WEEK # 31


JUDGMENT


" Every man that dies shall live again, and shall stand before the bar of God, to be judged according to his works, whether they be good or evil.  It is then that all will have to give an account for their stewardship in this mortal life."  (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 69).

"Judgment consists in the power to arrive at a wise and righteous decision , to the blessing of the righteous and the condemnation of the wicked.  It is an attribute of Deity.  'The Lord is a God of judgment'  (Isa. 30:18)"  (Bruce R. Mc Conkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 400).


Questions and Activities

• Why is judgment essential to the plan of salvation?
• What scriptures show that God's judgments are just?
• Alma taught that we will be judged according to what three things?
• What are the different degrees of glory and the characteristics of those who inherit each?
• Ponder the principle that "of him unto whom much is given much is required"  (D& C 82:3).
• How do you feel about the fact that the Savior will be your judge?
• How has knowing that you will be judged influenced the way you live?
• If you were to be judged right now, what thoughts, words, and actions would condemn you?  How can you change in order to prepare better for the judgment?

Topical Guide

Accountability

Book of Life

Condemnation

Death, Spiritual, Second

Excommunication

God, Justice of

God, Mercy of

Good Works

Injustice

Jesus Christ, Judge

Judge

Judgment, the Last

Justice

Mercy,Merciful

Reward

Wages

Wickedness, Wicked

Scriptures

Alma 5:57-58;  12:12-15;  42

3 Nephi 27

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Matthew 7:21-23

Romans 2

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Articles of Faith 1:2

Bible Dictionary

Book of Life

Damnation

Degrees of Glory

Other Sources 

Gospel Principles, chapter 46

The Articles of Faith, chapter 22

Jesus the Christ, chapter 32, pp. 584-86

WEEK # 30


THE POSTMORTAL SPIRIT WORLD


"The spirits of all men, as soon as they depart from this mortal body, whether they are good or evil. . . are taken home to that God who gave them life, where there is a separation, a partial judgment, and the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they expand in wisdom where they have respite from all their troubles, and where care and sorrow do not annoy."  (Joseph F. Smith, Improvement Era,  June 1904, p. 621).

"The great misery of departed spirits in the world of spirits, where they go after death, is to know that they come short of the glory that others enjoy and that they might have enjoyed themselves, and they are their own accusers."  (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 127).

Questions and Activities

• What are the conditions in the spirit world?
• What is the nature of our spirits?
• What is the purpose of the spirit world?
• What is the state of the righteous in the spirit world? of the wicked?
• What experiences have you had that give you the assurance of our spirits will live on after death?
• How does your understanding of life after death influence your feelings about death?
• How does missionary work here on earth affect the work among the dead?

Topical Guide

Dead

Death

Grave

Gulf

Hell

Mortality

Paradise, Paradisiacal

Salvation for the Dead

Spirits, Disembodied

Spirits in Prison

Scriptures

2 Nephi 9:12-19

Alma 40

D&C 128:6-22;  137-138

Luke 16:19-31

1 Peter 3-4

Bible Dictionary

Abraham's Bosom

Hell

Paradise

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, chapter 45

Jesus the Christ, chapter 36

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 13

Week # 29


FREE  AGENCY


"Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God's greatest gift to man.  Among the immediate obligations and duties resting upon members of the Church today, and one of the most urgent and pressing for attention and action of all liberty-loving people, is the preservation of individual liberty.  Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any possession earth can give."  (David O. McKay, in Conference Report, Apr. 1950, p. 32).

Questions and Activities

• What is meant by the term free agency?
• What was the role of free agency in the pre mortal life?  in the Fall?  in the Atonement?
• Why is agency vital to the plan of salvation?
• In what ways does the exercising of agency bring bondage?  freedom?
• Ponder and record in your journal the relationship between keeping God's commandments and maintaining your free agency?
• In what ways do opposition and free agency help us grow?
• What decisions or choices do you make everyday or every week that have eternal significance?  What ought to influence you in making these decisions?

Topical Guide

Agency

Choose, Chose, Chosen

Free

Initiative

Liberty

Opposition

Probation, Probationary

Prove

Temptation

Test, Try, Prove

Scriptures

2 Nephi 2:11-18

Mosiah 29:26-27, 32

Alma 30:7-9;  43:9

Moroni 7:12-19

D&C 93:30

Moses 4:3-4

Articles of Faith 1:11,  12

Bible Dictionary

Conscience

Fall of Adam

Tempt

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, chapter 4

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 24

Week # 28


THE  PREMORTAL  LIFE


"Spirits are eternal.  At the first organization in heaven we were all present, and saw the Savior chosen and appointed, and the plan of salvation made, and we sanctioned it."  (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.77).

"There is no way to make sense of life without a knowledge of the doctrine of premortal life.''

"The idea that mortal birth is the beginning is preposterous.  There is no way to explain life if you believe that. . . .

"We are the children of God, created in his image.

"Our child-parent relationship to God is clear."  ( Boyd K. Packer, " The Mystery of Life,"  Ensign, Nov. 1983, p. 18).


Questions and Activities

• According to the scriptures, what happened in the council in heaven?
• What proposals were made in premortal life for our salvation?  What would have been the consequences of each proposal?
• What does it mean to keep our first estate?
• What blessings and opportunities do you enjoy in your life because you kept your first estate?
• How does your understanding of the premortal life influence the decisions you make and the way you live?
• What examples can you find in the scriptures of people being prepared and ordained in the premortal life for their earthly missions?
• How would a clear understanding of premortal life make a difference in the lives of people who are investigating the church?
• In what ways is learning gospel principles really a relearning or a remembering of things previously learned?

Topical Guide

Council in Heaven

Earth, Purpose of

Jesus Christ, Antemortal Existence of

Man, a Spirit Child of Heavenly Father

Man, Antemortal Existence of 

Man, Potential to Become Like Heavenly Father

Spirit Body

Spirit Creation

Scriptures

Alma 13:2-5

Ether 3:13-16

D&C 29:40-45

Moses 3:5

Abraham 3:22-28

Proverbs 8:22-31

Isaiah 14:12-15

Jeremiah 1:4-5

Ephesians 1:4-11

Bible Dictionary

Election

Spirit

War in Heaven

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, Chapter 2

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 20

Jesus the Christ, chapter 2

Week # 27


PATIENCE


"To fill the full measure and purpose of our mortal probation, we must have patience.  This mortal existence is the Lord's sifting sphere, the time when we are subject to trials, testing, and tribulations.  Future rewards will be based on our patient endurance of all things."  (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 557).

Questions and Activities

• Why does the Lord command his people to be patient in all things?
• Find scriptures describing different situations in which patience is necessary.
• What is the role of patience in being charitable?  in being forgiving?  in developing faith?  in developing talents?  in developing a testimony?  in becoming a dependable servant of God?
• How do the following scriptures illustrate patience:  Mark 15,  Alma 14, 1 Nephi 17, Isaiah 53?  What other scriptural accounts provide examples of Jesus Christ and other prophets showing patience?  Why have the people of God had to bear so much affliction in all generations?
• What experiences have you had in which you benefitted because someone was patient with you?
• What experiences have helped you develop patience?
• In what circumstances do you find it easiest to show patience?  When is it most difficult?
• What will you do today to be more patient?

Topical Guide

Adversity

Endure

Forbear, Forbearance

Long-Suffering

Oppression, Oppress

Patience, Patient, Patiently

Perseverance

Self-mastery

Test, Try, Prove

Tribulation

Scriptures

Mosiah 23:21-22,  24:15

Alma 17:19-39

D&C 98:1-4;  121:34-46;  122: 5-9

Job 1-2

Luke 21:19

James 1:3-4

Articles of Faith 1:13