Talking Scripture

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) Alma’s letters to his sons remind us how to parent our children one-by-one. Bear testimony, lead by example, teach scripture, bring them to Christ, and sincerely praise.
(12:54) Shiblon is steady and good. Seek to be a high yield, low maintenance member of the church.
(18:58) Alma recounts his torment and horror of facing God in his many sins, but then the Atonement of Christ helped him to see light and experience great joy.
(26:54) Elder Holland teaches about justification and sanctification.
(30:15) Alma 36 is a beautiful chiastic structure.
(32:47) We sometimes numb ourselves to pain. A triangle that spins in our heart when we sin can motivate us to change.
(35:58) The easiness of the way can make us negligent. Because it is easy to do, it is easy to NOT do.
(41:45) Don’t give up if you don’t see immediate changes. Dip 7 times in the Jordan River like Naaman did.
(43:48) Alma 37 as a temple ascension text.
(53:39) Possible meanings of Gazelem.
(57:21) Bridle our passions.
(1:01:03) Alma’s knowledge of truth came through the Spirit.

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The post Ep 279 | Alma 36-38, Come Follow Me 2024 (July 29-August 4) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(02:03) Alma describes the phases of a testimony and explains four ways of knowing spiritual truths. SEED acronym.
(25:59) Negligence of the tree.
(30:49) If you nourish the tree, it will nourish you.
(33:26) C.S. Lewis re-evaluates his beliefs when his wife dies.
(38:57) The Brass Plates represent a northern prophetic tradition. Both Zenock and Zenos were edited out of the Hebrew Bible. Jesus is mostly missing from our Old Testament today.
(49:01) Moses raises a serpent as a type. God has the power to heal all who will look.
(56:17) Important verses in Alma 34. A God must suffer.
(58:05) Amulek teaches that we must pray and take care of each other.
(1:02:24) Do not procrastinate repentance, this life is a time for men to prepare to meet God.

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The post Ep 278 | Alma 32-35, Come Follow Me 2024 (July 22-28) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) Strategies for those who have loved ones who are fighting against faith. First, learn to recognize their tactics.
(09:24) The arguments that anti-Christs make today can be defended.
(20:58) Evidentiary equilibrium. There is no definitive evidence to prove or disprove God. Both approaches require a leap of faith.
(26:02) Keep the performances of the church.
(28:11) Having a testimony based on evidence is a defense against critical attacks.
(29:59) Alma’s four reasons for believing in God.
(32:47) The order of the universe, or the Anthropic Principle, as evidence for God’s existence.
(50:14) Search the scriptures and know the doctrine.
(53:33) Be careful of Anti-Christ ideas because they can be pleasing to the natural mind. Korihor eventually said, “I always knew there was a God”.
(1:03:57) Korihor’s voice is taken away. Mark Hoffman as a modern example.

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The post Ep 277 | Alma 30-31, Come Follow Me 2024 (July 15-21) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Mike covers The Mosiah-First Translation in more detail in these videos:
The Mosiah First Translation of the Book of Mormon
Mike on the Overall Structure of the Book of Mormon

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(06:36) Being converted to the Lord and laying down weapons of rebellion.
(11:50) The Anti-Nephi-Lehies bury their swords that they not be “stained.”
(14:38) The pattern of the number seven in the structure of Alma.
(20:42) The left-behinds. How to help those who get angry at converts.
(24:49) Defend, protect, and befriend those who are new to our culture.
(30:52) The challenge and joy of missionary work. God is mindful of every people.
(39:11) Timeline of the Ammulonites.
(47:11) Pride is ugly and says, “if you succeed, I am a failure”. The antidote to Saul disease.
(58:31) Patricia Holland’s quote about comparison.
(1:03:09) Alma did get his wish and is an angel, a messenger of salvation.

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The post Ep 276 | Alma 23-29, Come Follow Me 2024 (July 8-14) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(02:20) Ammon’s approach to missionary work.
(14:00) Lamoni asks the golden question, “Who are you?” (Alma 18.18)
(19:29) Aaron’s approach to missionary work.
(23:25) Aaron is preaching to a more hardened group, the Amalekites and Amulonites.
(25:13) Patience with people who choose another path. Likening Alma 17-22 to our day.
(30:55) Offer our whole souls to God.
(35:53) Find common ground when teaching truth. It is the Savior that converts.
(41:20) Falling into trances in Alma 19 and 22. Some examples in the Biblical narratives.
(45:12) Abish is mentioned by name. Why are Lamoni’s enemies at his palace? Another way to understand the drama at the Waters of Sebus.
(53:12) The meaning of the name Abish and possibilities as to why Mormon put this in the record.

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The post Ep 275 | Alma 17-22, Come Follow Me 2024 (July 1-7) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(01:14) Priesthood power can turn the city of Ammonihah around.
(14:51) What the scriptures and extra biblical texts teach us about Melchizedek.
(32:53) Alma’s interpretation of priesthood authority.
(34:17) Be humble, obey, and submit. The Savior will bring us into His rest.
(37:15) The problem of evil. Why does God allow good people to suffer? Two explanations are given.
(46:58) Types of Jesus in this story.
(50:15) Zeezrom lays sick with fever and believes Christ can heal him. He dedicates his life to Christ.
(52:36) Establish a check on pride.
(55:55) Ammonihah is destroyed.

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The post Ep 274 | Alma 13-16, Come Follow Me 2024 (June 24-30) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(01:39) The power of increasing witnesses. The closer you are to someone, the more credible your testimony may affect them.
(03:02) Amulek is a greater witness to the people of Ammonihah because he is one of them.
(06:33) Zeezrom steps forward to trap Alma and Amulek in their words.
(17:01) The earth as the final witness of Alma’s message.
(21:54) The destruction of Ammoniah is described from two different viewpoints. An example of the complexity of the narrative.
(26:03) The order of the Nehors is a warning to watch for those who twist the truth.
(28:33) Insight into Zeezrom’s questions about social segregation, denying the atonement of Christ, and costly apparel.
(34:57) Examining resurrection teachings found in the the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon.
(40:39) The prayers of the righteous can hold off destruction.
(46:37) Zeezrom’s name may be related to the monetary system of the Nephites.
(49:27) Zeezrom ends up being a missionary companion with Alma to the Zoramites.

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The post Ep 273 | Alma 8-12, Come Follow Me 2024 (June 17-23) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) An overview of Alma’s two sermons.
(01:26) The power of remembering helps rekindle the flame of testimony.
(14:45) Alma invites us to imagine if judgement were today.
(20:18) God extends an invitation to choose him as our shepherd so he can save us.
(22:02) The distinction in Greek between being “born again” and “born from above.”
(26:04) Ezra Taft Benson talks about Jesus changing our hearts.
(30:31) President David O. McKay’s dream of the heavenly city.
(32:49) Alma reveals the phenomenal truth of Christ’s infinite atonement.
(39:48) Debates about Christology after Jesus died are clarified in the Book of Mormon.
(43:51) Recommit and bind yourself to act in all holiness.
(48:46) Jesus will be born at Jerusalem.

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The post Ep 272 | Alma 5-7, Come Follow Me 2024 (June 10-16) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

→ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?embed=no&v=-23v1NXKQdQ

→ Detailed Show Notes: https://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/2024/05/mosiah-29-alma-4-podcast-ep-271-show-notes/

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) The Amlicites marked themselves. How we mark ourselves today.
(13:14) The collective view of punishment in the Bible.
(20:08) Skins, curses, and marks.
(25:41) We are all alike unto God.
(27:32) In the midst of adversity you can still have peace.
(29:05) Mormon explains how we should view everyone as equals.
(31:16) The philosophy of Nehor.
(34:41) Nehor’s ignominious death.
(37:08) Antichrists don’t agree with each other, but are united in tearing down Jesus.
(39:30) The Amlicite wars and the story of Nehor are related to the inequal stratification of society.
(41:48) The church prospers in part through the member’s examples.

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The post Ep 271 | Mosiah 29-Alma 4, Come Follow Me 2024 (June 3-9) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

→ Watch on YouTube

→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Time Stamps:
(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(03:28) The prayers from Alma’s father made a difference in his conversion.
(05:52) God remembers all His children.
(10:40) Justification and sanctification in Christ. Alma’s experience typified both.
(18:27) Alma was snatched by Jesus in Mosiah 27.29 and Alma 26.17.
(23:40) The purpose of Church discipline.
(33:20) A pattern for solving problems the Lord’s way.
(36:09) The transition from a monarchy to a system of judges. Principles of good government.
(38:55) Striking the balance between rights and responsibilities.

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The post Ep 270 | Mosiah 25-28, Come Follow Me 2024 (May 27-June 2) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.