Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Obedience to Prophets- 3 Nephi 1:18

3 Nephi 1:18
Obedience to Prophets

What
 18 For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.

Why
This verse is to emphasize the reason for their fear. When we hear a prophecy and refuse to heed it then it happens, we would know that we are in deep trouble.

Pattern
this verse is about being stubborn and disobedient and disbelieving. It is about pushing back when we hear the truth being taught. It is about denying the faith. It happens all the time in our day and has in the scriptures.

Mosiah 15:26

26 But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection.

1 Kings 12:19

19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

Daniel 9:5

5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Job 24:13

    13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
    20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
    10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
    6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
    • Rebellion, Rebel

  • they will not believe me, nor hearken: Ex. 4:1 .
  • rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow: D&C 1:3 .
  • power given to seal … the unbelieving and rebellious: D&C 1:8 .
  • he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor: D&C 29:36 .
  • answered upon the heads of the rebellious: D&C 56:4 .
  • anger is kindled against … rebellious: D&C 63:2 .
  • let the rebellious fear and tremble: D&C 63:6 .
  • rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion: D&C 64:35 .
  • an angel of God … who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son: D&C 76:25 .
  • sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen: D&C 134:5 .
  • Neither did the rebellious … look upon his face: D&C 138:21 .
  • Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man: Moses 4:3 .
  • have they gone astray, and have denied me: Moses 6:28 .

Opposite of rebel is to be obedient- this would be the lesson here is to be obedient and listen to the prophets of our day!!!

Obedience, Obedient, Obey

  • Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded: Gen. 6:22 .
  • thou hast obeyed my voice: Gen. 22:18 .
  • Abraham obeyed my voice: Gen. 26:5 .
  • if ye will obey my voice: Ex. 19:5 .
  • All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient: Ex. 24:7 .
  • Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments: Lev. 18:26 .
  • If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments: Lev. 26:3 . ( Deut. 4:40 . )
  • if ye walk contrary unto me … I will bring … plagues: Lev. 26:21 .
  • we will hear it, and do it: Deut. 5:27 .
  • Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it: Deut. 6:3 .
  • man doth not live by bread only, but by every word … of the Lord: Deut. 8:3 . ( Matt. 4:4 ;D&C 84:44 . )
  • If thou wilt not observe to do all the words: Deut. 28:58 .
  • love the Lord … obey his voice: Deut. 30:20 .
  • God will we serve, and his voice will we obey: Josh. 24:24 .
  • people refused to obey the voice of Samuel: 1 Sam. 8:19 .
  • to obey is better than sacrifice: 1 Sam. 15:22 .

Conference
OCTOBER 2016 A Choice Seer Will I Raise Up”
By Elder Craig C. Christensen Of the Presidency of the Seventy

When Moroni first came to Joseph Smith, he warned that Joseph’s “name should be had for good and evil among all nations.”1 We have seen the fulfillment of that prophecy. In the war between good and evil, the Restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith has both inspired believers who follow him and also provoked antagonists who fight furiously against the cause of Zion and against Joseph himself. This battle is not new. It began soon after young Joseph walked into the Sacred Grove and continues today with added visibility on the internet.
The Lord personally declared to Joseph Smith:
The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee;
While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.”2
Today I offer my testimony to all who seek to better understand the sacred mission of Joseph Smith Jr., the Prophet of the Restoration.
We need not be timid about testifying of Joseph’s mission as prophet, seer, and revelator, for the Lord has always worked through prophets.3 Because of the truths restored through Joseph Smith, we know much more about our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ. We know of Their divine attributes, Their relationship to each other and to us, and the great plan of redemption that allows us to return to Their presence.
...Because Joseph was a prophet, we know that marriage and family are an essential part of God’s plan for our happiness. We know that through temple ordinances and covenants, our cherished family relationships can endure eternally.
Because Joseph was a prophet, we have more than a window into heaven—the very doorway to the eternities is open to us. We can know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.”18 Eternal life can be ours.
Most of all, because Joseph was a prophet, we have witness upon witness, testimony upon testimony, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world. We have an unbroken chain of special witnesses of Jesus Christ, including our prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson; the counselors in the First Presidency; and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. To their witnesses, I add my humble yet certain testimony: Jesus Christ lives and leads His Church. Joseph Smith was and is the Prophet of the Restoration. The priesthood and authority of God are again on the earth. May we fearlessly declare our witness and our gratitude for this wonderful prophet, seer, and revelator of the Lord is my prayer in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
OCTOBER 2010 | Obedience to the Prophets
Claudio R. M. Costa Of the Presidency of the Seventy
It is a great blessing to receive the word, commandments, and guidance of the Lord in these difficult days of the earth. The prophet can be inspired to see the future in benefit of mankind.
We are told that “surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). We learn from this scripture that the Lord will reveal to His prophets absolutely anything that He feels is necessary to communicate to us. He will reveal His will to us, and He will instruct us through His prophets.
The Lord promised us that if we believe in the holy prophets, we should have eternal life (see D&C 20:26). In the sixth article of faith, we declare that we believe in prophets. To believe means to have faith and confidence in them and to follow and do what the prophets ask us to do.
...The living prophet is receiving specific revelations for us. I can remember many times when I have been present to hear one of the servants of the Lord speak about a specific thing for a city or country. I remember at least three of the living prophets, seers, and revelators who have spoken about my country, Brazil. One of these servants said that Brazil would become a great economy in the world and be free of inflation. At the time, we had two-digit inflation every month. It was difficult for many people to believe what the prophet said, but I believed. Brazil has had about 5 percent inflation each year for many consecutive years now. Brazil has become eighth in the world economy, and the country is doing great!
Third fundamental: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet” (“Fourteen Fundamentals,” 27).
...Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know” (“Fourteen Fundamentals,” 27, 28).
And then President Benson quoted from 1 Nephi 16:1, 3:
And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear. …
And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.”
Apply
I must Study the conference addresses and apply them to my life specifically. Ask the questions and ponder the actions that I should take. Always remember that the living prophet is the most important prophet in our time. Follow the prophet. As the song says “He knows the way!”

Hymns-
21- Come Listen to A Prophet's Voice
Children

110-Follow the Prophet

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