BoM 25—Alma 13-16
True or False
-The Nephites were subject to the Law of
Moses before the resurrected Christ
came to them.
- They had the Melchizedek Priesthood.
The Holy Order of the Priesthood
Work with a partner, and study Alma 13:119 to find out all you can about the Holy
Order of the Priesthood. Please pay
particular attention to and mark
footnotes 2a, 3b and 14a for an even
more complete understanding of this
great Priesthood.
Laws & Agency in Pre-Mortal Realm
Being subject to law, and having their agency, all the spirits of men, while yet in
the Eternal Presence, developed aptitudes, talents, capacities, and abilities of every sort,
kind, and degree. During the long expanse of life which then was, an infinite variety of
talents and abilities came into being. As the ages rolled, no two spirits remained alike.
Mozart became a musician; Einstein centered his interest in mathematics; Michelangelo
turned his attention to painting. Cain, was a liar, a schemer, a rebel who maintained a
close affinity to Lucifer. Abraham and Moses and all of the prophets sought and obtained
the talent for spirituality. Mary and Eve were two of the greatest of all the spirit
daughters of the Father. The whole house of Israel, known and segregated out from their
fellows, was inclined toward spiritual things. And so it went through all the hosts of
heaven, each individual developing such talents and abilities as his soul desired.
The Lord endowed us all with agency; he gave us laws that would enable us to
advance and progress and become like him; and he counseled and exhorted us to pursue
the course leading to glory and exaltation. He himself was the embodiment and
personification of all good things. Every desirable characteristic and trait dwelt in him in
its eternal fulness. All of his obedient children started to become like him in one way or
another. There was as great a variety and degree of talent and ability among us there as
there is among us here. Some excelled in one way, others in another. The Firstborn
excelled all of us in all things. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 1:23, 25)
Men Foreordained
“Every man who has a calling to minister to
the inhabitants of the world was ordained
to that very purpose in the Grand
Council of heaven before this world was.
I suppose I was ordained to this very
office in that Grand Council” (Teachings of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph
Fielding Smith [1976], 364-5; see also
D&C 138:53-56).
Women, too!
Remember, in the world before we came here,
faithful women were given certain
assignments while faithful men were
foreordained to certain priesthood tasks.
While we do not now remember the
particulars, this does not alter the glorious
reality of what we once agreed to.You are
accountable for those things which long ago
were expected of you just as are those we
sustain as prophets and apostles! (Spencer
W. Kimball, “The Role of Righteous Women,”
Ensign, Nov 1979, 102)
The High Priesthood is a teaching
priesthood (Alma 13:6)
Joseph Smith taught: "The duty of a High Priest
is to administer in spiritual and holy things,
and to hold communion with God.... And
again, it is the High Priests' duty to be better
qualified to teach principles and doctrines,
than the Elders." (Teachings, p. 21.)
The Melchizedek Priesthood, Joseph Smith
taught, "is the channel through which all
knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation
and every important matter is revealed from
heaven" (Teachings, pp. 166-67).
Alma 14
Alma 14:26-29
The very Priesthood power which Alma
had just taught about—the power “to put
at defiance the armies of nations, to divide
the earth, to break every band…” (JST
Gen. 14:31--Appendix)—now delivers
them from the prison of Ammonihah.
Zeezrom’s Repentance &
Conversion
Alma 15:3-12