Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Principles of Politics in Mosiah 29
Winston S Churchill: ‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’ (11 November 1947).
Reflection: Take a few minutes to look at what you underlined in the Book of Mosiah. What notes did you write during your study? What did you learn that helped you or made a difference in your life?
“The palest ink is better than the best memory.” Consider writing a summary of what you learned in the Book of Mosiah. You could include when you felt the Spirit strongly. What did you learn that brought you closer to Christ?
Nehor’s Doctrine
President Dallin H. Oaks: “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” (2 Nephi 26:29). The effects of priestcraft is seen in 2 Nephi 26:32.
“The Book of Mormon applies this principle (priestcraft) to those who seem to be serving the Lord but do so with a hidden motive to gain personal advantage rather than to further the work of the Lord: “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’ (2 Nephi 26:29; see also Alma 1:16).
“Priestcraft is the sin committed by the combination of a good act such as preaching or teaching the gospel and a bad motive. The act may be good and visible, but the sin is in the motive. On earth, the wrong motive may be known only to the actor, but in heaven it is always known to God.
“…During my lifetime, I have seen more than a few persons in positions of responsibility in various churches whose activities in the “work of the Lord’ seemed to be motivated predominantly by personal interest. The commandment to avoid priestcraft is a vital challenge to religious persons in every age of time.” (Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, pp. 16 18)
Robert Millet: “I cannot speak for anyone else, but I believe if I have begun to attract people to myself rather than to the Lord, that I need to undergo some serious introspection. My colleague Joseph McConkie observed to this group some years ago: “Sometimes we get in our own way. We block the light because we are standing center stage when we should have stepped to the side and just let the message speak for itself. We cause what I call a spiritual eclipse.’ (CES Symposium, 8 82, p. 1). If I am driven more by ego than by a desire to lead people to Christ; if my desires for acclaim are greater than my desires to love and serve the Lord and his children, then my eye is not single to the glory of God (Matt. 6:22 23; D&C 88:67 68), and I will obstruct the light that might have been seen and felt. If, on the other hand, I am humbled to be in the presence of my students, sobered by the sacred assignment to instruct them, and fully cognizant of and willing to trust in Him who is the real Teacher and Converter, then I will have the privilege of witnessing miracles, men and women coming unto Christ and being perfected in him” (Robert Millet, CES Symposium, Aug. 1993, p. 11).
The Church published the following official statement on capital punishment: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regards the question of whether and in what circumstances the state should impose capital punishment as a matter to be decided solely by the prescribed processes of civil law. We neither promote nor oppose capital punishment” (“Capital Punishment,” mormonnewsroom.org/official-statement/capital-punishment).
Persecution of Church Members in Alma 1
President Russell M. Nelson: “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng).
Elder David A. Bednar: “Because today we are engaged in a war for the welfare of marriage and the home, in my latest reading of the Book of Mormon I paid particular attention to the ways the Nephites prepared for their battles against the Lamanites. I noted that the people of Nephi “were aware of the intent of [their enemy], and therefore they did prepare to meet them” (Alma 2:12; italics added)
“As I read and studied, I learned that understanding the intent of an enemy is a key prerequisite to effective preparation. We likewise should consider the intent of our enemy in this latter-day war” (Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan, Ensign June 2006).
For the Strength of Youth Booklet: “Through your dress and appearance, you can show that you know how precious your body is. You can show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you love Him” (For the Strength of Youth [booklet, 2011], 6).
Elder M. Russell Ballard: “There is an entire subculture that celebrates contemporary gangs and their criminal conduct with music, clothing styles, language, attitudes and behaviors… I do not believe that you can stand for truth and right while wearing anything that is unbecoming one who holds the priesthood of God. To me, it is impossible to maintain the Spirit of the Lord while listening to music or watching movies or videos that celebrate evil thoughts and use vulgar language” (Conference Report Oct 1997, p 51-53)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums.
“The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/07/born-of-god?lang=eng).
Ideas for teaching:
- “If it were possible that ye could always have just men to be your kings it would be well for you to have a king” (23:8).
- Power corrupts people (29:8). See also D&C 121:39 .
- “Judge this people according to our law” (29:11, 22, 25, 28, 39, 41).
- The better the laws that match the commandments of God, the better the law (29:11).
- “Better that a man should be judged of God than of man” (29:12).
- How to tell a bad law? (Hel 7:4-5).
- It is common for the majority of the people to desire to do that which is right (29:26).
- Checks and balances (29:28).
- “Every man may enjoy his rights and privileges” (29:32) and their responsibility (“every man might bear his part”) (29:34).
Winston S Churchill: ‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’ (11 November 1947).
Reflection: Take a few minutes to look at what you underlined in the Book of Mosiah. What notes did you write during your study? What did you learn that helped you or made a difference in your life?
“The palest ink is better than the best memory.” Consider writing a summary of what you learned in the Book of Mosiah. You could include when you felt the Spirit strongly. What did you learn that brought you closer to Christ?
Nehor’s Doctrine
- Bear down against the church.
- Clergy (priest and teacher) ought to become popular.
- Provide support for the clergy.
- No need to fear God.
- All will be saved.
President Dallin H. Oaks: “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” (2 Nephi 26:29). The effects of priestcraft is seen in 2 Nephi 26:32.
“The Book of Mormon applies this principle (priestcraft) to those who seem to be serving the Lord but do so with a hidden motive to gain personal advantage rather than to further the work of the Lord: “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’ (2 Nephi 26:29; see also Alma 1:16).
“Priestcraft is the sin committed by the combination of a good act such as preaching or teaching the gospel and a bad motive. The act may be good and visible, but the sin is in the motive. On earth, the wrong motive may be known only to the actor, but in heaven it is always known to God.
“…During my lifetime, I have seen more than a few persons in positions of responsibility in various churches whose activities in the “work of the Lord’ seemed to be motivated predominantly by personal interest. The commandment to avoid priestcraft is a vital challenge to religious persons in every age of time.” (Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, pp. 16 18)
Robert Millet: “I cannot speak for anyone else, but I believe if I have begun to attract people to myself rather than to the Lord, that I need to undergo some serious introspection. My colleague Joseph McConkie observed to this group some years ago: “Sometimes we get in our own way. We block the light because we are standing center stage when we should have stepped to the side and just let the message speak for itself. We cause what I call a spiritual eclipse.’ (CES Symposium, 8 82, p. 1). If I am driven more by ego than by a desire to lead people to Christ; if my desires for acclaim are greater than my desires to love and serve the Lord and his children, then my eye is not single to the glory of God (Matt. 6:22 23; D&C 88:67 68), and I will obstruct the light that might have been seen and felt. If, on the other hand, I am humbled to be in the presence of my students, sobered by the sacred assignment to instruct them, and fully cognizant of and willing to trust in Him who is the real Teacher and Converter, then I will have the privilege of witnessing miracles, men and women coming unto Christ and being perfected in him” (Robert Millet, CES Symposium, Aug. 1993, p. 11).
The Church published the following official statement on capital punishment: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regards the question of whether and in what circumstances the state should impose capital punishment as a matter to be decided solely by the prescribed processes of civil law. We neither promote nor oppose capital punishment” (“Capital Punishment,” mormonnewsroom.org/official-statement/capital-punishment).
Persecution of Church Members in Alma 1
- Contend warmly … even unto blows (1:22).
- … it was a cause of much affliction to the church (1:23).
- …it was the cause of much trial with the church (1:23).
- …hearts of many were hardened (1:24).
- Their names were blotted out.
- Many withdrew themselves.
- Now this was a great trial… (1:25).
President Russell M. Nelson: “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng).
Elder David A. Bednar: “Because today we are engaged in a war for the welfare of marriage and the home, in my latest reading of the Book of Mormon I paid particular attention to the ways the Nephites prepared for their battles against the Lamanites. I noted that the people of Nephi “were aware of the intent of [their enemy], and therefore they did prepare to meet them” (Alma 2:12; italics added)
“As I read and studied, I learned that understanding the intent of an enemy is a key prerequisite to effective preparation. We likewise should consider the intent of our enemy in this latter-day war” (Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan, Ensign June 2006).
For the Strength of Youth Booklet: “Through your dress and appearance, you can show that you know how precious your body is. You can show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you love Him” (For the Strength of Youth [booklet, 2011], 6).
Elder M. Russell Ballard: “There is an entire subculture that celebrates contemporary gangs and their criminal conduct with music, clothing styles, language, attitudes and behaviors… I do not believe that you can stand for truth and right while wearing anything that is unbecoming one who holds the priesthood of God. To me, it is impossible to maintain the Spirit of the Lord while listening to music or watching movies or videos that celebrate evil thoughts and use vulgar language” (Conference Report Oct 1997, p 51-53)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums.
“The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/07/born-of-god?lang=eng).
Ideas for teaching:
- Most of the time, most of the people want to do what is right.
- Crystalize your thoughts through Reflection.
- Teach, testify and apply the power of the word of God.
- Let Christ have center stage as we teach.
- Keep your focus on Christ.
- How will you (or continue to) “mark yourself” as a follower of Christ this next week?
- Never forget the power in the word of God.