Gospel Essentials Class Notes

March 11, 2001

Listen to this class:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Mormon Chapter 4:

With Father and Kinsfolk dead, Moroni takes over writing for Mormon.  

Writes to Gentiles of Latter Day.  Speaks of this record, and when it will come forth. Mormon 4:18-22, 34-46

Mormon 4:2-6—all kinsfolk were destroyed, Mormon was killed.  Wouldn’t that make you want to give up?  Call in sick for work?   Moroni teaches a serious lesson in perseverance.  Continues to write for sake of people who wouldn't receive his words for 1500 years!

Mormon 4:12 —Word of God taken from people (verified from Helaman 5:10 )

Mormon 4:42-56  Speaking to believers in the latter days who have:

·         Transfigured the holy word of God (verse 43)

·         Polluted church

Mormon 4:57-95 Speaking to nonbelievers

·         Warns to not deny revelations

·         Warns to not be baptized unworthily

Asking….

(Partial notes, to be completed on March 18th)

Mormon 4:84 Behold I say unto you, that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ, it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

How is this possible for Moroni to say?  Was this an original thought from Moroni?

3 Nephi 13:6 And verily I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father, in my name, it shall be given unto you; therefore ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth, and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

(No…Jesus taught this principle and made this promise).

To whom was he speaking?  Did it mean that anyone in the earth automatically gets everything he/she asks for?

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not; Ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

What does God say about ‘asking’?

q       Alma 5:40 Asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive,

q       James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

q       Alma 16:219 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him; cry unto him when ye are in your fields; yea, over all your flocks; cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid- day, and evening; yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies; yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

q       3 Nephi 5:100 Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.

q       Mormon 4:92 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need.

Not only believers, but TRUE believers who have made there covenant with Him, and have received this…:

q       3 Nephi 9:10 And when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken-nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken--behold, they knelt again, and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus, and they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.

q       DC 83:10c therefore, as I said unto mine apostles, I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost; and these signs shall follow them that believe:

What, therefore, is part of the problem with our ‘asking’?

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Mormon 4:94 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.

DC 46:4b for verily I say unto you, They are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do, that all may be benefited, that seeketh or that asketh of me, that asketh and not for a sign that he may consume it upon his lusts.

Therefore, what should be a primary purpose in asking blessings from God?

1. Pure purpose, as was Christs: 2 Nephi 11:96 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life, that he may draw all men unto him.
2. Look to benefit others:  DC 46:4b for verily I say unto you, They (gifts of God) are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do, that all may be benefited, that seeketh or that asketh of me, that asketh and not for a sign that he may consume it upon his lusts. DC 46:7f and all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God. DC 59:4d yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man…

Why don’t we, individually, collectively, get what we pray for at times?  For instance, why aren’t miracles always witnessed?

Mormon 4:81 And if there were miracles wrought, then why has God ceased to be a God of miracles, and yet be an unchangeable being.

Mormon 4:82 And behold I say unto you, He changeth not; if so, he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.

Mormon 4:83 And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men, is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.

Admonition to the prophet…’asking’ alone, is not the real point.  Asking and receiving is promised as a result of the journey of living and obeying, or in other words, of faith and works.

DC 9:3a Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought, save it was to ask me;

3 Nephi 6:19 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,

3 Nephi 8:51 For Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; and whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

DC 46:4b for verily I say unto you, They are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do, that all may be benefited, that seeketh or that asketh of me, that asketh and not for a sign that he may consume it upon his lusts.

DC 85:16f whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; and if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.

DC 98:5d And in that day whatsoever any man shall ask it shall be given unto him.

3 Nephi 5:100 Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.

Mormon 4:92 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need.

Alma 5:40 Asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive,

Genesis 6:53 And he also said unto him, If thou wilt, turn unto me and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask it shall be given you.