Moroni 9
Terrible Tragdies
Cities & Outcomes
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People of the Flood
Jaredites
Sodom & Gommorah
Ammoniah
Nephites
Moroni 9:4-10
What is the worst tragedy here?
• (Jacobs, #5)
• Moroni 9:25
Moroni 10
The Gifts of the Spirit
Order the following in terms of when they are
manifested in a person’s life:
• Light of Christ (D&C 88:7-13)
• Spirit of Christ (Moroni 7:16)
• Manifestation of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:5)
• Gift of the Holy Ghost (4th Article of Faith)
• Gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12-14)
Moroni 10
Three groups
1 Corinthians 12:4--11;
Doctrine and Covenants 46:11--26;
Moroni 10:8--19.
• 1. Make a list of spiritual gifts.
• 2. Discuss examples/stories for each spiritual gifts
Moroni 10
“One of the great tragedies of life, it seems
to me, is when a person classifies himself as
someone who has no talents or gifts. When, in
disgust or discouragement, we allow ourselves to
reach depressive levels of despair because of our
demeaning self-appraisal, it is a sad day for us and
a sad day in the eyes of God. For us to conclude
that we have no gifts when we judge ourselves by
stature, intelligence, grade-point average, wealth,
power, position, or external appearance is not only
unfair but unreasonable…
Moroni 10
“It is up to each of us to search for and build
upon the gifts which God has given. We must
remember that each of us is made in the image of
God, that there are no unimportant persons.
Everyone matters to God and to his fellowmen. Let
us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts:
Moroni 10
“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.
(Elder Marvin J. Ashton, October 1987).
Moroni 10
Moroni 10:30–33
“That final, last, lonely appeal of the keystone of our
religion and the most correct book ever written is to touch
not the unclean thing; it is to be holy and without spot; it is
to be pure. And that purity can come only through the
blood of that Lamb who bore our griefs and carried our
sorrows, the Lamb who was wounded for our
transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, the Lamb who
was despised and afflicted, but whom we esteemed not …
“Purity—through the blood of the Lamb. That is what [the
Book of Mormon] pleads for” (Elder Holland, “A Standard unto My
People” [CES symposium on the Book of Mormon, Aug. 9, 1994], 15, si.lds.org).
Moroni 10
Book of Mormon Introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfc77nkm4Dw#t=146
Moroni 10:3–5 Three steps to obtain a testimony of
the Book of Mormon.
1. Read
2. Ponder
3. Pray
Moroni 10
“Read these things”
Moroni 10
“A 14-year-old girl … said that she had been discussing religion with one
of her friends at school. Her friend said to her, ‘What religion do you
belong to?’
“She replied, ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or
Mormons.’
“Her friend replied, ‘I know that church, and I know it’s not true.’
“‘How do you know?’ came the reply.
“‘Because,’ said her friend, ‘I have researched it.’
“‘Have you read the Book of Mormon?’
“‘No,’ came the answer. ‘I haven’t.’
“Then this sweet young girl responded, ‘Then you haven’t researched my
church, because I have read every page of the Book of Mormon and I
know it’s true’” (“The Book of Mormon—a Book from God,” Ensign or Liahona,Nov. 2011, 76).
Moroni 10
“Remember how merciful the
Lord hath been”
Moroni 10
What evidence of the Lord’s mercy have you seen
in your life?
How do you think remembering the Lord’s mercy
helps someone receive a testimony of the Book of
Mormon?
Moroni 10
“Ponder it in your hearts”
Moroni 10
“Dictionaries say that ponder means to weigh
mentally, think deeply about, deliberate, meditate. …
“By pondering, we give the Spirit an opportunity to
impress and direct. Pondering is a powerful link between
the heart and the mind. As we read the scriptures, our
hearts and minds are touched.
“Pondering is a progressive mental pursuit. It is a
great gift to those who have learned to use it. We find
understanding, insight, and practical application if we will
use the gift of pondering” (“There Are Many Gifts,”Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).
Moroni 10
“ask with a Sincere Heart”
Moroni 10
“Real intent” means ….
…That a person “intends to act on the
answer they receive from God” (Preach My
Gospel [2004], 111).
Moroni 10
Rodolfo Armando Pérez Bonilla learned the importance of praying with
real intent: “Occasionally I prayed to know what was right, but it was
more of a passing thought than a sincere question. Then one night I
decided to pray with ‘real intent.’
“I told Heavenly Father that I wanted to know Him and to be part of His
true Church. I promised: ‘If you will let me know whether Joseph Smith is
a real prophet and whether the Book of Mormon is true, I’ll do whatever
Thou would have me do. If The Church is the true Church, I’ll follow it
and never give it up.’
“I had no spectacular manifestation, but I felt at peace and went to bed.
Several hours later I awoke with a distinct thought: ‘Joseph Smith is a true
prophet, and the Book of Mormon is true.’ The thought was accompanied
by an indescribable peace. I fell asleep again, only to awake later with the
exact same thought and feeling.
“Since that time, I have never doubted that Joseph Smith is a true prophet.
I know that this is the Savior’s work and that Heavenly Father will answer
our sincere petitions” (“How I Know,” Ensign, Oct. 2011, 64).
Moroni 10
• What difference has studying the Book of Mormon this
year made in your life?
• What lessons or principles have helped you “come unto
Christ” and strengthened your faith in the Savior?
• What is your testimony of the Book of Mormon?
Moroni 10
The Book of Mormon