THOUGHT QUESTIONS FROM MORMON, ETHER, AND MORONI

Mormon

Do you think Mormon, as a ten year-old, realized the massive task of abridgement that he would eventually be required to do?

Do you think Joseph Smith understood as a fourteen year-old the many things he would be required to do?

Do you think that we always understand the “entire picture” of the actions we take when we follow the inspiration of God?

Do you think it is important for us to trust in the Lord and allow ourselves to be led step-by-step in the things He inspires us to do?

Do you think Mormon kept a personal journal to help him remember the things he saw and heard as well as his own thoughts and testimony?

Would it be good for us to keep personal journals to help us remember what is happening in our time as well as to record our own thoughts and testimonies?

ü What type of gifts do you think the Lord withdrew from the people as they became more and more wicked?

ü In what ways do you think “the land” could be cursed?

ü Why do you think it would be cursed “for their sake”?

ü Do you think that it meant “because of them” or do you think it was to give them another chance to repent when they realized the land was cursed because of their wickedness?

Do you think there was a special reason that Mormon’s family went south to Zarahemla where Mormon, as a fifteen year-old, was appointed head of the armies?

ü Do you think there was a special reason that the armies ended up for a while in the city of Jashon?

ü Because the Lord can foresee “the big picture” of what will happen—in our individual lives as well as in the world as a whole—do you think it is important for us to pray for guidance so He can lead us in making individual decisions which will help us fulfill our missions in life?

ü Do you think it made Mormon disgusted to have to review the Nephites’ wickedness and write about it?

ü Do you think it is understandable that he did not want to write about it any more by the time he made his abridgement?

ü Do you think Mormon could have referred to their final and Eternal inheritance with God as well as their Earthly inheritance when he wrote to future Gentiles and the House of Israel saying, they should prepare to “return to the land of their inheritance”?

ü Even though the Nephites were now in a dreadful state of wickedness, do you think it was easy for Mormon to watch the Lamanites slaughter them and take many prisoners?

ü Do you think it was horribly frustrating for Mormon—who knew that if the Nephites obeyed the Lord—to witness what he knew and had warned them—would be the results of their disobedience?

Do you think after the tremendous loss of life and injuries, the Nephites would finally be ready to repent and give the Lord credit for His merciful attitude toward them?

ü Why do you think, with all the turmoil and slaughter going on around him, Mormon placed such great importance on collecting centuries-worth of records to take on the flight?

ü Do you think that Mormon now understood the tremendous task he was being asked to do, abridging all of the Large Plates of Nephi?

ü If we do not have the Lord’s Spirit with us, can we be also driven “as chaff before the wind”?

ü Without the Holy Ghost to guide or “steer” us in the right direction, do you think we would also be like floundering vessels?

Do you think the Nephites contemplated the state of their souls on the eve of the battle?

Or do you think they were only concerned with the ending of their temporal lives?

Why do you think it important that the remnants know that they are part of the House of Israel?

ü Do you think you were among those hopeful spirits, excited Joseph Smith to be born and for the Restoration to begin?

Since Moroni knew that his father and many generations of righteous scribes had spent so much time writing the scriptures for the profit of the people, do you think it was any wonder that he was angry to see that future generations would deliberately change God’s Holy Word?

ü Do you think that after seeing his own people destroyed because of their wickedness, Moroni was especially concerned to warn future generations to avoid remaining in Satan’s clutches?

ü Do you think, seeing the wicked future generations in vision, that Moroni was horrified to realize how strong Satan’s influence was among the people?

ü Do you think Moroni may have seen in vision, as other prophets have, Earth becoming Celestialized?

ü Do you think, at that time (the Judgment Day), anyone will be able to say, “There is no God.”?

Thought Questions from Mormon, Ether, and Moroni: Text

ETHER

Can you think of any better answer to the prayer that the brother of Jared offered than the Lord promising to meet His children and go at the head of them, leading them to a land choice above all the lands of the Earth?

The Lord said He would bless the brother of Jared “because you have cried a long time unto Me.”

What does that teach us for our own lives?

ü Why do you think the Lord “was in a cloud,” when he spoke to the brother of Jared giving him instructions, where the brother of Jared could not see Him?

ü How do you think it would it seem to be part of a group to which the Lord openly spoke, giving explicit directions?

ü In what way do you think that the Lord speaks to us as a group, giving directions, today?

ü In what way do you think that the Lord speaks to us individually, giving us help and directions in our own lives?

ü Do you think “listening” is part of this communication process?

ü If we do not call on the name of the Lord—or pray consistently—what wicked being will try to fill in the gap and claim us for his nefarious purposes?

ü Does the Lord sometimes expect us to come up with solutions ourselves instead of just having them handed to us?

In striking simile, the Lord compared the Jaredites to whales in the midst of the sea with mountain waves dashing over them as they would journey to the Promised Land.

ü Do you see a comparison to us mortals as we travel our Earthly journey to the Promised Land of Eternal Life?

ü Does this show how the Lord will bring us out of troubles of this mortal life, and prepare us and help us with the things that assault us—that we may reach our final glorious “Promised Land”?

ü Do you think the Holy Ghost would help the brother of Jared think of something that would work?

ü When we are asked to think of what to do in any situation—or even what to pray for, do we ask for the Holy Spirit’s help?

In Jared’s original request to his brother, he said, “Go and inquire of the Lord whether He will drive us out of the land, and if He will drive us out of the land, cry unto Him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the Earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance” (Ether 1:38).

In Jared’s sense, do you think the term “drive” had negative or positive connotations?

Do you think Jared was inspired by the Holy Ghost to ask his righteous brother to pray to the Lord?

ü Sometimes “translated” words do not give a completely accurate inference according to our linguistic framework. According to how we think of the term, “drive,” did the Lord “drive” the company forth or did He “lead” them as He went in a cloud before them?

ü Sometimes the “translated” word, “driven”—like “drive” –has different connotations. Sometimes it is translated that Adam and Eve were “driven” from the Garden of Eden. Since they were being sent forth to fulfill the Lord’s commandment to multiply and replenish the Earth—do you think, in that case, that “driven” has a negative or positive connotation?

ü Why do you think the brother of Jared says that the Lord has “smitten” his group—when the Lord actually answered his original prayers and led them far away from the Tower of Babel?

ü Do you think that Moriancumer’s perception possibly came from the “chastisement” the Lord gave him, and that he realized that the company could have been in the Promised Land sooner if they had earlier proved themselves worthy?

ü Do you think he realized that the Lord was merciful because He was giving the company another chance to obtain the inheritance of the Promised Land?

ü Do you think he may have been told of the Plan of Salvation and realized the whole extent of God’s Eternal mercy?

As far as we know, the group did spend some time in complete darkness on their relatively short journey to this transition place. They knew the feeling of being enclosed in the dark barges.

ü How do you think the brother of Jared felt as he imagined traveling for perhaps hundreds of days in the dark enclosed barges?

ü Do you think your own faith would be tried in these circumstances?

ü Would you say the Lord touching the stones was an immediate answer to Moriancumer’s prayer?

The Lord had done just as the brother of Jared requested.

ü Why do you suppose the brother of Jared was “struck with fear” so greatly that he fell down?

ü What else do you think the brother of Jared did not understand at that time about the loving compassion of God?

ü What does the brother of Jared’s experience tell us about how our own spirits look?

ü Do you think the barges, driven forth by God to the Promised Land, and the openings that would give the breath of life to the travelers could also be symbols, or physical manifestations of God giving His followers the breath of life and leading them to Eternal Life?

ü Do you think there are some things—such as the wickedness of his own descendants—that the brother of Jared would rather not have seen?

ü Do you think Moroni, in spite of his lonely wanderings, had to be extremely close to the Lord to receive His exact words?

ü Should we feel extremely blessed to read the Lord’s own words—as though He was here speaking to us?

ü Do you think these words of the Savior in verse 7indicate that there will be a time when all of the great revelations shown to Moriancumer will come forth?

ü How does it feel to be living in a time when the Lord has chosen to “open the Heavens” to us?

ü When we listen to the words of the prophet and Apostles in our day, are we listening to the words of the Savior?

Since the Holy Ghost will bring all things to our remembrance, do you think that Moroni’s “memory” would have been very accurate?

ü How willing are we to wait for the time that is right in “God’s wisdom” to have our prayers answered?

Do you think it may have been comforting to Joseph to know that others would be able to see the Plates?

ü Would you rather wait for the Judgment Day to accept Moroni’s authority from Christ, or would you rather accept it now?

ü Imagine yourself in a tight barge being tossed on and under the ocean day after day. What do you think would be your reaction? Would you continue to trust in God?

ü Do you think it is strange that of all the things the people could have asked for, they chose to ask for something that would cause them to lose their freedom?

ü Although Orihah was a righteous king, do you think that guaranteed all kings who followed him would also be righteous?

ü Who should be the only “King” to reign in the Promised Land?

None listed

Do you think that we mortals now continue to be in spiritual (and temporal) trouble by hearkening to insincere “flatterers” like Jared?

ü How do you think the record of evil made it to the Promised Land? Do you think other records were brought and these evil plans of ancient people were among them?

ü Do you think that one person’s actions can start a “chain reaction” either of good or of bad?

ü Because one person “started” the evil, do you think that excuses others for embracing it?

ü Satan wanted to take our agency from us—do you think he has the power to make us do evil if we do not choose that course for ourselves?

ü When we see how fast Earthly life goes, even for those who live long lives, do you think it is amazing that someone like Heth would commit murder to be a king for that short time—and kill the prophets and then have those horrible sins to take with him to the next life?

ü Who do you suppose influenced Heth to forget about his Eternal potential?

ü Do we ever get so caught up in our wants and desires in this life that we forget that the “big picture” includes all of Eternity?

ü Who is glad when we forget about our Eternal potentials?

ü Do you think, since “the Lord does not look on sin with the least degree of allowance,” it was worth it to Morianton to indulge in lustful living for a short time on Earth to be cut off from the Lord’s Presence Eternally?

ü Can you understand why Moroni said that Morianton did not do “justice unto himself”?

Do you think Com was blessed because he respected the

prophets and worshiped God?

Do you think the prophets could have been protected by

the Lord rather than only by Com?

Do you think the Lord gave Com the opportunity to do the

right thing in protecting the prophets?

Do you think that the prophets blessed Com by teaching

him of the Savior and the Plan of Salvation?

ü Why do you think “the Fountain of all Righteousness” is an appropriate

metaphor for the Savior?

None listed

What do you think of the expression, “his soul mourned,” expressing the deep sorrow Coriantumr felt for his stubbornness, as he realized the death and destruction that could have been avoided?

Shiz was a member of the devil’s evil combinations. What kind of society do you think the Jaredite nation would be if Shiz had accepted the Coriantumr’s offer that he stop the war and rule the kingdom?

ü Do you think it is a coincidence that the Jaredites’ final battle was near the same hill in which Mormon—centuries later—hid the records?

Thought Questions from Mormon, Ether, and Moroni: Text

MORONI

1-6

Do you think the things that Moroni subsequently wrote have been and will

be “of worth” to other Children of Israel and to Gentiles as well as to the

Lamanites?

Why do you think Moroni particularly thought of the Lamanites as the

target of his writings?

Mormon recognized that these people were “peaceable followers of Christ” because of the ways they treated others.

What lesson do you think this teaches us?

Comparing a bitter fountain to an evil person and a good fountain to a good person is a metaphor.

Why is it an appropriate metaphor comparing motivations have in praying or giving gifts?

ü Does knowing the devil’s motivation—that through his own choice, he

made God his enemy and remains always determined to fight God and Hi

righteous purposes—help warn us to resist his evil temptations?

If you were in a foreign country and were trying to get back to your own country…

ü Would you be thankful for those who showed you the right path back—or would you be determined to go your own way even though you had no idea of the right direction?

ü Would you consider yourself weak to follow the person who knew where he or she was going? Or would that just show good sense?

None listed

Many righteous people do not fear death because they know it is the next step to Eternal progression.

Why do you think the Nephites at this time did not seem to fear death?

ü Do you think that the devil would have rejoiced if Mormon or Moroni gave

up and stopped fighting evil when the Nephites obviously were not going to

listen to them?

ü Do you think that the fact that Mormon and Moroni never stopped fighting

evil—was a victory for Christ?

ü Do you think it was comforting to Mormon to have a righteous son to whom he could express his feelings?

ü Do you think that it is it good to have friends or family who believe as we do—to express our feelings about the great Plan of Life and Salvation?

ü Does this lesson—of continually fighting wickedness even though it seems

useless or discouraging—apply to our lives today?

Does the fact that Moroni seemed to address Chapter 10 to the Lamanites mean that it does not apply to other people—or do all scriptures apply to all of God’s children?

Do you think that Moroni fully realized at that time, the impact his writings

would have on the whole world?

Do you think that the witness of the truth of the things in The Book of

Mormon always comes immediately after first reading it, or may we

sometimes have to first diligently strive to have a sincere heart, real intent,

and faith in Christ for this witness to come to us?

Do you think that the witness of the truth of these things comes to everyone at the same time in the same way—or, because we are all different individuals with different personalities and ways of learning, might the Holy Ghost manifest the truth in different ways at different times to different people?

ü Do you think there has ever been a time on Earth when no good person was living?

ü Then do you think there has ever been a time on Earth where no gifts or Power of God existed in the world?

ü What do you think of this wonderful promise—to become holy, without

spot—if we live to become perfect in Christ?

Thought Questions from Mormon, Ether, and Moroni: Text