Chapter 5

Principle:  Pray and pondering the scriptures help prepare us to receive the influence of the Holy Ghost.

In 1 Nephi 11:1 Nephi desires to know of the things his father had seen in his vision of the tree of life.  Nephi states that as he was pondering, he was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord and he was able to see the vision of the tree of life that his father had seen.  It says though, that because of Nephi's believing that the Lord was able to make these things known unto him, he was able to know them.  In other words, because of Nephi's faith and obedience, he was able to be guided by the Holy Spirit and know things that he otherwise would never have known.  The title of this chapter is "We learn to teach 'by study and also by faith.'"  Because of Nephi's faith in the Lord, he was able to learn by the Holy Ghost.

The title of this chapter is "We learn to teach 'by study and also by faith.'"  Nephi writes in 2 Nephi 4:15 that he writes the scriptures for the learning and the profit of his children.  In order to gain profit and learning from Nephi's writings, we must study these things.  We must delight in the scriptures and pondereth them in our hearts like unto Nephi so that we can learn by studying.  It is extremely important to learn to teach as missionaries because the main job of a missionary is to teach the gospel to those who have not had a chance to learn of it.  But if we go as missionaries unable to teach, we will not be able to effect people seeking the Word of God like we should be able to.

Methods of Teaching That Edify

Principle:  Missionaries should practice methods of teaching that edify.

10 methods of teaching that edify:

1. Pray.
2. Use the scriptures.
3. Bear testimony.
4. Use music.
5. Share stories and examples.
6. Use objects and pictures.
7. Ask questions, and listen.
8. Live the commandments.
9. Expound.
10. Use events.

The only way to become familiar with these methods of teaching is to practice them.  My high school cross country coach always told me that proper preparation prevents poor performance.  So don't waste time practicing.  Practice like its the real thing.  Practice like you mean it.  If you do this, you will ultimately be prepared for any situation and you will know material inside and out.  If you practice and study properly and give your full effort, you will not perform poorly, but rather you will perform at the highest level with the Holy Spirit helping you at every step along the way.

In 2 Nephi 33:1, Nephi makes the statement that he is not might in writing or speaking but if you speak with the power of the Holy Ghost, your message will be carried to the hearts of the children of men, or those listening to your message.  In the life of a missionary, which I will be very soon, this means that if I properly prepare, I will have the power of the Holy Ghost carrying my message to the hearts of the investigators I am teaching as opposed to me just teaching off of a whim.  This makes all the difference in the world and can even be the reason for someone not being baptized, which you have to look at as a lost soul.  And the worth of a soul is a great thing.  As we read in Doctrine and Covenants Section 18:10, "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."  With this knowledge, we must be motivated to prepare properly and be ready at all times to give our best performance when teaching.

Teaching by the Spirit

Principle:  Personal Preparation and worthiness are necessary to teach by the Spirit.

In Alma 5:46, Alma the High Priest is teaching and speaks about how he knows things by the Holy Spirit of the God.  In order to gain this knowledge, Alma explains how he fasted and prayed many thats that he might know certain things.  Because of his righteousness, the Lord God made these things which Alma inquired about manifest unto him by the Holy Spirit.  What we can all gain from this scripture is that if there is something out there that we are wanting to figure out we need to get ourselves worthy to have it made manifest unto us by the Holy Spirit of Lord.

In Alma 8:10 I am interested in the choice of words used by Alma.  The scripture uses the word "wrestle" when describing Alma's prayer to God.  Because of his powerful prayer to Heavenly Father, Heavenly Father poured out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city.  Because of this, many were baptized by the hand of Alma.

Because of Alma's personal worthiness and preparation, he was able to convert many people and bring them unto God.  However, it was not only him who did this but it was by the power of the Holy Spirit which brought these people to repentance and ultimately to baptism.

Companionship of the Holy Ghost

Principle:  There are many ways that the Holy Ghost influences our lives for good.

The most simple scripture in all the scriptures they give I think is the most profound and meaningful to me.  Moroni 10:5 which I believe is also a scripture mastery.  With the companionship of the Holy Ghost, we can know the truth of all things.  The Holy Ghost plays a large role in the converting of investigators even though they are not necessarily blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He can still influence them to feel that the gospel is true.  With Him, we may know the TRUTH of all things.

Also, 2 Nephi 33:1 is a very good scripture having to do with missionary work.  The companionship of the Holy Ghost is so important to missionaries because, as it is read in 2 Nephi, "for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men."  This explains the importance of every young man preparing to serve a full-time mission to live worthily of having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion and always being in tune to the Spirit.  

Chapter 3

Principle:  The Light of Christ is a power for good in the lives of all people.

Tonight's reading taught me things about the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ that I never knew about before.  For example, I did not know that there was a difference between the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ.  I thought that they were the same thing just referred to differently.  Also it was good that I learned that everyone on Earth was born with the Light of Christ in them and that even though everyone doesn't have the gift of the Holy Ghost, it can still be used by investigators to gain a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I liked the scripture reference Moroni 7:16-19 where it talks about how every man is is given the Spirit of Christ that they may know good from evil.  My favorite part of this set of scriptures though is in verse 19 where it says "ye should search dilligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ."  I like this because being called a child of Christ is a big deal.  When I think of Christ as my father it makes things make sense.  We go to our Earthly fathers in trials or when we need guidance just like we turn to Christ when we need guidance and direction.  

Personal Worthiness

Principle:  Personal worthiness allows prospective missionaries to obtain temple blessings.

Doctrine and Covenants 95:8 states that it is a commandment.  It is a commandment for us to build temples and use them to gain power from on high.  The power that is necessary to become effective missionaries.  A missionary who has been through the temple is entitled to additional power.  And being personally worthy to enter the temple will increase spirituality and enhance each missionary's ability to teach the restored gospel to others.

My favorite quote from the Mission Preparation Student Manual in this section of personal worthiness is the simple sentence "An endowment is a gift."  Missionaries are to go to the temple to receive a gift.  It makes me think that we, as worthy young men preparing to go out and represent Jesus Christ are being rewarded by being given the gift.  This gift is one of power and closeness to our Heavenly Father.

Principle:  Repentance is a cleansing process that allows us to become worthy.

It is important that young men preparing to go on missions repent of their sins and transgressions and we worthy of the Spirit.  Elder Glenn L. Pace said at a devotional at Ricks College, "Without the Spirit, you shall not teach."  This is important because teaching is one of the main jobs we will have as missionaries for the Lord.

Personal Worthiness

As it turns out, my first two blogs were done wrong.  But, I have figured out what I am supposed to be writing on so this blog will be correct.

Tonight I have read Chapter 2 of the missionary preparation student manual which is about personal worthiness.

The principle being discussed in this first section is:  Personal worthiness is necessary to accomplish missionary work.

The first scripture which I will be discussing which is also my favorite scripture from this section of reading is Doctrine and Covenants 38:42.  I like in this scripture how it simply says "Save yourselves."  When I first read this I thought of it as a life or death situation.  Or that Joseph Smith is comparing personal worthiness to a life or death situation, which, spiritually I guess it is.

The next scripture that I will be discussing is also in the Doctrine and Covenants.  It is Section 88:74.  The end of this verse reads "yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean."  What this means to me is that if we do our part to remain clean and worthy and if we put forth our full effort to do so, the Lord will make up the difference and make us clean.  We must repent, however.

1 Nephi Chapters 6-10

I began this reading session again with a prayer.  I am trying to make a habit of praying more often.  I think that it is good that I am reading the Book of Mormon and getting to know it better as I will be leaving for my mission in a matter of months.

Tonight's reading dealt with Nephi and his brothers going to the house of Ishmael.  Laman and Lemuel were exhorted by Nephi which angered them and caused them to bind him.  My favorite part of Nephi's exhortion was in Chapter 7 Verse 12 which reads, "Yeah, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?  Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."

When reading Chapter 8, which tells of Lehi's vision of the tree of life, I kept thinking, "What if it was my dad who was having the vision?  What if he saw me as one of the people who did not partake of the fruit?"  I like to think that if I was in that situation I would hold fast to the rod.

In Chapter 10, Verses 18 and 19 stood out to me.  Verse 18 speaks of the consistency of the Father and that we must repent.  And Verse 19 talks about how if you seek it, you will find it through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I really like scriptures like that one.  "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you."

1 Nephi Chapters 1-5

The last time I really sat down and actually read the Book of Mormon with the intent of reading it cover to cover was when Gordon B. Hinckley put out the challenge for members to read it before the end of the year.  When I think about that it makes me a little bit sad that I haven't been better about reading.  I want to get the most out of reading the Book of Mormon as I can seeing as I am planning on leaving for my mission in May.  I want to know the book through and through with no doubts or things unclear to me.  I began my first night of reading with a prayer that I might have the desire to know that things I would be reading are true and also that I might have the desire to make a habit out of reading and understanding what I am reading.  I think this helped set the tone for my reading.  I read in my dorm room which I may not do again.  I love my roommate and he is a great guy but his cell phone went off a few times which I think took away some from my reading.  I think I will move to a more secluded area tomorrow when I read to avoid these interruptions.

One scripture that really stood out to me in these first 5 chapters was in Chapter 2 Verse 12.  It says that Laman and Lemuel murmured against their father because they did not know God's plan.  I went through a time during high school where I found myself not having the best attitude at church and questioning the truthfulness of what I was doing every Sunday, wondering whether I was just wasting my time.  This was because I did not have a clear understanding of the plan of our Heavenly Father. 

I think my favorite scripture in the entire Book of Mormon is 1 Nephi Chapter 3 Verse 7.  I love Nephi's attitude towards his father and I wish I could have done better with that.  And I also love the quote, "I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commandeth them."

Also, I always wondered how it is possible that Laman and Lemuel continued to act as they did even with seeing an angel before them.  I can't even imagine what it would be like.  It would be nearly impossible to not believe having seen an angel face to face.

I am looking forward to this semester and getting to know the Book of Mormon by really sitting down to read and understand instead of worry about how many more pages and verses are left in the section.