Mormon 5-7
Reading for Wednesday, Apr. 25: Mormon 5-7
Learning Activities:
1) Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy:
2) According to Mormon 5:14–15, the purposes of the Book of Mormon are to persuade people that Jesus is the Christ, to help fulfill God’s covenant with the house of Israel, and to help descendants of the Lamanites believe the gospel more fully.“All that will come may be ‘clasped in the arms of Jesus’ [Mormon 5:11]. All souls can be healed by His power. All pain can be soothed. In Him, we can ‘find rest unto [our] souls’ [Matthew 11:29]. Our mortal circumstances may not immediately change, but our pain, worry, suffering, and fear can be swallowed up in His peace and healing balm” (Kent F. Richards, “The Atonement Covers All Pain,” Ensign or Liahona,May 2011, 16).
- How has your study of the Book of Mormon helped you more fully believe in Jesus Christ?
President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained a connection between the word atonement and the phrase “clasped in the arms of Jesus”:
“Rich meaning is found in study of the word atonement in the Semitic languages of Old Testament times. In Hebrew, the basic word for atonement is kaphar, a verb that means ‘to cover’ or ‘to forgive.’ Closely related is the Aramaic and Arabic word kafat, meaning ‘a close embrace’—no doubt related to the Egyptian ritual embrace. References to that embrace are evident in the Book of Mormon. One states that ‘the Lord hath redeemed my soul … ; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love’ [2 Nephi 1:15]. Another proffers the glorious hope of our being ‘clasped in the arms of Jesus’ [Mormon 5:11]” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Atonement,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 34).
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the connection between the Lord’s invitation to repent and the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ.
“The scriptures speak of His arms being open, extended, stretched out, and encircling. They are described as mighty and holy, arms of mercy, arms of safety, arms of love, ‘lengthened out all the day long’ [2 Nephi 28:32].“We have each felt to some extent these spiritual arms around us. We have felt His forgiveness, His love and comfort. The Lord has said, ‘I am he [who] comforteth you’ [2 Nephi 8:12].“The Lord’s desire that we come unto Him and be wrapped in His arms is often an invitation to repent” (Neil L. Andersen, “Repent … That I May Heal You,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 40).
President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) taught:
“Mormon described some people, his people, from whom the spirit of the Lord had departed, and … it seems clear to me that what he was talking about was not merely the inability to have the companionship of or the gift of the Holy Ghost, but he was talking of that light of truth to which every one born into the world is entitled and will never cease to strive with the individual unless he loses it through his own sinning” (Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Apr. 1956, 108).
5) This video may help you understand these chapters: O Ye Fair Ones!
6) Mormon 7:5-10
Elder Ballard’s counsel on how we can apply this principle in our lives:
“Live the doctrine of Christ, the simple and basic principles of the gospel, each day—have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent, honor the covenant of baptism, live worthy of the Holy Ghost as your companion, and endure to the very end. Do this every day, and the Spirit of the Lord will be with you to keep you safely on the pathway that leads to eternal life” (M. Russell Ballard, “Follow the Doctrine and Gospel of Christ” [Brigham Young University fireside, Nov. 7, 2010], 8, speeches.byu.edu).
