Scripture Study

 

     Several years ago, a member of the Seventy came to our Stake for a Women's conference.  He talked about scripture study and suggested a system to us.

1. Get a cheap Book of Mormon
2. Get some colored pencils with which to mark them
3. Mark them in a manner similar to this (this is how he showed us and how I do it with one variation)
4. Take notes on what we study.

• Orange--Historical facts, events
• Yellow--Insights (Spiritual, etc.)
• Green--Things we should do
• Blue--positive consequences.....the blessings we receive from God for doing those things or just because...
• Red--things we shouldn't do
• Brown--the curses or consequences of doing the things that we shouldn't

     He promised some marvelous things if we would do this....which included a greater understanding of the scriptures as well as God's purposes. There are also bountiful materials blessings that attend such understanding as well.  As we've been told, God will bless us materially according to the levels of righteousness that we aspire to.  The only thing we must do is remember the purpose for which He blesses us....to bless the lives of others in turn.  Too many forget this.

     I must say that this is true.  My life has been blessed many fold since I started this program.  I have been doing it for several years now and have only managed to get a little over half way through the Book of Mormon.  However, I have learned things that I never could have imagined and the spirit has directed my learning (which often coincides with events in my daily life).  I have tweaked it a bit so that I could do it electronically.  Many of my early notes are on paper but I will do it on here from now on so that we can do it together.  Please share your insights in the comments.  I look forward to growing spiritually together.


My header and key.  It includes two links that I often refer to while I am studying.
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http://www.lds.org/scriptures?lang=eng   Study aids: http://scriptures.byu.edu/

Key: 

Green=Things that we should do             Blue=Blessings

Red= Things that we shouldn’t do           Brown=Consequences or curses

Orange= History/Historical items            Yellow/Gold=Spiritual insights

The things above are in a header in my document.  I have backed the yellow with pink so that it would be readable for me (and others).  Yellow doesn't tend to show up too well on the written page.

The Book of Alma the Son of Alma

Chapter 14

Alma and Amulek are imprisoned and smitten—The believers and their holy scriptures are burned by fire—These martyrs are received by the Lord in glory—The prison walls are rent and fall—Alma and Amulek are delivered, and their persecutors are slain. About 82–81 B.C.

. http://feastupontheword.org/Alma_9:11-15

Alma 14	My Thoughts
1 And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the ascriptures.  2 But the more part of them were desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, because of the aplainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek had blied unto them, and had reviled against their law and also against their lawyers and judges.  3 And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because they had atestified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought to bput them away privily.  4 But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the chief judge of the land.  5 And the people went forth and witnessed against them—testifying that they had reviled against the law, and their lawyers and judges of the land, and also of all the people that were in the land; and also testified that there was but one God, and that he should send his Son among the people, but he should anot save them; and many such things did the people testify against Alma and Amulek. Now this was done before the chief judge of the land.  6 And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the ablindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his blying words; and his soul began to be charrowed up under a dconsciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell.  7 And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am aguilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and bcast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them.  8 And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be acast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be bburned and destroyed by fire.  9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of amartyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.  10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the apower of God which is in us, and save them from the flames. 11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in aglory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the bjudgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the cblood of the dinnocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.  12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.  13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.  14 Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them with his hand upon their acheeks, and said unto them: After what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a blake of fire and brimstone?  15 Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast into the fire; neither has God saved them because they were of thy faith. And the judge smote them again upon their cheeks, and asked: What say ye for yourselves?  16 Now this judge was after the order and faith of aNehor, who slew Gideon.  17 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek answered him anothing; and he smote them again, and delivered them to the officers to be bcast into prison.  18 And when they had been cast into prison three days, there came many alawyers, and judges, and priests, and teachers, who were of the profession of Nehor; and they came in unto the prison to see them, and they questioned them about many words; but they answered them nothing.  19 And it came to pass that the judge stood before them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not that I have apower to deliver you up unto the flames? And he bcommanded them to speak; but they answered nothing.  20 And it came to pass that they departed and went their ways, but came again on the morrow; and the judge also smote them again on their cheeks. And many came forth also, and smote them, saying: Will ye stand again and judge this people, and condemn our law? If ye have such great power why do ye not adeliver yourselves?  21 And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we are damned?  22 And many such things, yea, all manner of such things did they say unto them; and thus they did amock them for many days. And they did withhold food from them that they might hunger, and water that they might thirst; and they also did take from them their clothes that they were naked; and thus they were bbound with strong cords, and confined in cprison.  23 And it came to pass after they had thus suffered for many days, (and it was on the twelfth day, in the tenth month, in the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi) that the chief judge over the land of aAmmonihah and many of their teachers and their lawyers went in unto the prison where Alma and Amulek were bound with cords.  24 And the chief judge stood before them, and smote them again, and said unto them: If ye have the apower of God deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words.  25 And it came to pass that they all went forth and smote them, saying the same words, even until the last; and when the last had spoken unto them the apower of God was upon Alma and Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet.  26 And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great aafflictions, O Lord? O Lord, bgive us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto cdeliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them.  27 And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the aprison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof.  28 And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them apower, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were bloosed from their cbands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city.  29 Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek..	Many of the people believe Alma and Amulek and begin to change their lives. Most of the people did not but sought to destroy Alma and Amulek.  They began to fabricate lies in an attempt to find some reason to destroy them. Some wanted to take and lynch them but didn’t. God was protecting them….somehow they turned from murder and took them to the judge.  They took them before the chief judge. They are angered by the truth. But they also made up lies about what Alma and Amulek said. The truth I am sure that Alma and Amulek did not say this.  The probably said that He would not save the wicked….they were wicked so this may actually be what they ‘heard’ even though it isn’t what the prophets said. Zeezron realizes too late who Alma and Amulek are and what he has done by his maneuverings among the people.  He knows he is at least in part responsible for their actions towards these prophets. This happens to the best of us.  We make mistakes that we wish we could take back but once the damage is done.  That is impossible. Zeezrom was a skilled orator and lawyer.  Even his skill could not turn the people from their designs. The people turned on Zeezrom too and accuse him of being possessed with a devil.  So they do not believe that he is saying this of his own free will…..or they just simply don’t want to believe it.  Because that would mean that they would have to reexamine what they want to do. They cast out Zeezrom and all the other men that believed in Alma and Amulek. Then they took their wives and children (probably even Zeezrom’s family), all of the other believers, and the scriptures that they possessed and burned them. How wicked they must have been to be able to murder innocent women and children especially in this manner! They force Alma and Amulek to watch.  Probably either to:  1.  Shame them as if to tell them this was their fault and/or 2. Scare them and try to make them recant so it doesn’t also happen to them. Amulek is justly pained and saddened by the wickedness of these events and the murder of so many innocents.  He wants to stop it and knows that the priesthood has the power to do so.  However, he defers to Alma the higher authority for counsel.  God could have saved them but for some reason He did not.  Alma knows His will. Alma explains God’s reasoning to Amulek.    It is the great separation of the wheat from the chaff.  We help God to achieve this so that only those who earn it will be able to return to His Kingdom.  But more especially so that those who are not ‘like-minded’ do not come there with us.    From my experience with the ‘other world’ that would be an even greater torture than what these individuals suffered.  We can feel each others’ feelings and sense others’ intent.  I do not want these types of individuals there to pollute it.  Bearing it in this world is hard enough. Again Amulek defers to Alma...the prophet...asking him for understanding Alma comforts Amulek and professes that all is according to God's will but prophesies that they will be delivered.  It sounds like this wicked, wicked man did all of this just to spite Alma and Amulek and show them who was boss.  More than likely this man knows who Alma is and that he used to be the chief judge of the Nephite nation and is also the prophet.  It's like he's doing it to prove that he is better and more powerful than Alma is.  "You can convert them but then I'll kill them."  What a wicked man! He's taunting them.  Trying to force them to do or say something that he  can condemn them for.  Even in his wickedness he knows that if he were to harm Alma, the Nephite leaders and the army would be on his doorstep. He was part of an anti group. Arguing with such a man would make no difference.  He would only twist their words and use them against them. A very hardened and wicked group….Alma knew that there was very little chance that he would listen to anything that the Lord had to tell him. These people were experts at twisting anything that anyone said. The chief judge can’t find a valid reason to legally condemn them to death so instead he throws them into prison…. so he can continue the attempt to get them to say something that he can twist to his advantage. He has not succeeded so he brings in others of his twisted mind to help in the attempt. I am sure that Alma was inspired in this by the spirit. The chief judge tries to intimidate Alma and Amulek into speaking.  They knew that they should not.  What a liar!  He did not have legal grounds to condemn them and he knew it.  He certainly is trying to create a legal reason though but he is being very ‘careful’ in his treatment of Alma.  He knows what it would probably bring upon him and this people if he acted without ‘justification’. So they are no longer using just words because their words (which they feel are so superior) have failed them.  They now resort to torture, violence, and physical abuse. They even bit them?  Getting desperate? Did they think that this would get them the response that they were looking for? The torture continues for who knows how long.  This reminds me of the prophet Joseph Smith…especially when he was being held in that dungeoness pit of a cell.   They won’t even give them food and water. They also take their clothing. Are they hoping that they will die from starvation and/or exposure so that they can then claim that they didn’t know why these two had died while in their custody.  Probably. They continue to torture Alma and Amulek. They get impatient. And finally, they ask for a sign.  Stupid, wicked people…signs usually bring bad things for the wicked. They all say the samething. This must be what God was waiting to hear from them.  They continue to torture Alma and Amulek. They get impatient. And finally, they ask for a sign.  Stupid, wicked people…signs usually bring bad things for the wicked. They all say the samething. This must be what God was waiting to hear from them.  They now know that God is with Alma and Amulek.  They have to at least wonder now if Alma’s words regarding their impending destruction is true.   I am sure that they are very fearful that it is.  And yet, they still would rather run away than turn and change.

Be faithful over a few things…from this I get the implication that it doesn’t matter how much we have or have not in mortality.  What matters is how we use what we have been given…how do we administer and/or magnify our stewardships?

Discerning of Spirits by Power of Priesthood   (JTPJS 205)

Every one of these professes to be competent to try his neighbor’s spirit, but no one can try his own, and what is the reason? Because they have not a key to unlock, no rule wherewith to measure, and no criterion whereby they can test it. Could any one tell the length, breadth or height of a building without a rule? Test the quality of metals without a criterion, or point out the movements of the planetary systems, without a knowledge of astronomy? Certainly not; and if such ignorance as this is manifested about a spirit of this kind, who can describe an angel of light? If Satan should appear as one in glory,⁶ who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory, or what is the manner of his manifestation? Who can detect the spirit of the French prophets with their revelations and their visions, and power of manifestations? Or who can point out the spirit of the Irvingites, with their apostles and prophets, and visions and tongues, and interpretations, etc. Or who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries⁷ of the false spirits⁸ that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints?⁹ We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood,¹⁰ and having by which spirits are governed; for as no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God,¹ so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices; without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God,² together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb, which are so characteristic of his proceedings and his mysterious windings.

A man must have the discerning of spirits³ before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God. Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothed.

This is why I must know if this revelation is of God or not….the priesthood has that power.

Thought from Alma 12:24

We can compare this to society’s obsession with health and developing healthy minds and bodies. 

We know that what we DO with our bodies determines what they will look like and how well they will function.  Why then is it such a reach for people to transfer that to an eternal perspective.  What we DO with our minds and bodies IN THE HERE AND NOW determines what our eternal bodies will look like and how well they will function IN THE ETERNITIES.  The only way that this differs is in its application.