Week # 18

HUMILITY


"If the Lord was meek and lowly and humble, then to become humble one must do what he did in boldly denouncing evil, bravely advancing righteous work, courageously meeting every problem, becoming the master of himself and the situations about him and being near oblivious of personal credit. . . .  Humility is not pretentious, presumptuous or proud.  it is not weak, vacillating, or servile."  (Spencer W. Kimball,  "Humility, "  Improvement Era,  Aug. 1963, p. 656).

Questions and Activities

• What are the qualities of a humble person?
• Why does the Lord require us to be humble?
• What role does humility play in the conversion process?  In the repentance process?
• What blessings have been promised those who humble themselves before the Lord?
• Find instances in the scriptures where the Lord gave men experiences to make them humble.  Compare them with modern examples.
• Recall examples from the scriptures in which prophets became powerful and great because of their humility before the Lord.
• What experiences in your life have helped and are currently helping you learn humility?
• What are you doing to show the Lord your humility?

Topical Guide

Contrite Heart

Heart

Humility, Humble

Meek, Meekness

Poor in Spirit

Pride

Submissiveness, Submit

Teachable

Scriptures

1 Nephi 8

Mosiah 2:24-27;  3

Alma 26:11-12;  32:1-16;  38:13-15

3 Nephi 12:5

Ether 12:26-27

D&C 19:20;  112:10

Proverbs 3:5-12

Moses 6:26-47

Other Sources

Jesus the Christ, chapter 17

Week #17

OBEDIENCE

"Obedience is the first law of heaven, the cornerstone upon which all righteousness and progression rest."(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine. P.539)"We cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep those we have already received." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 256)

Questions and Answers

• Why is obedience the first law of heaven?
• How does obedience make us free?
• Think of examples of obedience from the Savior's life.Why does God give us commandments?
• Why is it important to obey willingly rather than unwillingly?
• What specific blessings have you received from being obedient?
• Record in your journal experiences when the Lord has prepared a way for you to obey him?
• What are you specifically doing to increase the Lord's trust in you?
  
• To show your love for him?

Topical Guide
Commandments of God
Commitment
Diligence, Diligent, Diligently
Disobedience, Disobey
Do, Did, Done
Endure
Obedience, Obedient, Obey
Steadfastness, Steadfast
Walking with God

Scriptures
1 Nephi 3:1-8
Mosiah 2:22
Alma 5:39-41
D&C 59:21; 82:10; 105:5-7
Genesis 22:1-13
Deuteronomy 8
Matthew 7:21-29
Abraham 4:25
Articles of Faith 1:3, 12

Bible Dictionary
Commandments, The Ten
Fear

Other Sources
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 21
Gospel Principles, chapter 35
The Articles of Faith, chapter 23
Truth Restored, chapter 13

Week # 16

THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST

"It is my judgment that there are many members of the Church who have been baptized for the remission of their sins, who have had hands laid upon their heads for the gift of the Holy Ghost, who have never received that gift, that is, the manifestations of it. Why? Because they have never put themselves in order to receive these manifestations. They have never humbled themselves. They have never taken the steps that would prepare them for the companionship of the Holy Ghost" (Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1958, p. 21).

Questions and Activities

• What is the mission of the Holy Ghost?
• What are the fruits of the Spirit?
• What is the differences between having the Holy Ghost bear witness and having the gift of the Holy Ghost?
• Find scriptural examples of Jesus or his representatives conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• How do you gain the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost?
• In what ways have you been helped by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost?
• Recall experiences when you felt guided by the Holy Ghost in your life. Record them in your journal.
• What are you doing in your life to gain the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost?

Topical Guide

Comforter

God, Spirit of

Hands, Laying on of

Holy Ghost

Holy Ghost, Baptism of

Holy Ghost, Gift of

Holy Ghost, Mission of

Holy Spirit

Lord, Spirit of

Remission of Sins

Sanctification, Sanctify

Scriptures

3 Nephi 18:35-39

3 Nephi 19:1-4; 27:1-2, 20

John 16:1-14

Acts 2; 8:9-20; 19:1-7

Bible Dictionary

Confirmation

Dove, Sign of

Holy Ghost

Laying on of Hands

Other sources

Gospel Principles, chapter 21

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 11

Week # 15

BAPTISM

"Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, and to heaven that we do the will of God, and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to him to be saved, and enter into the kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:555).

Questions and Activities

• What is an ordinance of the gospel? Why does the Lord give us ordinances?
• What is the purpose of the ordinance of baptism?
• Find scriptural examples of the proper mode of baptism.
• How is baptism by immersion symbolic of the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ?
• Why was the Savior baptized?
• Review the covenants made at baptism--the promises made by you and the promises made by Heavenly Father.
• What are some of the blessings that you have received because you have been baptized?
• What feelings did you have as you attended a baptismal service? Why are baptismal services such powerful spiritual experiences?

Topical Guide

Baptism

Baptism, Essential

Baptism, Immersion

Baptism, Qualifications for

Jesus Christ, Baptism of

Jesus Christ, Taking the Name of

Remission of Sins

Scriptures

2 Nephi 31

Mosiah 18

3 Nephi 11:19-41

Moroni 6, 8:4-16

D&C 20:37

Matthew 3

John 3:1-5

Acts 8:26-40

Romans 6:1-16

Articles of Faith 1:4

Bible Dictionary

Baptism

Bethabara

John the Baptist

Jordan River

Regeneration

Symbolism

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, chapter 20

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 10

Jesus the Christ, chapter 10

The Articles of Faith, chapters 6-7

Week # 14

REPENTANCE

" True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them, a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light. Not only so, but to make restitution, so far as it is possible, for all the wrongs we have done, to pay our debts, and restore to God and man their rights---that which is due to them from us." (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, pp. 100-101).

Questions and Activities

• What is sin? What is repentance?
• What is the process of repentance?
• In what way is changing your behavior to righteous actions part of repentance?
• How does forgiving others help you obtain forgiveness of your sins?
• How has the Lord let you know when your repentance is accepted?
• What blessings have come to you through repentance?
• Record in your journal your feelings about the opportunity provided by the Savior to repent and change.
• What in your life are you trying to change and make better?

Topical Guide

Change

Confess

Confession

Forgive, Forgiveness

Guilt, Guilty

Man, New, Spiritually Reborn

Remission of Sins

Repent, Repentance

Turn

Scriptures

Enos 1

Alma 5, 7:14-22, 36

Helaman 7:17-29

Ezekial 33:7-16

Luke 15

Articles of Faith 1:4

Bible Dictionary

Confession

Repentance

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, chapter19

Jesus the Christ, chapter 27

The Articles of Faith, chapter 5