Well, I'm on the slightly altered schedule, but here's what I posted yesterday over on
Watchmen on the Tower (not terribly profound, but it's what registered on me as I read):
Yeah, this is going to be intense, especially for the overkill types like me who insist on using Institute manuals along with the Scriptural text. At least it's a productive use of that time (vs. fiddling around online, doing sudokus, etc. (smile)).
Overall note: while doing today's reading, I was strongly impressed by the richness of our latter-day Scriptures and all the wonderful truths we've been given back by modern prophets. I've experienced Bible-only Christianity, and without intending to bash, I feel a great deal of sorrow for those who reject all this Word of God because of the false doctrine they've been taught, that the Bible is all of God's Word we have.
Intro to the Book of Mormon: Greg's wonderful
YouTube video on the witness testimonies sums it up nicely. Of eleven men, generally held in high regard in their communities, quite a few of whom left the Church, not one denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon. With eleven witnesses for and no proof against, how do you not believe that testimony, unless you're too proud to listen to God?
I also noted that the Prophet spent years being trained and prepared to do the work he'd been called to (that never really registered before).
1 Nephi 1-5: it never ceases to amaze me, no matter how many times I read these chapters, just how stubborn and proud Laman and Lemuel (hereafter L&L) are. These men
saw angels, but still rebelled, since their pride and their material riches mattered more to them than the commands of the Lord. It's this same pride and love of worldly things, I think, that causes rejection of prophets throughout history. If you're not willing to admit to the existence of a Being wiser and more intelligent than mortal man, you're certainly not going to listen to His spokesmen. (For some reason, every time I read this part of the Book of Mormon, I keep hoping L&L will clue in and do what they should.)
Nephi is confident the Lord will make it possible to obey Him. Possible, yes. Easy, no, as Nephi finds out when told to kill Laban. I can sympathize with his shock at this and his uncertainty as to just where this command is coming from. We see here what the Prophet found out just before the First Vision, that if we ask God for the wisdom (and knowledge) we need, He will give generously without rebuking us for asking. I think it pleases the Lord when we humble ourselves enough to admit that we need His help, and that He will reward us for that humility.
Pride isn't the only thing that can lead to rebellion against God: Sariah's fear for her sons shows that. Fearing the cost of obedience will prompt "Do I really have to do this? Does God really know what He's doing?" Again, we need to seek wisdom from the Lord to confirm His control of events and His plan.
D&C: It's worth noting that this is the only one of our Standard Works to have a preface given by the Lord Himself.
Section 1 covers the apostasy and restoration, and describes the restored Church as the only true and living church on the Earth. Yes, we need to treat other churches with respect for the good they have, but that doesn't mean compromising on our position as the true Church of Jesus Christ, even if it does offend the proud who do not wish to admit that a Restoration was needed to begin with. In this section, we're also reminded that God's word is the same whether given directly or via prophets, and that we need to repent of sins, which the Lord cannot tolerate. He promises us forgiveness if we repent, and wants all His children on Earth to come to Him and heed His eternal truths.
Section 2: the message of this section appears in all the Standard Works. If the Lord repeats Himself this many times, it must be very important information.
Section 3: even those possessing the greatest natural or spiritual gifts need to repent of sin and heed God's commands over man's opinions and persuasions. We also learn in this section, which deals with the 116 lost pages, that we must be careful about giving sacred things to those who do not have the capacity to hold them sacred, and that God's work will go on, regardless of the failings of the humans involved.
Section 4: command to seek after things of God and serve Him with total commitment
Pearl of Great Price: here we have mostly material restored in connection with the Prophet's inspired translation of the Bible. On a personal note, I dearly love the JST for its clarity and richness as material is restored and errors corrected. One thing that should be remembered in Scriptures in the Old Testament time period is that Jehovah is the premortal Jesus. Since the Fall banished mankind from being able to be in the presence of the Father, it's the Son who deals with us in this time period.
Moses 1: Moses learns that he is a son of our Heavenly Father, and is taught of Jesus. Satan tries to take God's place, demanding that Moses worship him, but the prophet can clearly see that he's dealing with an impostor and banishes Satan by God's power (a lesson for us all in learning to see Satan's ploys and fight him). There is mention of information in this record not had among men due to wickedness, and Moses is shown other worlds created by God. He's told that God's work is to bring His children eternal life.
Moses 2: we see the six days of Creation. Note that a "day" here does not necessarily mean 24 hours in current Earth time.