Day 188

  • Principle: In this life is the start of becoming perfect
  • Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 30:12 - 30:28
    • Korihor dismisses the blessings of God and Jesus Christ.  He does this by raising many questions and then answering them according to his understanding.  How would you respond to his question in verse 15, “How do ye know of their surety?"
  • Jesus Christ when he came to the Nephites he taught the Sermon on the Mount.  Read 3 Nephi 12-14 paying attention to the differences from yesterday.  How do these changes add to your understanding? 
  • Here are some additional ideas on the Sermon on the Mount
    • Praying in Secret:
      • “. . . go where you can be alone, go where you can think, go where you can kneel, go where you can speak out loud to him. The bedroom, the bathroom, or the closet will do. Now, picture him in your mind’s eye. Think to whom you are speaking, control your thoughts—don’t let them wander, address him as your Father and your friend. Now tell him things you really feel to tell him—not trite phrases that have little meaning, but have a sincere, heartfelt conversation with him. Confide in him, ask him for forgiveness, plead with him, enjoy him, thank him, express your love to him, and then listen for his answers. Listening is an essential part of praying. Answers from the Lord come quietly—ever so quietly. In fact, few hear his answers audibly with their ears. We must be listening so carefully or we will never recognize them. Most answers from the Lord are felt in our heart as a warm comfortable expression, or they may come as thoughts to our mind. They come to those who are prepared and who are patient.” (H. Burke Peterson, “Adversity and Prayer,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, p. 19.)
    • Treasures in Heaven:
      • “Treasures in heaven are the character, perfections, and attributes which men acquire by obedience to law. Thus, those who gain such attributes of godliness as knowledge, faith, justice, judgment, mercy, and truth, will find these same attributes restored to them again in immortality. (Alma 41:13–15.) ‘Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.’ (D&C 130:18.) The greatest treasure it is possible to inherit in heaven consists in gaining the continuation of the family unit in the highest heaven of the celestial world.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:239–40.)
    • Mammon
      • “Mammon is an Aramaic word for riches. Thus Jesus is saying, ‘Ye cannot serve God and riches, or worldliness, which always results from the love of money.’” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:240.)
  • Additional Study