Moroni 7-10

Quotes of the Week:

Try reading the Book of Mormon because you want to, not because you have to.  Discover for yourself that it is true.

--Richard G. Scott, Ensign, 11/03

To gain unshakable faith in Jesus Christ is to flood your life with brilliant light.

--Richard G. Scott,  Ensign, 11/91, 86 

Further Reading:

M. Russell Ballard, “Finding Joy through Loving Service,” April 2011
Steven E. Snow, “Hope,” April 2011
Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Virtue of Kindness,”  Ensign, 5/05
 Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Angels,” Ensign, 11/08
Susan Easton Black, “Names for Christ in the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, 7/78, 60-61

Handouts:

Moroni 7:12-19—Light of Christ

Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:49-50
The Holy Ghost should not be confused with the Spirit [light of Christ] which fills the immensity of space and which is everywhere present.  This other Spirit is impersonal and has no size, nor dimension; it proceeds forth from the presence of the Father and the Son and is in all things.

Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind, 2/15/1978
The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. . ..
We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation.

Boyd K. Packer, “To Learn with Joy,”  The Book of Mormon: Jacob through Words of Mormon, 3-4
This knowledge of right and wrong, is called the light of Christ, moral sense, or conscience, it moderates our actions unless, that is, we subdue it or destroy it. . . . It affirms. . . the reality of good and evil, justice, mercy, honor, courage, faith, love, and virtue, as well as their necessary opposites, hatred, greed, brutality, and jealousy.

Robert D. Hales, Ensign, 5/02, 70
Each of us brings a light to the earth—the Light of Christ. . . .
By using the Light of Christ to discern and choose what is right, we can be led to an even greater light:  the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Moroni 7:17—Inspiration

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, 1/83, 55-56

The spiritual part of us and the emotional part of us are so closely linked that it is possible to mistake an emotional impulse for something spiritual.  We occasionally find people who receive what they assume to be spiritual promptings from God, when those promptings are either centered in the emotions or are from the adversary.

Moroni 7:29-31—Angels

Bruce C. Hafen, Ensign, 4/92, 16

When do angels come?  If we seek to be worthy, they are near us when we need them most.

Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Angels,” Ensign, 11/08
Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times. . . .
not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind. . . .
I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself.

Moroni 7:40-44--Hope

Steven E. Snow, “Hope,” April 2011
Hope is an emotion which brings richness to our everyday lives. . . . Hope brings a certain calming influence to our lives as we confidently look forward to future events. . . .
Our hope in the Atonement empowers us with eternal perspective. Such perspective allows us to look beyond the here and now on into the promise of the eternities. We don’t have to be trapped in the narrow confines of society’s fickle expectations. We are free to look forward to celestial glory, sealed to our family and loved ones.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, “A More Excellent Hope,” Ensign, Feb. 1997, 61
 Faith is rooted in Jesus Christ. Hope centers in the Atonement. Charity is manifest in the ‘pure love of Christ.’ These three attributes are intertwined like strands in a cable and may not always be precisely distinguished. Together they become our tether to the celestial kingdom.

Moroni 7:43-44--Meek

Neal A. Maxwell, “Meekly Drenched in Destiny,” BYU Devotional Speeches 1983, 2
[Meekness] is the presentation of self in a posture of kindness and gentleness.  It reflects certitude, strength, serenity; it reflects a healthy self-esteem and a genuine self-control.

Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, 5/93, 64-65
And what of the meek?  In a world too preoccupied with winning through intimidation and seeking to be number one, no large crowd of folk is standing in line to buy books that call for mere meekness.  But the meek shall inherit the earth, a pretty impressive corporate takeover—and done without intimidation! . . .. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that gentleness is better than brutality, that kindness is greater than coercion, that the soft voice turneth away wrath.

Moroni 7:45-47--Charity

M. Russell Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service, April 2011

When this pure love of Christ—or charity—envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior.

. . . Brothers and sisters, may I reemphasize that the most important attribute of Heavenly Father and of His Beloved Son that we should desire and seek to possess within our lives is the gift of charity, “the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). From this gift springs our capacity to love and to serve others as the Savior did.

M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, 11/92, 33

Working together, these three eternal principles will help give us the broad eternal perspective we need to face life’s toughest challenges, including the prophesied ordeals of the last days.  Real faith fosters hope for the future; it allows us to look beyond ourselves and demonstrate the pure love of Christ through daily acts of obedience and Christian service.

Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, 5/92, 19
Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. . . .
Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other.

Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, 11/00, 34
Charity . . . is not an act but a condition or state of being.  Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion.  Charity is something one becomes.

Moroni 9:18-20--Past Feeling

Neal A. Maxwell, A Time to Choose, [1972], 59
When we become too encrusted with error, our spiritual antennae wilt and we slip beyond mortal reach.

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, 11/91, 22
This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless. . . .
Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit.

Moroni 10:3-5--The Promise

Henry B. Eyring, “Always,” Ensign, 10/99, 9-10
My message is a plea, a warning, and a promise: I plead with you to do with determination the simple things that will move you forward spiritually.
Start with remembering Him.  You will remember what you know and what you love.  The Savior gave us the scriptures, paid for by prophets at a price we cannot measure, so that we could know Him.  Lose yourself in them.  Decide now to read more, and more effectively than you have ever done before.

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, 5/05, 6-8
My experience has been that a testimony does not burst upon us suddenly.  Rather, it grows. .  .
Do not be disappointed if you have read and reread and yet have not received a powerful witness.  You may be somewhat like the disciples spoken of in the Book of Mormon who were filled with the power of God in great glory “and they knew it not” (3 Nephi 9:20).
Do the best you can.

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, 5/86, 61
No missionary, no member can fulfill that promise—neither Apostle nor President can fulfill that promise.  It is a promise of direct revelation to you on the conditions described in the book.  After you have read the Book of Mormon, you become qualified to inquire of the Lord, in the way that He prescribes in the book as to whether the book is true.  You will be eligible, on the conditions He has established, to receive that personal revelation.

Gordon B. Hinckley, Be Thou and Example, p. 103-05
If there are miracles among us, certainly one of them is this book. . . . They may discount our theology.  But they cannot in honesty dismiss the Book of Mormon.  It is here.  They can feel it.  They can read it.  They can weigh its substance and its content.  They can witness its influence. . ..
If the Book of Mormon is true, then God lives. . ..
If the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. . . .
If the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is verily our Redeemer, the Savior of the world. . ..
If the Book of Mormon is true, then this land is choice above all other lands; but if it is to remain such, the inhabitants of the land must worship the God of the land, the Lord Jesus Christ. . . .
If the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. . ..
If this book is true, . .. . [we have a living prophet]. . . .
If the Book of Mormon is true, the Church is true.

L. Aldin Porter, Ensign, 5/01, 31-32 (emphasis added)
Do not treat lightly this astonishing promise. . . .
It will not be easy reading. There will be roadblocks along the way. Persist. . . . .
After this sacred witness comes, you will see His hand in a thousand things.

Chauncey C. Riddle, The Book of Mormon: It Begins with a  Family, 140

The Spirit teaches us the truth of the gospel.  But it is another thing to learn to live by the Holy Spirit.  The difference is like hearing a violin concert expertly performed and acknowledging its merit, then personally mastering the violin to be able to play as expertly ourselves.

Moroni 10:8-18--Spiritual Gifts

Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, 11/87, 20
Additional gifts of the Spirit are not always evident or noteworthy but the are very important.  Among these may be your gifts—gifts not so evident but nevertheless valuable.
Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.

Gene R. Cook, “Trust in the Lord,” Hope, 1988, 90-91
One of the great processes you go through in life is to discover yourself, to find those gifts and capacities God has given you.  He has given you great talents, the smallest part of which you have just begun to utilize.  Trust the Lord to assist you in unlocking the door to those gifts.  Some of us have created imaginary limits in our minds.  There is literally a genius locked up inside each of us.  Don’t ever let anyone convince you otherwise.

Virginia H. Pearce, Ensign, 11/92, 91-92
As we concentrate on pleasing the Lord rather than others and continue to work hard, doing the things we don’t know how to do yet, we will experience personal growth. . . . Are you remembering that you have had hands laid on your head—that you have been given a gift?  Use that gift to conquer your fears!

Moroni 10:31—Beautiful Garments

Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, 10/83

This is a season for strength. I conclude with these stirring words of Moroni, written as he sealed his record to come forth in the dispensation of the fulness of times:

 (Moro. 10:31–32.)

Put on thy beautiful garments, O daughters of Zion. Live up to the great and magnificent inheritance which the Lord God, your Father in Heaven, has provided for you. Rise above the dust of the world. Know that you are daughters of God, children with a divine birthright. Walk in the sun with your heads high, knowing that you are loved and honored, that you are a part of his kingdom, and that there is for you a great work to be done which cannot be left to others.

God be thanked for the wonderful women of this Church. May he plant in your hearts a sense of pride in your capacities and a conviction of truth which shall be as a rudder to keep you safe through every storm.

A Final Testimony . . .

Christianson and Bassett, Life Lessons from the Book of Mormon, 249-534

What began as an attempt to digest the book ended with my being digested by the power behind the book.  . . . . The Book of Mormon will feed a person only if that person comes to its pages hungry.. . . In my own youth, this book seemed to be lifeless and void of flavor until I prepared myself to sup at its table.  From that moment forward, its pages have fed me in ways I could never have imagined.