Book of Mormon
A study of the Book of Mormon from
Alma
30 through Moroni
Syllabus
Spring 2013 (assignments section will be adjusted as the semester progresses)
NOTICE: Wednesday, May 22, class cancelled. Check syllabus for update!!
Texts
The Scriptures (the Four Standard
Works)
Three Ways to Study the Scriptures
- David A. Bednar, Three Ways to Study the Scriptures
Wednesday, April 24, Assignment
Reading
and write-up:
(1) Ezra Taft Benson, Book of Mormon: Keystone of our Religion
(2) Do a one page single-spaced write-up in three parts--include heading for each part:
a. Comprehensive summary of the teachings found in the talk (the more comprehensive the better the grade)
b. List at least 5 insights you gained, or five important teachings
c. Questions or things about this talk you would like to discuss in class
d. Include the three sub-headings bolded above
Click here for a good example of an article summary. Notice that the student used good writing skills. From reading the article he he dtermined the main point and subpoints of the talk. Then he wrote his comprehensive summary. However, his comprehensive summary was not one long paragraph but rather he used short paragraphs that reflected the main point and subpoints. Long paragraphs are both boring and evidence of poor writing skills.
(1) Ezra Taft Benson, Book of Mormon: Keystone of our Religion
(2) Do a one page single-spaced write-up in three parts--include heading for each part:
a. Comprehensive summary of the teachings found in the talk (the more comprehensive the better the grade)
b. List at least 5 insights you gained, or five important teachings
c. Questions or things about this talk you would like to discuss in class
d. Include the three sub-headings bolded above
Click here for a good example of an article summary. Notice that the student used good writing skills. From reading the article he he dtermined the main point and subpoints of the talk. Then he wrote his comprehensive summary. However, his comprehensive summary was not one long paragraph but rather he used short paragraphs that reflected the main point and subpoints. Long paragraphs are both boring and evidence of poor writing skills.
1828 Dictionary
Book of Mormon Written to Help Us Prepare for the Second Coming
Recently Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve wrote:
The Book of Mormon authors wrote with future generations in mind, specifically the latter days. In abridging the Nephite records, Mormon said he could not include “even a hundredth part” (see 3 Nephi 5:8; see also Words of Mormon 1:5). Moroni commented, “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” (Mormon 8:35). These two authors and others, acting under inspiration, wrote what would be of greatest benefit to us in these latter days.
We should
therefore study with these questions in mind: “Why was this included?
How does this apply today and to me?” President Benson observed, for
example, that in the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for
the Savior’s Second Coming. We learn how disciples of Christ live in
times of war, deal with persecution and apostasy, do missionary
work, and respond to the dangers of materialism. As Nephi did, when
we study, we should “liken” the scriptures to ourselves—that is, try to
discover how to apply what we find in the Book of Mormon (see 1 Nephi
19:23). ("
How to Study the Book of Mormon," Ensign,
Oct. 2011, pp. 28-30)
How To Improve Learning
- Richard G. Scott, To
Learn and to Teach More Effecively
- Lord's Truths Hidden From the Insincere - Boyd K. Packer
- Thoughts Concerning Doctrine - Boyd K. Packer
Abrahamic Covenant
The Abrahamic Covenant\
Quotes Used in Class
First
Principles of the Gospel
- Faith
- Faith ... A Gift of Power From God (From the life of Wilford Woodruff)
- General Guidlines and Specific Lives - Jeffrey R. Holland
- "The Meaning of Repentance" Theodore M. Burton of the Seventy
- Teachings Cocnerning Repentance
- Metanoeo-Greek Word for Repentance
- The Gift of the Holy Ghost
- The
Holy Ghost as minister of Godhead and Atonement
- The
Ministry of Angels Associated with the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Temple
- Elder James E. Talmage, "The Temple Endowment"
Motherhood
President James E.
Faust:
"There is no
greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a
mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation."
("Fathers, Mothers, Marriage," Ensign,
Aug. 2004, p. 3)
- Richard G. Scott, "The Joy of Living the Great Plan of Happiness"
- Bradley D. Foster (of the Seventy) "Mother
Told Me"
Secret
Combinations
Jeffery R. Holland
President Ezra Taft Benson:
"Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God's work, but it has singled out as the greatest threat the Godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon-it is a conspiracy fact." (God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties [1974], p.322)
"In this state of lonely witnessing,
Moroni was shown the last days of another civilization-our own. And
Moroni saw they would be very much like his own. In these days it would
be said that miracles were done away, and secret combinations would
delight in works of darkness. Fires and tempests and vapors of smoke
would singe the earth, while wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes
would rage in divers places. Pollutions would come upon the face of the
earth, including the moral pollution of murders, robbery, lying,
whoredoms, and "all manner of abominations." Even churches would
be defiled, lifted up in the pride of their hearts. They would be built
up to get gain and to offer forgiveness of sins through the payment of
money, becoming as polluted as the physical and moral environment
around them." (Christ and the
New Covenant [1997], p. 324)
President Ezra Taft Benson:
"Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God's work, but it has singled out as the greatest threat the Godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon-it is a conspiracy fact." (God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties [1974], p.322)
- Ezra Taft Benson, "I Testify" Ensign, Nov. 1988
- M.
Russell Ballard, "Standing
for Truth and Right," Ensign,
Nov. 1997
Resources For Further Study of the Book of Mormon
Translating the Book of
Mormon
-
Richard Lloyd Anderson, “‘By the Gift and Power of God’,” Ensign, Sep 1977, pp. 79ff [An article about what we know about how the Book of Mormon was translated.]
- Joseph Fielding McConkie, Craig J. Ostler, "The Process of Translating the Book of Mormon," From Revelations of the Restoration: A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants and Other Modern Revelations (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2000), pp. 89-98.
Importance of the Book of Mormon
- Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon--Keystone of Our
Religion"
Lehi's Dream
- Ezra Taft Benson, "The Power of the Word"
- Boyd K. Packer, "Finding Yourself in Lehi's Dream" Ensign, August 2010
- David A. Bednar, "Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod," Ensign, October 2011, pp. 32-37
Various Book of Mormon Topics
-
Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, pp. 4ff
- James R. Moss, "Six Nephite Judges: A Study in Integrity," Ensign, Sep 1977, pp. 60-65
- Russell M. Nelson, “Divine Love,” Ensign, Feb 2003, pp. 20ff [While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. -- This article helps in understanding Nehorism as found in Alma 1]
- Orson Scott Card, “Dissent and Treason,” Ensign, Sep 1977, pp. 53ff [Discussion about various people or groups who dissented against Nephite Goverment: Discent of Amlici, Zoramite, Amalakiah, Morianton, the King-men, Pachus]
- Vaughn J. Featherstone, “The King’s Son,” New Era, Nov 1975, pp. 35ff
- Robert A. Rees, "Ammon,"
Ensign., Jun. 1977,
pp. 73ff
- Lenet H. Read, “King Lamoni,” Ensign, Aug 1977, pp. 60ff
-
Chauncey C. Riddle, “Korihor: The Arguments of Apostasy,” Ensign, Sep 1977, pp. 18ff
-
Gerald N. Lund, “Countering Korihor’s Philosophy,” Ensign, Jul 1992, pp. 16ff
- Kathleen S. McConkie, “Defending
against Evil,” Ensign, Jan 1992, pp. 19ff [Deals
with the question of why
Mormon used so much valuable space on the plates to record military intrigue and battle strategy?]
- Eugene England, “Moroni and His Captains: Men of Peace in a Time of War,” Ensign, Sep 1977, pp. 29ff
-
Marjorie Meads Spencer, “My Book of Mormon Sisters,” Ensign, Sep 1977, pp. 66ff
-
Brian Best, “Nephi, Lehi, and Samuel the Lamanite,” Ensign, Dec 1977, pp. 45ff
- Marilyn Arnold, “The Nephi We Tend to Forget,” Ensign, Jan 1978, pp. 69ff
Quotes and Pictures Used in Class
Monday, April 23, assignment:
Reading and write-up:
(1) Ezra Taft Benson, Book of Mormon: Keystone of our Religion
(2) Do a write-up in three parts--include heading for each part:
a. Comprehensive summary (ONE PAGE, SINGLE-SPACED) of the teachings found in the talk (the more comprehensive the better the grade)
b. List at least 5 insights you gained, or five important teachings
c. Questions or things about this talk you would like to discuss in class
d. Include the three sub-headings bolded above
Click here for a good example of an article summary. Notice that the student used good writing skills. From reading the article he summarize, he dtermined the main point and subpoints of the talk. Then he wrote his comprehensive summary. However, hHis comprehensive summary was not one long paragraph but rather he used short paragraphs that reflected the main point and subpoints. Long paragraphs are both boring and evidence of poor writing skills.