“Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15
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whitlarson

Posts: 5155



Posted: 21 Apr 2008 08:24 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father

The purpose:

To increase class members’ understanding of their indebtedness to God and to encourage them to “[put] off the natural man … through the atonement of Christ the Lord”

Scriptures:

Mosiah 1–3

http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/1

http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/2

http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/3

-----------------------------------------------

Teacher's Manual Link:

http://tinyurl.com/4du9go

Student Manual Link:

http://tinyurl.com/4fxp3h

AUDIO Book of Mormon Downloads

http://www.lds.org/mp3/display/0,18692,5297-41,00.html

XO

Whit

whitlarson

Posts: 5155



Posted: 21 Apr 2008 08:31 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

LDS Living Link:

http://www.ldsliving.com/bom15.asp

Meridian Magazine Link:

http://www.ldsmag.com/gospeldoctrine/bom/080408bom15.html

-Whit

corker86

Posts: 410



Posted: 21 Apr 2008 02:49 PM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

Thanks for all of these links. It sure helps to study the SS lesson and help the scriptures come more to life. I really appreciate it so much. :)
verily

Posts: 1402



Posted: 22 Apr 2008 02:38 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

I found a talk by Elder Eyring from Conference 2006 on this speech. It is very good.
http://tinyurl.com/43w8sl
I really like what he says here about becoming as a little child:

"Here is King Benjamin’s stirring description of what that change to become like a child is and how it comes to us:

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” 6

We are safe on the rock which is the Savior when we have yielded in faith in Him, have responded to the Holy Spirit’s direction to keep the commandments long enough and faithfully enough that the power of the Atonement has changed our hearts. When we have, by that experience, become as a child in our capacity to love and obey, we are on the sure foundation.

From King Benjamin we learn what we can do to take us to that safe place. But remember: the things we do are the means, not the end we seek. What we do allows the Atonement of Jesus Christ to change us into what we must be. Our faith in Jesus Christ brings us to repentance and to keeping His commandments. We obey and we resist temptation by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. In time our natures will change. We will become as a little child, obedient to God and more loving. That change, if we do all we must to keep it, will qualify us to enjoy the gifts which come through the Holy Ghost. Then we will be safe on the only sure rock.

Like you, I have felt what King Benjamin meant when he said that we could become like a little child before God. I have prayed, as you have, to know what to do when choices that I faced would have eternal consequences. Over many years I have seen a recurring pattern in the times when the answers to such a prayer have come most clearly.

Once, for instance, I prayed through the night to know what I was to choose to do in the morning. I knew that no other choice could have had a greater effect on the lives of others and on my own. I knew what choice looked most comfortable to me. I knew what outcome I wanted. But I could not see the future. I could not see which choice would lead to which outcome. So the risk of being wrong seemed too great to me.

I prayed, but for hours there seemed to be no answer. Just before dawn, a feeling came over me. More than at any time since I had been a child, I felt like one. My heart and my mind seemed to grow very quiet. There was a peace in that inner stillness.

Somewhat to my surprise, I found myself praying, “Heavenly Father, it doesn’t matter what I want. I don’t care anymore what I want. I only want that Thy will be done. That is all that I want. Please tell me what to do.”

In that moment I felt as quiet inside as I had ever felt. And the message came, and I was sure who it was from. It was clear what I was to do. I received no promise of the outcome. There was only the assurance that I was a child who had been told what path led to whatever He wanted for me.

I learned from that experience and countless repetitions that the description of the Holy Ghost as a still, small voice is real. It is poetic, but it is not poetry. Only when my heart has been still and quiet, in submission like a little child, has the Spirit been clearly audible to my heart and mind."

I really loved this talk, and could hear Elder Eyring speaking it as I read...don't you love that! I have a tendency to want my way...or what I think is best....but have felt in my own life also when I have submitted to the Lord...and felt that change of heart...to be willing to take whatever He wanted for me...is when I really felt peace...and things worked out. I know we can count on a loving Father in Heaven, and Savior to get us through whatever we are to accomplish here. I am grateful for this reminder today. I love the scriptures and wise leaders!

alrightalready

Posts: 5388



Posted: 22 Apr 2008 03:53 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

Thanks for this Verily - especially this little segment - "It was clear what I was to do. I received no promise of the outcome. There was only the assurance that I was a child who had been told what path led to whatever He wanted for me."

So many times the Lord has spoken to me, has directed me in what He would have me do, and generally I follow without question. Usually He tells me to do something and I do it immediately. This time I have been struggling with one instruction for a number of years - I have just a couple of friends who support me - who have the faith in me that I do know what the Lord wants for me, but I have received persecution and so many trials - I have just known what the Lord wanted and done it - to see it as that kind of childlike obedience makes me feel really good about it - it gives me strength to be cheerful in my persevering despite difficulty in seeing where it will end.

So many times I find myself saying that, although my cherished dreams have not been granted, I am so very greatly blessed - the opportunities the Lord has given me are so great, and then I will also have the blessings I desire as well. What a wonderful life!!!!

verily

Posts: 1402



Posted: 23 Apr 2008 08:22 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

I don't have time to reply but that was my favorite part too.
verily

Posts: 1402



Posted: 25 Apr 2008 10:59 PM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

bump
ctr2002

Posts: 14241



Posted: 26 Apr 2008 10:07 PM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

bump working on this now
verily

Posts: 1402



Posted: 27 Apr 2008 09:37 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

bump again
winipooh

Posts: 1658



Posted: 27 Apr 2008 04:06 PM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

I really needed this lesson today. King Benjamin has always been one of my favorite B of M persons/examples. His sermon to his people is such a wealth of teachings. It has always spoken to the pride in my own heart--which today, I really needed.
whitlarson

Posts: 5155



Posted: 27 Apr 2008 04:20 PM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

I, too, loved studying this lesson today. This week, a verse stood out to me that never has before - it was Chapter 2, v. 9 where King Benjamin says, "I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view."

I started thinking about conference talks and other things we hear from our general leaders and how important it is to strive to deeply understand them - rather than to "trifle" with them....

Anyhow, good stuff this week.

ctr2002

Posts: 14241



Posted: 27 Apr 2008 04:36 PM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

I studied and studied this lesson.

Then I didn't get to teach it. Apparently, I've been booted. Seriously, the old teacher has returned and is teaching. Nobody told me about it. He told me that someone should have spoken to me that he's the teacher, I was only temporary. I'm confused. I talked to someone about it and there's been a mistake. Because I'm not temporary.

But I didn't teach today. And not next week either.

And in the other Sunday School class they were a week ahead!!

It was SO good to study this lesson though. Loved it. :)

looney_tunes

Posts: 478



Posted: 27 Apr 2008 10:01 PM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

I have loved, loved being back in Sunday School after having to stay home for several months with my daugher. The past two weeks have been wonderful. Sorry I've been a slacker about posting my assignments on this thread of late. I have been AWOL from the MB for a variety of reasons, but I am planning to return on a very limited basis, mostly for the gospel doctrine thread, because it is the one I miss and need the most!

This lesson made me think about how I am indebted because not only does the Lord bless me according to my faith and prayers, I know He often blesses me even beyond my faith and prayers, so that when I look back on those times when I have distanced myself (either on purpose or just out of chaos and busyness of life) I can look back and realize that His hand was still guiding my life, and my faith is strengthened and I received a renewed determination to not allow myself to become so distant from the Spirit again.

In other words, even in our "natural man" state, the Lord is often taking care of us and watching out for us. When we receive a recognition of those blessings, we are spiritually reborn.

I have two thoughts from Elder Neal A. Maxwell, one on recognizing God's blessings, and the other on putting off the natural man.

"To receive God's blessings without acknowledging their Source is to be unrealistic as well as ungrateful."

"Only to the extent that we are willing to put off the natural man do we have any real hope at all of becoming saints. It is the putting off of the putting off that is our real problem, however."

Thanks, sisters. See you sometime next week!

whitlarson

Posts: 5155



Posted: 28 Apr 2008 08:54 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

Great thoughts! I LOVE Elder Maxwell, "putting off of the putting off..." SO TRUE!!

verily

Posts: 1402



Posted: 4 May 2008 01:46 AM
Subject: “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”- BOMSG - Lesson 15

Well, I got a week behind.....to stay with the Gospel Doctine teacher in our branch...but I may figure out how to get back with the mb....I don't like being behind...and can't study both. anyways, I just read the meridian article for this lesson and LOVE it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. this is a great speech. It really stresses how Loving Christ is what it's all about. Our greatest success in life is our relationship with our Savior. and that is what King Benjamin was trying to teach his people. Society today has such a different idea of success, and it is easy to fall into those patterns ourselves. or to wonder why bad things are happening to us....when really it is life...and what we need. anyways. I love it.
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