On the Refiner's Fire

A Lesson for

The Ward Council

Sterling Park Ward

Ashburn, VA Stake

Bishop D. Calvin Andrus25 January 2008

Version 1.1

Released under the Creative Common 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

An old preacher was dying. He sent a

message for his banker and his lawyer,

both church members, to come to his

home.

When they arrived, they were ushered up

to his bedroom. As they entered the

room, the preacher held out his hands

and motioned for them to sit on each

side of the bed. The preacher grasped

their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled,

and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no

one said anything.

Both the banker and lawyer were touched

and flattered that the preacher would ask

them to be with him during his final

moments.

They were also puzzled; the preacher had

never given them any indication that he

particularly liked either of them. They

both remembered his many long,

uncomfortable sermons about greed,

covetousness, and avaricious behavior

that made them squirm in their seats.

Finally, the banker said,

"Preacher, why did you ask us to

come?"

The old preacher mustered up

his strength and then said

weakly, "Jesus died between two

thieves, and that's how I want to

go."

On to the

Lesson

Refiner's Fire

• Mal. 3: 2-3

• D&C 128: 24

Would someone

please simply

explain the

metallurgical

refining process?

Refining Metal

PrepPrep

HeatHeat

MetalMetal

SlagSlagOreOre

Blast Furnace

Prep'd Iron Ore and Coal put in here

Prep'd Iron Ore and Coal put in here

Air blasted in hereAir blasted in here

Slag drained from top of metalSlag drained from top of metal

Pure metal drained from bottomPure metal drained from bottom

When the metal

is pure and

molten, it is cast

into shape

and worked.

The purpose of

refining metal is to

remove the

impurities.

Refining is an

arduous process.

Spiritual / Personal Sense . . .

Heat?

Slag?

Prep?

Refiner?

Ore?

Thoughts / Notes

Slag Prep Heat

1.

2.

3.

Two Examples

Abraham's Story, part 1

• Gen 14:9-24

• Gen 15:1-6

• Gen 16:1-4,15

• Gen 17:15-19

Abraham's Story, part 2

• Gen 21:1-3

• Gen 22:1, fn a

• Gen 22:2

• Gen 22:3

Abraham's Thoughts?

• Did he understand right?

• Did this make sense?

• Did he tell his wife?

• Did he know the

outcome?

Abraham's Confusion?

This commandment

was contrary to his

values, his righteous

desires, his previous

heavenly promises

Abraham's Obedience?

So, why did Abraham

obey?

Abraham's Dross?

How was he prepared?

What dross needed to be purged?

And what was the outcome?

Joseph's Story, part 1

• JS-H 1:17-19

• JS-H 1:30, 33,

34, 54

• D&C 21:3

• D&C 115:5-12

Joseph's Story, part 2

• D&C 121:Intro

• D&C 121:1-3

• D&C 122:5-7

• D&C 123:Intro

Joseph's Dross?

If Liberty jail was the

refiner's fire, what was

the slag that needed

to be removed from

his life?

Joseph's Outcome?

What happened in

Joseph's life after

Liberty Jail?

Abraham and Joseph

What similarities are

there between these

two stories that are

lessons for us?

Would anyone like

to share items

from the list they

have been making

during this

lesson?

Savior's Example

• Matt 6:10

• John 5:19

• John 5:30

• John 6:38

• John 8:28

• Matt 26:39

Our LivesI will ask some

questions, which

you should

evaluate in your

own minds.

Righteous Desires

• Moroni 7:3-18

• (Or if out of time Moroni 7:8 & 16)

So What is the Point?

• Helaman 10:4-10

• DC 121:36-37

• DC 84:36-37

Who knows how

amateur

silversmiths can

tell when molten

refined silver is

pure?

The End