“Unit 31: Day 3, Moroni 6,” Book of Mormon Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students (2012), 314–16
“Unit 31: Day 3,” Book of Mormon Study Guide, 314–16
Unit 31: Day 3
Moroni 6
Introduction
Moroni neared the completion of his writings on the plates by explaining some of the qualifications for a person to be prepared for baptism into the Church. He then outlined the responsibilities members of the Church have to care for other members. Moroni also explained the purpose of Church meetings and emphasized the need for Church meetings to be conducted by the influence of the Holy Ghost.
Moroni 6:1–3
Moroni sets forth the requirements for baptism
Imagine you have a seven-year-old sibling who will be eight in a few months. Your parents have asked you to teach a family home evening lesson on how to prepare for baptism.
-
If you were to teach that lesson right now, what would you teach in order to help your sibling prepare to be baptized? Write your thoughts in your scripture study journal.
After including the sacrament prayers in his record (see Moroni 4–5), Moroni added instruction concerning the ordinance of baptism. Search Moroni 6:1–3, looking for the requirements for baptism. You may wish to mark the requirements you identify in your scriptures.
What do you think it means that those wanting to be baptized were to bring “forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it”? (Moroni 6:1).
Ponder what you think it means to have “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (Moroni 6:2) before being baptized. As recorded in Moroni 6:1–3, Moroni explained that through baptism we covenant to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and serve Him to the end. What are you doing to maintain and strengthen your determination to serve Jesus Christ?
-
Moroni 6:4
Moroni explains how to care for and spiritually nourish members of the Church
After explaining the requirements individuals should meet before being baptized, Moroni then explained how those who were newly baptized remained faithful to their covenants. Read Moroni 6:4, and look for what was done to help new converts remain faithful.
Summarize what you learn from Moroni 6:4 about your responsibilities toward other members of the Church.
What blessings does Moroni 6:4 indicate will come from being nourished by the word of God?
One important truth taught in Moroni 6:4 is that we have a responsibility to remember and spiritually nourish other members of the Church.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified of the importance of nourishing each other with the word of God: “Most people don’t come to church looking merely for a few new gospel facts or to see old friends, though all of that is important. They come seeking a spiritual experience. They want peace. They want their faith fortified and their hope renewed. They want, in short, to be nourished by the good word of God, to be strengthened by the powers of heaven. Those of us who are called upon to speak or teach or lead have an obligation to help provide that, as best we possibly can” (“A Teacher Come from God,” Ensign, May 1998, 26).
Have you ever thought about the great number of individuals who have prayed for you, prepared lessons for you, encouraged you and your activity in the Church, and helped you through challenges?
-
Sometime soon, discuss with a family member or friend how you have been blessed because someone remembered you or nourished you by the word of God.
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency told the story of a deacon in his ward who understood the need to fulfill his responsibility to other members of his quorum:
“One of his quorum members lived near my home. That neighbor boy had never attended a quorum meeting nor done anything with the members of his quorum. His stepfather was not a member, and his mother did not attend church.
“The presidency of his deacons quorum met in council one Sunday morning. … In their presidency meeting, those 13-year-old shepherds remembered the boy who never came. They talked about how much he needed what they received. The president assigned his counselor to go after that wandering sheep.
“I knew the counselor, and I knew he was shy, and I knew the difficulty of the assignment, so I watched with wonder through my front window as the counselor trudged by my house, going up the road to the home of the boy who never came to church. The shepherd had his hands in his pockets. His eyes were on the ground. He walked slowly, the way you would if you weren’t sure you wanted to get where you were headed. In 20 minutes or so, he came back down the road with the lost deacon walking by his side. That scene was repeated for a few more Sundays. Then the boy who had been lost and was found moved away.
“… Years later, I was in a stake conference, a continent away from the room in which that presidency had met in council. A gray-haired man came up to me and said quietly, ‘My grandson lived in your ward years ago.’ With tenderness, he told me of that boy’s life. And then he asked if I could find that deacon who walked slowly up that road. And he wondered if I could thank him and tell him that his grandson, now grown to be a man, still remembered” (“Watch with Me,” Ensign, May 2001, 38–39).
Consider specific individuals whom the Lord may want you to “remember” or “nourish.” Plan a way that you can help nourish them spiritually. Write their names on a piece of paper, and place it in a location that will help you remember them.
Moroni 6:5–9
Moroni describes the purpose of Church meetings and how they are to be conducted
Imagine you are the parent of a teenager who, for the past few weeks, has said that he or she does not want to go to church because it seems meaningless and boring. Consider what you would say to help encourage your child to attend church and to understand the right reasons for attending regularly.
In his record, Moroni was inspired to describe the reasons that members of the Church met together in his day. Study Moroni 6:5–6, and look for how you could complete the following statement: As Church members, we are to meet together often to .
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a portion of a letter from a friend expressing a change in attitude about church attendance:
“A wise friend wrote:
“‘Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, … to volunteer for an assignment. …
“‘In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people’s lives. Consequently, my attendance at Church meetings is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.’
“All of this illustrates the eternal principle that we are happier and more fulfilled when we act and serve for what we give, not for what we get” (“Unselfish Service,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 96).
You might have completed the statement above with some of the following ideas.
As Church members, we are to meet together often to:
-
Fast and pray.
-
Strengthen each other spiritually.
-
Partake of the sacrament in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflect upon experiences you have had that taught you the importance of praying or fasting together with members of your ward or branch.
-
-
How would your experience at church change if you attended with the desire to strengthen others spiritually?
-
Why is it valuable to partake often of the sacrament in remembrance of Jesus Christ?
-
How can going to church for the purposes listed above help to “keep [you] in the right way”? (Moroni 6:4).
-
Read Moroni 6:7–8, and look for what the members of the Church in Moroni’s day were “strict to observe,” or in other words, what they paid special attention to. Why do you think it is important that we teach and encourage each other to avoid and repent of sin?
Moroni testified that as often as we repent and seek forgiveness with real intent, we will be forgiven. You may wish to mark this truth in Moroni 6:8.
Moroni concluded this chapter by teaching how our Church meetings should be conducted. Read Moroni 6:9, and identify who should guide our meetings in the Church. Think of a time when you were particularly aware of the influence of the Holy Ghost during a Church meeting.
How can the principle that Church meetings are to be conducted by the power of the Holy Ghost apply to you? If you were asked to give a talk or teach a lesson during a Church meeting, how could you help ensure that what you say contributes to the guidance and influence of the Holy Ghost during that meeting?
-
-
I have studied Moroni 6 and completed this lesson on (date).
Additional questions, thoughts, and insights I would like to share with my teacher: