Make sure to thank all the little people :-)
National Provisioner
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Primary Activity 6-17-08
I have increased the size of the slide show so page down to take another look.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Alma Chapter 8 Notes
The lesson this week is #23, Alma 8-12. I am going to try to do several posts focusing on a chapter at a time. So first up is Alma 8.
Here is the Student Study Guide and the Teacher’s Manual for this chapter.
In verse 1 we see that Alma (the Younger) has just completed a successful missionary effort in the land of Gideon.
What could the “order of the church” that cannot be written be?
Verse 4
What is the holy order of God?
From there he travels to Ammonihah, but does not find success.
Verse 9:
Do we find the same issues in our missionary efforts?
What are our options in confronting this situation?
What do we typically do and compare that to what Alma does.
Verse 10:
What does it mean to wrestle with God?
Hugh Nibley
“…It takes great mental effort to confront the Lord in all seriousness. We do it at various shallow levels, by routine. We have a prayer here because we feel we should. If we're going to make it really serious, we have to work on it harder…and very few people are willing to do it, but it really pays off because you know exactly what you want and where you stand.” (Teachings of the Book of Mormon, lecture 47, pp. 301-2)
From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.
To struggle; to strive; to contend.
Verse 11:
What is meant by Foolish Traditions?
Alma 30:14-16
14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.
15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.
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.
Verse 12
What does the Ammonihahites (?) attitude towards leadership and obedience compare with 121:39-46?
Verse 13
Why is sometimes being cast out and spit upon a good thing?
See Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you
James E. Faust,
“You must know that Lucifer will oppose you, and be prepared for his opposition. Do not be surprised. He wants you to fail…Have courage and go forward. Recognize that the gospel has been preached with some pain and sorrow from the very beginning of time. Do not expect that your experience will be otherwise.” (Church News, 5/18/96, p. Z1)
Verse 14
What is going on with Alma at this moment?
Is it just depression or is it something more?
If more, then what is it, and how can we use it in our life?
Verse 15
We see Alma receives a blessing because of his faith. Is God compelled to give this blessing (or a blessing)? Why or why not?
Is it important that the same Angel as before visited him?
Verse 17
What is the evil of Ammonihah?
What is the Liberty of the people?
From Webster’s again:
1. Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the body, or to the will or mind. The body is at liberty, when not confined; the will or mind is at liberty, when not checked or controlled. A man enjoys liberty, when no physical force operates to restrain his actions or volitions.
2. Natural liberty, consists in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature. It is a state of exemption from the control of others, and from positive laws and the institutions of social life. This liberty is abridged by the establishment of government.
3. Civil liberty, is the liberty of men in a state of society, or natural liberty, so far only abridged and restrained, as is necessary and expedient for the safety and interest of the society, state or nation. A restraint of natural liberty, not necessary or expedient for the public, is tyranny or oppression. civil liberty is an exemption from the arbitrary will of others, which exemption is secured by established laws, which restrain every man from injuring or controlling another. Hence the restraints of law are essential to civil liberty.
The liberty of one depends not so much on the removal of all restraint from him, as on the due restraint upon the liberty of others.
In this sentence, the latter word liberty denotes natural liberty.
5. Religious liberty, is the free right of adopting and enjoying opinions on religious subjects, and of worshiping the Supreme Being according to the dictates of conscience, without external control.
6. Liberty, in metaphysics, as opposed to necessity, is the power of an agent to do or forbear any particular action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, by which either is preferred to the other.
Freedom of the will; exemption from compulsion or restraint in willing or volition.
How does the loss of Liberty affect us as Agents?
Is there a bigger battle being discussed here?
Verse 18
What does Alma’s reaction/behavior tell us?
Verse 19
What is going on grammatically with “An Hungered”?
I actually researched this because it bugged me so to speak. I learned AN is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound (an apple, an FBI agent), otherwise A is used for a consonant sound (a car, a uniform). The exception historically has been words that begin with H. A word like HONOR begins with a vowel sound and follows rule (an honor), while a word like HAT has a consonant sound and also follows rule (a hat). The exception used to be H words that were long and/or 3 syllables or more. So it would be true to the period A HISTORY but to also say AN HISTORICAL EVENT. So we see here AN HUNGERED which would have been the correct grammatical usage at the time of translation, and it pairs up nicely with Matthew 25:35
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Verse 20
Was the presence of the prophet alone a blessing or is something more happening?
See verse 22 and D&C 75:19
19 And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you, leave your blessing upon that house.
Verse 27
Why would Alma tarry for many days?
What does that imply for us? In our missionary efforts?
Alma 10:10
10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.
Verse 29
What is Fierce Anger?
Webster’s
Fierce: Violent; outrageous; not to be restrained
Anger: A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. This passion however varies in degrees of violence, and in ingenuous minds, may be attended only with a desire to reprove or chide the offender.
Anger is also excited by an injury offered to a relation, friend or party to which one is attached; and some degrees of it may be excited by cruelty, injustice or oppression offered to those with whom one has no immediate connection, or even to the community of which one is a member.
How do these definitions fit with the verse?
Verse 31
Why would they not use their power?
End Questions
In chapter 8 we witness the pairing up of one of the greatest missionary companionships in recorded scripture.
What is the purpose of a companionship? In missionary work? In marriage? Do the same principles apply?
Here is the Student Study Guide and the Teacher’s Manual for this chapter.
In verse 1 we see that Alma (the Younger) has just completed a successful missionary effort in the land of Gideon.
What could the “order of the church” that cannot be written be?
Verse 4
What is the holy order of God?
From there he travels to Ammonihah, but does not find success.
Verse 9:
Do we find the same issues in our missionary efforts?
What are our options in confronting this situation?
What do we typically do and compare that to what Alma does.
Verse 10:
What does it mean to wrestle with God?
Hugh Nibley
“…It takes great mental effort to confront the Lord in all seriousness. We do it at various shallow levels, by routine. We have a prayer here because we feel we should. If we're going to make it really serious, we have to work on it harder…and very few people are willing to do it, but it really pays off because you know exactly what you want and where you stand.” (Teachings of the Book of Mormon, lecture 47, pp. 301-2)
From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.
To struggle; to strive; to contend.
Verse 11:
What is meant by Foolish Traditions?
Alma 30:14-16
14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.
15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.
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.
Verse 12
What does the Ammonihahites (?) attitude towards leadership and obedience compare with 121:39-46?
Verse 13
Why is sometimes being cast out and spit upon a good thing?
See Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you
James E. Faust,
“You must know that Lucifer will oppose you, and be prepared for his opposition. Do not be surprised. He wants you to fail…Have courage and go forward. Recognize that the gospel has been preached with some pain and sorrow from the very beginning of time. Do not expect that your experience will be otherwise.” (Church News, 5/18/96, p. Z1)
Verse 14
What is going on with Alma at this moment?
Is it just depression or is it something more?
If more, then what is it, and how can we use it in our life?
Verse 15
We see Alma receives a blessing because of his faith. Is God compelled to give this blessing (or a blessing)? Why or why not?
Is it important that the same Angel as before visited him?
Verse 17
What is the evil of Ammonihah?
What is the Liberty of the people?
From Webster’s again:
1. Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the body, or to the will or mind. The body is at liberty, when not confined; the will or mind is at liberty, when not checked or controlled. A man enjoys liberty, when no physical force operates to restrain his actions or volitions.
2. Natural liberty, consists in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature. It is a state of exemption from the control of others, and from positive laws and the institutions of social life. This liberty is abridged by the establishment of government.
3. Civil liberty, is the liberty of men in a state of society, or natural liberty, so far only abridged and restrained, as is necessary and expedient for the safety and interest of the society, state or nation. A restraint of natural liberty, not necessary or expedient for the public, is tyranny or oppression. civil liberty is an exemption from the arbitrary will of others, which exemption is secured by established laws, which restrain every man from injuring or controlling another. Hence the restraints of law are essential to civil liberty.
The liberty of one depends not so much on the removal of all restraint from him, as on the due restraint upon the liberty of others.
In this sentence, the latter word liberty denotes natural liberty.
5. Religious liberty, is the free right of adopting and enjoying opinions on religious subjects, and of worshiping the Supreme Being according to the dictates of conscience, without external control.
6. Liberty, in metaphysics, as opposed to necessity, is the power of an agent to do or forbear any particular action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, by which either is preferred to the other.
Freedom of the will; exemption from compulsion or restraint in willing or volition.
How does the loss of Liberty affect us as Agents?
Is there a bigger battle being discussed here?
Verse 18
What does Alma’s reaction/behavior tell us?
Verse 19
What is going on grammatically with “An Hungered”?
I actually researched this because it bugged me so to speak. I learned AN is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound (an apple, an FBI agent), otherwise A is used for a consonant sound (a car, a uniform). The exception historically has been words that begin with H. A word like HONOR begins with a vowel sound and follows rule (an honor), while a word like HAT has a consonant sound and also follows rule (a hat). The exception used to be H words that were long and/or 3 syllables or more. So it would be true to the period A HISTORY but to also say AN HISTORICAL EVENT. So we see here AN HUNGERED which would have been the correct grammatical usage at the time of translation, and it pairs up nicely with Matthew 25:35
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Verse 20
Was the presence of the prophet alone a blessing or is something more happening?
See verse 22 and D&C 75:19
19 And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you, leave your blessing upon that house.
Verse 27
Why would Alma tarry for many days?
What does that imply for us? In our missionary efforts?
Alma 10:10
10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.
Verse 29
What is Fierce Anger?
Webster’s
Fierce: Violent; outrageous; not to be restrained
Anger: A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. This passion however varies in degrees of violence, and in ingenuous minds, may be attended only with a desire to reprove or chide the offender.
Anger is also excited by an injury offered to a relation, friend or party to which one is attached; and some degrees of it may be excited by cruelty, injustice or oppression offered to those with whom one has no immediate connection, or even to the community of which one is a member.
How do these definitions fit with the verse?
Verse 31
Why would they not use their power?
End Questions
In chapter 8 we witness the pairing up of one of the greatest missionary companionships in recorded scripture.
What is the purpose of a companionship? In missionary work? In marriage? Do the same principles apply?
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Primary Activity 6-17-08
Here is the main photo album of the primary activity. It has 105 pictures but I have some of everyone there I think.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Scripture Citation Index
I wanted to highlight some of the links I have put on the side. The Scripture Citation Index is a very cool tool created by BYU. It has taken all the General Conference talks and identified every time one of the standard works is referenced. So you could go to any verse in the scriptures and see if it has ever been referenced in a conference talk. If it has it will tell you by who and if you click on it you will be taken to the church web-site and the actual talk. You can also select a Speaker (and they have over 386 of them) and it will show you every place they have referenced in a talk. For example, David B. Haight favored the New Testament, especially the Book of John; and Thomas S. Monson favors Matthew.
It is really cool and hours of fun:-)
It is really cool and hours of fun:-)
The Flood
The Big Event in the Ward was the flood. Here is my slide show that I took. You can also see the spot where Benny Thompson's house stood. Good job he moved out.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Dan B Goes back in time.
Due to a business trip in the cities, Jeff Brown was able to stop by and visit his Dad and the Ward.
Mike M Finishes High School
Unfortunately due to the rain the graduation party was moved inside. Couple that with how popular Mike seemed to be it was standing room only. My first attempt at capturing Mike I ended up with this shot of Shawn.
I did manage to get him with take number two. Congratulations Mike.
I did manage to get him with take number two. Congratulations Mike.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Links in the Sidebars
I have added most of my favorite web-sites for church related information. If any of the links do not work let me know and I will correct them. If you know of some others that would be helpful to include, also let me know.
In the future, if there is an interest, we can include individual family blog links and the side as well.
In the future, if there is an interest, we can include individual family blog links and the side as well.
Welcome Austin Ward
Under the direction of the Bishopric I have created this simple blog to track Ward Functions and News, plus use it as a place to enhance personal worship within the Ward.
If you have any announcements, essays, or other church related news that would be appropriate for this venue please send them in. This would include functions, calling related functions (i.e. Brother Henry could write about missionary work, or I about Sunday School), or general interest theology pieces (i.e you have been doing a lot of personal study about the Atonement and would like to share your thoughts). Photo's are a plus. If you are in contact with a former Ward member who has moved away, ask if they would like to give us an update.
You can contact Lisa and I directly, or can use the following email addresses:
Austindavidp@gmail.com or
Austinlisap@gmail.com
It should be noted that the Bishop has editing power over this blog as well, and all comments and entries can be edited or deleted if not appropriate. That said please comment and otherwise participate, because that is what this blog will need to survive.
If you have any announcements, essays, or other church related news that would be appropriate for this venue please send them in. This would include functions, calling related functions (i.e. Brother Henry could write about missionary work, or I about Sunday School), or general interest theology pieces (i.e you have been doing a lot of personal study about the Atonement and would like to share your thoughts). Photo's are a plus. If you are in contact with a former Ward member who has moved away, ask if they would like to give us an update.
You can contact Lisa and I directly, or can use the following email addresses:
Austindavidp@gmail.com or
Austinlisap@gmail.com
It should be noted that the Bishop has editing power over this blog as well, and all comments and entries can be edited or deleted if not appropriate. That said please comment and otherwise participate, because that is what this blog will need to survive.
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