3 Nephi 16, 20-21
LAST CLASS OF THE YEAR WILL BE APRIL 28
REVELATION/SCRIPTURE
“These differences between the texts themselves and examples from modern scripture undermine a simplistic equation of scripture with divinely revealed facts.They strongly suggest that revelation, ancient or modern, cannot be simplistically equated with ‘factual correctness.’ Rather, we should understand revelation, even canonized modern revelation, as a process, a progression along a spectrum of correctness. Revelation is not static nor even a straight line of upwards progress, but a mediated human-divine dialectic process which sometimes becomes frozen as scripture.Think of scripture as an artifact or snapshot in time of the progress that is being made through revelation at a certain time, place, and context. Scripture thus contains human elements and understandings common to the time.And this can account for differences between inspired texts, which according to common assumptions should be identical.The textual differences in the Pearl of Great Price and the temple are best explained by conceptualizing revelation as a mediated human-divine composite process that incorporates human knowledge and assumptions of a particular time period and culture and time and place.”
“Rather, we should understand revelation, even canonized modern revelation, as a process, a progression along a spectrum of correctness. Revelation is not static nor even a straight line of upwards progress, but a mediated human-divine dialectic process...”
Ben Spackman, https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2019/a-paradoxical-preservation-of-faith
JOURNEY OF FAITH
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=UOWg9W9F_vo&feature=youtu.be
THE SAVIOR’S MINISTRY TO THE NEPHITES
“The Book of Mormon account of Jesus’ ministry among the Nephites sharpens our understanding of the principle of service by showing how true disciples should minister to others.That account is clearer and more precise than the New Testament account on many points relating to the Gospel. It focuses not only on the words of Jesus (doctrine) but also on His actions (application of the doctrines).”
Richard Holzapfel, https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/one-one-fifth-gospels-model-service-0
MINISTERING
“Scientists have long known that loneliness is emotionally painful and can lead to psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and even hallucinatory delirium. But only recently have they recognized how destructive it is to the body. In 2015, researchers at UCLA discovered that social isolation triggers cellular changes that result in chronic inflammation, predisposing the lonely to serious physical conditions like heart disease, stroke, metastatic cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. One 2015 analysis, which pooled data from 70 studies following 3.4 million people over seven years, found that lonely individuals had a 26% higher risk of dying.This figure rose to 32% if they lived alone.”
“Loneliness is still something that greatly troubles Millennials:According to the 2016 VICELAND UK Census, loneliness is the number one fear of young people today—ranking ahead of losing a home or a job. Fully 42% of Millennial women are more afraid of loneliness than a cancer diagnosis, by far the highest share of any generation.This fear has been ingrained into the very lexicon of Millennials, immortalized in acronyms like “FOMO” and its many companion terms.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe/2019/05/03/millennials-and-the-loneliness-epidemic/#40df0bdf7676
CHILDREN AND ANGELS
“With these sweet children gathered around him, something of their innocence, beauty and future brought to the Savior a painful acknowledgement of what damage a sinful world would bring them. Apparently thinking of the evil from which they must be protected Christ knelt and offered one of the most remarkable prayers ever uttered.”
Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant, 269
PRAYER
“Prayer is the goal of an individual to place him or herself in spiritual harmony with God the Father and Creator of all. According to latter-day prophets and apostles, prayer consists of much more than directing ‘mere words’ or thoughts towards deity, but represents ‘the pulsation of a yearning, loving heart in tune with the Infinite.’ Prayer is ‘a message of the soul sent directly to a loving Father. . . [it is] spirit vibration’ (McKay 308). Prayer is having ‘a consciousness that there is something within us which is divine, which is part of the Infinite, which is the offspring of God, and until we can feel that harmony with that Infinite, we have not sensed the power of
prayer’ (302). Prayer, accompanied by works, ‘is the invisible switch to tune us with the
infinite’ (Kimball 62), it is placing ourselves ‘in harmony with divine forces’ (Widtsoe,The Articles of Faith 288), it is attuning ourselves ‘with the spirit or light which ‘proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space’ (D&C 88:12). In that light is to be found sure answers to all our needs’ (Romney, Prayer and Revelation 50). Further,‘prayer is the passport to spiritual power’ (Kimball 115).To ‘live without prayer is to live a mere animal existence. It is to leave the best part of our natures in a starving condition; for without prayer the spirit is starved, and men dwindle in their feelings and die in their faith’ (Cannon 2:170)."
Donald W. Parry, https://rsc.byu.edu/book-mormon-3-nephi-9-30-my-gospel/pray-always-learning-pray-jesus-prayed
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