Transcript The Way www.kevinhinckley.com Pictures of the year St. Hugh Nibley “The Book of Mormon was written by a bunch of worried men.” Why would he say.

The Way
www.kevinhinckley.com
Pictures of the year
St. Hugh Nibley
“The Book of Mormon
was written by a
bunch of worried
men.”
Why would he say that?
Nephi’s last discourse
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect
brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all
men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward,
feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to
the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall
have eternal life.
And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the
way; and there is none other way nor name
given under heaven whereby man can be saved
in the kingdom of God
The “Way”, Greek
“Hodos”
1) properly
a) a way
b) a travellers way,
journey, travelling
2) metaphor.
a) a course of conduct
b) a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling,
deciding
Nephi’s last discourse
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect
brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all
men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward,
feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to
the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall
have eternal life.
And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the
way; and there is none other way nor name
given under heaven whereby man can be saved
in the kingdom of God
Elder Maxwell
People who search for a light at
the end of a tunnel other than the
light of Jesus Christ will not find
it. Knowing, however, that His
light is eternal, steadfast,
unwavering, and constant can see us through the
narrowest passages when steadfastness is most
apt to slaken.
So much of steadfastness depends upon our
hopefulness, especially for a better self…
The Book of Mormon doesn’t become untrue
because we’ve had a bad day!
Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, p. 65
As opposed to…
High on Mount Sinai, Moses was on psychedelic drugs when
he heard God deliver the Ten Commandments, an Israeli
researcher claimed in a study published this week. Such
mind-altering substances formed an integral part of the
religious rites of Israelites in biblical times, Benny Shanon, a
professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem wrote in the Time and Mind journal of philosophy.
"As far Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a
supernatural cosmic event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't
believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined
Moses and the people of Israel under the effect of narcotics," Shanon told
Israeli public radio on Tuesday.
Moses was probably also on drugs when he saw the "burning bush," suggested
Shanon, who said he himself has dabbled with such substances.
He mentioned his own experience when he used ayahuasca, a powerful
Question:
psychotropic plant, during a religious ceremony in Brazil's Amazon forest in
1991. "I experienced
visions
that
had spiritual-religious
connotations,"
If you’re
a
Jew,
how
would
this
effect
your faith?
Shanon said.
Tough Question…
How “steadfast” are you?
Could something happen that would cause
you to question your steadfastness?
How does someone lose their “way”, their
steadfastness?
Which Way?
Faith (Expectation)
Doubt (In members)
The Great
Deceiver
Holy
Ghost
Perfect Brightness
Of Hope
Sense of Betrayal
“Been Lied to”
Joy
Anger, Pain
Toward Saints:
Love,
Gratitude
Mocking or
Feelings of Superiority
Sin
Internet
Lack of Knowledge
Lack of Conversion
Anita Canfield
Ashley [my daughter] struggled all her life for her grades. She was diligent and concerned and tried
her best to succeed, but it was hard for her to retain concepts and do the work. Because of her
poor grades and despite her diligent efforts, she was always discouraged.
We have a yearly family tradition. On the night of the first day of school, we all receive a father's
blessing. He begins with the youngest child and asks each of us if there is anything special we
need.
The first school night of Ashley's sophomore year, when her turn came, she was asked the familiar and
standard question, "Anything special, Ashley?" … Quietly weeping she asked, "Dad, do you think
Heavenly Father cares about my grades? I think he does… Do you think there's a special blessing
for me? I've tried—but, Dad, I'm dumb."
Steve put his arms around her and gently replied that he knew Heavenly Father cared about all parts
of our lives. …He placed his hands on her head and blessed her … In essence, this is what came
next:
"Ashley, a modern-day prophet has admonished us to read the Book of Mormon. He has even
promised that those who make it part of their lives will have greater powers because of it. Ashley,
Heavenly Father wants to enter into a covenant with you. If you will follow a prophet's voice and
begin tonight to read the Book of Mormon every day—and not just read it, but study and ponder it;
and not just this year, but begin tonight on a lifelong pursuit of reading and studying the scriptures
every day—then he will bless you. He will bless you in your mind and in your ability and in your
efforts. You will succeed, so much so that you will even be utterly amazed."
A tremendous spirit was present, and it bore witness to us of who the Author of that priesthood
blessing was.
Sis Canfield Continued…
That night when I went to say good night, Ashley had the Book of Mormon open to 1 Nephi 1. She
looked up and said, "Mom, will you answer a question?"
This is great, I thought. Already she wants more information!
"Mom, how can reading and studying the Book of Mormon help my grades?"
For a moment I was puzzled too, and then the answer became quite clear. "Ashley, I don't know. I don't
know at all. But this much I do know: obedience is everything. Faith is a principal of obedience. If we
obey, even though we don't understand, the Lord gives us power. For every law we obey, a blessing
comes. Maybe we don't even know it at the time, but obeying brings blessings. Right now, Ashley,
do you have the faith to obey, even though you don't understand?"
She said she did and absolutely wouldn't quit. She would "do faith."
And she did. She read the Book of Mormon faithfully. Not only did she not understand how it was all
going to work but she didn't understand much of what she was reading.
The end of the first nine weeks came. She came into the kitchen after school, crying and clutching a
crumpled piece of paper. She threw it on the counter and ran upstairs. I knew immediately it was the
grade report, and my heart sank. How would I ever instill a desire for faith in her heart again? But as
I uncrumpled the paper, there were all As and Bs!
I ran upstairs and found her in the bathroom, splashing her face.
Now we were both crying. Expecting a story of inspired new study
procedures, I exclaimed "Ashley! How did you do it?" Instead, my
fifteen-year-old daughter taught me again about "doing faith" in
three simple words, "Book of Mormon.“
Perfect Brightness of Hope, 15.