:23
1. Repent, be baptized, have faith
2. "Repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a
willingness to persevere, even through pain. Attempts to
create a list of specific steps of repentance may be helpful
to some, but it may also lead to a mechanical,
check-off-the-boxes approach with no real feeling or

change. True repentance is not superficial. The Lord gives

two overarching requirements: By this ye may know if a
man repenteth of his sinsbehold, he will confess them
and forsake them (D&C 58:43). (D. Todd Christofferson,
General Conference October 2011, "The Divine Gift of
Repentance) Beautiful talk!
2. v.44-45: Listen to the prophet. The duty of the prophet is to call
the people to repentance, so if they don't repent it is their own
fault and the prophet is hot held accountable.
9. v.39: SMILE!
1. "To be Spiritually-Minded Is Life Eternal"
2. To be carnally-minded is death.
2. 2 Nephi 10
1. Chapter outline (almost always this order in the Book of Mormon)
1. v.1-2: Lamanites
2. v.3-9: Jews
3. v.10-22: Gentile
4. v.23-25: Conclusion
2. v.3-5: It was the Jewish leaders that were bad and crucified the Savior. That
doesn't mean all the Jews are bad.
1. Priestcraft is referring to the leadership
1. Priestcraft is when you take credit or glory for something that
belongs to God.
3. v.20-21: the "isles of the sea" means anywhere that is not Israel; "Gentile
nations"
4. v.23-24: "Cheer up your hearts"
1. It is only through His grace that we are saved after we have done all we
can do. Your self-will alone could NEVER be enough!
1. Grace=enabling power. Every time you see "grace" in the
scriptures, you can insert that.
1. (David A. Bednar, BYU Devotional Address October 2001,
"The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality")
2. Steps of receiving His enabling power
1. Reconcile yourself before God
2. Remember Him
3. Know it is only through His grace you are saved
3. 2 Nephi 11-12
1. v.2-4: The mouth of three witness
1. In this chapter it states the testimonies of Nephi, Isaiah, and Jacob, who

have all seen Christ.

2. How to tap into the enabling power
1. v.5: Get the enabling power from covenants
1. Promise to do things for Him and He will enable you.
1. This doesn't only apply to the large covenants. You need to
make personal covenants with the Lord too!
3. v.6-7: Christ is the God of the Old Testament almost ALWAYS.
4. v.8: Isaiah can be difficult to understand, but it is for us.
1. 3 Keys for understanding Isaiah
1. 2 Nephi 25:1--Understand manner of prophesying among the
Jews. Isaiah is often doing a dual prophecy.
1. Ex: 2 Nephi 23 chapter heading--The destruction of Babylon
is a type for the 2nd coming. Often his older-day examples
are a dual prophecy of what will happen in our day.
1. Similar in chapter 20
2. 2 Nephi 21:1-5
1. Jesse--D&C 113:1-6 for explanation
1. Stem (tree stump) cut off is the Apostasy
2. Rod-Descendent with much power
3. Root-Has keys in last days to gather
1. Both the rod and the root are
representing Joseph Smith
2. To be exalted you must accept
Christ as presented through Joseph
Smith.
2. 2 Nephi 25:4
1. Understand Isaiah by using those who are filled with the
spirit of prophecy, just as step one referred to scriptures
about it to explain the symbolism.
3. 2 Nephi 25:7
1. We are living in the day of Isaiah's fulfillment. As we get
closer to the 2nd coming we will understand them
1. 2 Nephi 12:23:
1. In November 2000, Gordon B. Hinckley said
these verses are referring to the Salt Lake
temple and the conference center
1. Temple: "mountain of the Lord" and
"house of the Lord."
2. Conference Center: "out of Zion shall

go forth the law."

1. Prophets teach from the
conference center
4. 2 Nephi 25--Jews
1. v.12-16 Problem: Jews are waiting for another Messiah
2. v.17-18 Solution: Book of Mormon will teach them the Gospel.
1. D&C 19:26-27--Book of Mormon is the only thing that will convert the
Jews
3. v.9-10 Bondage
4. v.11-Return
5. v.12-Ministry of Christ
6. v.13-Crucifixion of Christ
5. 2 Nephi 26
1. v.3-Samuel the Lamanite testifying of Christ's birth
2. v.5-6: Destruction of the wicked
3. Ministry of Christ
4. Lamanites' Problem (v.10):
1. Sell themselves for naught
2. Pride and foolishness
3. Yield unto devil
4. Choose darkness over light
5. Solution for Lamanites (2 Nephi 25: 24-26)
1. Use Book of Mormon to come unto Christ
1. Look at how many times Christ is mentioned in these verses!
6. Gentiles' Problem
1. v.12: Need to be convinced Jesus is the Christ
2. v.20: Pride
1. Also mentions stumbling block caused by the 1st and 2nd Century
church, which has eventually led to the various churches formed
by different interpretations of the Gospel.
3. v.29: Priestcraft--"Priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves
up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the
world."
4. v.22: Secret Combinations
5. v.27: All manner of wickedness
7. Gentiles' Solution: Book of Mormon! (See 2 Nephi 27)
8. For EVERYONE (the Lamanites, the Jews, and the Gentiles) the Book of Mormon
is the solution.
1. In the January Ensign 1996, "Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon,"

James E. Faust spoke of missionary work in Brazil and the important role
of the Book of Mormon
1. "As a young missionary I personally learned the importance of the
prophetic mission of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon in
missionary work. Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter, Elder Lynn A.
Sorensen, and I, along with other dedicated young men, were
pioneer missionaries in Brazil half a century ago. One year we
converted only three people. In 1994 in this same country 43,247
souls were converted. There are now more than one hundred
stakes of Zion in Brazil. There are seven stakes in the city where
Elder Bangerter and I, laboring as companions, found the first
members of the Church.
What is the difference between then and now? Why was it so hard in the beginning and so
fruitful now? In large measure it was because the only scripture we had was the Bible. The only
expression concerning the Book of Mormon came from our own testimonies spoken in a
strange tongue. Unlike Samuel Smith, we did not have the Book of Mormon in hand to leave
with any who might be interested. Only after the Book of Mormon was published in Portuguese
did the great harvest of converts come. The Lord has made clear that this generation shall
remain under condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book
of Mormon (D&C 84:57)
1. Missionary work is nothing without the Book of Mormon. One cannot be truly
converted without a testimony of it and Joseph Smith.
1. 2 Nephi 27
1. This chapter says "book" (referring to the Book of Mormon) 21 times.
2. v.12-14: Rule of Witnesses
1. The Law of witnesses states that there must be at least two, preferably
three, witnesses for something to be counted as valid.
2. v.12 is what taught Joseph Smith that he had to show the plates to
Martin Harris, David Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdrey.
3. Here are a few examples in the Church of the law of witnesses:
1. Baptism
2. Bible, Book of Mormon, and Pearl of Great Price
3. Temple ordinances
4. Holy Ghost, Heavenly Father, and Christ
5. Bishopric
6. Missionaries
7. Tithing
3. v.6-8: The Book of Mormon was being hid until religion would become a priority
again.

1. Also prophesies of Professor Anthon (Joseph Smith History 1:61-65).

2. 2 Nephi 28
1. Doctrines of the Devil
1. v.5-6: Deny the Holy Ghost, modern revelation, and scripture; the work is
done, no more miracles, no more revelation.
2. v.7-9, 25: All is well; "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." We
are saved no matter what.
3. v.27: Need no more knowledge
1. Even after you go through the temple, you are never done
learning in this life. You constantly have things you need to be
working on and perfecting.
4. v.20: Angry because of the word of God
1. "Tap-root of Mormonism" is the Book of Mormon. Critics often
warn about missionaries and say, "Don't trust your minds, feeling,
or prayer when reading the Book of Mormon; that is how the get
you." It's true! Reading the book and praying to know its
truthfulness is exactly how to gain a testimony of it!
5. v.9-12: Pride and false doctrines ("vain and foolish doctrines")
1. This is referring to the "false prophets," which may not all be
intentional. People who think they know the truth and are wrong
can be more dangerous than people who are blatantly wrong.
6. v.13: priestcraft
1. Example: the Catholic church spends millions of dollars on its
churches and priests while many of its members are struggling.
2. Satan's Temptation Tactics v.20-22
1. "Rage in the hearts of men and stir them up to anger"--Cause people to
become angry against God, the prophets, and/or the Book of Mormon.
2. "Others he will pacify and lull them away into carnal security"--Slowly
tempt and make them become weak. This moves so slowly and through
small sins that they may not even notice what's happening until they've
gone off the deep end.
3. "Others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell."--He lies and
makes people forget the eternal perspective and makes them become
proud
3. How to overcome these tactics (v.30-32)
1. Constantly seek ways to improve yourself to avoid sinning.
2. Trust in Christ and take his out-stretched arm as an invitation to repent
when we do fall.
3. 2 Nephi 29

1. v.2: "A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible."
Wrong. The Bible needs the Book of Mormon to restore the lost truths.
2. v.7
1. All nations have had prophets and scriptures
2. John 10:16
3. Book of Mormon=America's Bible
4. 2 Nephi 30
1. v.2: Repentant people are covenant people
1. We are born into the covenant, or Gospel, in this life for things we did in
the pre-mortal existence. Our blessings after will be determined by what
we do in this life.
5. 2 Nephi 31-32: Faith, Baptism, and Repentance
1. The path to the Celestial Kingdom has two gates:
1. First Gate: You enter this one by faith, repentance, and baptism enter you
in through the gate and on to the narrow path. (2 Nephi 31:10-15)
2. Second Gate: Christ stands at this gate. Enter by enduring to the end. (2
Nephi 9:41; 2 Nephi 31:20)
1. It's not enough to give up after baptism. You have to "press
forward with a perfect steadfastness in Christfeasting upon the
words of Christ, and endure to the end."
2. Functions of the Spirit
1. Director and Protector (2 Nephi 32:5): "Show all things what ye should
do."
2. Teach us to Pray (2 Nephi 32:8): Spirit teaches us to pray; evil spirits teach
us not to. Whenever you don't feel like praying, pray until you do.
1. In personal prayer, don't just thank Him and ask Him for things.
Also ask questions frequently.
3. Tongue of Angels (2 Nephi 31:13): This is the power to say and be led by
the Holy Ghost while teaching; ability to speak with power to the hearts
of others.
1. He will help you know what to say. You know when he is taking
over, because it will be more powerful than your original thoughts.
He is the master teacher.
2. The Gift of Tongues also falls under here (2 Nephi 32:2-3)
1. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore,
they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you,
feast upon the words of Christ."
1. To speak with the tongue of the angels, know your
scriptures very well!

1. Speak to the Hearts of Men (2 Nephi 33:1): Teach by the light of Christ. Goes to the
hearts of men so they can hear your words as they need to personally hear them.
2. Sanctifier (2 Nephi 31:13): "Baptism by Fire"
1. Repentance through the Atonement gives you forgiveness and the ability to be
worthy of having the Holy Ghost. When you are worthy of its companionship,
the Holy Ghost does the cleansing.
1. Moroni 6:4--"And after they had been received unto baptism, and were
wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost"
2. As we constantly have the Holy Ghost as our companion and allow it to
work on us, we will become purified.
3. Testifier (2 Nephi 31:19): "ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the
Father and the Son."
1. Boyd K. Packer says, "A testimony is found in the bearing of it."
1. 2 Nephi 33
1. v.13-15: Bible and Book of Mormon must go together
1. We will be judged off what's in these.
2. v.4: More jobs of the Holy Ghost
1. Persuade men to do good
2. Make known unto us our fathers
3. Persuadeth men to believe in God
4. Persuadeth men to endure to the end
3. Nephi's last words (2 Nephi 33:15): "I must obey"
2. Jacob 2
1. Pride (Jacob 2:12-21)
1. v.13: We are so wealthy in this nation and we take it for granted, tending
to think it makes us better than others.
2. v.16: Don't let the "pride of your heart destroy your souls;" we aren't
better than anyone else
3. How to overcome pride:
1. v.17: Think of everyone around you as yourself; share wealth as
though it were for yourself.
2. v.18: Seek God before riches
3. v.19: If you obtain riches, seek to do good with it.
4. v.20: If you are wealthy, God gave it to you for a reason. Use it to
help others or he could take it away from you.
5. v.21: "the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all
flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created
them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him

forever."
1. Do you really believe others souls are just as precious as
your own?
1. Challenge: pray to receive this witness and treat
others as you would yourself.
2. "Doctrine of inclusion" M. Russell Ballard, October 2001
1. "I have never taughtnor have I ever heard
taughta doctrine of exclusion. I have never heard
the members of this Church urged to be anything
but loving, kind, tolerant, and benevolent to our
friends and neighbors of other faiths.
The Lord expects a great deal from us. Parents, please teach your children and practice
yourselves the principle of inclusion of others and not exclusion because of religious, political,
or cultural differences.
1. Chastity (Jacob 2:22-35)
1. v.23-24: In the past the Lord has commanded prophets to have multiple wives,
but here they are commanded not to. Why did Jacob use the specific example of
David and Solomon?
1. D&C 132:38-39--These verses state, "and in nothing did they sin save in
those things which they received not of me. David's wives and concubines
were given unto him of me and in none of these things did he sin
against me save in the case of Uriah and his wifefor I gave unto him
another."
1. They were only allowed to have the wives which were given to
them by God. Thus, David was justified in having multiple wives,
but he sinned with Bathsheba because he pursued her out of pure
lust. Immorality is a bigger sin than polygamy.
2. Concubines:
3. Elder Bruce R. McConkie defined the term concubines, explaining:
Anciently they were considered to be secondary wives, that is, wives
who did not have the same standing in the caste system then prevailing
as did those wives who were not called concubines. There were no
concubines connected with the practice of plural marriage in this
dispensation, because the caste system which caused some wives to be
so designated did not exist (Mormon Doctrine,1545)
1. Why were they allowed to have concubines?
1. Sometimes they Lord allows us to follow a lower law in
order to prepare us for a greater one. (ex: law of

consecration and tithing; law of Moses and Doctrines of

Christ.)
2. If we are now commanded to only have one spouse, why did they do plural
marriages in the past?
1. To raise up a righteous seed unto the Lord; this isn't necessary anymore.
2. Bruce R McConkie, "Mormon Doctrine" page 578
1. Plural marriage is not essential to salvation or exaltation. Nephi
and his people were denied the power to have more than one wife
and yet they could gain every blessing in eternity that the Lord
ever offered to any people. In our day, the Lord summarized by
revelation the whole doctrine of exaltation and predicated it upon
the marriage of one man to one woman. (D. & C. 132:128.)
Thereafter he added the principles relative to plurality of wives
with the express stipulation that any such marriages would be
valid only if authorized by the President of the Church. (D. & C.
132:7, 2966.)
2. In the next life, you don't have to be sealed to anyone you don't
want to, even if you were sealed on earth. You have just as much
agency there as you do here. Whether or not you can be saved is
up to Christ and Heavenly Father.
3. Why can men be sealed to more than one wife, but not women to multiple
husbands?
1. Brother Johnson's opinion: "There will probably be more women worthy
of exaltation than there will be men. Women just tend to be more
righteous."
2. Just remember that we will be happy in the celestial kingdom no matter
what.
2. The issue that's bigger than polygamy is chastity; adultery will destroy individuals and
families. It breaks the hearts of wives and causes children to lose trust in their parents.
1. Jacob 3: How to avoid the sin of adultery:
1. v.1-2: Firmness of mind
1. "Control your thoughts" Boyd K. Packer October 1973 General
Conference: "As you learn to control your thoughts, you can overcome
habits, even degrading personal habits. You can gain courage, conquer
fear, and have a happy life."
2. He suggests we do this by memorizing a hymn and humming it during
moments of temptation, weakness, discouragement, trial, or anytime
you struggle: "As the music begins and as the words form in your
thoughts, the unworthy ones will slip shamefully away. It will change the

whole mood on the stage of your mind. Because it is uplifting and clean,
the baser thoughts will disappear. For while virtue, by choice, will not
associate with filth, evil cannot tolerate the presence of light."
2. Jacob 5--Olive Tree Allegory
1. Two things to ask throughout the parable to help you understand it
1. What does the Master see?
2. What does the Master do about it?
2. Symbolisms
1. Tree--Israel
2. Master of the vineyard--Christ
3. Servant--Prophet at the time
4. You have to treat this chapter like you do the temple. You have to look
for symbolism to appreciate it, but you will get lost if you try to look for
what every single little detail means. Look for the large meaning behind
the symbolism.
3. v.1-15: Old Testament--Scattering of Israel
1. v.3: Master sees the tree decaying
2. v.4: He nourishes it, prunes it, and digs about it
3. v.6: the "main top" begins to perish. This is referring to the leadership of
the Jews, which was the true church back then.
4. v.8: Grafts them into the vineyard so they can grow--Scattering of Israel
5. v.14: "the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural branches
of the tame olive-tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in
one and some in another, according to his will and pleasure."
1. Joseph Fielding Smith said this is the Japanese, Korean, and other
people of the orient. They were once part of the fold, but once
they got scattered they became different people.
6. v.15: A long time passes; there is no scripture or doctrine at this time.
4. v. 16-29: New Testament and Book of Mormon
1. New Testament
1. v.17: Natural branches not doing well, so the Master put in "wild
branches."
1. Wild branches-Gentiles
2. Natural branches-Jews
1. Apostle Paul was the one who would bring the
Gospel to the Jews; the Gentiles are to always
teach them.
2. Book of Mormon
1. v.25: Part good seed and part bad is referring to the Nephites and

the Lamanites.
2. v.26-27: Master says he wants to burn the trees, but this time the
servant says to "nourish, prune it, and dig about it" like the Master
did in verse
1. Christ didn't really want to destroy the people. He was kind
of teasing the prophet to have him do what the Master
really wanted to do: save them. Notice the servant says
the same thing the master said the first time: "nourish,
prune it, and dig it." Sometimes the Lord shows us the
contrasting view to help us see the way we better way to
do things. He helps us as much as he can without telling us
what to do or taking away our agency; He guides us the
way to magnify our agency.
1. The Master is merciful; He does as much as he can
to get us to repent without taking away our
agency.
5. v. 30-60: Dark Ages and Apostasy--No good fruit
1. v.30: the Master sees all sorts of fruits
2. v.31: He tastes the fruit
3. v.32: Many fruits, but none are good. This is the apostasy: many churches,
but none are good.
4. v.48: Why not good?
1. Because of the "loftiness of the branches;" they were too proud
and had come away from the true roots where the Gospel
started.
1. Pride is the big problem illustrated throughout the Book of
Mormon
5. v.40-41: The bad tree overtaking the good tree is the Lamanites taking
over the Nephites.
1. When this happened, the Lord wept saying, "What more could I
have done for my vineyard?" It was then gone in all corners of the
earth, and He wept. Look at all he did to save it!
1. When a person reaches the point of destruction He also
weeps. Christ has done everything He can to help us, but
we have to work and do our part to receive Him.
2. v.32: "It grieveth" Him to lose anyone.
6. What does He do about it? Verses 57-53:
1. He gathers the branches into the "natural" mother tree one last
time: the gathering of Israel.

6. v. 61-77: Last Days--Many servants go out and bring many people to the
kingdom
1. v.70: who will gather Israel?
1. Servant: Joseph Smith
2. "Other servants and they were few": Missionaries and all others
laboring in the field
1. We have more missionaries than ever before in the history
of the world, but we are still few.
2. Gathering of Israel
1. v.71: This is the last time He will gather them
1. Those doing the work to gather will feel Joy with Christ
1. D&C 18:10--"How great shall be your joy if you shall
bring even one soul unto Him."
2. We may be few, but we will have a major impact on
the world
2. v.72: In the mission field we really have two companions: Christ
and our literal mission companion. Christ is always laboring with
you.
3. v.74-77: The good will be preserved, but the bad will be burned.
1. When He does destroy them, it will be because they are so
wicked He needs to teach them in the Spirit world. He
doesn't want to destroy anyone, and does everything He
can not to. When he does have to destroy someone, He
weeps.
2. It took 77 verses, covering the whole history of the earth,
before the Master would destroy/burn them. The earth will
get to the point where it is so filthy that is His only option.
1. Most people will be safe at the second coming. He
is very merciful.
2. His whole purpose throughout the allegory (and
earth) is to save the trees (or the people)
1. Moses 1:38 "For behold, this is my work
and my glory: to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of man."
2. He does everything he can to keep us off
paths to sadness and provides a prophet as
His mouthpiece to ward, help, and guide us.
7. This Chapter alone proves the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. It
prophesied the history of the world from Israel (Jacob, with his name changed) in

1500 BC to the end of the world. There is no way Joseph Smith could have made
this up.
3. Jacob 6-What to learn from the Olive Tree Allegory
1. v.4: Covenants
1. Christ is merciful and will always "nourish, prune, and dig" about you as
you repent to help you progress.
2. If we have a covenant relationship with Christ, he will give us tender
mercies.
2. V5-6: Our responsibility is to use the full benefit of the Atonement
1. Repent today. If you plan on doing it tomorrow you will likely never do it.
2. Why let yourself die spiritually when Christ has already paid the price so
you could be forgiven?
4. Jacob 7
1. v.1-5: Characteristics of the antichrist Sherem
1. Teach against doctrines of Christ
2. Labored to mislead others
3. Powerful speaker and worked to the flattery of men
2. v.8: How to overcome antichrists
1. You NEED to have the spirit. This is the only way to confound those who
fight against Christ.
1. No one can argue with the Spirit
3. v.7: Law of Moses
1. The Law of Moses was a baby step Christ gave Moses on Mount Sinai to
help the people prepare for the higher Law of Christ.
1. Jews still have the Law of Moses. They will even tell you it is just
to lead them to Christ and His law, but they just don't believe He
has come yet.
1. The Jews (Law of Moses) have 365 positive laws: one for
every day of the year as a constant remember of him. They
have 248 negative laws. These are explained in the books
of Deuteronomy and Leviticus.
2. When Christ came he gave two laws: "Thou shalt love thy
God with all thine heart. And the second is like unto it:
thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self."
1. We are still to remember Him, but we do it in
different ways.
3. They believed Christ would come as a conquering king and
were disappointed by Christ's humble state. His conquering
will come at the second coming, and they Jews will believe

Him in His fullness. This will lead to the finishing of the

gathering of Israel, when they see Him as He is.
4. v.23: Peace was restored in the kingdom when they began to search the
scriptures again.
1. If you don't know your scripture you are opening yourself to be misled.
2. When you know the scriptures well, the Spirit is your teacher and you will
never be led astray.
1. "When we want to speak to God we pray. When we want Him to
speak to us we read the scriptures: for His words are spoken
through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the
promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you have not heard His voice
speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the
scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline." Robert D. Hales, General
Conference Oct. 2006 "Holy Scriptures: The Power of God Unto
Our Salvation"
5. v.22: Pray. The combination of praying and reading the scriptures is the best way
to get the Spirit in your life.
5. Enos
1. Three doctrines we understand for remission of sins (in order of importance):
1. Pray for ourselves--Remission of sins
2. Prayed for Nephi-brethren
3. Prayed for Lamanites-enemies
2. How to receive a remission for your sins:
1. 1:2-6
1. "My soul hungered" --you have to hunger for forgiveness or you
won't receive it.
2. Mighty prayer--Enos cried unto Him the whole day
3. "wrestle which I had before God before I received a remission of
my sins."
4. Ponder; "sunk deep to my heart"
5. Two-way communication with God; "there came a voice unto me
saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be
exalted."
6. God does not lie
1. When you feel the Spirit, you will know you are forgiven.
This feels better than having the Bishop tell you're
forgiven. But the bishop is the Lord's mouthpiece to often
tell you whether or not you are forgiven.
7. Kneel, a sign of humility

8. Faith that you can be forgiven

2. None of this could happen without the Atonement
3. You cannot have the capacity to fully love someone if you haven't had a
remission of sin. You simply don't have the ability.
1. This is why you must fully repent before you mission.
2. You can't have the Spirit if you aren't repentant.
3. How to know when you are forgiven (verses 6-9)
1. Guilt is swept away
2. You will have a desire for the welfare of others and pray for them.
4. What to do after forgiveness
1. "Go to, thy faith hath made thee whole." Go. Leave it behind in the past.
Forgive yourself and dedicate your life to saving others from the same
trap you fell into.
6. Jarom
1. v:1-2 The small plates are running out of room.
1. His fathers have already revealed the "plan" of Salvation (what's left out
of the Bible). He bears his witness of the plan and exhorts us to follow it.
2. v.11: "Teaching the Law of Moses and the intent for which it was given;
persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come
as though he already was.
1. This was during 399 BC, but they taught of the law of Christ as though He
has already come. The Law of Moses didn't give a remission of sin.
However, they knew that Christ would come and that His Atonement
would be for everyone who would ever live, before and after the
Atonement. Thus, they taught the significance of repentance because
they knew they could receive forgiveness from the sacrifice the Savior
would make.
2. Law of Moses
1. They knew they had to make some sort of sacrifice to receive a
remission of sins, so they would sacrifice lambs as a symbol of
Christ who would make the ultimate sacrifice. The Law of Moses
was not enough alone, but everything in it was pointing to the
higher law that would come with Christ.
2. Now the Jews have "Yom Kippur," the day of the Atonement, day
of tears. They have a scapegoat upon whom they place all their
sins. Then they let it run off into the wilderness to die with their
sins.
1. The Jewish church used to be the true church until 339 BC,
when they reached apostasy.

3. We use the sacrament as our means of sacrificing our sins and

receiving continual repentance and cleansing.
7. Omni
1. Mostly about traveling--Nephites go a lot of places to get away from the
Lamanites
Jerusalem-->Land of 1st Inheritance-->Land of Nephi-->Zarahemla
1. 1:12--1st Mosiah, king, was warned to leave
1. Mosiah's son in King Benjamin, whose son is Mosiah II
2. v.14: We usually call the people of Zerahemla Mulekites, because when they first came
out of Jerusalem their king was Mulek. Then at this point in the scriptures it was King
Zerahemla.
3. v.17: Why did they deny the Creator and have confounded language?
1. They didn't have records or scripture with them. At this point they rejoice (v.14)
because they get brass plates.
1. The same thing happens to us when we don't read and ponder the
scriptures; we lose our testimony of their teachings.
2. "Finding Ourselves in Lehi's Dream" Boyd K. Packer August 2010
1. "If you hold to the rod, you can feel your way forward with the
gift of the Holy Ghost, conferred upon you at the time you were
confirmed a member of the Church. The Holy Ghost will comfort
you. You will be able to feel the influence of angels, as Nephi did,
and feel your way through life."
2. Doctrines--Unchanging truths
3. Policies--Change according to the times
4. In this chapter, the Mulekites and Nephites come together
1. Groups in this chapter
1. Nephites-King Mosiah
2. Mulekites-King Zarahemla
3. Jaredites (mentioned)
5. Omni 1:19-22
1. Coriantumr: last survivor of the Jaredites
1. Richard G Scott, Ensign November 2013 "The joyful news for anyone who
desires to be rid of the consequences of past poor choices is that the
Lord sees weakness differently than He does rebellion. Whereas the Lord
warns that unrepentant rebellion will bring punishment, when the Lord
speaks of weakness it is always with mercy."
1. Words of Mormon
1. Martin Harris lost 116 translated pages from the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith
asked the Lord three times if Martin Harris could show his wife the record before

the Lord gave him permission to. When they got lost, the Lord warned Joseph
Smith not to retranslate the record because Martin Harris's wife had made
changes to the document and was going to use that to say what Joseph Smith
had translated was incorrect if he did it again. However, the Lord knew this would
happen, so he had Mormon write an abridged account of the book of Lehi
(Words of Mormon 1:6-7) so we could have a summary of what would be on the
lost pages.
1. Mormon didn't know why he was told to make an abridgement of the
book of Lehi, other than it was "for a wise purpose." These plates were
found at the very end of the plates. Mormon listened, thankfully, and we
have a small account of what was lost in the Words of Mormon.
2. Shows importance of following promptings.
3. Words of Mormon are the bridge between the small and large plates
2. The "small plates" mentioned in Nephi's record were now full. They only cover the
history from 1 Nephi through Omni.
1. The rest of the Book of Mormon is an abridgement of the large plates
(plates of Lehi). Up to this point, the large plates had only contained a
secular account while the small plates had the sacred history of the
people of Nephi. After the book of Omni, the large plates contained both
secular AND sacred history.
1. We don't have the secular history for Nephi's time, only sacred
found in the Book of Mormon.
2. Mosiah 1-6: King Benjamin's address
1. In one of Thomas S. Monson's first talks as President of the Church, "To Learn,
to Do, to Be," (October 2008), he states, "May we learn what we should learn,
may we do what we should do, and may we be what we should be."
1. This is just like King Benjamin's talk.
2. Learn--Mosiah 1:5-8
1. Know the scriptures are true!
3. Do--Mosiah 2:16-18
1. Serve
1. Henry B. Eyring, April, 2013 General Conference, "Come Unto Me"
1. "There is another way you and I have felt Him grow closer
to us. As we give devoted service to Him, He draws closer
to those we love in our families. Every time I have been
called in the Lords service to move or to leave my family, I
have come to see that the Lord was blessing my wife and
my children. He prepared loving servants of His and
opportunities to draw my family closer to Him.

You have felt that same blessing in your lives. Many of you have loved ones who are wandering
off the path to eternal life. You wonder what more you can do to bring them back. You can
depend on the Lord to draw closer to them as you serve Him in faith."
1. The Lord blesses us and our families when we serve
1. Become--Mosiah 3-6
1. 3:19--How to "Become" what Christ wants you to become.
2. Part 1--Put off the natural man. We must learn how to do this:
1. Yield to the enticing of the Holy Spirit
2. The natural man is sinful, carnal, and of the flesh. Become the opposite.
3. Part 2--Become a Saint through the Atonement
1. Become as a little child
2. Becoming a saint means you are "sanctified."
1. This means you have the Holy Ghost, because that's one of its
roles; he is a sanctifier.
2. The Spirit is KEY to us putting off the natural man
1. "A Line of Demarkation" from "The Life of George Albert
Smith"
1. George Albert Smiths grandfather George A. Smith
served for many years in the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles and in the First Presidency as a counselor
to Brigham Young. George Albert Smith often
repeated the counsel his grandfather used to give
to his family: There is a line of demarcation well
defined between the Lords territory and the devils
territory. If you will stay on the Lords side of the
line you will be under his influence and will have no
desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devils
side of that line one inch you are in the tempters
power and if he is successful, you will not be able
to think or even reason properly because you will
have lost the Spirit of the Lord.
George Albert Smith said that he used this counsel throughout his life to guide his choices:
When I have been tempted sometimes to do a certain thing, I have asked myself, Which side
of the line am I on? If I am determined to be on the safe side, the Lords side, I would do the
right thing every time. So when temptation comes think prayerfully about your problem and the
influence of the Lord will aid you to decide wisely. There is safety for us only on the Lords side
of the line.1
1. Mosiah 4:5-8 How to become a saint through the Atonement of Christ
1. Without Christ we are nothing. Read this chapter when you need that humbling

reminder.
2. Covenant:
1. Christ
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Goodness
Power
Long-suffering
Patient
Wisdom
Atonement (All above are also describing things of the
Atonement)

2. Me
1. Trust
2. Diligent
3. Keep commandments
4. Continue in faith until the end of my life
3. Enabling Power (Grace): Christ doesn't make up the difference: He is the
difference.
1. How to become like Jesus Christ
1. Of the above steps (under "me"), we are working on "continuing"
or enduring to the end.
2. If you do this, you WILL receive salvation.
3. It is by enduring to the end that you receive the enabling power.
1. Mosiah 7-10: A preview of what comes in chapters 9-24
1. Land of Zarahemla's kings: Mosiah I--> King Benjamin--> Mosiah II
2. Land of Nephi's kings: Zeniph--> King Noah--> Limhi
1. Zeniph left the land of Zarahemla because he was hungry for land and
power. His son was wicked king Noah, whose son was the righteous king
Limhi.
2. At this point in the Book of Mormon, Ammon and his group of men were
sent out to see what happened to those who left generations earlier, and
have just found king Limhi and his people in bondage.
1. For the following chapters, we hear about what history happened
in the Land of Nephi from the time Zeniph left.
1. Although Limhi is a righteous king, Mosiah's people are
better off because Mosiah is the prophet and has the
scriptures and priesthood authority.
3. Mosiah 8:16-18--Purpose of a prophet and seer
1. Prophet-Warns us and bears a special witness of Christ
1. We can all be a prophet in a way, but the Apostles have a special

witness of Christ.
2. Revelator-Reveals
1. Everyone has this to a certain degree. We can all receive revelation
for ourselves; our parents receive revelation for us; the bishop
receives revelation for the ward; the Prophet receives revelation
for the Church.
3. Seer-sees the past, present, and the future
1. In the Book of Mormon, whoever was prophet had the urim and
thummim and the power to translate with them. Now we have
knowledge of every language and they aren't necessary. The
Prophet is still the seer and can see all things in the past, present,
and the future as the Lord sees fit.
4. Lamanite Complaints that led them to hate the Nephites
1. 2 Nephi 5:3, 5, and 12
1. 3-Nephi took ruling out of Laman and Lemuels' hands
2. 5-Nephites were the ones who left and departed from us
3. 12-Nephites robbed them of records
4. 13-they were wronged in the land of their first inheritance
1. All these complaints continued for 500 years.
2. Mosiah 10:12-17-Same complaints 400 years later
1. These false traditions exist among us today and hurt the doctrine.
They are found in every home and hurt the growth of the truth.
1. Examples
1. No caffiene: The presidency has never come out
and said not to drink caffeine, and it is not in the
Word of Wisdom. You can still get a temple
recommend if you drink it. Don't teach something
it it's not doctrine.
2. "No other success can compensate for failure in the
home" by Richard L. Evans, Geveral Conference 1964:
1. "Sometimes some parents mistakenly feel that
they can relax a little as to conduct and conformity
or take perhaps a so called liberal view of basic and
fundamental thingsthinking that a little laxness or
indulgence won't matteror they may fail to teach
or to attend Church, or may voice critical views.
Some parents sometimes seem to feel that they
can ease up a little on the fundamentals without
affecting their family or their family's future. But if a

parent goes a little off course, the children are likely

to exceed the parent's example."
1. Anything parents do wrong (swearing,
drinking, racism, judging, money, pride, etc)
will be magnified in the next generation; If
parents swear, their kids will likely swear
worse.
3. Look out for false traditions in your own family so they can
end with you.
2. Mosiah 11--Abinadi repeatedly tells wicked King Noah that he will go in bondage
1. v.23: He will go in bondage unless he repents
2. v.27: King Noah states, "Who is Abinadi, that I should be judged of him," but
here's the real reason he had to be burned was when he stated, "who is the Lord,
that shall bring upon my people such great affliction?" He denied Christ.
3. Mosiah 13--Perfect description of Law of Moses
1. v.27-30: the Law of Moses was just a stepping stool to prepare people for the
Atonement of Christ. The Law of Moses wouldn't save them.
1. They had 365 rules so they could always remember the Lord. It was very
strict.
1. We need to remember Him every day too, but we do this through
scripture study, talking to him (prayer), and sacrificing ourselves to
him (repentance), and keeping a journal.
2. Personal Journals
1. "Spencer W. Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals" by Spencer
W. Kimball, Ensign Dec. 1980
2. "We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not already
commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good
notebook, a good book that will last through time and into
eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it
your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your
achievements, and your failures, your associations and your
triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you
will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has
commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more
likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives."
1. Your private journal should record the way you face up to
challenges that beset you. Do not suppose life changes so
much that your experiences will not be interesting to your
posterity. Experiences of work, relations with people, and

an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of actions

will always be relevant. Your journal, like most others, will
tell of problems as old as the world and how you dealt with
them.
Your journal should contain your true self rather than a picture of you when you are made up
for a public performance. There is a temptation to paint ones virtues in rich color and
whitewash the vices, but there is also the opposite pitfall of accentuating the negative.
Personally I have little respect for anyone who delves into the ugly phases of the life he is
portraying, whether it be his own or anothers. The truth should be told, but we should not
emphasize the negative. Even a long life full of inspiring experiences can be brought to the dust
by one ugly story. Why dwell on that one ugly truth about someone whose life has been largely
circumspect?
Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may
be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those
recorded in any other life.
What could you do better for your children and your childrens children than to record the story
of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all
seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be
humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your
posterity.
1. Mosiah 15
1. "being the Father and the Son"
1. v.1-4: God coming down to redeem His people--Christ ("Jehovah" in the
pre-existence" When He condescended to receive flesh he was no longer
Jehovah, but Jesus Christ.)
1. He can be called "Father" because his father is Elohim. He can be
called "Son" because his mother is Mary of the flesh.
1. Thus, he can be called the Father and the Son
2. "They are one God" (v.4) is referring to Jehovah and Jesus Christ, not Heavenly
Father and Christ.
3. Christ can also be called "Father" because of the following:
1. Creation: He created everything under the Father's direction
2. Father of Salvation: He provides us with eternal life in the Father's
presence. He is our spiritual father.
3. Divine Investiture of Authority: The Father has given Christ authority to
act in the Father's name.
1. Investiture of Authority is the authority to speak as though you
are someone else
2. Joseph Fielding Smith Doctrines of Salvation "Divine Investiture of

Authority" 1:27-28
1. JEHOVAH GIVES ALL REVELATION. All revelation since the
fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of
the Old Testament. In all of the scriptures, where God is
mentioned and where he has appeared, it was Jehovah
who talked with Abraham, with Noah, Enoch, Moses and all
the prophets. He is the God of Israel, the Holy One of
Israel; the one who led that nation out of Egyptian
bondage, and who gave and fulfilled the Law of Moses.
The Father has never dealt with man directly and personally
since the fall, and he has never appeared except to
introduce and bear record of the Son. Thus the Inspired
Version [JST] records that 'no man hath seen God [the
Father] at any time, except he [God the Father] hath borne
record of the Son. [JST, Jn 1:19.]
1. Heavenly Father only speaks when He is bearing
witness of the Son: "This is my beloved Son, hear
Him". Even then, it is often Christ saying that. It
was Heavenly Father who stated this to Joseph
Smith.
1. The fact that the 14-year-old Joseph Smith
wrote this right (the Father only introduced
Christ, and have Christ teach) shows that his
account is correct. The Father always only
introduces Christ. This world is his
responsibility.
2. The brother of Jared saw Christ before He had
received His body
3. Everything is done through the Son. He makes us
worthy to be in the presence of the Father.
2. CHRIST MAY SPEAK AS THE FATHER. In giving revelations
our Savior speaks at times for himself; at other times for
the Father, and in the Father's name, as though he were
the Father, and yet it is Jesus Christ, our Redeemer who
gives the message. So, we see, in Doctrine and
Covenants 29:1, that he introduces himself as 'Jesus Christ,
your Redeemer,' but in the closing part of the revelation
he speaks for the Father, and in the Father's name as
though he were the Father, and yet it is still Jesus who is

speaking, for the Father has put his name on him for that
purpose.
3. FIRST VISION AND REVELATION. We have a wonderful
illustration of how revelation comes through Christ
presented to us in the Vision given to the Prophet Joseph
Smith. The Father and the Son appeared unto him, but it
was not the Father who answered his question! The
Father introduced Joseph to His Son, and it was the Son
who answered the important question and gave the
instruction.
2. Mosiah 17
1. "Strengthening Faith and Testimony " Robert D. Hales Oct. 2013 General
Conference
In recent decades the Church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstandings and
persecutions experienced by the early Saints. It will not always be so. The world is moving away
from the Lord faster and farther than ever before. The adversary has been loosed upon the
earth. We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and
protected. For example, The Family: A Proclamation to the World was given long before we
experienced the challenges now facing the family. The Living Christ: The Testimony of the
Apostles was prepared in advance of when we will need it most."
1. We must have faith before the trial comes. Also, read the General conference addresses,
because the prophets know what we need to know before upcoming trials.
1. Abinadi is a type for Christ
1. "Type or Shadow"--Thing, place, or person that foreshadows something greater
than itself
1. 17:9 Abinadi allowed himself to fall into their hands
2. 17:10 will not recall words he has spoken, warns theyre shedding
innocent blood
3. 17:11 Noah was about to release him, but he listened to others
4. 17:13 Abinadi bound and scourged/beaten
5. The way Abinadi is a type for the way Christ would be killed.
1. v.7-12: This is the same as Pilot
1. They were saying Christ spoke against him. He almost
released Christ, but he listened to the voice of the people
when they wanted to kill Christ even though he knew it
was a joke.
2. "Abinadis life foreshadowed Jesus ministry and sacrifice in
a number of ways. Both Abinadi and Jesus were bound and
judged by rulers and priests, both were imprisoned for

three days, both were innocent of any crimes, both were

protected until their mission was complete, and both
suffered humiliating deaths" Book of Mormon reference
companion
1. Mosiah 18
1. Alma was a wicked priest with Noah, but after hearing Abinadi's words he
repented and led many people to the waters of Mormon
2. Baptismal Covenant v.8-10
1. Willing to bear one another's burdens
2. Mourn with those that mourn
3. Comfort those that stand in need of comfort
4. Stand as a witness of Christ
1. At all times
2. In all things
3. In all places even unto death
3. Keeping these covenants, He promises you will have His spirit to be with you
1. Brother Johnson told a story of when he was a teenager. He home taught
a man named Brother Rice monthly. One time this man went into the
hospital. Brother Johnson didn't know this, but kept feeling prompted to
visit him, but didn't. Two weeks later he saw Brother Rice walking down
the street and asked how he was doing. Brother Rice wouldn't look at
him. He said, "I was in the hospital for two weeks and you never visited
me." He was deeply sorrowed, but now Brother Johnson visits the
hospital regularly and makes sure whenever anyone he knows is there
that he visits them.
2. There are people struggling and they need our help. With our baptismal
covenant, it is our responsibility to make sure they are helped. We are to
be Christ's representatives on earth.
2. Mosiah 21-24 Enduring Trials
1. People of Limhi (Mosiah 21-22)
1. They eventually humbled themselves and cried unto the Lord for help, but
He was slow to hear their cries and to free them from bondage because
they weren't faithful.
1. He knew they would go back immediately if helped right away.
They needed to have a complete conversion and change of hearth
first. He often waits to answer our prayers until we have learned
what we need to learn.
2. They were compelled to be humble by their trials
3. Prayed after they were already in trouble

4. Their trials were lightened, but still very heavy

5. In chapter 22, they had to come up with their plan to escape bondage
1. Made the guards drunk
2. Alma and His People (Mosiah 24)
1. v.13: "Lift your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant
which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and
deliver them out of bondage."
1. The Lord will never forget the covenants He has made with us.
Although we may forget what day we were baptized, He never will.
2. They prayed before they were in trouble, during, and after to thank the
Lord
3. They chose to be humble
1. As a result, "I will ease the burdens which are put upon your
shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even
while you are in bondagethe Lord did strengthen them that
they could bear up their burdens with ease" (v.14-15)
2. If you are always faithful in the Gospel and humble you will still go
through hard things, but they will seem light and you will have
peace.
1. Matt 11:28-29 "Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you."
4. The Lord provided means for them to escape bondage
1. Christ made the guards fall asleep
5. They also had revelation and the voice of the Lord to give them hope.
3. For us faithfully living the covenant, our trials are much lighter. Help those who
don't have that blessing.
1. Strong character doesn't come from going through your trials; it is meant
to prepare you for them.
2. "Learn to pray yourself through each day and you can free yourself from
bondage." --Gene R. Cook
4. Mosiah 7:33--In the Book of Mormon, when there is a problem it always gives a
solution for how to overcome it.
1. How to get out of Bondage
1. Turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart
2. Trust in Him
3. Serve Him with all diligence of mind (control your thoughts)
2. Promise
1. He WILL deliver you from bondage, but according to His own will
and pleasure

2. He sets the blessing clock. The promised blessing will come, but
you must be patient in His timing. He will keep the covenant, but
He will do it in the way that provides you with the most growth
and development.
1. With Limhi's people, many died from lack of patience. They
kept trying to fight, but many died. It wasn't time for them
to be freed.
3. Express Gratitude
"A relative asked Elder Spencer W. Kimball for a blessing to combat a crippling disease. For some
time Elder Kimball prepared himself spiritually; then, fasting, he was prompted to bless her to be
healed. Some weeks later she returned, angry and complaining that she was fed up with
waiting for the Lord to give the promised relief.
He responded: Now I understand why you have not been blessed. You must be patient, do
your part, and express gratitude for the smallest improvement noted.
She repented, followed scrupulously his counsel, and eventually was made well.
Help from the Lord generally comes in increments. He can immediately cure serious illnesses or
disabilities or even allow the dead to be raised. But the general pattern is that improvement
comes in sequential steps. That plan gives us an opportunity to discover what the Lord expects
us to learn. It requires our patience to recognize His timetable. It provides growth from our
efforts and trust in Him and the opportunity to express gratitude for the help given."--Richard G.
Scott "Obtaining Help from the Lord" October 1991
1. Unless you are meant to endure for a larger reason, this is true.
1. Paul prayed thirty times to have the "thorn removed from his side" but the
answer was "no" so he could be humbled.
2. Every one of us will experience a serious health problem at some point. Remember this.
1. Mosiah 25-27
1. Chapter 25: Church=Stake (Boyd K. Packer stated this about this chapter) there is
only one time in this chapter (v.22) when it means the whole church.
1. Isaiah compared them to stakes holding down a tent (the Church).
2. D&C 115:4-6 Purpose of stake and the first time the full name of our
church is used.
3. There may have been other churches in the land at this time, but we don't
know about them in the record of the Book of Mormon. It's similar to

our journals. if you were to read our personal journals you would think us
and our family are the only people there, because that's who we talk
about. The prophets are recording the history of their people, but it is
likely there were many people and religions we don't know about. In fact,
studies have discovered people in South America who we don't know
about in the Book of Mormon.
2. Problems in stakes
1. Mosiah 26:1-4 Rising Generation
1. Has the cream of the crop, but also many of the worst.
2. The parable of the ten virgins is about the second coming. Only
about half of the members of the Church will be actively preparing
for Him. About half will be inactive at the time.
2. Mosiah 27:1-3 Persecutions
1. Those outside the faith are persecuting those in, and members of
the faith are persecuting those not in the faith.
1. This includes not going on dates with or playing with
nonmembers.
2. See "Doctrine of Inclusion" M. Russell Ballard, October
2001
3. Mosiah 27:9-10 Apostasy
1. Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiahmore on them later.
4. Mosiah 26:11-13 Transgressions
1. At this point, Mosiah was over the government and Alma was
over the Church. Thus, Alma was responsible for taking
authoritative action with transgressions.
2. Three reasons for excommunication
1. Save a soul
2. Protect the innocent
1. May not be guilty
2. Wives and children abuse
3. Protect the name of the Church
1. With excommunication they must be baptized
again to come back.

2. Story of a Lady excommunicated: Brother Johnson

was on a disciplinary council when they had to
excommunicate a lady. She immediately felt the
Spirit leave and wanted desperately to get it back.
She immediately started asking Brother Johnson if
she could join the church again. He told her it would
take time. However, she repented, had a change of
heart, and began changing her life and constantly
begging for membership again. After writing the
first presidency of the Church, she was allowed to
be baptized again four months after being
excommunicated. This woman remained faithful for
the rest of her life, and taught the situation to her
daughter. Fifteen years later, the woman ran into
Brother Johnson, and when the daughter realized
who he was she hugged him. Excommunication can
lead to improved lives.
3. Probation-temporary; no sacrament for a few months
4. Disfellowship-turn in records (more permanent); no sacrament or
speaking in church. Still a member through baptism, but restricted.
Typically in this state for six months to a year. If they repent they
can come back.
1. This process will either harden or soften the person,
according to how repentant they are.
1. Sometimes a person needs to hit rock bottom
before they will change
2. Work with and love those who are going through
this, and they WILL come back eventually. This is
different than excommunication. Brother Johnson's
son went through this, but now he is completely
changed.
3. Are you "Born Again"?
1. "Have You Been Saved?" Dallin H. Oaks

I have suggested that the short answer to the question of whether a faithful member of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been saved or born again must be a fervent
yes. Our covenant relationship with our Savior puts us in that saved or born again
condition meant by those who ask this question.
1. When someone asks you this, they mean from death, making you eligible to enter one
of the three kingdoms of glory. We all gain this by resurrection thanks to Christ's
Atonement. To receive exaltation is up to us.
1. Joseph Smith stated that to be "Born again" you must have two things
1. Ordinances, which requires priesthood authority
2. Holy Ghost through the ordinances and laying on of hands
2. Mosiah 27:23-26 We must do this process daily to become "born again".
1. Begins with baptism and ends with rebirth (change of heart)
2. You must have the mighty change of heart by the Holy Ghost and let it work on
you until you become like Christ.
1. The process of being "born again" is finished when you become just like
Christ and a joint heir with Him.
1. Born Again
1. "More compliance with the formality of the ordinance of
baptism does not mean that a person has been born again.
No one can be born again without baptism, but the
immersion in water and the laying on of hands to confer
the Holy Ghost do not of themselves guarantee that a
person has been or will be born again. The new birth
takes place only for those who actually enjoy the gift
or companionship of the Holy Ghost, only for those
who are fully converted, who have given themselves
without restraint to the Lord." Elder Bruce R McConkie,
Mormon Doctrine 2nd edition p.101
1. Being "born again" begins with baptism, but is
accomplished by the constant workings of the Holy
Ghost. It is the product of a life fully devoted to
surrendering your will to the will of the Father. You
finish when you become joint heirs with Jesus
Christ.
2. You are going to make mistakes, but you are not
going to give up. Keep trying.
3. Ezra Taft Benson "A Mighty Change of Heart"
The sixth and final point I wish to make about the process of repentance is that we must be
careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged

and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth
and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. The scriptures record remarkable accounts
of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on
the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples
of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can
reach even those deepest in despair.
But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and
powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for
every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of
repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to
the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service,
and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said were baptized with fire and
with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not. (3 Ne. 9:20;
1. Most people can't think of a specific moment that gave them a testimony, but rather
they develop it through a series of day-to-day experiences.
1. This is why we must keep a journal. You will then see moments where your
testimony grew and where you changed, redirecting your future.
2. Most of our moments will be imperceptible, unlike Alma the younger. For us, it
is a lifetime process.
1. Mosiah 29
1. Reign of the Judges begins. Mosiah decided not to have kings after he read the
Jaredite record. This chapter is about government, and highly resembles ours.
1. v.13- kings would be good if they could all be like King Benjamin, but that
is rare. A wicked king can lead a nation astray.
2. v.16-18-Kings are usually wicked and can only be removed from their title
with much bloodshed.
3. v.25-27-Best government is ruled by the voice of the people, because the
people usually won't choose the wrong. They set up this government so
they could eliminate the risk of having a tyrant in office again, like King
Noah, and if it happened they could be removed.
1. Since we have this, it shows the importance of going out to vote.
4. v.28-29- Checks and Balances (Executive, Judicial, Legislative)
2. Two events that threatened this new government
1. Priestcraft: Nehor spreads priestcrafts throughout the land and teaches
people to love themselves. He taught to lift himself up in the eyes of the
people (glory and honor). Priestcraft is condemned by Alma. Though
Nehor is executed, priestcraft continued to spread throughout Zarahemla.
Definition of Priestcraft: Preaching for the sake of glory and honor, repentance is not taught.

1. Amlici tries to become king of the Nephites but is rejected. His followers make him
their king anyways, and they go into war with the Nephites.
The Amlicites are defeated and join forces with the Lamanites.
1. Alma 1-4
1. Alma is wearing two hats: Chief Judge and Chief Priest
1. Gives up his judgment seat to better serve in his priesthood calling
2. Alma 1
1. Priesthood vs. Priestcraft
1. Priesthood (v.20-30):
1. v.20: humble; not motivated by money
2. v.26: everyone equal in their eyes; they aren't out for glory
1. No one is better than another person, the teacher being
included. The preacher is no better than the hearer.
2. If their good works are acknowledged they defer it to
compliment the Father.
3. v.27: Give money to poor and needy instead of getting money.
1. No costly apparel
4. v.30: Liberal to aiding all, both in and outside of the Church.
2. Priestcraft (enemy to priesthood) and Nehor
1. v.3: Motivated by popularity and money, not out of love for the
people but for power.
1. Our first motivation should be what the Lord thinks and
His will, not people's thoughts
2. v.5: Money; they got paid for their work
3. v.6: wore costly apparel
4. v.16: Taught false doctrine for money and honor
5. V19: persecuted the Church
2. Be careful in your callings that you are not going for honor. This can happen if you
are not careful.
1. L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve: As I travel throughout the
Church I marvel at all the positive things that are occurring. Yet I never
feel that we, as a people, are living up to our real potential. My sense is
that we do not always work together, that we are still too much
interested in aspirations for personal honors and success, and show too
little interest in the common goal of building the kingdom of God
(United in Building the Kingdom of God, Ensign, May 1987
3. Alma 5-7
1. Alma is teaching two sermons
1. Good city: Gideon

2. Bad city: Ammonihah

4. Alma 5
1. This chapter has 40 questions to help you evaluate your spiritual standings. If you
prayerfully and honestly study this chapter you will see many areas where you fall
short and can improve. If you find yourself guilty of any, repent Here are a few
examples:
1. v.14 Have you been spiritually born of God?
1. Refer to "born again" information from Mosiah 27
2. v. 26: Do you still feel the Holy Ghost daily in your life daily?
1. Joseph Smith says to be born again you must have two things:
baptism and Holy Ghost.
3. v.19-Pure heart
4. v.21-cleansed from sin
5. v.26-Sung the song of redeeming love?
1. This means give praise for the Atonemement
6. v.27-washed clean
7. v.28-Humble. "Stripped of pride" You cannot think of yourself as being
better than others.
1. Uchdorf: "Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but
thinking of yourself less." ("Pride and the Priesthood" General
Conference, October 2011)
2. "Humility is thinking of yourself in any way that Heavenly Father
wouldn't"--Brother Card
8. v.29-Stripped of envy. Find joy in the success of others.
9. v.30-Dont mock or make fun of others. Never talk about others behind
their back.
2. Born Again
5. Alma 7:3--The reason they are having so many troubles is that they are not humble!
1. Being sufficiently humble makes all the difference in your life.
2. D. Todd Christofferson "Those who are proud are those who reject the authority
of God to rule in your life."
1. The Atonement isn't just for sin. For those who repent, the Spirit can
more easily teach them other things besides always repentance.
3. Powers of the Atonement-NOT just for sin
1. 11-Jesus took upon our pains and sicknesses
2. 11-Temptations
3. 12-Death and infirmities
1. Infirmities: mental illness,
1. He knows all about it and how to help. We just forget to

help. We fall short of getting the help we should get

because we don't ask.
2. All of us will experience a serious healthy trial at some
point. Turn to the Lord for help overcoming it.
4. 13-sins and transgressions
1. Transgression: honest mistake
2. Sin: more knowledge behind it, often intentional
5. Talk with the Father about everything you struggle with. "supplicating for
His grace"--plead!
1. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Oct. 2006, "He Heals the Heavy Laden"
2. Many carry heavy burdens. Some have lost a loved one to death
or care for one who is disabled. Some have been wounded by
divorce. Others yearn for an eternal marriage. Some are caught in
the grip of addictive substances or practices like alcohol, tobacco,
drugs, or pornography. Others have crippling physical or mental
impairments. Some are challenged by same-gender attraction.
Some have terrible feelings of depression or inadequacy. In one
way or another, many are heavy laden.
The Book of Mormon tells how the multitude brought forward all them that were afflicted in
any manner (v.9). This must have included persons with every kind of physical or emotional or
mental affliction, and the scripture testifies that Jesus did heal them every one (v.9).
The Savior teaches that we will have tribulation in the world, but we should be of good cheer
because He has overcome the world (John16:33). His Atonement reaches and is powerful
enough not only to pay the price for sin but also to heal every mortal affliction. The
Book of Mormon teaches that He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon
him the pains and the sicknesses of his people (Alma 7:11; see also 2 Nephi 9:21).
1. He can help us with everything, including temptation, because he has endured it all and
knows exactly how to help us. We just have to ask. There is nothing said more in
scripture than "ask and ye shall receive". We often fall short of receiving the help we
need simply because we don't ask.
1. Alma 8-16: Missionary Labors
2. Alma 8
1. Administering of Angels
2. v.14-16: The same angel who called him to repentance told him to go preach in
Ammonihah.

1. "The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament"--Dallin H. Oaks, Conference

October 1998
1. The ministering of angels can also be unseen. Angelic messages
can be delivered by a voice or merely by thoughts or feelings
communicated to the mind. President John Taylor described the
action of the angels, or messengers of God, upon our minds, so
that the heart can conceive revelations from the eternal world
(Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1987], 31).
Nephi described three manifestations of the ministering of angels when he reminded his
rebellious brothers that (1) they had seen an angel, (2) they had heard his voice from time to
time, and (3) also that an angel had spoken unto [them] in a still small voice though they
were past feeling and could not feel his words (1 Ne. 17:45). The scriptures contain many
other statements that angels are sent to teach the gospel and bring men to Christ. Most
angelic communications are felt or heard rather than seen.
How does the Aaronic Priesthood hold the key to the ministering of angels? The answer is the
same as for the Spirit of the Lord.
In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication are only available to
those who are clean. As explained earlier, through the Aaronic Priesthood ordinances of baptism
and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins and promised that if we keep our covenants we
will always have His Spirit to be with us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost
but also to the ministering of angels, for angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost;
wherefore, they speak the words of Christ (2 Ne. 32:3). So it is that those who hold the
Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the
sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels.
1. Angels speak by the power of the Holy Spirit
1. When you feel the promptings of the Holy Spirit, it could very easily be a
ministering angel.
1. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost" 2 Nephi 32:3
2. You will often feel their presence or hear their voice.
2. We all have the gift of ministering angels to some degree
3. When someone is set apart in the Aaronic priesthood they receive the gift of the
administering of angels.
1. Worthily partaking of the sacrament increases our ability to discern what our
ministering angels are teaching us.

1. Angels always come with a purpose, never just because we want to see one.
1. Wilford Woodruff stated, "One of the Apostles said to me years ago, Brother
Woodruff, I have prayed for a long time for the Lord to send me the
administration of an angel. I have had a great desire for this, but I have never had
my prayers answered. I said to him that if he were to pray a thousand years to
the God of Israel for that gift, it would not be granted, unless the Lord had a
motive in sending an angel to him. I told him that the Lord never did nor never
will send an angel to anybody merely to gratify the desire of the individual to see
an angel. If the Lord sends an angel to anyone, He sends him to perform a work
that cannot be performed only by the administration of an angel.
Now, I have always said, and I want to say it to you, that the Holy Ghost is what every Saint of
God needs. It is far more important that a man should have that gift than he should have the
ministration of an angel (Deseret Weekly, Nov. 7, 1896, 641).
1. Why someone will see an angel (Moroni 7: 29-32)
1. To call men to repentance
1. Alma, Paul, etc.
2. To do the work of the covenants of the Father
1. Moroni, Elijah, Gabriel, Peter, James, John, etc.
3. To declare the words of Christ to teach the "chosen vessels" (prophets, seers,
and revelators)
1. Alma and Amulek, etc.
1. This also occurs in situations like Amulek, where they need to
learn the Gospel quickly. Because of his angelic visitation, Amulek
was prepared quickly and powerfully to teach with Alma. (Alma
10:7-9)
2. Why the rest of us don't see angels
1. "And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the 'residue of men' may
have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts"
1. The rest of us have to place our trust in the revelation of the prophets
and place faith in Christ
1. We must follow the promptings of the Spirit, which is more
powerful than angels, and the power by which angels speak. Your
promptings often are one of your administering angels
communicating with you.
1. Alma 11
1. Nephite coinage--Why this is included
1. v.11-13
1. Senum=1
2. Amor=2 (two senum)

3. Ezrom=3 (two Amor)

4. Onti=7 (all combined)
2. There is a Book of Mormon site in Guatamala that uses this money
system still, with blocks according to those sizes.
3. Zeezrom offers Amulek six onties to deny Christ, which was nearly a
year's income
2. v.25-35
1. Christ cannot save you IN your sins, but he will save you FROM your sins
if you repent
1. Helaman 5:10-11
2. D.Todd Christofferson Nov 2011, "Repentance requires a seriousness of
purpose and a willingness to persevere, even through pain. Attempts to
create a list of specific steps of repentance may be helpful to some, but
it may also lead to a mechanical, check-off-the-boxes approach with no
real feeling or change. True repentance is not superficial. The Lord gives
two overarching requirements: By this ye may know if a man repenteth
of his sinsbehold, he will confess them and forsake them (D&C 58:43).
2. Alma 13-Foreordination and Priesthood
1. "Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants lf the world was
ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of Heaven before the world
was." Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg.365
1. This involves every single priesthood and many sisters for other things.
2. Alma 13:3 Where were we foreordained?
1. In the "first place" or "foundation of the world", the pre-existence. We
were foreordained to do things because of our faith in the premortal
existence.
1. We still had as much agency there as we do here, and there was
still temptation enough that 1/3 of the host of heaven was cast
out.
1. 1/3 was cast out for sin
2. Another portion not very faithful, but chose to come to
earth
3. Another portion was exceedingly faithful. These are the
noble and great ones, and all men who have priesthood
now.
3. Who foreordained you? Alma 13:1
1. On earth, men are ordained by their fathers usually. In the pre-mortal
existence it was God himself (probably Heavenly Father, but could also
have been Christ) ordained us.

1. We were foreordained by the laying on of hands just as we are

ordained with the laying on of hands here. However, we were just
foreordained then. We didn't receive the priesthood or our other
callings then.
4. Why some have priesthood? Alma 13:6
1. To teach. This is why men are commanded to serve missions and it is
optional for girls. This doesn't make men better teachers than women,
but it gives them the responsibility to teach the Gospel.
5. What qualifies one for Melchizedek priesthood? Alma 13:10
1. Faith
2. Repentance
3. Righteousness
3. Alma 14
1. Alma and Amulek are a "type or shadow" of Christ's suffering, death, and
resurrection
1. v.7-19: They were "buffeted" (beat) then asked questions three times, to
which they responded with silence.
2. v.20: "if ye have such great power why do ye not deliver yourselves?"
3. v.21: spit upon
4. v.22: mocked
5. v.26: "broke the cords with which they were bound" like the Savior's
resurrection
6. v.27: "the earth shook mightily"
7. v.28: not hurt
4. Alma 17-29
1. Missionary Work--How Ammon converted the Lamanites
1. Jacob 7:24, Enos 1:14, Mosiah 28:2, Alma 26:23
2. The Book of Mormon is the best book on earth for missionary work,
more so than Preach My Gospel
1. Filled with doctrine on how to be an effective missionary
3. Principles on Missionary Work
1. "Warm them before you warn them," Spencer W. Kimball
1. Be their friend before you teach them. If they don't join
the church, still be their friend.
2. Charity first. Ammon won their hearts by serving the
people and fighting for them.
2. Suffer anything to save one soul Alma 26:30
1. Alma 28:8 Your mission will be the hardest thing you ever
do, but you will have "incomprehensible joy".

3. Give all credit to God

1. Alma 26:11-12 "I do not boast of myself, but I will boast of
my God, for in his strength I can do all things". Be humble
enough to realize it is not you doing the work, but
Heavenly Father.
2. Alma 29:9 "I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that
which the Lord hath commanded methat perhaps I may
be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul
to repentance; and this is my joy."
4. Alma 17:11-Be patient in your suffering and a good example, and
God will make you a great instrument in his hands
1. Be a good example inside and outside of the mission.
Through your actions you are either helping others come
to Christ or taking them away.
5. Alma 18:3-Be a friend
1. Ammon was a friend to the king, which won the hearts of
the people
6. Alma 18:10-Be a faithful servant
1. Keep the commandments. Serve others and let them
serve you.
4. Alma 17:9 Through his missionary efforts, Ammon corrects the False
Traditions of Lamanites passed on since the time of Nephi. For
generations the Lamanites blamed their circumstances on things that
they claimed the Nephites had done to wrong them, but Ammon fixed
this.
1. False traditions found in 2 Nephi 5: 3, 5, 12 and Mosiah 10:12-17
1. The Nephites Robbed our Records (Scripture)
1. Alma 18:36-39 Teaches them the whole plan of
salvation found in the scriptures. Scriptures are the
most important thing to teach in the mission.
2. Departed from us
1. Alma 17:21-23 Ammon is willing to never leave, but
to stay and serve his mission forever. He is only
concerned about serving the people.
1. While serving your mission, act as though
you will be there forever and you will be a
good missionary. Don't count down the
days to leave, but make the most of every
day you are there.

3. Nephi took the ruling when it should have been Laman and
Lemuel's
1. Alma 17:24-25 The king was so impressed by
Ammon's faithfulness that he wanted to give him
one of his daughters, but Ammon turned it down
so he could be a servant
2. Alma 20:23 When the king realized Ammon's power
he feared for his life and offered Ammon half the
kingdom. Still, Ammon didn't want to steal his rule,
but he only wanted to serve the king.
2. Repentance and Missionary Work
1. A King, A People, A Missionary
2. A King (King Lamoni)
1. Alma 22:1-4 Aaron was guided by the Spirit to King Lamoni and
teaches him the Plan of Salvation. The king asked where Ammon
was and Alma responds, "The Spirit of the Lord has called him
another way."
1. There is nothing more important in missionary work than
following the Spirit
2. Alma 22:12-14 King Lamoni asks how he can have joy like Aaron
and Ammon
1. Formula for Joy Alma 22:15-16
1. Joy=repentance + prayer
2. True repentance is not superficial. It requires more
than just not sinning, but also a change of heart.
1. In Alma 20:23 He offers Ammon half his
kingdom
2. In Alma 22:15 and 18, King Lamoni is willing
to give all he owns, his whole kingdom, and
all his sins to know God
3. A People (Anti-Nephi-Lehites)
1. Why called Anti-Nephi-Lehites?
1. Some say it is because "Anti" means "a reflection of", so
they are a reflection of Nephi and Lehi
2. Another theory is that "Anti" is to show that they are not
of Nephi and Lehi's posterity, but they are living after their
manner of righteousness
2. Alma 23:6-7 "as many as believed in their preaching, and were
converted unto the Lord, never did fall away." It is by grace that

we are saved after all we can do

1. All we can do:
1. Home teaching, visiting teaching, baptism,
endowment, service, love enemies, read scriptures,
repent, pray, have faith, get married, magnify
callings, missionary work, endure to the end, pay
tithing, dont kill, don't cheat, don't commit
adultery, don't lie, don't covet, honor mother and
father, etc.
2. The list of everything we have to do is endless, and
although we need to try to do all of them, it is
impossible to accomplish everything we need to
perfectly.
2. Alma 24:11 "It has been all that we could do to repent of
all our sinsand to get God to take them away from our
hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently
before God that he would take away our stain."
1. All we can do is repent! It is then that we are
saved by grace.
2. Some people have an idea that because they have
entered the waters of baptism and repented of
their sins then that is an end of it. What a mistake!
We need to have this spirit of repentance
continually; we need to pray to God to show us our
conduct every day. Every night before we retire to
rest we should review the thoughts, words, and
acts of the day and then repent of everything we
have done that is wrong or that has grieved the
Holy Spirit. Live this way every day and endeavor to
progress every day Henry B. Eyring "Because of
Your Steadiness" April 1988
1. We can't do everything, but when the Spirit
prompts you to cleanse a certain area of
your life, repent and cleanse one area at a
time.
2. Sincerely pray daily to know what you need
to improve.
3. How do we know if we are forgiven? Stanley Johnson "The
Simpleness of the Way" BYU Devotional 2012

President Eyring gave a devotional talk here at Brigham Young University that had a powerful
effect on me. He told of a young man who needed to repent and had come to him when
President Eyring was a bishop. After a lengthy time, Bishop Eyring interviewed him and found
him worthy to hold a temple recommend. But the young man was going to be married in the
temple to a young lady who was sweet and clean, and he needed to know if his sins had been
remittedif he had forgiveness from the Lord. How could he get that revelation?
Bishop Eyring said it was a good question and that he needed some time, so the young man
gave him a deadlineless than two weeks.
During those two weeks Bishop Eyring went to a social function that then Elder Spencer W.
Kimball also attended. Elder Kimball found Bishop Eyring and said, Hal, I understand that you are
now a bishop. Do you have anything you would like to ask me?
President Eyring continued:
I said that I did, but I didnt think that was the place to talk about it. He thought it was. It was an
outdoor party. My memory is that we went behind a shrub and there had our interview. Without
breaking confidences . . . , I outlined the concerns and the question of this young man. . . . Then I
asked Elder Kimball, How can he get that revelation? How can he know whether his sins are
remitted?
I thought Elder Kimball would talk to me about fasting or prayer or listening for the still small
voice. But he surprised me. Instead he said, Tell me something about the young man.
I said, What would you like to know?
And then he began a series of the most simple questions. Some of the ones I remember were:
Does he come to his priesthood meetings?
I said, after a moment of thought, Yes.
Does he come early?
Yes.
Does he sit down front?
I thought for a moment and then realized, to my amazement, that he did.
Does he home teach?
Yes.
Does he go early in the month?
Yes, he does.
Does he go more than once?
Yes.
I cant remember the other questions. But they were all like thatlittle things, simple acts of
obedience, of submission. And for each question I was surprised that my answer was always yes.
Yes, he wasnt just at all his meetings: he was early; he was smiling; he was there not only with
his whole heart, but with the broken heart of a little child, as he was every time the Lord asked
anything of him. And after I had said yes to each of his questions, Elder Kimball looked at me,

11
paused, and then very quietly said, There is your revelation.
This is repentance: the mighty change of heart. Again, what is all that we can do? It is to repent,
as this young man did, not only with our whole hearts but also with a broken heart and a
contrite spirit (see 3 Nephi 9:20). The scriptures remind us of the Saviors words:
Repent, and I will receive you. . . .
1. The way you live your life through simple acts of obedience is a sign of your
forgiveness and conversion. Do whatever it takes to receive that, all the little
things.
1. A Missionary (Ammon)
1. Alma 28:8 Why such "incomprehensible joy" with missionary work?
1. Alma 29:9-10 "This is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the
hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy"
1. The joy that comes with helping someone else repent and
experience your joy is incredible.
2. "One of our modern Apostles, Elder George G. Richards,
promised: 'In the name of the Lord I want to promise you that in
the acceptance of the mission call and the dedication of yourslf to
the work, the Lord will forgive you of past transgressions, and you
can start out life with an absolutely clean sheet.'"
1. While you are on your mission helping others cleanse their
lives, the Lord sanctifies you. Incredible promise for
missionaries!
2. Alma 36:24-25
1. "I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto
repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy
of which I did tasteThe Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy
in the fruit of my labors."
1. As we put all our efforts into missionary work and sincerely
strive to bring others the joy we have, our joy will be
magnified.
3. Alma 26:35
1. "There never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as
we..yea my joy is carried awayHe is a merciful Being, even unto
salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name."
1. When helping others repent, we are carried away in our joy
and the mercy of God.
4. D&C 18:10-16
1. "The worth of souls is great in the souls is great in the sight of

Godand if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying

repentance unto this people, and bring, have it be one soul unto
me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my
Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soulhow
great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"
1. Geography of the Book or Mormon
1. Because of the size and traveling times, the Book of Mormon activities most
likely happened in Central America
1. Think Waters of Mormon were in Guatemala, Lake Atitlan?
2. The "narrow strip" mentioned in Alma 22:27 may be Panama
2. Historians (not LDS) have found different civilizations corresponding with all the
Book of Mormon years.
1. Preclassic Jaredite times
2. Classic 600BC-400 AD (as claimed by historians too!)
3. Post Classic 1000 AD
3. "Stella 5"
1. Rocked that perfectly depicts Tree of Life, with filthy water and everything
4. Sea West is where Hagoth left
1. His descendents become polynesians
5. Oaxaca
1. 2000 AD