Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Note: Duties of Church Members

D&C 20:68
The duty of the members after they are received by baptism.—The elders or priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning the church of Christ to their understanding, previous to their partaking of the sacrament and being confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the elders, so that all things may be done in order.

Note: Duties of Teachers

D&C 20:53
The teacher's duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;

Note: Duties of Priests

D&C 20:46
The priest's duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament,

Note: Duties of Elders

D&C 20:38
The duty of the elders, priests, teachers, deacons, and members of the church of Christ—An apostle is an elder, and it is his calling to baptize;

Note: Duties of the Priesthood

D&C 20:37
And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.

Note: Despite the signs and warnings from Noah, the people at that time were still trying to perpetuate society, all the way up to the moment of the flood.

JS-Matthew 1:42
For it shall be with them, as it was in the days which were before the flood; for until the day that Noah entered into the ark they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage;

Note: At some point you have to simply move on. Some people just will not be moved from their opinion.

2 Nephi 32:7
And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

Note: Definition of Priestcrafts

2 Nephi 26:29
He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.

Note: Keys to understanding Isaiah: 1) "for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews." 2) "

2 Nephi 25:1
Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.

Note: "...that they may know the judgements of God...", or, know what happens when we reject Christ.

2 Nephi 25:3
Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken.

Note: It's impossible for man to act for himself without a choice of two or more options.

2 Nephi 2:16
Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

Note: Christopher Columbus

1 Nephi 13:12
And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.

Note: American Revolutionary War

1 Nephi 13:17
And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.

Note: Per-Revolution Enlightenment

1 Nephi 13:16
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.

Note: Colonial America

1 Nephi 13:15
And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.

Note: We really are supposed to judge. Not to condemn, but to differentiate, or distinguish, or discern. Why else would we be told "by their works ye shall know them?"

Moroni 7:15
For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

Note: Look at what is happening today with religion and God. It is now "politically incorrect" to pray, or speak of God. We have chased God out of government, and have almost completed chasing Him out of schools. Prayer is no longer allowed at military funerals. Clergy were banned from the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I fear we are well on the same path that Mormon's people went down.

Moroni 8:28
Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost.

Note: If miracles cease on the Earth, it's our own fault.

Moroni 7:37
Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.

Note: Have you retained that feeling? It's one thing to have that feeling, but quite another to retain it.

Alma 5:26
And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Note: "The fundamental principle of this system was the private ownership of property. Each man owned his portion, or inheritance, or stewardship, with an absolute title, which he could alienate, or hypothecate, or otherwise treat as his own. The Church did not own all of the property, and the life under the United Order was not a communal life. . . The United Order is an individualistic system, not a communal system." —J. Reuben Clark, Conference 1942

D&C 51:4
And let my servant Edward Partridge, when he shall appoint a man his portion, give unto him a writing that shall secure unto him his portion, that he shall hold it, even this right and this inheritance in the church, until he transgresses and is not accounted worthy by the voice of the church, according to the laws and covenants of the church, to belong to the church.

Note: As opposed to the Occupy Wall Street Movement, and those who are proponents of Socialism, who want to remain "idle" but still have everything given to them.

D&C 42:42
Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.

D&C 51:13
And again, let the bishop appoint a storehouse unto this church; and let all things both in money and in meat, which are more than is needful for the wants of this people, be kept in the hands of the bishop.

D&C 78:3
For verily I say unto you, the time has come, and is now at hand; and behold, and lo, it must needs be that there be an organization of my people, in regulating and establishing the affairs of the storehouse for the poor of my people, both in this place and in the land of Zion—

Lesson 14
To help class members understand the law of consecration and its eternal purposes and desire to consecrate their lives more fully to the service of God.

Preparation

Note: Where is your treasure?

3 Nephi 13:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Note: The key prerequisite for performing miracles

3 Nephi 8:1
And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record—for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity—

Note: See footnote c

Alma 43:46
And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.

Note: "When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past."

Alma 34:34
Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

Note: King Benjamin outlines how to obtain salvation:

Mosiah 4:5
For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—

Note: Contrite—Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions; apologetic.

D&C 52:15
Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances.

Note: Contrite—Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions; apologetic.

D&C 52:15
Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances.

Note: No collective salvation

Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Note: Affliction and trials are how the Lord purifies us and tests out resolve and commitment.

1 Nephi 20:10
For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Note: Am I ready to go to prison or die for He who died for me on the cross?

Luke 22:33
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

Note: I find the word "sufficiently" here interesting. The people must have remembered their history from time to time, but never long enough, never deep enough to make them do anything about it.

Alma 5:6
And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?

Note: "...they were pleasing unto the carnal mind..." was the real reason for preaching false doctrines.

Alma 30:53
But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

Note: Ps. 19:1-2 Hel. 12:15

Alma 30:44
But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

Note: Matt. 12:38-39 Alma 32:17-18 "I will give you one of the keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: that man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is unrighteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize as God lives. The principle is as correct as the one that Jesus put forth in saying that he who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person; and that principal is eternal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of heaven; for whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man." —Joseph Smith

Alma 30:43
And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

Note: Instead of having an honest conversation, Korihor called the people crazy and insane for claiming they'd had revelation concerning the coming of Christ

Alma 30:16
Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.

Note: Each person is endowed by God to choose his or her own beliefs. It's the whole reason a third part was cast out of God's presence.

Alma 30:8
For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve.

Note: You have a right to your property and are obligated to preserve and protect it and that of your neighor.

Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.

Note: The key to securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders

Exodus 18:21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Psalm 127:1
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Note: D&C 27:15-17

Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Note: Population control

Exodus 1:16
And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

Note: D&C 128:22

Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?