Lesson 12: "Seek Ye for the Kingdom of God"

8/2/2019 Lesson 12: "Seek Ye for the Kingdom of God"

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#4: President Spencer W. Kimball: The possession of riches does not necessarilyconstitute sin. But sin may arise in the acquisition and use of wealth For the loveof money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erredfrom the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O

man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, pa-tience, meekness. (1 Tim. 6:10 -11.)

Book of Mormon history eloquently reveals the corrosive effect of the passion forwealth Had the people used their wealth for good purposes they could have enjoyed acontinuing prosperity. But they seemed unable for a sustained period to be simultaneouslywealthy and righteous (The Miracle of Forgiveness, 47-8).

#5: Rex Lee, former president of BYU: When our neighbor, Jimmy, was four, he was nothappy in preschool. No one could determine why. The school offered him the best toys andpaints and smiling teachers. But still Jimmy cried every day. So Jimmys mother and the di-rector decided it would be best for him to withdraw. After a few weeks, Jimmy decided hewanted to go to a different preschool. His mother was skeptical but enrolled him in the newschool. When she left him the first day, she was careful to leave a phone number, feelingcertain she would receive a call. But it never came not that day or all that week. He washappy every day and when asked what he did there, his usual reply was, I help Bobby.

Then one day when Jimmys mother suggested taking him out of school for the day,he burst out crying, I cant be gone. I have to be there. Bobby needs me. It was then thatshe learned the source of her son's new found happiness in school. He was helping a boywith impaired muscular coordination, and both boys benefited from the relationship. Shinyred trucks, swings, or finger paints could not make Jimmys day happy at preschool. Amidstthose toys he could only think of how miserable he was and how much he missed home.But giving service to someone in need directed his interests away from his problems, gavehim purpose, and made him happy. (Overcoming Discouragement, BYU Devotional, http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=7821 )

#6: Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone cautioned, A word to adults and parents: ElderBruce R. McConkies father counseled that when we violate any commandment,however small, our youth may choose to violate a commandment later on in life

perhaps 10 times or 100 times worse and justify it on the basis of the small com-mandment we broke (CR Oct. 1999).


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From: Charting the Book of Mormon, by John and Gregory Welch


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Thomas S. Monson: I promise to be diligent. I will magnify my calling. What does it mean to magnify acalling? It means to build it up in dignity and importance, to make it honorable and commendable in theeyes of all mankind, to enlarge and strengthen it, to let the light of heaven shine through it to the view of other men. And how does one magnify a calling? Simply be performing the service that pertains to it. Inshort, we magnify our callings by learning what our duties are and then by performing them.

I pause when I think of the words of President John Taylor: If you do not magnify your calling,God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty. ( Be Your Best Self , 147)

Wilford Woodruff: The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we didnot stop this practice. If we had not stopped it, you would have no use for any other men in this templeat Logan; for all ordinances would be stopped throughout the land of Zion. Confusion would reign through-out Israel, and many men would be made prisoners. This trouble would have come upon the wholeChurch, and we should have been compelled to stop the practice.

Now, the question is, whether it should be stopped in this manner, or in the way the Lord hadmanifested to us, and leave our prophets and apostles and fathers free men, and the temples in the hands

of the people, so that the dead may be redeemed. The Lord has told me exactly what to do, and what the result would be if we did not do it but Iwant to say this: I should have let all the temples go out of our hands; I would have gone to prison myself and let every other man go there, had not the God of Heaven commanded me to do what I did do; andwhen the hour came that I was commanded to do that, it was all clear to me. I went before the Lord and Iwrote what the Lord told me to write. (Deseret News, November 21, 1891)

Ruben Alvarez...in the late 1990s served as the stake president in Puerto Mont, Chile After his mission,he...became an engineer in water agriculture in order to work in the salmon industry in Chile. When hewent for an interview with one of the big salmon companies, he was one of fifty-four applicants for the job.After initial interviews he was one of four called back for another interview in Santiago Before acceptinghe job he told the managers, Ill give you every day, even nights, except one the Sabbath. They liked

his honesty and character. The closest church was seventeen kilometers away from Rubens home. He andhis wife walked to church and back every week, even through heavy rains, because they were committedo following God. After seven months they were transferred to Chiloc, another city in the south, where he

was made the branch president. They prospered financially. People told him he had good luck. He toldhem it was not luck; it was obedience to Gods laws: faithful observance of the Sabbath and faithful pay-

ment of tithing. One stormy night, he got a call that a four -hundred pound sea lion had broken into the salmon

cages submerged off the coast (the giant cages were worth about two million dollars each). He grabbedhis big shotgun and headed to the beach. He and his crew got into their boats and made for the cages.

The laws prohibited Ruben from killing any sea lion, so every time it came up for air, he shot into the wateras close to it as he dared. But the shots had no effect. The company stood to lose huge sums of money; afour-hundred pound sea lion can eat a lot of salmon.

Ruben put down his gun and walked away from the others to pray. With tears streaming down hisface, he reminded the Lord that he had been faithful in all his duties as a true disciple: Ive paid my tith-ng; Ive kept the Sabbath. He pleaded with the Lord to help him. As he got up from his knees, he felt anncredible warmth blanketing him. He walked back, and his workers grabbed him excitedly to tell him thathe sea lion had left. When the scuba divers checked the damaged cages, they found them full of salmon.

Malachi 3:11 records the Lords promise to those who are loyal to the law of tithes and offerings: Iwill rebuke the devourer for you sake. (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, Verse by Verse , 263-64)

Other thoughts too great not to include:


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LESSON OUTLINE

Since were beginning our study of the Book of Jacob today, I think it propriate to review what we know about the prophet Jacob.

~Was he older or younger than Nephi? (Younger)~If Nephi was 16 when his family left Jerusalem, about how old wJacob was born? (18-20)~Where was Jacob born? (Arabian desert)~According to Lehi, how could we characterize Jacobs childhood-

flections & much sorrow due to whom? rudeness of thy bret2:1)

~And yet, he was also greatly favored of the Lord. Did he have vi

youth he beheld the Savior and saw His ministry2 Ne. 2:3-4. He al taught about things clear back to the creation of the world 2 Ne. 611, as well as the future destiny of America!2 Ne. 10:10-19)

When Nephi was about 72 years old, he turned over some plates to aboold Jacob.

~How many books of plates did Nephi create? (2)~What were they called? (Small Plates of Nephi & Large Plates o~What did Nephi reserve the large plates for? (history)~What did Nephi reserve the small plates for? (precious spiritual t~So which plates did Nephi turn over to Jacob? (small plates)

See Book of Mormon Plates & Records Chart ~Who actually put together the Book of Mormon? (Mormon)~Then how does Moroni fit in?

Notice on the left column are all the records that we know of that Morand copied from to create the Book of Mormon.

~What did the small plates consist of? (An abridgment of Lehis rquotes from the brass plates

I think youll find this chart very interesting as you study it. One impotodays lesson is,

~Did Mormon consider Jacobs words to be of great value? Why? them in full)

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Grieves his soulShrink with shameBurdenethverse 9

Jacob 2:10

(Here Jacob sums up his feelings about what hes about to say ~Do you think our General Authorities felt a great burden in delivmessages to us last weekend at General Conference?

Quotation #2

So Jacob was commanded to speak on 3 subjects Look at verse 12 of ctell us what the first subject is. (Materialism & pride)

~Is this a trial that members of the church face today?Quotation #3(You have to love Brigham Youngs candor here!)

~Is wealth bad, then?Quotation #4

Jacob 2:19

(Here Jacob lists 4 proper uses of money)1. To clothe the naked. There are many in need. Can we take care of t

should we prioritize? (Family first, then relatives, ward, others)2. To feed the hungry. (Same priorities?)3. To liberate the captive. What does this mean? (Emotionally & spirit

such as in sin and addiction, etc.)4. Administer relief to the sick and afflicted. (Same priorities?)

D&C 11:7

(This scripture puts everything in perspective concerning mon~Is it really riches that bring us joy, anyway?

Quotation #5

After discussing riches and pride, Jacob goes on to his next subject. Scsee what it is. (Immorality)

Jacob 2:23-24

verse 6

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~Is excusing our immoral behavior due to the actions of others coday as well?

Jacob 3:10

Again, how we behave influences those around us. To the extent that ocauses others to falter, we will be held accountable.

Quotation #6

Jacob 3:1-2

(Jacob shows the greatness of his heart here.For while he seeks to obey the command to address

the immorality of the people, he also feels compassionfor those affected by that immorality. Here

is his counsel to them.)I am grateful for Jacobs timeless message. That we may use our meanis of eternal worth, and consider how our behavior is influencing thosewe interact is my prayer...

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Lesson 12: "Seek Ye for the Kingdom of God"