Book of Mormon Primary Lessons
Lessons from the Book of Mormon as taught by S.J. Hollist, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Baby Blessing
As a worthy Priesthood holder, I had the opportunity to bless my two 2 month old babies during Sacrament Meeting. This is the first ordinance, of many, that they will receive in their lives as member of the LDS church. This particular blessing was mainly to officially name the children for the church's records, and as well as to give the child any other blessings they may required in their lives, as dictated by revelation trough the Holy Spirit.
Over the last couple of days I had been nervously preparing for this blessing, as it would be the first time for me to give a Father's Blessing. The Bishop had given me a Priesthood manual that contained guidelines for different Priesthood blessings, so I read over the one on Baby Blessings as well as studied the manual's lesson on Father's Blessings.
My Father was also in town to take part in the blessing, and I invited a few friends to join me along with the Bishopric in the circle we formed around the babies while I blessed them. All involved were worthy priesthood holders.
The actual words to the prayer, other then the naming of the babies, were not pre-determined by church policy, but derived from thoughts and inspiration that had come to me while I was quietly studying and praying to invite the Holly Spirit to give me guidance in this task. The blessings weren't elaborate, but the peaceful feeling of the Holy Spirit was there.
Since this was the first Sunday of the month (typically when such blessings are done) we had the opportunity to bear our testimonies. My Dad went up first and talked about the opportunity he had to bless me as a baby, as well as another blessing that is typically received as a young teenager, called a Patriarchal blessing. This blessing is very personal to the one receiving it, and is done in a private setting; though my Dad and Step Mother were there when I received it. Although my dad didn't go into much detail, it was interesting to remember some of the things promised to me (as long as I live worthy of God's blessings) that had come to pass, just as these babies came into my life; and because of them coming into my life.
I went up myself and bore my testimony of the miracles I had personally witnessed in my life that helped my wife and I reach parenthood, and the blessings that truly had been realized in my life. My wife did the same after I had gone up, despite my urging her to go up before me. The Sacrament meeting over all was very uplifting and spiritually nourishing, and the experience helped me feel closer to and more love for my young family.
Labels: Baby Blessing, Chruch, Family, Latter-day Saints, LDS, Parents, Priesthood, Testimony, Thankful
Lesson 27 - Helaman's 2000 Warriors
“Lesson 27: Helaman and the Two Thousand Warriors,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, 96
Following the examples and teachings of righteous parents gives us power to defend truth and right. Heavenly Father gave us Parents and families to love, teach, and guide us through our lives. During this lesson will learn how two thousand young warriors, who were the sons of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, used the teachings and examples of their righteous parents to keep their covenant to defend their freedom.
Read Alma 53:10–23, 56:1–58:27 and Alma 24 (also see Mosiah 13:20).
The parents of the two thousand young warriors had made a covenant to "kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more" (Alma 53:10–12). "when they saw the danger . . . [they] were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country" (Alma 53:13). Helaman did not want the Anti-Nephi-Lehies to help fight the Lamanites because he "feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls" (Alma 53:14–15). It is very important to keep our covenants that we make with God.
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies "had many sons, who had not entered into [this] covenant . . . [so] as many as were able [took] up arms" (Alma 53:16). These sons "entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites" (Alma 53:17).
"they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength . . . they were men of truth and soberness" (Alma 53:20–21). What are some ways you can be true and walk uprightly before the Lord?
The fathers helped their sons without breaking their covenant not to fight by bringing them provisions (Alma 56:27). What are some ways your family gives you support, or that you can help support them?
Helaman told Moroni "never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites" (Alma 56:45). This was because their mothers had taught them "that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them" (Alma 56:46–48). Because they believed their mothers they were not afraid of death. How are your parents trying to prepare you to have the courage and faith to meet challenges?
The two thousand young warriors were given strength and courage in battle threw the power of God, such that none were killed, because of "their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught [by their parents] to believe" (Alma 57:26–27; 58:39–40).
These warriors followed Helaman and performed "every word of command with exactness" (Alma 57:21). It is it important to follow the counsel of your leaders and parents with exactness, as they have the wisdom and spiritual guidance to help us.
When the two thousand young warriors needed strength they "did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen [them]" (Alma 58:10). "God did visit [them] with assurances that he would deliver [them]" (Alma 58:11).
The great faith and courage of these young men rewarded in that "even one soul [had] not been slain" (Alma 56:56; 57:25; 58:39). They were saved from death because "they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies" (Alma 57:26–27; 58:40).
Following the examples and teachings of righteous parents gives us power to defend truth and right. Heavenly Father gave us Parents and families to love, teach, and guide us through our lives. During this lesson will learn how two thousand young warriors, who were the sons of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, used the teachings and examples of their righteous parents to keep their covenant to defend their freedom.
Read Alma 53:10–23, 56:1–58:27 and Alma 24 (also see Mosiah 13:20).
The parents of the two thousand young warriors had made a covenant to "kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more" (Alma 53:10–12). "when they saw the danger . . . [they] were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country" (Alma 53:13). Helaman did not want the Anti-Nephi-Lehies to help fight the Lamanites because he "feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls" (Alma 53:14–15). It is very important to keep our covenants that we make with God.
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies "had many sons, who had not entered into [this] covenant . . . [so] as many as were able [took] up arms" (Alma 53:16). These sons "entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites" (Alma 53:17).
"they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength . . . they were men of truth and soberness" (Alma 53:20–21). What are some ways you can be true and walk uprightly before the Lord?
The fathers helped their sons without breaking their covenant not to fight by bringing them provisions (Alma 56:27). What are some ways your family gives you support, or that you can help support them?
Helaman told Moroni "never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites" (Alma 56:45). This was because their mothers had taught them "that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them" (Alma 56:46–48). Because they believed their mothers they were not afraid of death. How are your parents trying to prepare you to have the courage and faith to meet challenges?
The two thousand young warriors were given strength and courage in battle threw the power of God, such that none were killed, because of "their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught [by their parents] to believe" (Alma 57:26–27; 58:39–40).
These warriors followed Helaman and performed "every word of command with exactness" (Alma 57:21). It is it important to follow the counsel of your leaders and parents with exactness, as they have the wisdom and spiritual guidance to help us.
When the two thousand young warriors needed strength they "did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen [them]" (Alma 58:10). "God did visit [them] with assurances that he would deliver [them]" (Alma 58:11).
The great faith and courage of these young men rewarded in that "even one soul [had] not been slain" (Alma 56:56; 57:25; 58:39). They were saved from death because "they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies" (Alma 57:26–27; 58:40).
Labels: Alma, Anti-Nephi-Lehies, Book of Mormon, Captain Moroni, covenants, Helaman, Lesson 27, Mosiah, Parents
Other Lessons:
(ordered by date)08_01_06 08_01_13 08_01_20 08_01_27 08_02_03 08_02_10 08_02_17 08_02_24 08_03_02 08_03_09 08_03_16 08_03_23 08_03_30 08_04_06 08_04_13 08_04_20 08_04_27 08_05_04 08_05_11 08_05_18 08_05_25 08_06_01 08_06_08 08_06_15 08_06_22 08_06_29 08_07_06 08_07_13 08_07_20 08_07_27 08_08_03 08_08_10 08_08_17 08_08_24 08_08_31 08_09_07 08_09_14 08_09_21 08_09_28 08_10_19 08_11_02 08_11_09 08_11_16 08_11_23 08_11_30 08_12_07 08_12_14 08_12_21 08_12_28 08_12_29
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