Article of Faith 10

I was in charge of our Family Home Evening lesson last night and it was on the 10th Article of Faith. As I had mentioned before we learning about the Articles of Faith. Well I created a lesson outline for it so that I could effectively teach it. It is a pretty involved one. I wanted to share my outline with you. Remember this how I taught my lesson and you are welcome to alter sections to your families needs. I created this lesson into 2 parts because the article of faith itself has 2 parts.

Article of Faith 10

10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

What 5 things are listed in this Article of Faith?
1. Literal gathering of Israel
2. Restoration of the 10 tribes
3. Zion will be built upon the American continent
4. Christ will reign personally upon on the Earth
5. Earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory

Part 1

for this part of the lesson create a puzzle with 12 pieces that says 12 Tribes6 of Israel

Literal Gathering if Israel
Give short background into the Israelites coming into bondage in Egypt.

What is the gathering of Israel

- To bring together the people of Zion
- There was a first gathering of Israel (read Exodus 12:31)
- Read paragraph from Gathering Scattered Israel: Then and Now, July 1998 Ensign.

After generations of servitude, the Israelites were miraculously delivered by Moses. Their migration from Egypt back to the land of Canaan took place over a 40-year period of travail in the wilderness. The exodus from Egypt and subsequent settlement of the promised land was the first gathering of the people now called Israel. Moses sought not only to restore them to their land but also to recommit them to their faith in God.

- After the first gathering God gave the people of Moses a commandment and a promise (read Deut 4:23, 27 {commandment}; Deut 30:3 {promise}) Also read another paragraph from Gathering Scattered Israel

The Lord informed the people through Moses that if they turned away from his commandments he would “scatter [them] … from the one end of the earth even unto the other” (Deut. 28:64). But he also promised that he would eventually “gather [them] from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered [them]” (Deut. 30:3).

- The second gathering is happening right now

Restoration of the 10 Tribes

How will the restoration go about to gather the tribes?

- Read 3 Ne 21:4, 9 & 26
- Read paragraph from Gathering Scattered Israel

The resurrected Savior outlined to the Nephites a sequence of events that would be a prologue to the gathering of Israel. First, the Gentiles would be established “in this land, and be set up as a free people”; then the gospel would be restored as a “marvelous work among them” and the converts from among the Gentiles would see that the “gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.” The Lord says, “Verily … at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, even the tribes which have been lost” (see 3 Ne. 21:4, 9, 26).

- How will they be gathered? Who will gather them?
- How will they know what tribe they belong to? (parents and older siblings talk about your patriarchal blessing, which tells of what tribe you belong to)
- Where will they be gathered to?

Zion (New Jerusalem) will be Built Upon the American Continent

display a picture of a temple

Where will Zion be built?

- Refer back to 3 Ne 21:4 - - - "they should be established in this land . . ."
- Where is "this land"?
- What will it be called? (read 3 Ne 21:23)
- Why is important?

Part 2

Christ will Reign Personally Upon the Earth

use second coming picture

What needs to happen before Christ can come back?

- Reference to Elder Oaks talk Preparation for the Second Coming; he says,

Biblical and modern prophecies give many signs of the Second Coming. These include:

 

           1. The fulness of the gospel restored and preached in all the world for a witness to all nations.

           2. False Christs and false prophets, deceiving many.

           3. Wars and rumors of wars, with nation rising against nation

           4. Earthquakes in divers places.

           5. Famine and pestilence.
           6. An overflowing scourge, a desolating sickness covering the land.
           7. Iniquity abounding.
           8. The whole earth in commotion.
           9. Men’s hearts failing them.

- Gathering of the faithful

What will Christ do when he comes back?

- Once all of the things listed above have happened Christ "will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during a millennium of righteousness and peace." (Elder Oaks, Preparation for the Second Coming)

What do you think the world will become like?

Earth will be Renewed and Receive its Paradisiacal Glory

How will the Earth be renewed?

- D&C 101:25; 1 Ne 22:15
- Explain that the first cleansing was by water, with Noah and the flood. Second cleansing is by fire by fire.

What does Paradisiacal mean?

- definition: a place of ideal beauty or loveliness; a state of delight
- What will the earth look like in a paradisiacal state?

Family Home Evening - The Articles of Faith

I've neglected this blog. But I hope that I can get back into writing my thoughts and ideas on here again. I gotta make it a habit.

Well for the last 8 weeks or so we have been studying The Articles of Faith for our Family Home Evening lessons. So far it been great! It's fun to learn more about the church with the built in gospel topics through the articles of faith. We all have been able to find study helps through lds.org to create a lesson and use the primary songs for the articles of faith. My son is learning them and we hope that he can pass them off later this year.

The Restoration

I wanted to share this while it was still pretty fresh in my mind. Last night for family home evening we watched the The Restoration video as a continuation of last weeks lesson. This time 2 of my nephews joined us and it was a really nice evening. Throughout the video we would pause to discuss the scene we had just seen and it was neat to hear my older nephew's response to what he just saw. I can see his testimony budding and it warms my heart. It also helps that my husband was his primary teacher last year and they connect with each well as teacher and student. :)

I LOVE the story of the restoration and of Joseph Smith. I'm always in awe at the fact that a teenage boy of 14 sought out the Lord to see which church to join and had a miraculous experience for doing so.

I wanted to post the video but it doesn't look like I can so go here to watch the video and read more about the restoration and Joseph Smith.

There is a hymn that beautifully describes Joseph's experience that I wanted to share, and it is also one of my favorite hymns.

Joseph Smith's First Prayer

Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing thru the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love. …

Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing—
’Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer—
When the pow’rs of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care. …

Suddenly a light descended,
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining glorious pillar
O’er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son. …

“Joseph, this is my Beloved;
Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God.

~ Hymn #26

Agency

As I'm preparing our Family Home Evening lesson for tomorrow I thought that I would teach it on Agency.

What is Agency?
- (here is my definition of agency) It is the right to act for ourselves, to make a choice between good and bad.

In the scriptures I found a verse that correlates to my definition.
2 Nephi 2:16 - Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

So we have are given the choice to choose good or bad. Sometimes we don't always make the right choice and have to suffer the consequences of that decision, but that is how we learn.

Bro. D Todd Christofferson said, "Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard."

Making the right choice is hard, but it can also be rewarding.

Now, what happens if we make a bad choice? Should we try to put the blame on someone else? No! We need to take responsiblity for our own actions.

In Helman 14:30 it says, And now remember, remember, my brethern, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself . . .

We should always make a conscience decision to choice the right, no matter how hard it may be. We shouldn't be blaming someone for what we've done, take responsibilty for that bad choice and ask for forgivness.

Service

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." - Mosiah 2:17

How many times have you walked by someone that was in need but didn't stop to help or thought should I help them? I know I have and have regretted that decision later, thinking to myself, why didn't I stop? Most of the time it's out of fear on our part or not sure how that person will react to your help.

I'm bringing this up as I prepare our Family Home Evening lesson. With the new school year in full swing I feel that my son is now old even to understand the importance of service. So here are some of my notes from my lesson that I wanted to share.

- Why should we serve?
It's a commandment, Love Thy Neighbor

The Savior is the perfect example of service, that we can draw from

Not only is it a commandment, but we are blessed when we serve. Our love for our neighbors grows. We shouldn't just serve our neighbors but also our family. I've learned this principle in marriage. There were times when I was not happy with my marriage, and it was because I was to focused on me and not serving my husband. When I learned to put him first I found a greater deeper love for him than I could ever imagine!

I found a talk from President Monson in where he gives 3 simple steps to serve.

1. Decide to serve
2. Reach out
3. Look to the Savior

We should all strive to be like the Good Samaritan in the Luke. He didn't care that the man laying on the side of road was of a different race, belief or color. All he saw was someone that needed to be taken care of. We shouldn't care of what other will think, only what the Lord will think.

After mentioning that story the Hymn Have I Done Any Good comes to mind.

Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad or made someone feel glad? If not I have failed indeed.

Has anyone's burden been lighter today because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more than dream of your mansion above

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure

A blessing of duty and love.

So I challenge each of you to find that someone to serve and I promise you feel the love of the Savior in your life.

Charity

I seem to be neglecting this blog, not on purpose though.

Tonight I wanted to share the lesson that I taught for Family night tonight. The lesson was on Charity. I've posted my outline and few a quotes that I used. I hope that you can take something from this and better understand what Charity is.

Moroni 7:47 - But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. (this scripture is what we will be memorizing)

- What is Charity?
It is the Pure Love of Christ

- Word that describe Charity: patient, hopeful, truth-loving, innocent, enduring (I can go on but will stop there)

- If you have Charity what will you do?
Good works, or in other words service

Alma 7:24 - And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

- From reading the scriptures I have noticed that Charity is always accompanied by faith and hope b/c without faith and hope we cannot be charitable.

- Pres. Dietr F Uchtdorf (2nd Counselor of the 1st Presidency) describes what Charity is in his talk given in October 2008 titled 'The Infinite Power of Hope'

"The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity. The three qualities - faith, hope and charity - working together, grounded on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us abound in good works."

2 Nephi 26:30 - Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

The above scripture segways into a quote that I found by Elder Dallin H Oaks of the quorum the 12 Apostles. It is from his talk "The Challenge to Become" (Nov 2000 Ensign).

"We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason - for the pure love of Christ. The Apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity. The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is tht charity, the pure love of Christ is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes."

I have to agree with Elder Oaks in that to become charitable it takes time. We must become like Christ through our own conversions of service to our neighbors, friends and family. We must be willling to let that change happen.

Ether 12:32-34 - 32 And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared.

33 And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men.

34 And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.

- How do we know Jesus had Charity?
He gave his life for us because he loved us.

- Who need charity?
Everyone

- What happens if we don't have charity?
We can't live with our Father in Heaven


I just want to bear you my testimony that I know that Charity is the pure love of Christ and that if we are willing through our own conversions that we can become charitable and to become like Christ. We may not be perfect but I know that this is one of the ways that we can become perfect and to be able to receive the blessings of heaven.

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Today for Family Home Evening, I thought that it was time to teach Scott the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy. In the morning he likes to get up and turn on the tv and watch some cartoons before church. There have been times when I call him to get ready for church he will ignore me and then the yelling and fighting set in. I found that this has driven the Spirit away and I don't have it as strongly with me during our Sunday meetings. In order to keep the spirit and drive out the spirit of contention we no longer have the tv on in the mornings and he is much more inclined to get dressed for church without arguing with me. I've posted a small outline of my lesson and hope that you can draw some inspiration for it with your families.

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Genesis 2: 1-3

(I've taken a few quotes from President James E Faust's talk "The Lord's Day" from the November 1991 Ensign)

- "Jesus reaffirmed the importance of the Sabbath day devotion, but he introduced a new spirit into this part of worship. Rather than observe the endless techincalities and prohibitions concerning what should and should not be done on the Lord's day, he affirmed that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath."

D&C 59: 9-10

- "Keeping the Sabbath day holy is much more than just physical rest. It involves spiritual renewal and worship."

(Pres. Faust is now quoting from Pres. Spencer W Kimball)
- 'The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material and attending all meetings of that day to which he is expected. To fail to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.'

(end of quoting Pres. Faust)

Mosiah 13:16-19 (we are now learning verse 16)

Isaiah 58:13

- Blessings come from keeping the Sabbath day holy.

- The Lord has said that if we keep the Sabbath day with thanksgiving and cheerful hearts, we will be full of joy. (from Gospel Principles lesson #24)