Lesson 48: Come unto Christ – Scriptures and Quotes

In General Conference, April, 1986, President Benson said, "The Book of Mormon will change your life"

 Reading 1 – Mormon 7:2-5

Reading 2 – President Joseph F. Smith wrote: "The ancient prophets speak of 'entering into God's rest'; what does it mean? To my mind, it means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else, we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive." (Gospel Doctrine, p58)

Reading 3 – Moroni 7:6-13

Reading 4 - President Marion G. Romney wrote: "About a quarter of a century ago Sister Romney and I moved into a ward in which they were just beginning to build a meetinghouse. The size of the contribution the bishop thought I ought to contribute rather staggered me. I thought it was at least twice as much as he should have asked. However, I had just been called to a rather high Church position, so I said, 'Well, I will pay it, Bishop, but I will have to pay it in installments because I don't have the money.' And so I began to pay. And I paid and paid until I was down to about the last three payments, when, as is my habit, I was reading The Book of Mormon, and came to the scripture which said:

"'...if a man...giveth a gift ...grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.'

    "This shocked me because I was out about a thousand dollars. Well, I went on and paid the three installments I had promised to pay, and then I paid several more installments to convince the Lord that I had done it with the right attitude." (Relief Society Magazine, Feb 1968)

Reading 5 – Moroni 7:14-17

Reading 6 – Bible Dictionary definition of Light of Christ

Moroni 7:19-20

Reading 7 – Moroni 7:25-26

Moroni 7:40-43

Reading 8 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:  "As used in the revelations, hope is the desire of faithful people to gain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God hereafter.... Faith and hope are inseparable. Hope enables us to have faith in the first instance then because of faith that hope increases until salvation is gained." (Mormon Doctrine, p365-366)

Moroni 7:44-48

Reading 9 – Moroni 10:4-5

Reading 10 – Brother Daniel H. Ludlow has written: "When a person follows this divine formula, the results are certain: He will gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. God cannot and does not lie, and his promises made through his prophets are sure. Therefore, any person who claims to have followed the various requirements but says he has not gained a testimony should check to see which step he has not followed faithfully or completely." (Ensign, Mar 1986)

Moroni 10:7

Lesson 48: Come unto Christ - Study Guide

Moroni 7–8 contains teachings of Moroni’s father, Mormon. Moroni 10 contains Moroni’s final written testimony.

• •
  Mormon referred to the members of the Church as “peaceable followers of Christ” (Moroni 7:3). On what basis did Mormon make this judgment? (See Moroni 7:4–5.) How do we become “peaceable followers of Christ”?

Moroni closed his record with “a few words by way of exhortation” (Moroni 10:2). The word exhort means to advise or urge strongly. As you study Moroni 10, you may want to mark the word exhort each time it appears. Ponder the meaning and importance of Moroni’s exhortations in this chapter.

• •
  What did Moroni teach about spiritual gifts? (See Moroni 10:8–19.)
• •
  How does Moroni’s exhortation to “come unto Christ” reflect the entire message of the Book of Mormon? (Moroni 10:30, 32). In what specific ways has this year’s study of the Book of Mormon helped you come unto Christ?

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Bear your testimony of the Book of Mormon, and invite family members to do the same. Then read the following statement by President Ezra Taft Benson:

“The Book of Mormon is studied in our Sunday School and seminary classes every fourth year. This four-year pattern, however, must notbe followed by Church members in their personal and family study. We need to read daily from the pages of the book that will get a man ‘nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book’ (History of the Church, 4:461)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 3; orEnsign, Nov. 1988, 4).

Encourage family members to continue studying the Book of Mormon and sharing it with others.

Lesson 47- Scriptures and Quotes

Photo by David Vandagriff

Orson Hyde, speaking of Moroni, said:

In those early and perilous times, our men were few, and our resources limited. Poverty was among the most potent enemies we had to encounter; yet our arms were successful; and it may not be amiss to ask here, by whose power victory so often perched on our banner? It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose mounds, bones and remains of towns, cities and fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and, by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world.

This same angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by visions, respecting this New World. Trammelled by poverty and by an unpopular cause, yet his persevering and unyielding heart would not allow an obstacle in his way too great for him to overcome; and the angel of God helped him was with him on the stormy deep, calmed and troubled elements, and guided his frail vessel to the desired haven. Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water (Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, p.368).

Reading 1 – Moroni 1:1-4

Reading 2 – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said, speaking of the sacrament: “…every ordinance of the gospel focuses in one way or another on the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and surely that is why this particular ordinance with all its symbolism and imagery comes to us more readily and more repeatedly than any other in our life. It comes in what has been called ‘the most sacred, the most holy, of all the meetings of the Church’ (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:340).

“Perhaps we do not always attach that kind of meaning to our weekly sacramental service. How ‘sacred’ and how ‘holy’ is it? Do we see it as our passover, remembrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption?

“With so very much at stake, this ordinance commemorating our escape from the angel of darkness should be taken more seriously than it sometimes is. It should be a powerful, reverent, reflective moment. It should encourage spiritual feelings and impressions. As such it should not be rushed. It is not something to ‘get over’ so that the real purpose of a sacrament meeting can be pursued. This is the real purpose of the meeting. And everything that is said or sung or prayed in those services should be consistent with the grandeur of this sacred ordinance.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1995, “This Do in Remembrance of Me”)

Reading 3 – Moroni 4:3

Reading 4 – Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said, "Those who are found worthy to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ at the last day are described in the great revelations recorded in the ninety-third and seventy-sixth sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Here the Savior revealed to Joseph Smith that in due time, if we keep the commandments of God, we can receive the ‘fulness’ of the Father. (D&C 93:19-20.) Here the Savior bears record that ‘all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the [Father], and are the church of the Firstborn.’ (D&C 93:22.) ‘They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things. … Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods’ who ‘shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.’ (D&C 76:55, 58, 62.) ‘And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.’ (John 17:3; see also D&C 88:4-5.) This is the ultimate significance of taking upon us the name of Jesus Christ." (Conference Report, May 1985 Ensign, “Taking Upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ”)

Reading 5 – Elder Joseph E. Taylor said, “You partake of the ordinance in order that His Spirit may be with you.  You cannot have spiritual life without it.  You show me a person who from Sabbath to Sabbath, month to month, and year to year, absents himself from these sacred meetings of the Latter-day Saints, and I will show you a man from whom the Spirit of the Lord will be taken and he will become spiritually dead.  Do you believe it?  It seems to lay at the very foundation of your spiritual life and mine.” (Collected Discourses 1886-1898, ed. by Brian Stuy, vol. 5, Joseph E. Taylor, Nov. 18, 1894)

Reading 6 – Moroni 6:1-4

Reading 7 - President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “With the ever increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with ‘the good word of God’ (Moroni 6:4)” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 66; or Ensign, May 1997, 47).

Lesson 47: To Keep Them in the Right Way

Lesson 47: To Keep Them in the Right Way Book of Mormon Class Member Study Guide, (1999), 28–29

 •Why are chapters Moroni 2–5 of the book of Moroni important for our day? How does it strengthen you to see the same ordinances present in different dispensations of the Lord’s Church?

•What covenants do we make through the sacrament? (See Moroni 4:3; 5:2.) What are we promised in return? How do you feel when you have partaken of the sacrament reverently and worthily?

•After people were baptized and had received the gift of the Holy Ghost, “they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken” (Moroni 6:4). Why were their names recorded? (See Moroni 6:4.) In what ways can you contribute to the Church’s efforts to see that both long-time and new members are “remembered and nourished by the good word of God”?

Suggestion for Family Discussion 

If family members are new converts, discuss what it was like to join the Church. Allow family members to talk about things they liked about joining the Church and about challenges they faced when they joined the Church. If family members have been members of the Church for a long time, ask them to talk about how they might feel if they came to church for the first time.

Have a family member read the following counsel from President Gordon B. Hinckley:

 “With the ever increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with ‘the good word of God’ (Moroni 6:4)” (in Conference Report, April 1997, 66; or Ensign, May 1997, 47). 

 •What can we do to follow this counsel?