Sunday School Lesson – Book of Mormon

Literary BMGD #7: Joseph, From Out of the Dust

February 8, 2012 | 2 comments

Lehi’s final counsel in the Book of Mormon is to his son Joseph makes an interesting literary link between Joseph in Egypt, Joseph the son of Lehi and Joseph Smith, Jr. But, LDS authors have largely ignored this link, especially before 1900, when any mention of Joseph was usually a reference to Joseph Smith, Jr. But I did manage to find an exception in Orson F. Whitney’s epic, Elias. As far as I can tell, other than general righteousness, the only real link between these three is that they happen to have the same name. Their histories aren’t really... Read more »

Literary BMGD #6: Man’s Free Agency

January 30, 2012 | no comments

By Kent Larsen

One of the fascinating things that happen in Lehi’s fatherly advice to Jacob in 2 Nephi 1 and 2 is that he tries to put together an overall philosophical basis for the gospel. Here the war in Heaven is related to our ability to choose, the fall is related to the atonement, and our choices are related to the very nature of existence, which, Lehi says, requires that there be an “opposition in all things.” Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »

BMGD #6: 2 Nephi 1-2

January 30, 2012 | 8 comments

By Julie M. Smith

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Literary BMGD #5: Trials

January 23, 2012 | 2 comments

By Kent Larsen

The story of Lehi’s family and their travels to the promised land perhaps reaches its height in the crisis point during the storm while they are on board the ship they built. The internal divisions within the family have lead to yet another dispute, and the Lord puts them through a trial to help them work it out. In fact, this is just the last of three stories in this lesson, all showing a similar pattern — and in each case showing faith and diligence (as the lesson describes it), leads to the Lord’s assistance in resolving the trial.... Read more »

Literary BMGD #4: On the Latter-day Dispensation

January 16, 2012 | one comment

By Kent Larsen

From a literary point of view the second part of Nephi’s vision, his vision of the future, is very like an epic. It covers a broad sweep of human history and mentions the actions of a series of heroes and heroic groups who have an impact on the fate of humanity. Unfortunately, the broad nature of this epic vision is difficult to cover in a short form, like a blog post or something you might share in a Gospel Doctrine lesson. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »

BMGD #4: 1 Nephi 12-14

January 16, 2012 | no comments

By Julie M. Smith

Note that I will not be posting notes for lesson #5; I’m taking the week off. (Notes for lesson #6 should be right on schedule, however.) Also note that when I teach this, I plan on covering 1 Nephi 11-15, since I think it makes more sense to treat Nephi’s vision in its entirety and in its context. 1 person likes this post. Like Unlike Read more »

Literary BMGD #3: Hymn of Praise

January 9, 2012 | 5 comments

By Kent Larsen

While perhaps not the most important symbol in the Vision of the Tree of Life (1 Nephi 8-11), the Iron Rod may be the one that has received the most attention, at least in recent decades. But I think I was able to find something that kind of fit with the whole vision instead of just mentioning the Iron Rod. I like this hymn for not just (vaguely perhaps) invoking some of the imagery of the vision, but also for placing an emphasis on the Lord’s role in assisting us. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »

BMGD #3: 1 Nephi 8-11; 12:16-18; 15

January 9, 2012 | 15 comments

By Julie M. Smith

This isn’t a lesson; it is the notes from which I will prepare a lesson. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »

Literary BMGD #2: The Pilgrims’ Hymn

January 2, 2012 | 8 comments

By Kent Larsen

In looking for a literary work to go with the second Gospel Doctrine lesson this year, I was struck by some of the parallels between what Nephi experiences in the first few chapters in the Book of Mormon and what the early Mormons went through in traveling to Utah. Many of those we call the pioneers left comfortable homes, like Nephi and his family, and traveled to a “promised land” “into the wilderness.” And perhaps half or more of the pioneers also had to travel over an ocean to reach the promised land. Be the first to like. Like... Read more »

BMGD #2: 1 Nephi 1-7

January 2, 2012 | 29 comments

By Julie M. Smith

Again, this isn’t a lesson. It is the notes from which I will prepare a lesson. Sorry it is so long. (The rabbit trail of the week was related to the killing of Laban, but I don’t plan on discussing that with my class.) Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »

Literary BMGD #1: Address to the Book of Mormon

December 27, 2011 | 3 comments

By Kent Larsen

I’m pleased that Julie has begun a series of posts that cover this year’s lessons on the Book of Mormon. With this post I will begin a kind of companion series: Mormon poetry and literary texts that can accompany each week’s lessons. Since Mormon literature often gets short shrift (usually from those who haven’t actually read what they dismiss), I think that connecting this literature to a regular part of our worship may help members become more aware of and familiar with our culture. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »

BMGD #1: Introduction

December 26, 2011 | 23 comments

By Julie M. Smith

These are the notes from which I will create my Sunday School lesson. It is not a Sunday School lesson, unless your ward has Sunday School for five hours and a high tolerance for rabbit trails that happened to catch my interest. 1 person likes this post. Like Unlike Read more »

Sunday School Lesson #23

June 4, 2006 | 12 comments

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