Joseph Smith - History 1:1-20

Joseph Smith – History 1:1-20 Study Guide – to be discussed March 4
Day 1: Read the paragraph on JS-H in the Introductory Note at the beginning of the Pearl of Great Price,
JS-H 1:1-2; Helaman 16:22; 3 Nephi 1:22
1. In the paragraph on JS-H in the Introductory Note at the beginning of the Pearl of Great Price, when does it say Joseph Smith wrote the history excerpted here? When and where was it first published?


2. Give reasons from JS-H 1:1-2 why Joseph Smith recorded the history of his early life.



3. Read Helaman 16:22 and 3 Nephi 1:22. What force is usually at work when truth is disparaged? How can we help “put all inquirers after truth in possession of the facts”?



BONUS: Look up the word, “militate” in a dictionary. What does it mean?

Day 2: Read JS-H 1:3-5
4. Look at church history map 1, located in the back of your triple combination after the index. Note the locations of Sharon, Vermont; Palmyra and Manchester, New York. According to the map notes, what happened at Lebanon and Norwich, Vermont? [Note: if you don’t have this map in your scriptures, find it online at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/chmaps/1]



5. How many times did the Smith family move in Joseph Smith Jr.’s first ten years? Where was he in the family birth order?


6. What was the religious climate in Manchester during Joseph’s youth?



Day 3: Read JS-H 1:6-8; 1 Peter 1:22-23; 1 Nephi 13:24-29
7. What caused the love and good feelings of converts and clergy to disintegrate during Joseph’s youth? What did Peter suggest we do to avoid the same fate?



8. Read 1 Nephi 13:24-29. How did the events prophesied by Nephi contribute to the religious climate described by Joseph Smith?



9. List phrases from JS-H 1:8 that suggest a pattern we might follow as we seek to receive revelation.




Day 4: Read JS-H 1:9-12; Alma 32:27-28
10. What was the question young Joseph pondered? What caused him to reflect on this question?


11. What feelings did the reading of James 1:5 engender in Joseph?



12. Read Alma 32:27-28. What is the relationship between faith and experimenting upon the word? How did Joseph experiment on the word of God?



Day 5: Read JS-H 1:13-15
13. What did Joseph conclude? Why was it important for him to form a conclusion or determination in his quest for truth?



14. Joseph had been taught to pray as a child. What was different about the prayer described in JS-H 1:14?


15. Make two lists from JS-H 1:11-15:
1. Ways the Lord helped Joseph receive answers to his questions.



2. Things Satan did to try to hinder Joseph.


Day 6: Read JS-H 1:16-18; Matthew 3:17; 3 Nephi 11:7
16. Why do you think the Lord waited until a “moment of great alarm” before sending a pillar of light to dispel the darkness?



17. Read Matthew 3:17 and 3 Nephi 11:7. List similarities in the words of the Father from JS-H and these two other instances when His voice was heard by man.



18. Was Joseph’s innocent question to deity specific in nature?


Day 7: Read JS-H 1:19-20; Isaiah 29:13-14; Ezekiel 33:30-33; Moses 1:9
19. Read Isaiah 29:13-14 and Ezekiel 33:30-33. How can we avoid having “a form of godliness” while denying “the power thereof”?



20. Compare Joseph’s experience after his miraculous vision with Moses’ experience as recorded in Moses 1:9. How were they similar?



21. Joseph told his mother, “I have learned for myself….” Why is it important for each of us to learn for ourselves the restored gospel is true and Joseph actually saw the Father and the Son?

Joseph Smith - Matthew 1:38-55

Joseph Smith – Matthew 1:38-55 Study Guide – to be discussed February 25
Day 1: Read JS-M 1:38-40; D&C 35:15-18; D&C 45:36-40; Mark 13:32; Bible Dictionary entry, “Fig Tree”
1. What does the parable of the fig tree mean? (Use JS-M 1:38-39, D&C 35:15-18, D&C 45:36-40 and the Bible Dictionary entry, “Fig Tree.”)



2. Who will know and how will they know when the Second Coming is at hand? How does this give you hope?



3. Read Mark 13:32 with JS-M 1:40. What does Mark’s account add to your understanding of prior knowledge regarding the timing of the Second Coming?



Day 2: Read JS-M 1:41-43; D&C 39:20-24
4. Were the people in Noah’s day warned of the coming flood? What did they do with that information?



5. What does the Savior mean when he says the people in Noah’s day were “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage”? Does this mean we should stop doing these things?



6. Read D&C 39:20-24. List promises to the faithful from these verses.



Day 3: Read JS-M 1:44-46; Zechariah 13:6-9
7. How do missionaries today partially fulfill the prophecies related in JS-M 1:44-45?



8. Read Zechariah 13:6-9. What is the promise to the remnant of Israel who will be gathered at the last day?



9. List ways in which we can be watchful today.



Day 4: Read JS-M 1:47-48; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9; BD entry, “Watches”
10. How will watching for the signs of the last days help us be ready for Christ’s coming?



11. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9. Why won’t righteous individuals be surprised by the Second Coming?



12. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Watches.” List times for the three Hebrew watches of the night. Since we don’t know in which watch the Savior will come, what do we need to do to be prepared?



Day 5: Read JS-M 1:49-50; Psalm 24:3; Malachi 3:2
13. What question did the Lord pose in JS-M 1:49? How is this question similar to the questions in Psalm 24:3 and Malachi 3:2?



14. The phrase “meat in due season” means “food at the proper time” – and can relate to both physical and spiritual nourishment. How can we be this kind of servant?



15. What is the promise to good servants in JS-M 1:50?



Day 6: Read JS-M 1:51-54; D&C 84:36-38; D&C 121:29
16. How do you think a master might feel about a servant who is not diligent or trustworthy? How long would you employ such a servant?



17. What is the obvious difference between a “good” servant who feeds the household at the proper time (v.49) and the servant described in JS-M 1:52?



18. Read D&C 84:36-38. What does the Lord mean when He states that the good servant will be made “ruler over his household.” See also D&C 121:29.



Day 7: Read JS-M 1:55; Deuteronomy 18:16-19; Acts 3:22-23; Joseph Smith - History 1:40; D&C 29:7-11; Matthew 25 chapter heading
19. The “prophecy of Moses” referred to in JS-M 1:55 comes from Deuteronomy 18:16-19. Read the chapter heading for Deut. 18 plus verses 16-19, Acts 3:22-23 and JS-H 1:40. What is the warning to all who reject Christ’s words?



20. What is the difference between the end of the wicked (the world) and the end of the earth?



21. From the chapter heading to Matthew 25, list parables Christ taught his disciples directly after the discourse in JS-M (Matt. 24). How does each parable in Matthew 25 support the doctrine the Savior had just taught?

Joseph Smith - Matthew 1:21-37

Joseph Smith – Matthew 1:21-37 Study Guide – to be discussed February 11
Day 1: Review JS-M 1:4; Read JS-M 1:21-37; Words of Mormon 1:16-18; D&C 45:26; 1 Nephi 22:14
1. Review JS-M 1:4. JS-M 1:3 answers the disciples’ question from
JS-M 1:2. JS-M 1:5-21 answer their second question from the first part of JS-M 1:4. What is the disciples’ third question to the Savior as recorded in the second half of JS-M 1:4?



2. Read Words of Mormon 1:16-18, which describes how the Nephites established peace under King Benjamin. From Words of Mormon 1:16, what did the false Christ’s and false prophets cause among the people? How can we recognize true and false prophets today?



3. Read D&C 45:26. What does this verse add to JS-M 1:23 regarding wars and rumors of wars? Read 1 Nephi 22:14. Why will wars and rumors of wars precede the Second Coming?



Day 2: Read JS-M 1:24-26; D&C 45:44; D&C 101:22-23; Ezekiel 43:2
4. When the Savior comes again in His glory, how will we know who He is?



5. Read D&C 101:22-23. Give three things from these verses we can do to prepare to recognize the Lord.



6. Read Ezekiel 43:2 and D&C 45:44. What do the scriptures mean when they say the Lord will come with great power and glory?



BONUS: Compare JS-M 1:26 with Matthew 24:27. What did Joseph Smith change to clarify this verse?


Day 3: Read JS-M 1:27-29; Luke 17:37; 1 Nephi 19:15-16; Revelation 7:1-3, 9-17
7. Read Luke 17:37 with JS-M 1:27. What might be meant by the term “the carcass” in JS-M 1:27?



8. Use 1 Nephi 19:15-16 and Revelation 7:1-3, 9-17 to explain the gathering of the ”eagles.” Who are the eagles?



9. List signs of Christ’s coming from JS-M 1:28-29. For whose sake will the signs be given?



Day 4: Read JS-M 1:30-31; Mosiah 9:2; 3 Nephi 9:10-14; 10:12-14
10. List signs of the last days from JS-M 1:30-31. Which of the signs fromhttp://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_m/1
are we seeing today?


11. Read Mosiah 9:2. How did the Nephites in Zeniff’s search party exhibit qualities described in JS-M 1:30?



12. Read 3 Nephi 9:10-14, 10:12-14. What will make the difference when it is decided who will be saved with the righteous and who will be destroyed at the Second Coming?



Day 5: Read JS-M 1:32-33; D&C 88:86-91; Ezekiel 32:7-10; Review the Bible Dictionary entry, “Abomination of Desolation”
13. Review the Bible Dictionary entry, “Abomination of Desolation.” What does this term mean? Have we seen anything like this recently on the earth?



14. Read D&C 88:86-91. When was this revelation given to Joseph Smith? When will the earth and heavens bear witness of the Savior?



15. Read Ezekiel 32:7-10. Why will the Lord send darkness as part of the signs of His coming?



Day 6: Read JS-M 1:34-35; D&C 45:28-32
16. How many of the signs given in Joseph Smith - Matthew will come to pass before the Second Coming?



17. Read D&C 45:28-32. What is the light that will shine forth in the latter days? How will it keep us safe?



18. What constant do we have when all the world is in peril and chaos?



Day 7: Read JS-M 1:36-37; D&C 45:44-45
19. List signs of the last days from JS-M 1:36-37. What do you think is meant by the mourning of all the tribes of the earth?




20. Read D&C 45:44-45. Who will be cut off? What group will be gathered at the sound of the trump?



21. From JS-M 1:37, how can we avoid being deceived?

Joseph Smith - Matthew 1:1-21

Joseph Smith – Matthew 1:1-21 Study Guide – to be discussed February 4
Day 1: Read D&C 45:15, 60-61; Matthew 23:34-39; JS-M 1:1
1. Read the headnote explaining what Joseph Smith - Matthew is, plus D&C 45:15, 60-61. When was the revelation in Section 45 received? When did Joseph Smith restore the writings of Matthew?



2. Read Matt. 23:34-39 (with footnote 36a). To whom was Jesus speaking at the end of Matt. 23? Whose house did he say would be left desolate? Why?



3. Read JS-M 1:1 with Matt. 23:39. When would Jesus’ disciples recognize him? What did he reveal about himself?



Day 2: Read JS-M 1:2-3; D&C 45:15-21; Bible Dictionary entry, “Temple of Herod”
4. What question did Jesus’ disciples ask him as they left the temple mount in Jerusalem? How did the Savior answer this question?



5. What did the disciples need to DO in order to HEAR the Lord?



6. Read D&C 45:15-21. How did Jesus say desolation would come?



Day 3: Read JS-M 1:4-6
7. Where did Jesus take his disciples for this discourse? Look at map 12 in your Bible appendix. Does it appear Jesus and his disciples had a clear view of the temple from where they were?



8. List the two main questions posed by the disciples as recorded in JS-M 1:4.



9. What was Jesus’ first point of counsel to his disciples? How did this answer their questions?



Day 4: Read JS-M 1:7-11; D&C 45:22-27
10. List signs given in JS-M 1:7-11. Do these signs answer the disciples’ first or second question or both?




11. Who will be saved (or safe)?

12. Read D&C 45:22-27. List signs from these verses. Which sign is the same from D&C 45 and JS-M?



Day 5: Read JS-M 1:12-17; Daniel 11:30-33; D&C 101:22
13. Read Daniel 11:30-33. In describing the “abomination that maketh desolate,” what did Daniel say will happen to those who “do wickedly against the covenant”?



14. Use the last part of Daniel 11:32 with D&C 101:22 to tell how we can stand in holy places.




15. Why were the people of Judea warned to flee and not turn back during the time of desolation?



Day 6: Read JS-M 1:18-19; Bible Dictionary entries, “Abomination of Desolation” & “Assyria and Babylonia”
16. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Abomination of Desolation.” When are the two fulfillments of this prophecy? Do you think we need to understand the details of the first in order to prepare for the second?




17. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Assyria and Babylonia” – especially paragraphs 1,4 and 7. When had Jerusalem been under siege before Christ’s time? According to JS-M 1:18, how would the coming desolation compare?




18. Read JS-M 1:18-19 with Matthew 24:7-8. How do you think the disciples felt when they learned about “the beginning of sorrows”?




Day 7: Read JS-M 1:20-21; 3 Nephi 29:8-9
19. For whose sake will the days of tribulation be shortened?



20. Read 3 Nephi 29:8-9. How will the Lord fulfill his covenant with Israel?




21. Compare JS-M 1:21 with JS-M 1:5-6. Why do you think false Christ’s appear after calamities?