2 Nephi 27:16-22 (01/31/16)

Scripture study participants:  Dad, Mom, Brandon, Kenyon, Shaylee, Jaron & Maycee 
Hymn:   Scripture Power
Prayer:  Maycee


CLICK TO READ  2 Nephi 27:16-22

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

2 Nephi 27:16   (Shaylee) 

Q:   Why did Martin Harris want to get an expert in Egyptian validate the characters that were written on the plates? (Dad)

A:   "For the glory of the world instead of the glory of God."  (Mom)  "Yes, the Lord didn't need worldly experts to validate the Book of Mormon. He provides His own way to let them know it is true, which is how?"  (Dad)  "Through the Spirit." (Brandon)  "Exactly."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:17   (Jaron) 

2 Nephi 27:18   (Maycee) 

2 Nephi 27:19  (Mom) 

Q:   Who is the unlearned man whom the Lord gave the Book of Mormon? (Dad)

A:   "Joseph Smith." (Kenyon) 

Q:   Why do you think the Lord gave the Book of Mormon to someone who was unlearned instead of someone who was very learned like that professor? (Dad)

A:  "That way they couldn't take the credit for themselves." (Brandon)  "Because he was humble."  (Mom)  "Yes, the Lord wanted a humble servant who would rely on Him not his own learning and strength. The Lord needed someone who would do His will, not their own."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:20  (Kenyon) 

Q:   Why did the Lord's say that He didn't need the professor of Egyptian to read and validate the characters? (Dad)

A:   "Because they rejected them." (Kenyon)  "Yes, and He knows how to do His own work. He doesn't need man to counsel or tell Him how to do it."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:21  (Dad)

Q:   What did the Lord say to do with the sealed portion of the plates? (Dad)

A:   "Basically stay away from them - don't touch them." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 27:22  (Brandon)

Q:   What did the Lord say what would happen to the golden plates after the Book of Mormon was translated? (Dad)

A:   "Seal it up and hide it." (Brandon)

Q:   Why didn't the Lord leave the plates to prove to people they were real making it easier for people to believe? (Dad)

A:  "He said He would have His own way to do it. Plus people would try to steal it and melt it down for the money." (Brandon)  "Yes, the Lord said that He wanted to preserve them. So the one sure way to preserve them was to have the angel Moroni take them back until the time that He wants the unsealed portion of the plates to be translated. Plus it's also so that we can rely on faith for our testimony instead of having physical proof."  (Dad)

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY AT CHURCH

"I learned that the church is there to support parents in teaching their children the gospel. It's not the church's responsibility to teach you, but it's the parents' job and the church is there to help us to do our job. The purpose of the church is to bless families and help them become eternal families."  (Dad)
"I learned that being reverent isn't just being quiet but wanting to have the Spirit with you and to listen and want to get something from the lessons and from taking the sacrament knowing that what's being said is something special."  (Mom)
"I learned that reverence is an important thing. How you feel affects how reverent you are. You should always try to have a peaceful feeling in times that you need to be reverent." (Brandon)
"How [Addison Reeeves] said that praying helped him come through the hard times on his mission because he could really feel the Spirit when he prayed." (Kenyon) 
"I learned about the two types of priesthood - the Aaronic and Melchezidek. In order to baptize people and give blessings you have to have the priesthood." (Shaylee)
"I learned today about the Tree of Life. That you have to hold to the iron rod." (Jaron)
"I learned you have to be still for a butterfly to come. Just like a butterfly the Holy Ghost needs us to be still so we can learn from our lessons." (Maycee)

2 Nephi 27:9-15 (01/30/16)

Scripture study participants:  Dad, Mom, Brandon, Kenyon, Shaylee, Jaron & Maycee 
Hymn:   The Wise Man Built His House Upon A Rock
Prayer:  Jaron


CLICK TO READ  2 Nephi 27:9-15

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

2 Nephi 27:9   (Jaron)

2 Nephi 27:10  (Mom) 

2 Nephi 27:11   (Shaylee)  

Q:   What's contained of the sealed portion of the plates? (Dad)

A:   "Something prophets were given visions of what happens to us." (Brandon)

Q:   What's going to happen when the sealed plates are finally revealed? (Dad)

A:   "People will shout it from the housetops."  (Mom)

2 Nephi 27:12  (Brandon)

Q:   So who are the three witnesses Nephi said would be allowed to see the sealed portion of the plates? (Dad)

A:   "Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris." (Brandon)  "And David Whitmer. The three witnesses of the Book of Mormon."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:13  (Dad)

Q:   So why did Nephi say that the Lord would allow witnesses to see the plates? (Dad)

A:   "It says to bear testimony of them to the world. The Lord's pattern is to provide multiple witnesses of His word."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:14  (Maycee)

Q:   Who did Nephi say "wo" or beware unto? (Dad)

A:   "Whoever rejects the word of God."  (Mom)

2 Nephi 27:15  (Kenyon)

Q:   This is talking about when Martin Harris brought writings from the plates to have them verified by an Egyptian scholar that they were authentic and that Joseph Smith didn't make it up. So how did Nephi know that this would happen? (Dad)

A:   "The Lord revealed it unto him." (Brandon)  "A vision." (Kenyon)  "Yes,  you're both right and that's how the prophets wrote in the sealed portion about the details of what would happen in the last days - they were shown it in vision and wrote it down."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:2-8 (01/29/16)

Scripture study participants:  Dad, Mom, Brandon, Kenyon, Shaylee, Jaron & Maycee 
Hymn:   Count Your Many Blessings
Prayer:  Shaylee


CLICK TO READ  2 Nephi 27:2-8

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

2 Nephi 27:2   (Mom) 

Q:   What is the Lord going to do to this land in the last days? (Dad)

A:   "Thunder, earthquakes, fire, storms, and tempests."  (Mom)

2 Nephi 27:3   (Brandon)

Q:   What's going to happen to the nations who fight against Zion? (Dad)

A:   "They're going to find their souls unsatisfied in what it longs or hungers for."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:4    (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:5  (Kenyon)  

2 Nephi 27:6  (Shaylee) 

2 Nephi 27:7  (Jaron)

Q:   What is the book it's talking about that will come forth in the last days that is from those that slumber and is sealed? (Dad)

A:   "The Book of Mormon." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 27:8  (Maycee)

Q:   Why was the Book of Mormon kept hidden from people for all that long time? (Dad)

A:   "So it wouldn't be delivered in the days of wickedness and abominations."  (Mom)  "Yes, there needed to be a nation with religious freedom where it could be translated and published without  interference from a king or oppressive government."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:29-33, 27:1 (01/28/16)

Scripture study participants:  Dad, Mom, Brandon, Kenyon, Jaron & Maycee 
Hymn:   Teach Me To Walk In The Light
Prayer:  Kenyon


CLICK TO READ  2 Nephi 26:29-33, 27:1

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

2 Nephi 26:29   (Jaron)

Q:   The Lord commanded that there shall be no priestcrafts. What are priestcrafts? (Dad)

A:   "It's when people who take credit instead of giving it to the Lord and want the light shined on themselves." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 26:30   (Kenyon)  

Q:   The Lord has commanded that we have charity. What is charity? (Dad)

A:   "It's love." (Kenyon)  "It's the pure love of Christ."  (Mom)

2 Nephi 26:31  (Maycee) 

Q:   What does it mean that the laborer in Zion, or members of the church, who work for money shall perish? (Dad)

A:   "It means if money is your main motivation in life you'll spiritually perish. Charity should be our motivation because we love the Lord and our fellow man."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:32  (Mom) (Dad)

"It's basically talking about keeping the ten commandments."  (Mom)

2 Nephi 26:33  (Dad)

Q:   What does it mean that all are alike unto God? (Dad)

A:   "It means that the Lord loves everyone." (Brandon)  "Yes, it doesn't matter whether you're male or female, black or white, free or a slave, Jew or a gentile. We're all Heavenly Father's children, and He loves and wants to save us all, not just certain groups of people."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 27:1  (Brandon)

Q:   How does it describe all the people in this land in the last days? (Dad)

A:   "They'll be drunken in iniquity and all manner of abominations." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 26:22-28 (01/27/16)

Scripture study participants:  Dad, Mom, Brandon, Kenyon, Shaylee, Jaron & Maycee 
Hymn:   The Lord Is My Light
Prayer:  Brandon


CLICK TO READ  2 Nephi 26:22-28

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

2 Nephi 26:22   (Shaylee)   

Q:   Who is the founder of all secret combinations? (Dad)

A:   "Satan." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 26:23   (Jaron)   

Q:   It said that the Lord doesn't work in what? (Dad)

A:   "The Lord." (Jaron)

2 Nephi 26:24  (Brandon)

Q:   Why did it say that Jesus came down and suffered and died for our sins? Because Heavenly Father told Him to? (Dad)

A:   "Because He loves the world." (Brandon)

Q:   Some people think that God is an angry god looking to punish and condemn us? (Dad)

A:   "He wants us to partake of salvation."  (Mom)  "Yes, the Lord is looking to save us not condemn us. Those who end up being condemned it's because they rejected His many invitations to repent and come unto Him."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:25  (Kenyon) 

Q:   Does the Lord ever command us to depart from Him? (Dad)

A:   "No, but He says come unto me ye ends of the earth." (Kenyon) 

2 Nephi 26:26  (Maycee)  

Q:   Does the Lord ever say that people shouldn't go to church? What about the wicked? (Dad)

A:   "No." (Mom)  "Yes, even for those who are excommunicated they are not turned away from coming to church. They cannot partake of the sacrament, hold callings, or give talks or lessons but they are welcome to come to church. In fact we want them to because the purpose of excommunication is to get them to repent fully so they can have theire blessings and ordinances restored to them. Remember the Lord's motivation is to save us, not condemn us, but He cannot save us if we are unclean."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:27   (Dad) 

Q:   So what does the Lord want us members of the church to do? (Dad)

A:   "To get all men to repent." (Mom)  "Yes, to persuade and encourage all men to repent and come unto Him."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:28  (Mom) 

Q:   Are there people who the Lord doesn't care if they are saved, like those who are not the covenant people, or the gentiles? Does the Lord care more about one race of people or gender? (Dad)

A:   "No." (Brandon)  "Correct. It says all men are privileged like unto each other and none are forbidden from partaking of His salvation. The Lord wants to save everyone."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:15-21 (01/26/16)

Scripture study participants:  Dad, Mom, Brandon, Kenyon, Shaylee, Jaron & Maycee 
Hymn:   In Our Lovely Deseret
Prayer:  Mom


CLICK TO READ  2 Nephi 26:15-21

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

2 Nephi 26:15   (Kenyon)  

Q:   What does it say about the remnants of the House of Israel who have dwindled in unbelief? (Dad)

A:   "They will be smitten by the gentiles." (Shaylee)  "They won't be forgotten." (Kenyon)  "Yes, Israel was scattered but the Lord will remember them and gather them in the last days, which we are doing through missionary work."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:16   (Shaylee)  

Q:   What speaks unto them, scattered Israel, out of the ground with speech from the dust that has a familiar spirit? (Dad)

A:   "The Book of Mormon." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 26:17  (Mom) 

Q:   Why did Moroni have to seal up the plates and bury them? (Dad)

A:   "So the people that didn't believe wouldn't get it and destroy it." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 26:18  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:19  (Jaron)

Q:   Who would the gentiles smite? (Dad)

A:   "Those who dwindled in unbelief." (Jaron)  "Yes, the Lamanites who remained in the Americas."  (Dad)

2 Nephi 26:20  (Brandon)

Q:   What are some of the problems of the gentiles? (Dad)

A:   "They're prideful. Basically that they'll be a stumbling block for themselves, and they built unto themselves many churches." (Brandon)

2 Nephi 26:21  (Maycee)

Q:   How did these different churches treat each other? (Dad)

A:   "Badly - strife, malice."  (Mom)  "Yes, and envying or jealousy."  (Dad)