“Facets of Faith!” GET TO THE POINT™ Come Follow Me: D&C 6-9

Get a copy of my book: https://www.amazon.com/Consider-Servant-Kendal-Brian-Hunter/dp/1555177522

Opening Hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxbNxkqG5y0
BONUS: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie/the-lord-god-of-joseph-smith/

Intro
i. You're looking good today and it feels good to be with you.
II. Theme: "Facets of Faith"
i. Focus on BOM translation process.
ii. Issue:
1. JS didn't keep a log. That is, date and times translated, how many pages or words, and method of translation.
2. "Br. Joseph Smith jr. said that it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of Mormon, & also said that it was not expedient for him to relate these things &c" FWR. MB 2, 13
3. So when read David Whitmer's description, " "In the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God and not by any power of man."
4. On JS and OC used, and they didn't talk. Where did this come from
III. Point I D&C 6
i. OC schoolteacher, lodged with parents of teachers. Apple to school.
1. 1832, OC "[the] Lord appeared unto a young man by the name of Oliver Cowdry and shewed unto him the plates in a vision and also the truth of the work and what the Lord was about to do through me his unworthy servant therefore he was desirous to come and write for me and translate.
ii. Preface statements D&C 4
iii. Riches vs. wisdom D&C "Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof." Parable wheat and tares
1. Need riches to be wise--college education,
2. Jacob 2
iv. Desire, DHO A2011, do good
v. "Say nothing but repentance." Get in speculation "Our methods in speculation and reasoning about the things of God may often be harmless; but if we depart from the simplicity of God's word into a spirit of rationalism, we become the victims of vanity, which endangers the true spirit of worship in the human heart. It is not easy for men to give up their vanities, to overcome their preconceived notions, and surrender themselves heart and soul to the will of God"
1. Off topics, off message, off the wall
vi. Gift
1. Know mysteries
a. Salvation (BRM, MD #3, Salvation and Exaltation same, minus D&D 132)
b. Teach others
c. It has always worked
d. Cast mind upon night--payed in heart, not vocal
e. God knows thoughts, revealed BOM
2. Translate
a. Records
b. Hidden scriptures
vii. Counsel
1. Admonish JS in faults, D&C 28:6, command not head
2. 17. God testifies of words
viii. for they can do no more unto you than unto me. And even if they do unto you even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory."
1. JFiS DS 1:219 I am firmly of the opinion that had Oliver Cowdery remained true to his covenants and obligations as a witness with Joseph Smith, and retained his authority and place, he, and not Hyrum Smith, would have gone with Joseph Smith as a prisoner and to martyrdom at Carthage.
ix. "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet"
1. Think Celestial
2. Wounds in side,prints. Earlier vision of savior
IV. Point II D&C 7 Parchment
i. D&C 6 ancient record. This one of them, plural, so joint revelation
ii. Points
1. Clarifies John the Beloved.
2. Not sure if knew about 3 Nephite yet
3. Keys of first presidency
iii. First JST
1. No physical mss present, saw vision and translation
2. Not clear, OC first experience translation
V. Point III 8, 9
i. Power to translate
1. Focus on failure, but ignore is success, as Peetr walking on water
2. Why do we doubt and fear?
ii. Section 8
1. Revelation: heart, mind, and Holy Ghost
a. Not just internal ataraxia, but external prompting
b. Logical, affective, confirmation
c. Pattern Moses and Red Sea
2. Sprouts, Rods, Revelation
a. Written says sprout, "rod of nature" BC
b. Two points
i. Moses and rod
ii. Christian folkmagic
iii. Protestant bias
1. Anti relics
2. Minimal sacrifices
c. Nothing conclusive or satisfying
d. Gift of Aaron and spokesman for JS
e. MR Spock answer: Insufficient Data, don't overclaim. RGS: Another enemy to revelation comes from exaggeration or loudness in what is stated. Careful, quiet speech will favor the receipt of revelation. A 2012
3. Do good with gifts
iii. Section 9
1. Soft rebuke. Tried, and did succeed and translation
2. Not expedient to gift, his gift was to be scribe
a. Life where you stand
b. 1/2 my mission as Jr companion, no leadership; 28 years an elder. 46 (time other men Bish, Stake, Mission, called as GA)
c. My service was limited. But accountable for my time
i. Graduate from college
ii. served mission
iii. lean 3rd language
iv. Published a book
v. Served in calling
vi. X number of dollars to church
vii. Family duties
viii. I am accountable, even when perceived limits
iv. Process of Translation
1. Study out, then ask
2. Not just reading a parchment
3. We all know people who can get revelation quicker than the prophet, and are just impervious to negative data
v. "the time is past, and it is not expedient now"
1. Window of action
2. TSM
a. While attending a stake leadership meeting, Bishop Monson felt a strong prompting to leave at once to visit an older ward member being treated at the veterans’ hospital. Unfortunately, the stake president was speaking, so the young bishop impatiently waited until he finished before rushing to the hospital. As he ran to the man’s room, a nurse stopped him. She asked, “Are you Bishop Monson?” and proceeded to tell him that “the patient was asking for you just before he died.”38 Bishop Monson drove home that night vowing to never again fail to act on a prompting from the Holy Ghost, a commitment reflected over and over again in the remainder of his Church service.
VI. Christ Quotient
i. Atonement Quotient
1. Look to me vs church programs. JEF
ii. Forgiveness for church follies. Mistakes versus sins, "overtaken in a fault"
iii. Christ and gifts of spirit
1. Focus on worldly approaches to leadership
2. Neglect spiritual aspects
a. Boyd K. Packer, Things of the Soul , p.64
b. It is our responsibility to discipline members when there has been a very serious transgression. The organization and the procedures for holding such a council are explained in detail in the handbook.
c. Unless a leader knows the principles that apply in such cases, however, he might hold a Church disciplinary council in technical compliance with the handbook, even follow proper procedures, and yet injure rather than heal the wayward member.
d. If a leader does not know the principles-by principles I mean the principles of the gospel, the doctrines, what's in the revelations-if he does not know what the revelations say about justice or mercy, or what they reveal on reproof or forgiveness, how can he make inspired decisions in those difficult cases that require his judgment?
3. Same holds true for gifts of spirit. Nurture gifts on agenda item?
4. Pray for charity for ward
iv. Look to Christ in every thought
1. Essence of thinking celestial, thinking Christ--that's the point.
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