3 NEPHI 1-2 CHRISTMAS EVE

3 NEPHI 1-2 FEARS OR CHEERS? First date Bishop's interview Graduation First kiss Having your first child Proposing Marriage Going to college Getting your mission call Moving out of your house Job interview Signs of the times being fulfilled Second Coming of Christ

3 NEPHI 1-2 Cheer or Fear? Read 1:18 and then 1:23.

3 NEPHI 1-2 Bishop Richard C. Edgley: “Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. … The Savior said, ‘Come unto me’ (Matthew 11:28) and ‘Knock, and it shall be [given] you’ (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs— come, knock. They are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism. … “… When logic, reason, or personal intellect come into conflict with sacred teachings and doctrine, or conflicting messages assault your beliefs …choose to not cast the seed [of faith] out of your heart by unbelief. Remember, we receive not a witness until after the trial of our faith (seeEther 12:6)” (“Faith—the Choice Is Yours,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 31–33).

THIRD NEPHI “Nowhere in the scriptures do we have a more beautiful or detailed record of God’s dealings with man than in the account of this visit as recorded in Third Nephi. I commend to all the reading of this account. Surely we can find nothing there except some warnings and beautiful teachings which, if accepted and lived, will do more than anything else to bring peace and happiness to the world and to the individual… Here we can find explanations for many unanswered questions in the Bible” (N. Eldon Tanner, Ensign, May 1975, 34).

THIRD NEPHI “THE FIFTH GOSPEL” The first seven chapters show the need for the destruction. Chapter eight begins the destruction for those who won’t repent. The remaining chapters call for repentance to those who were more righteous than those who were destroyed.

3 NEPHI Nephi 1:4–93 Nephi 1:4–9. What challenge did the believers face? Why might some people struggle to remain faithful in this situation? Whom do you know who you believe would stay faithful in this situation? Why do you think those people would stay faithful?

3 Nephi 1:3 Perhaps Nephi was translated like Alma the Younger (Alma 45:18-19). 3 Nephi 1:4 Signs flow from faith and are a product of it. Signs are not to produce faith, but to reward it. Signs are wonders and miracles manifested to the faithful. It is not uncommon in the scriptures to see the most marvelous signs of Gods power ignored by those without faith. If someone joins this church because of a miracle, it will be a miracle if they stay in it.

3 NEPHI 1-2 Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4-5, 7 (time and a season for everything) Put these in the correct Gospel sequence/order: Courting Group dating Mission Temple marriage College Career Family How would God order these?

3 NEPHI 1-2 Elder Oaks (October 2003 Ensign) “We cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing” “Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Prov. 3:11 ‑ 12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain” (Elder Scott, Oct 1995).

3 NEPHI 1-2 Examples of stretching and growth underscored by the omniscient timing of God: 1. Abraham and Isaac and the angel 2. Orson Pratt’s mission So what’s the best way to plan our lives? Elder Oaks, Oct 2003 Ensign: “Commit yourself to put the Lord frist in your life, keep his commandments, and do what the Lord’s servants ask you to do. Then your feet are on the path to eternal life. Then it does not matter if you are called to be the [Laurel’s class president] or the [1 st Assistant to the Bishop], whether you are married or single, or whether you die tomorrow. You do not know what will happen; do your best on what is fundamental and personal and then trust in the Lord and in His timing.” Give me some examples of divine timing, personal or scriptural

3 NEPHI 1-2 So what? What does this doctrine do for us? What does it mean to you? Marriage Missions Friends. President Ezra Taft Benson: "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988, p. 361.) Your birthplace and time Death (Abenadi, Jesus, Joseph) Schooling Careers

3 NEPHI 1-2 President Benson: “We live today in a wicked world. Never in our memory have the forces of evil been arrayed in such a deadly formation. The devil is well organized and has many emissaries working for him. His satanic majesty has proclaimed his intention to destroy our young people, to weaken the home and family, and to defeat the purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ through his great church” (God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties [1974], 90). “All through the ages the prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been as well organized. Now is the great day of the devil’s power.... But now is also the great day of the Lord’s power, with the greatest number ever of priesthood holders on the earth” (“In His Steps,” in 1979 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1980], 59).

3 NEPHI 1:24 How should we respond to those who want to contend with us over the scriptures?

There are some of other faiths who do not regard us as Christians. That is not important…”I hope we do not argue over this matter. There is no reason to debate it. We simply, quietly, and without apology testify that God has revealed Himself and His beloved Son in opening this full and final dispensation of His work. “We must not become disagreeable as we talk of doctrinal differences… “We can respect other religions, and must do so. We must recognize the great good they accomplish. We must teach our children to be tolerant friendly toward those not of our faith… “A holier-than-thou attitude is not becoming of us” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 1998, 4).

Bishop Richard C. Edgley: “Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. … The Savior said, ‘Come unto me’ (Matthew 11:28) and ‘Knock, and it shall be [given] you’ (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs—come, knock. They are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism. … “… When logic, reason, or personal intellect come into conflict with sacred teachings and doctrine, or conflicting messages assault your beliefs … choose to not cast the seed [of faith] out of your heart by unbelief. Remember, we receive not a witness until after the trial of our faith (see Ether 12:6)” (“Faith—the Choice Is Yours,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 31–33).

WHY WE ARE NOT CONSIDERED CHRISTIANS BY THE WORLD! 1. We do not come from the traditional Catholic or Protestant line. 2. We do not believe in “the Trinity.” 3. Our unusual doctrines. Concerning mainstream Christianity, they say: “You’re not like us, and we say, you’re right, and we don’t want to be!” John Taylor

3 Nephi 2:1-4 Why do the Wicked Sometimes See Signs? 1. To vindicate prophets (Mosiah 20:21). 2. Leave the wicked without excuse (D&C 63:7). 3. Show correctness of prophets’ words (Helaman 9:2- 4). 4. Condemn the wicked (Matthew 12:39).

3 NEPHI 1-2 CHRISTMAS EVE