Welcome to Day 58...
With the help of the Spirit, Nephi declared who the guilty party truly was. As a result, SOME of the people accepted him as a prophet, BUT,"...notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the cheif judge, they did harden their hearts." (Helaman 10:13)
Mormon expressed: "And thus we behold how false and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men...yea we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him." (Helaman 12:1)
"O how foolish and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!" (Helaman 12:4)
Nephi is blessed with the sealing power because of his faithfulness: "...whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Helaman 10:7) He continues preaching repentance to the people despite their great wickedness and support of the Gadianton robbers.
Review of the "Pride Cycle:"
Chapters 11 and 12 in the book of Helaman cover 14 years of Nephite history in which the people pass through the Pride Cycle of righteousness and wickedness. This account shows how quickly people forget the Lord and how He chastens them to motivate them to repent and return to Him.
"Therefore blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved...they that have done good shall have ETERNAL LIFE and they that have done evil shall have EVERLASTING DAMNATION." (Helaman 12: 23,26)
The choice is up to us! Life and freedom, or death and captivity. Great job choosing to live by reading the Book of Mormon today!
"Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." Helaman 12:2-3
"Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved." Helaman 12:23
“When there has been wrongdoing and then there has come repentance, followed by forgiveness, then literally the offender who was lost is found, and he who was dead is made alive. How wonderful are the blessings of mercy and forgiveness.” --Gordon B. Hinkley
“We need to remember Edmund Burke’s statement: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ We need to raise our voices with other concerned citizens throughout the world in opposition to current trends. We need to tell the sponsors of offensive media that we have had enough. We need to support programs and products that are positive and uplifting. Joining together with neighbors and friends who share our concerns, we can send a clear message to those responsible.”--Elder M. Russell Ballard
- Opening Song "Away in a Manger"
- Begin study session with prayer
- Scripture Study: Helaman 9-12 (listen)
- Study Guide: (here)
- Video: "Nephi Receives Great Power"
- Video: "Hold upon Your Hearts" (Helaman 7:15–22) Elder M. Russell Ballard warns of ignoring the future by focusing only on the present.
- Video: Want the cure for the PRIDE CYCLE? President Henry B. Eyring tells us the cure for forgetting God (Helaman 12:1–6)
- Video: "Beware of Pride" by Pres. Benson,
"Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." Helaman 12:2-3
"Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved." Helaman 12:23
“We need to remember Edmund Burke’s statement: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ We need to raise our voices with other concerned citizens throughout the world in opposition to current trends. We need to tell the sponsors of offensive media that we have had enough. We need to support programs and products that are positive and uplifting. Joining together with neighbors and friends who share our concerns, we can send a clear message to those responsible.”--Elder M. Russell Ballard- Record thoughts and impressions in your journal
- Close study session with prayer and have a fabulous, faith -filled day!
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