Matthew
joespencer
Robert C.
robf
BrianJ
douglashunter
Kevin Barney
Jim F.
nhilton
cherylem
Clark Goble
NathanG
jennywebb
janetlisonbee
kirkcaudle
Karl D.
KarenThis is, I think, a nice little lesson. Scattered as it is among so many different people, however, it is difficult to trace in it any real unified intention. And of course none of it comes from the Prophet Joseph Smith. As a result, I will do little more in my notes here than draw on little bits and pieces of the many things said about Joseph Smith that seem to me striking in one way or another, writing up comments here and there. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for September, 2009
RS/MP Lesson 43: “‘He Was a Prophet of God’: Contemporaries of Joseph Smith Testify of His Prophetic Mission” (Joseph Smith Manual)
Posted by joespencer on September 29, 2009
Posted in Lessons:RS/MP | 6 Comments »
Our Posterity
Posted by robf on September 21, 2009
In my current read through of the Book of Mormon, I’m increasingly struck by how “posterity focused” the Nephite patriarchs and prophets are. The whole enterprise of writing on the plates, of course, only makes sense in light of the huge pains they take to preserve the gospel covenants for their posterity. Nephi agonizes about his posterity in vision. Jacob pleads for them. Enos begs for the records to be preserved for them. It is interesting to contrast that focus with our own cares and concerns. My guess is that we seldom worry about our distant posterity like the Nephites did. Why is that? Why don’t we seek to know what will befall our posterity, and pray for them? Is it that we just assume that they will be faithful and blessed in some future Millennial day? How can we even relate to the hopes and aspirations of the Nephite patriarchs? And, to threadjack my own post, are we really fulfilling their expectations of us as regarding their posterity?
Posted in Misc. | 8 Comments »
Aaronic Priesthood Lesson 33: Scripture Study
Posted by NathanG on September 13, 2009
I am now teaching the priests in the Aaronic Priesthood in our ward. I was just looking through our next lesson on Scripture Study and made my (often token effort) perusal of the manual. The “attention getter” story is as follows:
“Ask the young men to imagine themselves in the following situation. You and your family have gone to spend a few days in the mountains. The area is new to you, and you decide to go for a hike before dinner. As you are walking, you spot a squirrel and begin to follow it. You haven’t paid attention to which direction you are going and suddenly realize that you are lost. The sun has dropped behind the mountains, and it is quickly becoming cold and dark.
- • What might help you in such a situation? (A map or a compass.)” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Lessons:AP/YW | 8 Comments »
A Mormon Theology Seminar Conference on Revelation 21-22
Posted by joespencer on September 8, 2009
Latter-day Saint Readings of Revelation 21-22
September 25th, University of Texas-Austin
Theater in the Texas Union (Room 2.228)
The schedule is as follows: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Misc. | Leave a Comment »
You Aren’t Lost Enough
Posted by BrianJ on September 5, 2009
I gave a talk last week on the Parable of the Lost Sheep. I had this thought as I spoke (but I didn’t share it in my talk):
There’s an implied promise in the parable (as also in the Parable of the Lost Silver Coin) that the owner of the sheep/coin—i.e., Jesus—will keep searching for what is lost until he finds it. I know that, as recorded by Luke, Jesus addressed these parables to the Scribes and Pharisees criticizing him for fraternizing with sinners. Still, I wonder how a sinner—or anyone feeling lost—overhearing the parables should take them. I think the message is: you aren’t lost enough that I cannot find you.
Posted in Scripture topics | 3 Comments »
