This is a review of the slides we used while discussing... Discipleship D&C 49-75

3 Main Themes: 1) “Plant & Establish” = 2) “Watchmen” = 3) “Tower” =

3 Main Themes: 1) “Plant & Establish” = Discipleship 2) “Watchmen” = Prophets & Apostles 3) “Tower” = Temple

Plant - Establish

The Symbol of the Olive Tree With careful pruning and cultivating the [olive] tree will begin to produce its fruits in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive or nearly fifteen years (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 47). The Symbol of the Olive Tree With careful pruning and cultivating the [olive] tree will begin to produce its fruits in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive or nearly fifteen years (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 47).

PruneDungDig “A Process”

Shouldering the yoke of discipleship greatly enhances both our adoration and knowledge of Jesus, because then we experience, first-hand, through our parallel but smaller-scaled experiences, a small but instructive portion of what the Savior experienced. In this precious process, the more we do what Jesus did— allow our wills to be “swallowed up in the will of the Father”— the more we will learn of Jesus (Mosiah 15:7). This emulation directly enhances our adoration of Jesus (Neal A. Maxwell, Becoming A Disciple, Ensign, June 1996, p. 12).

We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more god-like, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 72).

Spirituality is not acquired suddenly. It is the consequence of a succession of right choices. It is the harvest of a righteous life (Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, p. 144).

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, p. 160).

Plant - Establish D&C 57:4-6, 8D&C 57:4-6, 8 D&C 58:44-58D&C 58:44-58 D&C 63:24-31,41D&C 63:24-31,41 D&C 88:119 [Eph.2:19-22, 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 1 Cor. 6:19-20]D&C 88:119 [Eph.2:19-22, 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 1 Cor. 6:19-20]

The Heart and A Willing Mind D&C 64:34

Furthermore, the angel told him, at the interview mentioned last, that the time had not yet come for the plates to be brought forth to the world; that he could not take them from the place wherein they were deposited until he had learned to keep the commandments of God—not only till he was willing but able to do it (Smith, Lucy Mack, History of Joseph Smith, S.L.C., Utah, Bookcraft, 1958, p. 81).

“The Sabbath Day” D&C 59 & Isaiah 58

And as we move forward into a wonderful future, there are what some may regard as the lesser commandments but which are also of such tremendous importance. I mention the Sabbath day. The Sabbath of the Lord is becoming the play day of the people. It is a day of golf and football on television, of buying and selling in our stores and markets. Are we moving to mainstream America as some observers believe? In this I fear we are. What a telling thing it is to see the parking lots of the markets filled on Sunday in communities that are predominately LDS. Our strength for the future, our resolution to grow the Church across the world, will be weakened if we violate the will of the Lord in this important matter. He has so very clearly spoken anciently and again in modern revelation. We cannot disregard with impunity that which He has said. (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 69)

The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. To fail to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side (SWK, The Miracle of Forgiveness, 96– 97).

Keeping a Balance D&C 49

A holier-than-thou attitude is not becoming to us. I am in receipt of a letter from a man in our community who is not a member of the Church. In it he says that his little daughter has been ostracized by her schoolmates who are Latter-day Saints. He sets forth another instance of a child who, it is alleged, had a religious medal ripped from his neck by an LDS child. I hope this is not true. If it is, I apologize to those who have been offended (Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, April 4, 1998, Saturday Morning Session).

The End...