Chapter 13

Chapter 13 - Preparing investigators for baptism and confirmation.

Principle - Missionaries help those who are converted prepare for baptism, confirmation, and membership in the Lord's church.

Exodus 20:8-11 - As members, we must set an example for those converts.  We are instructed in this set of scriptures that we must remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  It is important that converts can see that members are strong in keeping the faith helping them to keep it themselves.  We must work to support the missionaries in teaching this principle.

Amos 3:7 - This scripture is written that we may follow the words of the prophets and heed to their warnings.  God does reveal his secrets to his servants, the prophets.  It is the responsibility of the prophets to relay that message to the members of God's church.  And as members of God's church, it is our responsibility to obey these words as if they are the words of our Heavenly Father.

Principle - Covenants and ordinances necessary for exaltation are received in the house of the Lord.

Doctrine & Covenants 131 - Celestial marriage is required in order to obtain the highest degree of glory in heaven.  Celestial marriage is one of the required ordinances to live with our Heavenly Father again.  We must live worthily to be able to enter into the temple with our partner and be sealed for time and all eternity.

Doctrine & Covenants 132:15 - It is written in this scripture that any marriage between a man and a woman that are not married by the word of our Heavenly Father, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are out of the world.  This is just another reason why it is so important for us to be worthy of a temple marriage so that our marriages can be continued in the after-life that we can be with our spouses forever.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 - Preparing investigators for baptism and comfirmation.

Principle - As investigators come unto Christ and prepare to become Church members, they must understand the covenants associated with saving ordinances and be willing to make and keep these sacred obligations.

Moroni 6:1-4 - These verses in Moroni help support the statement in this first principle.  These verses explain what is necessary of the investigators or those who get baptized as far as covenants made and what to do to keep them.  It also talks about the importance of fellowshipping newly baptized members of the Church.

Doctrine & Covenants 20:37 - This verse talks again of baptism and of the things necessary to be baptized into the Church.  Investigators looking to be baptized must fully repent of their sins and be willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a desire to serve him to the end.

Chapter 12

USING TIME WISELY TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST.

Principle - Effective planning, goal setting, and time management help focus missionary efforts and increase success.

Doctrine & Covenants 109:8 - This is a good scripture to treasure up while on your mission and while you prepare for your mission.  It talks about how we need to be organized and establish a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.  It is very important that we establish a house of all these things while on our mission because we need to be as in tune with the Spirit as we can in order to carry the word of the Lord unto the souls of those open to receive it.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - USING TIME WISELY TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST

Principle - Finding people to teach is a responsibility for missionaries and Church members.

Doctrine & Covenants 123:12-13 - This is a good scripture about missionary work where Alma is preaching.  Alma sets forth the covenant of baptism at the waters of Mormon.  Without baptism, missionary work would be all in vain as investigators would not be able to come unto Christ.  Baptism is one of the main components of becoming a member and a true follower of Jesus Christ along with repentance, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 - Physical and Emotional Preparation

Principle - Prospective missionaries should prepare for the physical and emotional demands of a full-time mission.

Doctrine and Covenants 4:2 - This verse talks about how as we embark in the service of God, our missions for example, we need to serve Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.  It is promised in this verse that if we do these things, we shall stand blameless before God at the last day.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:124 - This scripture was marked in my scriptures with a sidenote that says "Righteous Living."  I believe it is a scripture mastery from my junior year in seminary.  It is a good scripture that talks about how to live righteously.  It says not to be idle, and to not sleep longer than needful, and to get up earl, that we may be invigorated.

Principle - There are alternatives to full-time missionary service for those individuals excused by priesthood leaders because of their physical or emotional circumstance.

Having an older brother who had to be released from his mission for medical reasons, it is good to have read this section in the manual and learn that there are alternatives to a full-time mission due to medical circumstances.

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - Faith and Conversion

Principle - Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is essential to spiritual growth.

1 Nephi 7:12 - This is a wonderful scripture about faith.  It is about when Nephi and Laman and Lemuel are sent back into Jerusalem to enlist Ishmael and his household in their cause.  Laman and Lemuel are rebelling against their father, Lehi.  It is written that the Lord is able to do all things according to His will if it so be that the children of men exercise faith in Him.

2 Nephi 9:23 - This scripture is pretty straight forward in that it puts it pretty bluntly that we are commanded by God that we must be repent, be baptized in His name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel or we cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.

Principle - Faith can increase.

Jacob 4:6 - Through listening and heeding to the words of the prophets, by the spirit of prophesy our faith can become unshaken and we are capable of commanding in the name of Jesus trees or mountains or waves of the sea to move.  That is an amazing power and I couldn't even imagine having a faith that strong.  It is a wonderful goal to shoot for however.

Helaman 3:35 - This scripture is speaking of the Nephites and how they waxed stronger in the faith.  The Nephites fasted and prayed often and became firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ.  And these people were sanctified because of their yielding their hearts unto God.