HE INVITETH ALL TO COME UNTO HIMBook of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Lesson 10

2 Nephi 26-30

INTRODUCTION

➤ Key to all theatrical magic

➤ Managing the audience’s attention

➤ In the moment (patter)

➤ Surrounding props and distractions

➤ Howcast video link

➤ Cunning plan of Satan

➤ These chapters are an overview the ongoing war between the work of God and the influence of Satan

➤ There is no neutral. Neutrality is an aid and advantage to the enemy. Why?

NEPHI PROPHESIES OF THE SAVIOR’S MINISTRY AMONG THE NEPHITES

➤ 2 Ne 26:1-3, 5-6, What is Nephi seeing?

➤ 2 Ne 26:7, Why would he see this as just?

➤ 2 Ne 26:8, 4 identifiers of righteousness

➤ 1. Hearken unto the words of prophets

➤ 2. Destroy them not

➤ 3. Look forward unto Christ (signs which are given, not the signs they think would be helpful)

➤ 4. Still believe in spite of persecution. If you aren’t being persecuted on some level, maybe you don’t believe strongly/publicly enough?

NEPHI PROPHESIES OF THE SAVIOR’S MINISTRY AMONG THE NEPHITES

➤ 2 Ne 26:9-10, 4 generations of peace

➤ Speedy destruction, why is the plummet so fast once it starts?

➤ ATOT: wills fall on his scooter

➤ What does it mean to sell yourself for naught?

➤ What is the root of their undoing? Pride.

➤ 2 Ne 26:11, The Spirit will not always strive with man.

➤ Footnote b: Loss of the Holy Ghost

➤ Hypothermia example from 2 Ne 1, past feeling

➤ 2 Ne 26:12-13, Contrast to previous verses

➤ Why doesn’t he manifest himself to cause them to believe?

➤ Why reach out to those who already believe?

NEPHI TEACHES ABOUT STUMBLING BLOCKS & PRIESTCRAFT

➤ 2 Ne 26:20-22, Gentiles

➤ What is the stumbling block? A deliberate attempt to stop and to distract

➤ ATOT: Store marketing strategies: milk is in the back, signs to key items aren't visible, many things are put in your way

➤ 1 Ne 13:28-25, the bible had lost many plain and precious parts

➤ What are the results?

➤ Lifted up in pride, preach their own ideas, preach for financial gain, deny the miracles and power of God (20)

➤ Filled with envy, malice & strife (21)

➤ Support secret combinations (22)

➤ Priestcraft begins to take hold

NEPHI TEACHES ABOUT PRIESTCRAFT➤ 2 Ne 26:29

➤ What is priestcraft? (29)

➤ 1. Set themselves up for a light

➤ 2. They do it to get gain

➤ 3. Seek not the welfare of Zion. What else could they be seeking?

➤ Lots of LDS people make their living teaching the gospel. Is that ok?

➤ How do you know if you’re on the right side? See John Taylor quote (next slide)

➤ 2 Ne 26:30

➤ What is the antidote to priestcraft? Charity (Moroni 7:45-47, 3 Ne 18:24)

➤ 2 Ne 26: 24-25, 27, 33 Christ’s example of pure charity

➤ Contrast the devil’s leading with cords (22) to Christ’s drawing men unto Him (24)

➤ Why say without money and without price (25)? Guilt and shame are removed too, not just the punishment

➤ See Bruce R. McConkie quote (next slide)

“ You can know the difference between the Spirit of the Lord and the spirit of the adversary, when you find that you are happy and contented, that you love your fellows, that you are anxious for their welfare; and you can tell that you do not have that Spirit when you are full of animosity and feel that you would like to knock somebody down. (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Heber J. Grant, 152)

-President John Taylor

“ “Above all the attributes of godliness and perfection, charity is the one most devoutly to be desired. Charity is more than love, far more; it is everlasting love, perfect love, the pure love of Christ which endureth forever. It is love so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him.(Mormon Doctrine, p. 121))

-Bruce R. McConkie

NEPHI TESTIFIES OF THE COMING FORTH OF THE BOOK OF MORMON

➤ Chapter 27: further prophesies about the latter-days

➤ 2 Ne 27:6, 9

➤ What is this book?

➤ 2 Ne 27: 19-20

➤ Why give them to someone who is unlearned?

➤ We know Joseph Smith had limited education, why do we fault him for his financial mistakes and shortcomings?

➤ 2 Ne 27:15-16

➤ How was this fulfilled? Martin Harris & Charles Anthon (and others)

➤ 2 Ne 27:26

➤ What is the marvelous work? That he can use such limited tools to create such a beautiful structure.

➤ That the Book of Mormon came out of obscurity despite so many obstacles. Ezra Taft Benson quote (next slide).

“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too.But there is something more. There is a power in the book that will begin to flow into your life the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. 

-President Ezra Taft Benson

NEPHI PROPHESIES THAT SATAN WILL SPREAD FALSE DOCTRINES IN THE LAST DAYS

➤ 2 Ne 28:3-4

➤ In 1992 there were 21,800 Christian sects on record

➤ Cunning plans of Satan that are found in other religions

➤ 2 Ne 28:5, God hath done his work

➤ 2 Ne 28:6, No miracles

➤ 2 Ne 28:7, There is no sin

➤ 2 Ne 28:8, All will be saved

➤ 2 Ne 28:9, No transparency (compare to 2 Ne 26:33)

➤ 2 Ne 28:13, Don’t care for the poor so they can have better stuff and clothing.

➤ We tend to think these are only about other churches. How do each of these apply to us? Do we do struggle with these mistakes in our hearts?

➤ President Benson Quote (next slide)

“ "Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble... "Christ taught that we should be in the world but not of it. Yet there are some in our midst who are not so much concerned about taking the gospel into the world as they are about bringing worldliness into the gospel. They want us to be popular with the worldly even though a prophet has said that it is impossible, for all hell would then want to join us.

"Through their own reasoning and a few misapplied scriptures, they try to sell us the precepts and philosophies of men. They do not feel the Church is progressive enough." (CR, Apr 1969)

-President Ezra Taft Benson

NEPHI TEACHES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOOK OF MORMON

➤ Satan’s strategy to pull down the saints

➤ 2 Ne 28:20, he will stir them up

➤ 2 Ne 28:21, he will pacify into carnal security

➤ Why do they use the word ‘carefully’?

➤ 2 Ne 28:22, he flatters others

➤ Why are we given adversity?

➤ 2 Ne 28:24, It keeps us awake and alert

➤ Warnings to Saints

➤ 2 Ne 28:25, 27, 28

➤ How do we fall victim to these temptations?

➤ How do we build up immunity? 2 Ne 28:30

➤ We continually learn and build wisdom (anti-magic)

CONCLUSION

➤ Magic isn’t real. Once the secrets are revealed we lose interest

➤ 2 Ne 30:10-18

➤ We know who will win this fight (18)

➤ We know the enemies strategies

➤ We know our best defenses against them

➤ The Book of Mormon is the strongest weapon in our arsenal. It was given for our day.