Week 6: 2 Nephi 28-33

This week is pretty light, not that the content of the readings are any lighter, but the amount is a bit lighter. 

As you search 2 Nephi 28-33, will you pay particular attention to how they prepare you for General Conference next weekend?

It would be really great if you waited to post your comments on these chapters until after General Conference, I would like read how you saw connections between 2 Nephi 28-33 and what you heard in General Conference. 

I know your lives are so very busy, but I hope you will find time to simply ponder what the readings for this week are teaching you. What is the Spirit whispering to you? What do you need to do more of in your life? What do you need to do less of or stop completely? Please take a moment and ponder what you are reading, and feel what the Spirit is encouraging you to do. Your moment of pondering may come as you are walking to class, while you are eating, running, swimming or simply looking out the window near where you are studying for class. 

The Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, even found brief moments in time to ponder. After Jesus learned of the

death of His friend (and relative) John the Baptist, the scriptures state, "When Jesus heard of [John's death], he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart...." (Matt. 14:13). A short time later, after feeding the 5,000, the scriptures report, "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening was come, he was there alone" (Matt. 14:23). 

Please take the time to ponder the things you are studying in the scriptures as well as pondering how they are preparing you to hear from the living prophets and apostles this weekend. 

Week 5: 2 Nephi 17-27 & Basic Doctrines Paper

This week the readings cover 2 Nephi 17-27. 

Good news & bad news: The good news is there is no weekly post due this week...just keep reading. The bad news (which is really not bad news) is that you have the Basic Doctrines paper due next Monday (30 September). No stress, keep it simple!

Here are the guidelines for the Basic Doctrines paper: Select a basic doctrine from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and explore the doctrine through the lens of the Book of Mormon. That is, use only the Book of Mormon to explore one of the basic doctrines of the Church in your paper. It is appropriate to insert your feelings, but please try to approach the paper as if you were explaining the doctrine from the Book of Mormon to a non-member friend. Select a basic doctrine from the following:

•  Godhead
• Plan of Salvation
• Atonement of Jesus Christ
• Dispensation, Apostasy & Restoration
• Prophets & Revelation
• Priesthood & Priesthood Keys
• Ordinances & Covenants
• Marriage & Family
• Commandments

Okay, if you are stressing, stop. The only wrong paper is the paper not completed (unless you decide to write about something else besides what I have asked for...yeash). 

So remember, this paper can be up to three pages, BUT NO MORE, please. All papers should be submitted to me via email (palmersj@ldschurch.org) before Oct. 1. 

Keep it real & stress less.
Bro Palmer

Week Four: 2 Nephi 1-16: Find a Quote This Week!

This week we start 2 Nephi. There are so many things in these chapters, it is difficult to get though them. SO, here is the challenge this week: Rather than sharing your thoughts on something you read, would you please find a quote from a recent General Conference or from a book by one of our Church leaders that helps you better understand or supports a verse in 2 Nephi 1-16? 

As examples and for your edification, here are some notes I keep with verses here & there in 2 Nephi 1-16:

2 Nephi 2:11: Elder Kent F. Richards said, "Opposition is part of Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness. We all encounter enough to bring us to an awareness of our Father's love and of our need for the Savior's help" ("The Atonement Covers All Pain," Apr. 2011 Gen Con).

2 Nephi 2:27-29: President Boyd K. Packer said," "We are free to choose what we will and pick and choose our acts, but we are not free to choose the consequences" ("These Things I Know," Apr. 2013 Gen Con).

2 Nephi 9:7: Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "The irony of the Atonement is that it is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied individually, one person at a time" ("The Atonement and the Value of One Soul," Apr. 2004 Gen Con).

2 Nephi 9:27: President Henry B. Eyring said, "The purifying [power of the Atonement] can come only to those who have faith enough in Jesus Christ to repent of sin, be cleansed through the ordinance of baptism, and make and keep covenants to obey all His commandments" ("O Ye That Embark," Oct. 2008 Gen Con).

2 Nephi 10:3: The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "This generation is as corrupt as the generation of the Jews that crucified Christ; and if He were here today, and should preach the same doctrine He did then, they would put Him to death" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, edited by Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 328).

2 Nephi 12:2-3, 5: President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “As I contemplate [the Conference Center], adjacent to the temple, there comes to mind the great prophetic utterance of Isaiah: [see 2 Ne. 12:2-3, 5]. I believe that prophecy applies to the historic and wonderful Salt Lake Temple. But I believe also that it is related to this magnificent hall. For it is from this pulpit that the law of God shall go forth, together with the word and testimony of the Lord” (“This Great Millennial Year,” Oct. 2000, Gen Con).

2 Nephi 13:17-26: Sister Sheri L. Dew said, "Sisters,...No amount of time in front of the mirror will make you as attractive as having the Holy Ghost with you" ("It is Not Good for Man or Woman to be Alone," Oct. 2000 Gen Con). 

2 Nephi 16:2-6: Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, "Seraphs are angels who reside in the presence of God, giving continual glory, honor, and adoration to Him...In Hebrew the plural of Seraph is Seraphim.... The fact that these holy beings were shown to [Isaiah] as having wings was simply to symbolize their power, to move, to act, etc. as was the case also in visions others received (D&C 77:4)" (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd Ed., 702-703). 

Week 3 Posts: 1 Nephi 17-22

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
This week your post should come from 1 Nephi 17-22. Nothing out of the usual for this week's post, please simply share an scripture and insight you gleaned as you studied these chapters from the Book of Mormon. Here is a thought, however, to guide your reading: President Ezra Taft Benson said of the authors of the

Book of Mormon, “If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, ‘Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 5; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6).

Similarly, Elder L. Tom Perry said, "“Each time we read the book we should probably ask ourselves: ‘Why did these writers choose these particular stories or events to include in the record? What value are they for us today?’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2005, 5; or Ensign, Nov. 2005, 8).

What was written in the Book of Mormon readings from 1 Nephi 17-22 for you this week?

Be sure to keep up in your readings and posts!
Thanks, Bro Palmer

Week 2: Aug. 25-31, 1 Nephi 6-15, Weekly Post Due NLT the 31th

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Thank you for your posts for week 1. If you have not already posted for week 1, take care of it quickly so you do not fall behind.

For week 2, as you can see from the header, your post should come from your studies of 1 Nephi 6-15 and follow a similar pattern as your week 1 post:

• What principle did you learn?
• Why do you think the principle is important to you?
• How do you intend to apply it?
• Share your testimony of the principle.

Elder Richard G. Scott taught, "Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances" (Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86). 

Looking forward to your posts for week 2. 

Thanks, Bro Palmer

Week 1 Post Requirement

Brothers & Sisters,
This week you should be covering the Title Page through 1 Nephi 5. Following the example from the syllabus, but done in your way, what did you learn this week from the Title Page through 1 Nephi 5? Looking forward to reading your posts. Although not a requirement, please feel free to respond to each other's posts in appropriate ways.
Thanks,
Brother Palmer

Welcome to the Colorado Springs Institute of Religion Independent Study Course

Religion 121: The Book of Mormon Independent Study Course

Instructor: Bro. Palmer

palmersj@ldschurch.org

719-447-5776

Brothers & Sisters,

Welcome to the Book of Mormon independent study course! We will cover the Title Page of the Book of Mormon through Alma 29. Here are the expectations:

• READ: Each student will read the text for the course (Title Page-Alma 29) this semester.
• POST: Each student will post something from what they have studied from the weekly readings on the blog site (this page:www.csiis@blogspot.com) weekly. I would like you to reference a passage or verse, explain the principle in the verse, share why it is meaningful to you, and to testify the principle the verse teaches. Failure to post weekly, beginning this week (Aug. 19) will be marked as an incomplete for the week.
• Here is an example:
• "I read Alma 12 today. The part that stood out to me were verses 34-37, where Alma warns four different times against 'harden[ing] your heart.' I think the principle here could be stated as follows: When I harden my heart, I lose the blessings the Lord would otherwise provide for me, such as forgiveness of my sins through the Atonement, and I cannot enter into the 'rest of the Lord.' I think this is meaningful to me because I have some friends who have gone less-active in the Church, and are even thinking of leaving the Church. I love them and want what's best for them. I hope that I can help them. If I choose to be humble, I know the Lord will help my heart to remain soft and perhaps He will give me the words to say or the things to do to help my friends come back to the Church and to all the blessings it provides."  
• Also, be sure to kindly respond to other students’ posts.
• TESTS: There will be two online tests for the course, a midterm and a final. No stress, they are both open book; however, you will need to take and pass both tests with at least a 75% to pass the course. I will send you a link with a username and password to take the exams two weeks prior to their due dates. You will be able to take the exam over until you get a passing score up until the exams are no longer available.
• Midterm: Due by midnight, October 14.
• Final: Due by midnight, December 9.
• PAPERS: Each student will complete three papers for the course, as follows:
• Paper 1: Basic Doctrine Paper. Select a basic doctrine from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and explore the doctrine through the lens of the Book of Mormon. That is, use only the Book of Mormon to explore one of the basic doctrines of the Church in your paper. It is appropriate to insert your feelings, but please try to approach the paper as if you were explaining the doctrine from the Book of Mormon to a non-member friend. Select a basic doctrine from the following:
•  Godhead
• Plan of Salvation
• Atonement of Jesus Christ,
• Dispensation, Apostasy & Restoration
• Prophets & Revelation
• Priesthood & Priesthood Keys
• Ordinances & Covenants
• Marriage & Family
• Commandments This paper is due September 30, submitted to me via email.
• Paper 2: The Living Prophets Paper. To complete this paper you will need to read and/or listen to General Conference from October 5-6, 2013 and share five different ways the Book of Mormon was used by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in their talks to teach doctrines and principles. This paper is due October 30, submitted to me via email.
• Paper 3: Question Paper. Select a question on your mind, almost any question will do. Search the Book of Mormon for the answer to your question. Your paper should consist of 1. Your question and 2. How the Book of Mormon answered your question. This paper is due Nov. 25, submitted to me via email.
• Hokey, last minute papers are very easy to spot. If I sense you did not actually care to do the assignment well, I will return it to you and you can try again. Each paper should be 2-3 pages, double-spaced.

Weekly Reading Schedules (online posts should come from these readings)

Week 1: Aug. 18-24, Title Page-1 Nephi 5, Weekly Post Due NLT the 24^th

Week 2: Aug. 25-31, 1 Nephi 6-15, Weekly Post Due NLT the 31^th

Week 3: Sep. 8-14, 1 Nephi 16-22, Weekly Post Due NLT the 14^th

Week 4: Sep. 15-21, 2 Nephi 1-16, Weekly Post Due NLT the 21^st

Week 5: Sep. 22-28, 2 Nephi 17-27

Week 6: Sep. 29-Oct. 5, 2 Nephi 28-33, Paper One due Sep. 30, Weekly Post Due NLT the 5^th

Week 7: Oct. 6-12, Jacob 1-7, Midterm closes Oct. 14. 

Week 8: Oct. 20-26, Enos-Words of Mormon, Weekly Post Due NLT the 26^th

Week 9: Oct. 27-Nov. 2, Mosiah 1-8, Paper Two due Oct. 30

Week 10: Nov. 3-9, Mosiah 9-29, Weekly Post Due NLT the 9^th

Week 11: Nov. 17-23, Alma 1-7, Paper Three due, Nov. 25

Week 12: Dec. 1-7, Alma 8-16

Week 13: Dec. 8-14, Alma 17-29, Final closes Dec. 9

Seems like a lot, but it really is not. Stay on top of your readings and assignments and you will be just fine! Contact me should you have any questions.