Gospel Essentials Class Notes

May 13, 2001

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Gospel Essentials Class Notes May 13 2001

Gospel Essentials Class Notes May 13, 2001

Mention from Moroni 4:71 the Great Heaps of Earth and show picture of recent discovery  from Central America, showing the same.

 Ether 5:

Moroni makes mention of some principles of faith:

1.        Evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

2.        Receive no witness without trial of faith first Ether 5:7 James 1:3

3.        Is the means by which Christ reveals himself to man (Ether 5:8)

4.        No miracle happens without faith (Ether 5:13) (Jesus could do no miracle in certain places because of the lack of faith Mark 6:7)

5.        Many living prior to Jesus had sufficient faith to see and know him (Ether 5:19)

6.        Even by faith that this word would come to us Gentiles in latter-days, to return again to the house of Joseph and others. (Ether 5:22)

Moroni expresses concern over the weakness of their writing, because He realizes that these words will come to the Gentiles first, (1 Nephi 4:16, 1 Nephi 3:19)  in a future day, before they come back to his people.  He also realizes that great spiritual gifts have been given in times past—in powerful writing that convinces the soul (5:25).

We don’t get the entire conversation, but he apparently assumes that God will deploy the same gift in sending these words to the Gentiles…not to be the case (5:30..they will be done)

God says to Moroni, don’t worry you’ve been faithful.  It will be better this way.

5:22 Writers knew that the word would come to the remnant how…?  Via the Gentiles.  Hence, 5:35 speaks of charity—not as a universal spiritual principle, but as towards the word of God that comes to them (or will come to them).

See how the verse ends…if they don’t have charity (towards the word), God will take from them and give to another (3 nephi 7:35).

 and simultaneously informs of a spiritual gift—inspired writing convincing enough to overpower the human soul. (Ether 5:25)  Contrasted with the gift given of Inspired speaking, which can overpower the soul. (Ether 5:23 Ether 5:24 Ether 5:26)

Here is what God prophesies to us: Fools mock, but they shall mourn. Ether 5:27

Heard a good one on ‘Christian’ talk radio—two men were cutting down J.S. saying his problem was not reading Hebrew, but roman numerals.  Moroni was ‘Moron’ “I” (Moron One).  These are they who shall mourn.  Moroni promises that we will meet him in the presence of God and know these things are true. (Ether 5:39)

These words will be confirmed by your faith in them, to the overpowering confirmation by the Holy Spirit.

God wants these things to be brought forth (for now) in weakness, so the Gentiles can make their choice by faith.  Afterward the choices are made, will the truth be confirmed in power. Ether 5:30 And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted,

Moroni again confirms that the Gentiles who reject these will have their ‘talent’ taken away. (Ether 5:35)

God will not show of His power until repentance. (Helaman 3:25)

And Moroni humbly informs that he, too, was one of these persons, who had the faith to see Christ. (Ether 5:40) and commends us to seek Him.

Ether 6.  Remember how the 5^th chapter began, describing Ether with his overwhelming Gift of the Holy Ghost, so much that he could not be restrained from preaching.  (When the H.G., the most powerful force of Good that a person can possess, indwells in man, this person must needs seek good things to do).

Nevertheless, when that same spirit is absent in man, those hearing reject (Like Samuel on the wall—he had so much that he would stand on the wall, others would shoot arrows at him).

Ether 6:2 they rejected all the words of Ether.  What were some of the things Ether (a Jaredite prophet) informed his people of?

1.        This land was preserved as the choicest land.

2.        Waters had receeded off of it (Enoch’s account records this Gen. 7:18)

3.        The Lord would that all men of this land (and world) serve him

4.        It would be the place of the New Jerusalem which would come from Heaven someday.

5.        It would also be the place of a city built upon this land someday.

6.        He spoke of the House of Israel (living in parallel to him, although he had never met anyone from the House of Israel.  Remember, Jaredites were pre-Abraham).

7.        Spoke of the account of Joseph being a type for the House of Israel and their spiritual inheritance.

8.        The   Holy City on this land would be built by the House of Joseph (Ether 6:8)(3 Nephi 10:1)

9.        There will be a new heaven and new earth, like the old, but completely new.

10.     The New Jerusalem from heaven will be established.  The Jerusalem of Old shall be established.

11.     House of Israel who was scattered, will be gathered (vs 12) which will fulfill the scripture which teaches that the last shall be first and the first last (verse 13).

Moroni was forbidden to write more.