This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . . Scriptures The Power of the Word Relig

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This is a review of the slides we used while
discussing . . . Scriptures-The Power of
the Word Religion 121 - Introduction Topics
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Jet Ski vs.Scuba Diving
Introduction to Scriptures 1 Approach
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Introduction to Scriptures 2a Purpose 2 Tim. 3
13-17
God uses the power of the word. . . as an
instrument to change peoples lives (Ezra Taft
Benson, Ensign, May 1987, 84).
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Scripture Imagery

• Liahona
• Rod
• Light
• Manna
• Sword

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Scripture Imagery

• Liahona
• Rod
• Light
• Manna
• Sword

Lost Fall Dark Starve Die
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Introduction to Scriptures 2b Purpose of the Boo
k of Mormon

• Purpose is to . . .

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Introduction to Scriptures 2b Purpose of the Boo
k of Mormon

• Purpose is to . . .1) show the covenants made
  unto the fathers.
  
• 2) convince us by manifestation that Jesus
  is the Christ

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It takes a prophet to understand a prophet. . .
Introduction to Scriptures 3 Process
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• In the final analysis, there is no way
  absolutely none (and this cannot be stated too
  strongly!)-to understand any Messianic prophecy,
  or any other scripture, except to have the same
  spirit of prophecy that rested upon the one who
  uttered the truth in its original form. Scripture
  comes from God by the power of the Holy Ghost. It
  does not originate with man. It means only what
  the Holy Ghost thinks it means. To interpret it,
  we must be enlightened by the power of the Holy
  Spirit. . . . Truly, it takes a prophet to
  understand a prophet, and every faithful member
  of the Church should have "the testimony of
  Jesus" which "is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev.
  1910.) . . . This is the sum and substance of
  the whole matter and an end to all controversy
  where discovering the mind and will of the Lord
  is concerned (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised
  Messiah, p. 44).

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• Do you read the Scriptures, my brethren
  and sisters, as though you were writing them a
  thousand, two thousand, or five thousand years
  ago? Do you read them as though you stood in the
  place of the men who wrote them? If you do not
  feel thus, it is your privilege to do so, that
  you may be as familiar with the spirit and
  meaning of the written word of God as you are
  with your daily walk and conversation, or as you
  are with your workmen or with your households.
  You may understand what the Prophets understood
  and thought--what they designed and planned to
  bring forth to their brethren for their good.
• When you can thus feel, then you may begin to
  think that you can find out something about God,
  and begin to learn who he is (Brigham Young, JD
  7333).

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• Immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search
  them diligently. Feast upon the words of Christ.
  Learn the doctrine. Master the principles that
  are found therein. There are few other efforts
  that will bring greater dividends. . .There are
  few other ways to gain greater inspiration (Ezra
  Taft Benson, The Power of the Word, Ensign, May
  1986, p. 82).

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Immerse self in scriptures by. . .

• 1
• Searching
• and
• Feasting

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It is a paradox that men will gladly devote
time every day for many years to learn a science
or an art, yet will expect to win a knowledge of
the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and
arts, through perfunctory glances at books or
occasional listening to sermons. The gospel
should be studied more intensively than any
school or college subject (John A. Widtsoe,
Improvement Era, p. May 1943, p. 289).
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Immerse self in scriptures by. . .

• 1
• Searching
• and
• Feasting

2 Learn Doctrines
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Immerse self in scriptures by. . .

• 1
• Searching
• and
• Feasting

2 Learn Doctrines Types Shadows Patterns Sy
mbols

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• Moroni, the last of the inspired writers,
  actually saw our day and time. . . Behold, I
  speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye
  are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you
  unto me, and I know your doing (Morm. 834-35).
  If they saw our day and chose those things which
  would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how
  we should study the Book of Mormon? We should
  constantly ask ourselves, Why did the Lord
  inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include
  that in his record? What lesson can I learn from
  that to help me live in this day and age?

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• And there is example after example of how that
  question will be answered. For example, in the
  Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing
  for the Second Coming. A major portion of the
  book centers on the few decades just prior to
  Christ's coming to America. By careful study of
  that time period, we can determine why some were
  destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded
  His coming and what brought others to stand at
  the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust
  their hands into the wounds of His hands and
  feet (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, The Keystone of
  Our Religion, Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 3).

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Immerse self in scriptures by. . .

• 1
• Searching
• and
• Feasting

2 Learn Doctrines Types Shadows Patterns Sy
mbols
3 Master Principles
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Immerse self in scriptures by. . .

• 1
• Searching
• and
• Feasting

2 Learn Doctrines Types Shadows Patterns Sy
mbols
3 Master Principles Revelation always yields
application
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2 Nephi 321-5 DC 761-19, 114-119
The Word
The Spirit

• 1
• Searching
• and
• Feasting

2 Learn Doctrines Types Shadows Patterns Sy
mbols

3 Master Principles Revelation always yields
application
Tell
Show
Understanding/Conviction
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• The Lords periodic whisperings to my mind.
  Over the years, these whisperings have guided me
  and reassured me. They give me, from time to
  time, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, sudden
  strokes of ideas and occasionally the pure flow
  of intelligence (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph
  Smith, p. 151). . . . These are inward things,
  often taking the form of a directing phrase. I
  have found that the Lord gives more instructions
  than explanations (Neal A Maxwell, Becoming a
  Disciple, Ensign, June 1996, p. 12-19).

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• It is not wise to wrestle with the
  revelations with such insistence as to demand
  immediate answers or blessings to your liking.
  You cannot force spiritual things. Such words as
  compel, coerce, constrain, pressure, demand, do
  not describe our privileges with the Spirit. You
  can no more force the Spirit to respond than you
  can force a bean to sprout, or an egg to hatch
  before it's time. You can create a climate to
  foster growth, nourish, and protect, but you
  cannot force or compel you must await the
  growth. Do not be impatient to gain great
  spiritual knowledge. Let it grow, help it grow,
  but do not force it or you will open the way to
  be misled (Boyd K. Packer, The Candle of the
  Lord, Ensign, Jan. 1983, 51-56).

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• A person may profit by noticing the first
  intimation of the spirit of revelation for
  instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing
  into you, it may give you sudden strokes of
  ideas. . .thus by learning the Spirit of God and
  understanding it, you may grow into the principle
  of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ
  Jesus (Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
  151).

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• When we have the scriptures in our heart and
  our mind and our soul, then we have a means of
  measuring all things we have a means of judging
  everything else. If we are soaked in the
  scriptures, we shant want to look at bad things
  on our walls or listen to bad music, because they
  wont fit. We shall intuitively reject them,
  just as we shall embrace what is good, because we
  shall have in minds a firm and sound sense of
  what is in good taste (Arthur Henry King,
  Abundance of the Heart, p. 129).

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The End. . .