This manual was written as the course curriculum for home-study seminary students. It contains writing assignments for each of the 32 units. It also contains insights, images, and doctrines and principles to help students with their individual study.
Church History 1805 to 1832. This volume is the first of three on Church History and the Doctrine and Covenants. It covers Church history and the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants from the birth of Joseph Smith in 1805 through the beginnings of the Kirtland and Missouri periods. We learn concerning the First Vision, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the priesthood, and many early revelations given to individual members of the Church. We study the organization of the Church in 1830 and the migration of the Saints to Kirtland, Ohio, where the law and order of the Church is given, the law of consecration begins, and spiritual gifts are manifested. We also read concerning the early events in Missouri, where the land of Zion is dedicated for the gathering of the Saints. In all, it covers 27 years of Church History, and covers sections 1-99 of the Doctrine and Covenants and the Joseph Smith History in the Pearl of Great Price. The cover features "Young Joseph," a painting of the Prophet Joseph Smith pondering in the Sacred Grove, by Walter Rane.
Scriptural Reference and Exploration Series, Volume 1: Foundations of Scriptural Understanding serves as a beginning for scriptural studies introduced in succeeding volumes focusing on the foundations and principles for understanding biblical literature. A description of man’s relationships with the universe; covenants, their composition and purpose, with attendant ordinances are considered as a prelude to the dispensation of the Mosaic Law followed by the names, signs, tokens, seasons, festivals, and feasts that are predictive of the promised Messiah. This volume also delves into a fuller description of the Messiah and his missions as described through Israelite patriarchal blessings. Throughout the writings are references to the ancient tabernacles, sanctuaries, and temple worship. Drawing from the best available resources, these words of instruction will help the readers better understand the culture, settings, and customs of those who wrote the scriptures. It is written for the lay reader as well as for scholars who desire an additional resource.
For Latter-day Saints, the temple is a most sacred place where we can make covenants with our Father in Heaven and receive His guiding inspiration. But there is more to the experience than simply visiting the temple grounds and following the motions. Using personal anecdotes and fundamental gospel doctrine, authors Aaron and Julie Bujnowski present an approach for attending the temple spiritually as well as physically. With writing space to record your thoughts and question prompts to inspire deeper thinking on sacred topics found in the temple, this guide will help you recognize the divine patterns and symbolism of temple principles. apply broader temple insights to your specific circumstances. see that we are all imperfect children progressing toward perfection. Attending the temple regularly is not a checkmark or a chore on the road to salvation-it is a heavenly gift and a divine opportunity to feel the Lord's presence and receive personal revelation from Him. This reverent workbook will revitalize your temple experience and help you gain greater insights from your Savior in His house.
As members of the LDS Church, we owe our understanding of the scriptures to many scholars, both inside and out of the LDS community. Perhaps the most influential non-LDS scholar was a man named Alfred Edersheim. Born in 1825 to Jewish parents, he became an Anglican minister, a prolific writer, and a gifted linguist. His works have been studied and quoted by Church authorities and scholars for more than a hundred years. Edersheim used his knowledge of Jewish customs, language, and beliefs to increase Christianity's understanding of the events and teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. His scholarship, coupled with a fervent testimony of Jesus Christ, has made him one of the most influential scripture scholars of our time. Alfred Edersheim: Jewish Scholar for the Mormon Prophets explores his life, his writings, and his influence on LDS writers, scholars, and authorities. Whether or not you are already familiar with Edersheim's work, you will enjoy reading the words of this inspiring disciple of Christ. His powerful testimony of the Savior will strengthen your own faith in the mission of Jesus Christ.
Carefully crafted, precisely written, and fully documented, this doctrinal resource assembles an abundance of meaningful new scriptural patterns. Have any questions about the nature of the Godhead? Look no further! The Godhead: New Scriptural Insights on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost will not only answer your questions, but it will also intrigue you with insights you may not have pondered before: Christian beliefs about God; attributes and physical natures of Godhead members; individual insights on God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, and God the Father; and the ultimate objectives of divinity. New doctrines? No - they've been in the scriptures for centuries. But profound new insights? By the hundreds! The Godhead shows, historically and scripturally, how allegorical-interpretation methodologies of "trinity" advocates altered the major doctrines of Christianity, causing them to discount the many literal biblical statements concerning the nature of God. Other major contributions of The Godhead include its numerous insights on premortal events, its compilation of hundreds of scriptures showing the physical nature of God, and its in-depth scriptural demonstration that Jesus is Jehovah. More key insights treat the essential attributes of Godhead members, their "spirit" nature, their "threeness" and "oneness" relationships, the varied "fatherhood" roles of Jesus Christ, the nature of glory, Christ's roles among the Gods, and how mankind can attain Godhood. Author Duane S. Crowther is widely known for his indepth doctrinal studies on many topics, including his books Prophecy - Key To the Future, Life Everlasting, and Prophets and Prophecies of the Old Testament.
This manual is a resource to help seminary teachers prepare lessons from the Doctrines and Covenants and Church history. It provides 160 lessons that contain teaching suggestions, doctrines and principles, and scripture mastery helps for daily seminary classes. It also contains 32 lessons for weekly home-study classes that correspond to the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students.
The principal doctrines defining Mormonism today often bear little resemblance to those it started out with in the early 1830s. This book shows that these doctrines did not originate in a vacuum but were rather prompted and informed by the religious culture from which Mormonism arose. Early Mormons, like their early Christian and even earlier Israelite predecessors, brought with them their own varied culturally conditioned theological presuppositions (a process of convergence) and only later acquired a more distinctive theological outlook (a process of differentiation). In this first-of-its-kind comprehensive treatment of the development of Mormon theology, Charles Harrell traces the history of Latter-day Saint doctrines from the times of the Old Testament to the present. He describes how Mormonism has carried on the tradition of the biblical authors, early Christians, and later Protestants in reinterpreting scripture to accommodate new theological ideas while attempting to uphold the integrity and authority of the scriptures. In the process, he probes three questions: How did Mormon doctrines develop? What are the scriptural underpinnings of these doctrines? And what do critical scholars make of these same scriptures? In this enlightening study, Harrell systematically peels back the doctrinal accretions of time to provide a fresh new look at Mormon theology. “This Is My Doctrine” will provide those already versed in Mormonism’s theological tradition with a new and richer perspective of Mormon theology. Those unacquainted with Mormonism will gain an appreciation for how Mormon theology fits into the larger Jewish and Christian theological traditions.
Can a Mormon be a Christian? How does that work? That’s the idea behind this personal book by Robert Starling, a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who grew up in the heart of the Bible Belt. Some folks there (and elsewhere) believe that Mormons are members of a non-Christian “cult”. Robert’s purpose for this book is not to convert anyone, but to give his “strong reasons” to dispel that misconception. As a child of converts to Mormonism whose uncle is a retired Methodist pastor, Robert has a unique perspective to share with Mormons and non-Mormons alike. He attended a Baptist vacation Bible school as a child (and so did his own children) and his best friend in college at Georgia Tech was the president of the Catholic student Newman Club. Having resided in Utah for twenty years where he worked as a media producer for the LDS Church at its worldwide headquarters, Robert has lived “really inside Mormonism” for decades. While Robert is not an official spokesman for the LDS Church, he has trained local church leaders in how to work with news media. He’s been active in defending his faith from critics (he’s been sued by them twice for a total of $30 million) and sharing his knowledge with anyone interested in learning what Mormons really believe. For instance: Do Mormons believe in a “different” Jesus? What do Mormons believe about the Trinity? How are Mormons “saved”? Do Mormons baptize dead people? Is there only “one true church”? What happens in Mormon temples? Do Mormons wear “magic underwear”? Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith? Is the Bible God’s word for Mormons? Do Mormons want to become like God? What kind of evidences does Robert use to make his case? Whether you’re a Mormon or not, you’ll be surprised. Take a look inside and find out! (and be sure to read the introduction)
