Living Scripture-Let Him Do It with Simplicity by Elder L. Tom Perry

For this week, we'll read this talk by Elder Perry and discuss what we've learned from the reading.

Living Scripture- Welcome to Conference by President Monson

I had a dream last night and in this dream I recalled several wonderful messages given during Conference, I remembered them with great fondness but I could not recall what I felt prompted to do with that new knowledge. Nor could I specifically recall who said what.

When I woke up I decided that I needed to follow the scriptures and not be just a 'hearer of the word, only'. Conference talks are living scriptures, we can learn so much from them.

If it's okay with Julie and everyone else, I'd like to read and review a talk a week. Maybe more, if we get a good response. I will post an online link to the talk so everyone can read it. Then leave your impressions, things that touched you, something you learned and an action we are called to do, through the talk.

We'll just go in order beginning with the Saturday morning session. The first talk was the Welcome to Conference message by President Monson.

Good For My Word

I said I was going to post today and it's still today, right?!

This week's reading is Helaman chapters 13-16. We're being blessed with just 4 chapters to cover, which I appreciate, because I like when we can go chapter by chapter and really discuss. Plus I need a slower pace this week!

So for today & tomorrow (Tuesday & Wednesday), let's read chapters 13 & 14. These are the beginning of Samuel the Lamanite's prophecies concerning the coming of Christ.

Let's look for the prophecies he gives here. And if you're really keen to, cross-reference the fulfillment of those prophecies in later chapters.

Also, I loved verse 1 of chapter 13 "...the Lamanites did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God..." It was something I noticed from the last several chapters of Helaman, too. There's safety in strictness. I love that word and I want to pursue its meaning and how to accomplish it. What are your thoughts?

Helaman 3, 4 & 5

This is tomorrow's reading. Fridays seem to be a little more quiet around here.

Editorial Note

Hi everyone. It's been quiet around here, I hope everyone is still staying caught up on the reading. I'm going to be helping out and posting the prompts and the chapter assignments.

This week we are in Helaman. We'll be covering Chapters 1-5.

For tomorrow's discussion read Helaman 1 & 2.

In chapter 1 there is a lot of contention for the judgment seat. How does it parallel what we've seen occur in our time? How does contention affect people in this way? How did it contribute to the eventual downfall of the Nephite nation? How did contention help their enemies defeat them?(v.18-20) What parallels do you see in our own lives? What good came of this? For who?

Other points to consider; What were the objectives of the secret combinations? (2:8) Consider Mormon's comments on the effects the secret combinations had upon the Nephite civilization (12-14).

How can contentions enter a home, ward, neighborhood, family or any group? How can we avoid them?

What are some other observations you had while reading these verses?

Alma 56-57

Truth be told, I'm tired today. I haven't reviewed the chapters enough to ask any questions. But I did like this from the class member study guide:

• From whom did the young Ammonite warriors learn to have such great faith and courage? (See Alma 56:47–48; see also Alma 53:21; 57:21.) Why is it important for children to know the strength and certainty of their parents’ testimonies?

Study the following scriptures about motherhood:

Alma 56:47–48	1 Samuel 1:27–28
Genesis 24:60	Proverbs 1:8
Exodus 20:12	Moses 4:26

• • The young Ammonites asked the prophet Helaman to be their leader (Alma 53:19; 56:1, 5). How did they respond to the commands they received? (See Alma 57:21.) What are some specific things you must do to follow the prophet “with exactness”?

Please overlook the formatting errors. I just cut and pasted. Happy studying!

We're Back!

Well, I took an unplanned week off. Sure...I planned on having baby, but I didn't plan on being consumed by the diapers and nursing. I really have had a baby before....I promise! I had some serious amnesia this time around.
I'm still elbow deep in nursing pads and diapers, but I've really missed the scripture study and reading your comments. And now we've missed 10 chapters!! And really good ones, too. All about Captain Moroni. Darn! But, in the spirit of the Flylady, we're not going to try and "catch up," we're just going to start with this week's Gospel Doctrine lesson. The chapters are Alma 53-63. I'm feeling challenged as to how we can really study in depth 11 chapters in just 5 days. Any thoughts? For now, I'm thinking we'll do chapters 53-55 Monday, 56-57 Tuesday, 58-59 Wednesday, 60-61 Thursday, and 62-63 Friday. These are not short chapters, either. So, we'll do our best, okay?

Let's get started! Chapter 53 introduces us to the 2,060 young warriors commanded by Helaman. As you read chapters 53-55 today, think about what sort of faith it took for these young men, and their parents, to make the choice they did.
What can we learn from their parents?
What else do you find significant from these chapters?