Joseph Smith - History 1:66-75

Joseph Smith – History 1:66-75 Study Guide – to be discussed March 25
Day 1: Read JS-H 1:66-67; D&C 8:1-12
1. Why did Oliver Cowdery seek out Joseph Smith in April, 1829?



2. Look at map 3 in the Church History maps at the back of your scriptures. Approximately how far is it (as the crow flies) from Palmyra, NY to Harmony, PA? (Note: If you don’t have the Church History maps in your scriptures, you can find this map online at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/chmaps/3)


3. Read D&C 8:1-12, given to Oliver Cowdery in April, 1829. What gifts did the Lord tell Oliver he had been given? List also specific warnings to Oliver.




Day 2: Read JS-H 1:68-71
4. What questions regarding baptism might Joseph and Oliver have gone to the woods to ask in prayer?



5. List the keys of the Priesthood of Aaron.




6. How did John the Baptist (the heavenly messenger) answer any questions Joseph and Oliver may have had about baptism?



Day 3: Read paragraphs 1-3 in Oliver Cowdery’s endnote to JS-H at the bottom of page 58; 3 Nephi 11:18-41
7. How did Oliver feel about being Joseph’s scribe?



8. Read 3 Nephi 11:18-41.This is where Joseph and Oliver were in the translation of the Book of Mormon in May 1829. List three phrases from this passage in 3 Nephi that might have motivated the men pray fervently.



9. What is the “liquid grave” and who is buried there? (See also Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Mosiah 18:14-16.)



Day 4: Read paragraphs 4-5 in Oliver Cowdery’s endnote to JS-H on page 59; 3 Nephi 8:20-22; Revelation 19:10
10. Read 3 Nephi 8:20-22. How was this description of the conditions among Nephites before the appearance of the Savior like the state of religion prior to the restoration of the gospel?





11. Read Revelation 19:10. How did Oliver know the true church of Christ would be built on continuing revelation?



12. List what Oliver KNEW through direct revelation.




Day 5: Read paragraphs 6-7 in Oliver Cowdery’s endnote to JS-H on page 59
13. Why did John the Baptist address Joseph and Oliver as his “fellow-servants”?



14. What feelings did Oliver list specifically as coming to him by the power of the Holy Spirit?




15. What did “one touch with the finger of his love” cause for Oliver?



Day 6: Read JS-H 1:72-73
16. Under whose direction did John the Baptist act?



17. What did Joseph and Oliver experience directly after their baptisms?



18. Upon what subjects did Joseph prophesy?



Day 7: Read JS-H 1:74-75; Luke 24:30-32
19. Review JS-H 1:73, along with verse 74. What were Joseph and Oliver able to do because of the Holy Ghost? Were Joseph and Oliver members of the church yet? Had they received the gift of the Holy Ghost?



20. Read Luke 24:30-32. List similarities between the experience described in JS-H 1:74 and Luke’s description of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.




21. What blessings were received as part of the Lord’s answer to a simple but fervent prayer about the principle of baptism?

Joseph Smith - History 1:55-65

Joseph Smith – History 1:55-65 Study Guide – to be discussed March 18
Day 1: Read JS-H 1:55-56;D&C 137:1-10
1. How did Joseph Smith and his brothers assist in providing for their father’s family?



2. What “great affliction” transpired in the Smith family in 1823? Read D&C 137:1-10. When and where was D&C 137 received? What peaceful doctrine did Joseph receive in this revelation, relative to his brother Alvin.



3. Where and why did Joseph go to work for Josiah Stoal (or “Stowell”)?



Day 2: Read JS-H 1:57-58; D&C 25:1-5
4. How might the experience of courting and marrying Emma have helped Joseph in his preparation to receive the Book of Mormon plates?



5. Read D&C 25:1-5. When and where was this revelation received? What was Emma counseled to do in D&C 25:1-5?



6. Why was Joseph continually persecuted, even seven years after his first vision?



Day 3: Read JS-H 1:59-60
7. List the two IF-THEN promises Moroni gave Joseph, as recorded in JS-H 1:59.



8. Why did Joseph need to be alert and diligent in safeguarding the plates?



9. What happened to the plates after Joseph had finished translating all that was required of him? Do you think he was sorry to let them go?



Day 4: Read JS-H 1:61
10. Why might rumor and falsehoods have been employed against Joseph and his family? Are they still?



11. Where did Joseph and Emma go to escape further persecution?





12. What role did Martin Harris play in Joseph’s move? Who was he to Joseph?



BONUS: Read D&C 17:1-9. When and where was this revelation received? List promises to Martin Harris.




Day 5: Read JS-H 1:62-63
13. When did Joseph and Emma arrive in Pennsylvania? What did Joseph do immediately after their arrival?



14. By what means was Joseph able to translate the ancient characters?



15. Why did Martin Harris visit the Smiths in February 1828? Why do you think Joseph deferred to Harris’ own account instead of writing about the circumstances in his own words?



Day 6: Read JS-H 1:64
16. Why did Martin Harris take copied characters and Joseph’s translation to New York?



17. Who was Professor Charles Anthon? What was his opinion of the characters and translation?



18. What questions did Professor Anthon call Martin Harris back to answer?



Day 7: Read JS-H 1:65; Isaiah 29:11-12; 2 Nephi 27:15-20
19. Why did Anthon destroy his witness?




20. Read Isaiah 29:11-12 and 2 Nephi 27:15-20. How do Charles Anthon and Joseph Smith fit the descriptions in Isaiah’s prophecies?




21. How did Martin Harris’ journey to New York strengthen his testimony of the sacred work of translation?

Joseph Smith - History 1:21-54

Joseph Smith – History 1:21-54 Study Guide – to be discussed March 11
Day 1: Read JS-H 1:21-23; James 5:10-11; Amos 7:14-15
1. When the young Joseph Smith shared his experience with a local preacher, what was the reaction? What logic did the preacher use?


2. Why might local clergy have been quick to denounce Joseph? Did Joseph pose a threat?



3. Read James 5:10-11 and Amos 7:14-15. How did the reactions of preachers and religious professors to Joseph’s vision confirm the Lord’s counsel in the First Vision (see JS-H 1:19)?



Day 2: Read JS-H 1:24-26; Acts 26:13-28
4. Read the account of Paul’s witness before Festus and Agrippa in Acts 26:13-28. List similarities between Joseph’s and Paul’s experiences.



5. What did Joseph fear more, offending God or offending men? How do you know?


6. Underline or count every instance in these verses where Joseph wrote, “I had [or have] seen [or beheld] a vision [or light]…” List elements of Joseph’s testimony, or in other words, truths he had learned.



Day 3: Read JS-H 1:27-32; D&C 110:1-4; Revelation 1:13-17
7. Review JS-H 1:14. How many years had Joseph affirmed his vision by autumn 1823?


8. In Joseph’s prayer on September 21, 1823, for what did he petition the Lord, specifically? What gave him confidence that his prayer would be answered? (See also D&C 63:8-12.)



9. Compare the description of the angel Moroni with the two descriptions of the resurrected Christ in Revelation 1:13-17 and D&C 110:1-4. List similarities.



Day 4: Read JS-H 1:33-39; Revelation 14:6-7; Malachi 4:1, 5-6
10. List five things Moroni wanted Joseph Smith to know.



BONUS: Read Revelation 14:6-7. How was this prophecy fulfilled in part on September 21, 1823?


11. What is the connection between the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and Malachi’s prophecy (JS-H 1:37-39) regarding the last days?



12. Compare Malachi 4:1 and 5-6 with the revised versions as quoted by Moroni. What phrases were added or revised?



BONUS: What does it mean to be without root or branch?


Day 5: Read JS-H 1:40-42; Isaiah 11; D&C 113:1-6; Joel 2:28-32; D&C 88:84-85; Isaiah 42:6-7
13. Read Isaiah 11, D&C 113:1-6 and Joel 2:28-32. In what way(s) would the study of Isaiah 11 and Joel 2 help prepare Joseph for the “work” he was called to do? How has scripture study helped you fulfill a calling?



14. Read D&C 88:84-85 with Isaiah 42:6-7. What is the “fullness of the Gentiles” (JS-H 1:41)?



15. What warning did Moroni issue before he opened a vision of the location of the plates?



Day 6: Read JS-H 1:43-48
16. How did Moroni exit Joseph’s room? How did he return?



17. What did Moroni add to his recitation on his second visit? on his third visit?



18. Review the three nighttime visits of Moroni. List words Joseph used to describe his own reactions to the miraculous communication in verses 44, 46 and 47 (eg: “musing” in v. 44).



Day 7: Read JS-H 1:49-54
19. What counsel did Moroni give after another repetition of the same scriptural message during his fourth visit? What was the result of Joseph’s obedience?



20. What physical evidence did Joseph have to confirm the validity of the messenger and his message?



21. How often and for how long did Joseph meet with Moroni after his initial visits?


EXTRA CREDIT: Read 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, Isaiah 28:21, 29:11-14, John 10:16. These verses of scripture were identified (along with others) by Oliver Cowdery as quoted by Moroni - part of the “many passages of scripture” indicated in JS-H 1:41. How did these add to Joseph’s understanding of his “work”?

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?