{"id":1764,"date":"2004-12-18T23:16:31","date_gmt":"2004-12-19T04:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=1764"},"modified":"2009-01-16T17:08:05","modified_gmt":"2009-01-16T21:08:05","slug":"sunday-school-lesson-48","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2004\/12\/sunday-school-lesson-48\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday School Lesson 48"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><body><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Lesson 48: Mormon 7-8, 10<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><i>Chapter 7<\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">As you read Mormon&#8217;s sermon, ask yourself what might have been its occasion. Given the<br \/>\ncontent of the first 21 verses, why does Moroni say that this is a sermon on faith, hope, and<br \/>\ncharity? What question would have prompted Mormon to write this? (Compare Mormon <span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif\">9:7-21<\/span>.)  Does the audience that he mentions (verse 3) make a difference to our understanding of<br \/>\nhis teaching? What do you make of the order of his sermon? Here is one outline of that order.<br \/>\nUse that outline to ask questions about what Mormon says. As you read, construct your own<br \/>\noutline; are there better ways to describe the contents of the verses than I have given&#8212;or a<br \/>\nbetter way of showing how the verses relate to each other? <\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>1.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>Mormon speaks to the peaceable followers of Christ who have hope for his rest<br \/>\n(verses 3-4)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>2.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>The good cannot do evil works and the evil cannot do good works (verses 5-13)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>3.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>Therefore, we must be careful in our judgments of good and evil (verses 14-18)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>4.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>We should lay hold on every good thing (verse 19)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>5.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>How to lay hold on every good thing (verses 21-48)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.75in; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>a.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>Faith in Christ (verses 21-39)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>i.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>Christ&#8217;s saving mission (21-26)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>ii.<span>&#160;&#160;<\/span>Miracles have not ceased (verses 27-39)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1.25in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>&#8226;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>The ministry required of human beings is parallel to the ministry provided<br \/>\nthem through angels (verses 30-32)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1.25in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>&#8226;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>By faith we can do anything, including repent (verses 33-37)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>&#160;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>iii.<span>&#160;<\/span>Salvation comes by faith (verses 37-39)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.75in; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>b.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>Hope in Christ (verses 40-44)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>i.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>Faith requires hope for life eternal through Jesus Christ (verses 40-41)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>ii.<span>&#160;&#160;<\/span>Hope requires faith (verse 42)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>iii.<span>&#160;<\/span>Faith and hope require meekness and lowliness in heart (verse 43)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>iv.<span>&#160;<\/span>If a person is meek and lowly in heart, then she will have charity (verse 44)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -0.75in; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>c.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>The charity of Christ (verses 45-48)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>i.<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>The qualities of charity (verse 45)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>ii.<span>&#160;&#160;<\/span>Without charity, which never fails, we are nothing (verse 46)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>iii.<span>&#160;<\/span>Those who have charity, the pure love of Christ, will be well at the last day<br \/>\n(verse 47)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: -1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<\/span>iv.<span>&#160;<\/span>We should pray with all the energy of our hearts to be filled with charity so<br \/>\nthat we may be like Christ (verse 48)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Is there a natural flow to Mormon&#8217;s discussion? Can you use it to explain how we lay hold of<br \/>\nevery good thing? To explain the relation of faith and hope? To explain how one might learn<br \/>\nto be charitable? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">A few questions about particular verses: <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 5: Compare Moroni 10:25. Why might this theme have been so important to father and<br \/>\nson? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verses 31-32: What do covenants have to do with this sermon? Why are the references to<br \/>\ncovenants in the middle of a discussion of our ministry, itself in the middle of an argument<br \/>\nthat miracles still occur? Can you explain what covenants have to do with miracles? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 39: Does Mormon equate being meek with having faith? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verses 45 and 47: At the end of verse 45, Mormon says that charity endures all things. Then,<br \/>\nat the beginning of verse 47, he says that it endures forever. Is there a connection between<br \/>\nthese. If so, what is it? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\"><i>Chapter 10<\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 1: What does it mean to us that the words that follow (up to verse 23) are specifically<br \/>\ndirected to the Lamanites? What is Moroni&#8217;s interest in them<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 3: Why is God&#8217;s mercy to human beings, from Adam to the present, <i>the<\/i> topic on which<br \/>\nMormon wishes his readers to meditate? Why is that an essential preface to the exhortation<br \/>\nthat follows? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verses 4-5: Why does knowing the truth of the Book of Mormon require (1) a sincere heart,<br \/>\n(2) real intent, and (3) faith in Christ? If these verses are written specifically for the<br \/>\nLamanites, what justifies our use of them for everyone? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 6: Moroni says that anything that is good is also just, as well as true. It isn&#8217;t difficult to<br \/>\nthink of things that most of us would say are good, but that don&#8217;t seem to have anything to do<br \/>\nwith justice. For example, I think it is good to have children, but I wouldn&#8217;t say it is <i>just<\/i> to<br \/>\nhave them. I don&#8217;t know what it would mean to say that it is. What does it mean to say that all<br \/>\ngood things are just? Similarly, what does it mean to say that all good things are true? Moroni<br \/>\nthen adds &#8220;therefore, no good thing denies Christ.&#8221; How does that follow from the claims that<br \/>\nall good things are also both just and true?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 7: When Moroni says &#8220;I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God,&#8221; what<br \/>\ndenial of God&#8217;s power does he seem to have in mind? How would what he has in mind be a<br \/>\ndenial of God&#8217;s power? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verses 7-18: Why is this exhortation to remember the gifts of God important to Moroni&#8217;s<br \/>\naudience? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 19: Why does Moroni make this exhortation to remember that Christ is the same and<br \/>\nthat the gifts mentioned are spiritual and will last as long as the world? Why are those of<br \/>\nparticular importance to those he is addressing in these verses, namely the Lamanites? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verses 20-23: Moroni gives a summary of the things that his father, Mormon, taught in the<br \/>\nlast part his sermon (Moroni 7). He has already given us the sermon, why does he think it<br \/>\nneeds to be repeated here? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 24-30: In verse 24 Moroni explicitly turns his attention to everyone rather than only to<br \/>\nthe Lamanites; he makes a general exhortation. What are its main elements? How do those<br \/>\nelements compare to what he has said specifically to the Lamanites? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 31: To whom does Moroni now turn? Why does he turn to them last? Moroni&#8217;s<br \/>\nmetaphor moves from clothing (&#8220;beautiful garments&#8221;) to tents &#8220;strengthen thy stakes and<br \/>\nenlarge thy borders.&#8221; Is that shift in the metaphor significant? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 32: Grammatically the opening of this verse, &#8220;Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected<br \/>\nin him,&#8221; suggests that this verse is parallel to verse 31. Is that right? If so, explain what the<br \/>\nparallels are. Why does Moroni say &#8220;be perfected in him&#8221; (passive voice) rather than &#8220;perfect<br \/>\nyourselves in him&#8221;? Does the rest of the verse answer that question? How does Moroni<br \/>\nunderstand what it means to be perfect? How might that be different than our everyday<br \/>\nunderstanding of perfection? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 33: What does this verse promise? Does Moroni use &#8220;sanctified&#8221; here to mean what we<br \/>\nmean when we speak of exaltation or does it have another meaning? What does this verse add<br \/>\nto our understanding of what it means to be perfect? <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0.104167in\">Verse 34: What kind of mood do you see in this verse? So what? <\/p>\n<p><\/body><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 48: Mormon 7-8, 10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lessons-all","category-sunday-school-lesson-book-of-mormon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1764"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5570,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764\/revisions\/5570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}