Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2001), 5–8
Joseph Smith said: "I commenced the translation of some
of the characters or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found that one of the
rolls contained the writings of Abraham, another the writings of Joseph of
Egypt" (HC, 2:236). The Prophet translated the Book of Abraham from these
rolls.
Reading 1 – Abraham 3:22-23
Reading 2 – Doctrine and Covenants 138:53-56
Reading 3:
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
"There were many meetings, conferences, councils and schooling
sessions held among the Gods and their spirit offspring in pre-existence. Among
other things, at these various assemblages, plans were made for the creation
and peopling of this earth and for the redemption and salvation of the
offspring of Deity." (Mormon Doctrine, p163)
Alma 13:1-4
Reading 4: President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “God has held
you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second
coming of the Lord. Some individuals will fall away; but the kingdom of God
will remain intact to welcome the return of its head—even Jesus Christ. While
our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the
Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is
that God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest children, who
will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. …
“… Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation.
There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of
time than there is of us” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 104–5).
Reading 5
– Abraham 3:24-28
Reading
6 – Moses 4:1-4
Reading 7 - Elder James E. Talmage explains what was at
stake in this great Council: "We
have heretofore shown that the entire human race existed as spirit-beings in
the primeval world, and that for the purpose of making possible to them the
experiences of mortality this earth was created. They were endowed with the
powers of agency or choice while yet but spirits; and the divine plan provided
that they be free-born in the flesh, heirs to the inalienable birthright of
liberty to choose and to act for themselves in mortality. It is undeniably
essential to the eternal progression of God's children that they be subjected
to the influences of both good and evil, that they be tried and tested and
proved withal, 'to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God
shall command them .' Free agency is an indispensable element of such a
test." (Jesus the Christ, p17)
Reading 8 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote: "If the Lord were to show His power as
some expect power to be used-which is virtually unthinkable-mortals would
experience, among other things, prompt punishment rather than divine
long-suffering. God would then stop all human suffering and silence all
opposition to His work. In countless ways He would control the adverse effects
of agency merely to prove that He was all-powerful. But He would not be
all-loving for in effect He would have derailed His plan of happiness! The
enforced cooperation would not produce illuminated individuality but an
indistinguishable 'compound in one' (2 Nephi 2:11). We would then be back to
that proposal of enforced 'salvation' rejected so long ago (Moses 4:1)."
(Not My Will, But Thine, p91)
Reading 9 - Sister Elaine Cannon wrote: "This grand adventure of choosing well
is at every stage worth the battle. We are here to learn what the Savior
learned. God is the author of the format, and he is the master teacher. He will
not deny us our right to learn for ourselves those lessons that will prove us
herewith, that will mark our development. This development includes how we deal
with what happens to us, how we feel about life and God, and how much we learn
that is of value to us now and in the eternities.
"Life is a
very special kind of schooling. It is a training ground for our next estate.
When we become converted to - not just convinced of that truth and idea, our
trials and tribulations will be more meaningful to us." (Adversity, p25)
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