2 Nephi 32-33 (11/2)
Reading Assignment for class on Nov. 3: 2 Nephi 32-33
It's always hard to say goodbye to a great prophet like Nephi, so take a few minutes to ponder what you have learned from him about being faithful, obedience, making sacrifices, being happy, etc. Write down some of these things in your journal.
Read 2 Nephi 32:2–3, and look for what Nephi said we need to do after we have entered the path. It may be helpful to know that speaking with the tongue of angels, according to President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “simply means that you can speak with the power of the Holy Ghost” (“The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Member Should Know,” Ensign, Aug. 2006, 50).
You may want to mark the phrase “feast upon the words of Christ” in 2 Nephi 32:3 (this verse is a doctrinal mastery passage). Nephi used the phrase “the words of Christ” to describe teachings inspired by the Holy Ghost. Think about some ways or places you can read, hear, or receive teachings inspired by the Holy Ghost.
The words of Christ include the scriptures and the words of modern-day prophets. To help you ponder what it might mean to “feast upon the words of Christ,” read the following quotations:
Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “To feast means more than to taste. To feast means to savor. We savor the scriptures by studying them in a spirit of delightful discovery and faithful obedience. When we feast upon the words of Christ, they … become an integral part of our nature” (“Living by Scriptural Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 17).
Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “If you and I are to feast upon the words of Christ, we must study the scriptures and absorb His words through pondering them and making them a part of every thought and action” (“Healing Soul and Body,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 15).
Ponder: How well are you feasting on the words of Christ in the following situations:
Personal scripture study; Sacrament meeting; General conference; Family scripture study; Seminary; Family home evening; Aaronic Priesthood quorum meeting or Young Women class; Sunday School; Personal prayer?
2 Nephi 32:8-9 PRAY
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, underline one or more ways we can fulfill the command to “pray always”:
Elder David A. Bednar“There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone. …
“During the course of the day, we keep a prayer in our heart for continued assistance and guidance. …
“We notice during this particular day that there are occasions where normally we would have a tendency to speak harshly, and we do not; or we might be inclined to anger, but we are not. We discern heavenly help and strength and humbly recognize answers to our prayer. Even in that moment of recognition, we offer a silent prayer of gratitude.
“At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer.
“Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to ‘pray always’ (Luke 21:36; 3 Nephi 18:15, 18; D&C 31:12). Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for His faithful children” (“Pray Always,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 41–42).