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| − | [[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Ether]] > [[Ether 12 | Chapter 12]] > [[Ether 12:22-41 | Verses 22-41]] <br>
| + | #REDIRECT [[Ether 12]] |
| − | [[Ether 12:1-21 | Previous page: Verses 1-21]] [[Ether 13:1-12 | Next page: Chapter 13a]]
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| − | This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.
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| − | == Summary ==
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| − | ''This heading should be brief and may include an outline of the passage. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →''
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| − | • '''Humility, hope, and charity (22-41)'''
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| − | :a. Moroni: apprehension at his weakness in writing compared to speaking (22-25)
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| − | ::b. Lord: Gentiles must be humble (26-28)
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| − | :::c. Moroni: the Lord works according people's faith, Brother of Jared (29-31)
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| − | :::c. Moroni: hope and charity (32-35)
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| − | ::b. Lord: Moroni has been humble (36-37)
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| − | :a. Moroni: closing testimony of his writing and of Christ (38-41)
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| − | == Discussion ==
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| − | ''This heading is for more detailed discussions of all or part of a passage. Discussion may include the meaning of a particular word, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout the passage, insights to be developed in the future, and other items. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →''
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| − | === Verse 27 ===
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| − | * ''Weakness not weaknesses.'' Verse 27 can be easily misunderstood to say God gives unto men weaknesses (plural) instead of weakness (singular). The difference suggests general and overall weakness, as opposed to several specific weaknesses. For example, our mortality and sinful nature is part of our inherent weakness. So when the Lord talks of his grace being sufficient, he may be saying that he will make humans, as weak things, become strong. This can be accomplished via the Atonement. Our state of weakness can become strong but only if we humble ourselves before the Lord and confess our sins before him. This helps explain why Moroni prays for grace in [[Ether 12:26|verse 36]], so that we might have charity. In [[Ether 12:34|verse 34]] Moroni states that we cannot inherit that place prepared for us in the heavens except we have charity, thus charity is something that will help us overcome (or compensate for) our general state of weakness. This prayer for the general virtue of charity stands in contrast to a prayer asking for specific strengths in light of specific weaknesses.
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| − | === Verses 38-41: Grace ===
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| − | In the New Testament, grace is a translation of the Greek ''charis'', which can mean "that which affords joy or pleasure." While we typically think of grace as something that God has for us (as in good feelings towards us or pleasure in us), perhaps God having grace means something more along the lines of God affording us joy or pleasure. In other words, we have the grace of God when we take pleasure or joy in Him. If this is the case, seeking after Him and trying to serve him gives us pleasure and joy which abides in us.
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| − | == Points to ponder ==
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| − | ''This heading is for prompts that suggest ways in which all or part of this passage can influence a person's life. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →''
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| − | == I have a question ==
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| − | ''This heading is for unanswered questions and is an important part of the continual effort to improve this wiki. Please do not be shy, as even a basic or "stupid" question can identify things that need to be improved on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →''
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| − | === Verse 27 ===
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| − | * ''If''. What does this verse starting out with if tell us about what is to follow?
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| − | * ''Come unto the Lord''. How are we to "come unto" the Lord?
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| − | * ''Show''. How does the Lord show us our weakness when we come unto Him? What does it mean for a weakness to be shown? How are they revealed? Can we know our weaknesses without coming unto the Lord?
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| − | * What does it mean for the Lord to "give" us our weakness? Does that mean weakness is a gift? What kind of a gift is a weakness? What might this verse imply about how we should consider are weaknesses? If weaknesses are gifts, what is the appropriate way to receive these gifts?
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| − | * What do our weaknesses reveal about the relationship between our body, with its unique strengths and weaknesses, and our spirit, with its own talents and perhaps deficiencies?
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| − | * ''Weakness'' vs ''weaknesses''? What does it mean that the Lord gives us "weakness"? Is this a reference to our own individual weaknesses, or just the general weakness of our fallen natures? Is there a difference? Is it even possible to speak of a general weakness separate from our own personal weaknesses?
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| − | * ''Humility''. What does it mean to be truly humble? How do we become humble? Is humility a choice? What might lead us to become humble? How might our weaknesses help us to be humble? What other choices might we have in dealing with our weaknesses? What happens if we don't allow our weaknesses to make us humble?
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| − | * ''Grace''. What is grace?
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| − | * ''Sufficient''. What does it mean to speak of grace as being "sufficient" for us?
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| − | * ''For all men''. Does this mean that the Lord can heal all weaknesses, even the most intractable character flaws and physical limitations? Is there any person or weakness that is beyond his ability to reach? What conditions must be met for Him to be able to reach ''all'' men? Are there some who can't meet those conditions?
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| − | * ''Humble''. What is true humility?
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| − | * ''Themselves''. What does it mean for us to humble ''ourselves''? Can anyone really ''make'' us humble?
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| − | * ''Before me''. What does it mean to be humble before the Lord? Is there any other type of humility? What constitutes being humble before the Lord? Is it more than just acknowledging sin or weakness?
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| − | * ''Faith''. What does faith in the Lord have to do with being humble and being made strong? How do we exercise a faith in the Lord that can make us strong?
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| − | * ''I''. The Lord says that ''He'' will make us strong if we are humble and exercise faith. How does the Lord do that? Is this a process or an all of a sudden change? How is this a manifestation of grace?
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| − | * ''Will''. What does it mean that the Lord ''will'' make weak things strong? What kind of promise might this entail? How does this reflect the Lord's ''will''? Does this promise imply that the Lord ''wants'' to do this, that this is his ''will''?
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| − | * ''Weak things''. Is there a difference between a weakness and a ''weak thing''? Why are weak things pluralized here? Does that reflect the separate weaknesses of an individual, or the collective weaknesses of everyone, or is it just a reference to all of us as fallen or weak mortal beings?
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| − | * ''Become''. What does it mean that the weak things will ''become'' strong? Does this happen in this life, or does this reflect a restitution or change brought about in the resurrection? Does this indicate a sudden change, or a process of change, or can we even tell that from this verse?
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| − | * ''Strong''. What does it mean for us to speak of a weak thing becoming strong? What does it mean to be strong?
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| − | === Verse 36 ===
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| − | * Why would Moroni pray for the Gentiles?
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| − | * What is the relationship between grace and charity?
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| − | * How is grace given by God?
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| − | === Verse 37 ===
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| − | * Why wouldn't it matter to Moroni if the Gentiles have charity?
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| − | * Why would the Lord tell Moroni essentially to "not worry about others, you're gonna be OK"?
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| − | * What is the relationship between seeing your weaknesses and being "made strong"?
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| − | * What does it mean to "sit down" in the mansions of the Father?
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| − | * What are the "mansions" of the Father?
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| − | === Verses 38-41 ===
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| − | *Did Moroni anticipate that this would be where he ended his writing upon the plates? He seems like he's ultimately wrapping things up in these last few verses of this chapter.
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| − | === Verse 38 ===
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| − | * What does Moroni anticipate will happen "before the judgment-seat of Christ"?
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| − | * What does having unspotted garments have to do with the judgement?
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| − | * What does it mean to have garments spotted or unspotted with blood?
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| − | === Verse 39 ===
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| − | * Why would Jesus appear to Moroni "face to face"?
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| − | * What does it mean for Jesus to speak "in plain humility"?
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| − | * Can we have a similar face to face experience with Jesus, or is this a unique experience?
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| − | === Verse 40 ===
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| − | * Why does Moroni say that he has a "weakness in writing"?
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| − | === Verse 41 ===
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| − | * What does it mean to "seek this Jesus"? How is this done?
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| − | * What does seeking Jesus have to do with obtaining grace?
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| − | * What is grace?
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| − | * What is the grace of God? Is this something that God has for us, or something we have for God?
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| − | * How does grace "abide in you forever"
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| − | == Resources ==
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| − | ''This heading is for listing links and print resources, including those cited in the notes. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →''
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| − | === Verse 27 ===
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| − | * Anthony D. Perkins, "[http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-646-28,00.html ‘The Great and Wonderful Love’]," ''Ensign'', Nov 2006, pp. 76–78. Beware of false inadequacy, exaggerated imperfection, and needless guilt. Elder Perkins counsels us to place our burdens on Jesus Christ. "When you feel overwhelmed by expectations and challenges, do not fight the battle alone."
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| − | * See also [[2 Cor 12:7|2 Corinthians 12:7-10]], quoted here from the NIV translation. "To keep me [Paul] from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
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| − | == Notes ==
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| − | ''Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves, such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word. In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources are preferable to footnotes.''
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| − | <references/>
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| − | ----
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| − | [[Ether 12:1-21 | Previous page: Verses 1-21]] [[Ether 13:1-12 | Next page: Chapter 13a]]
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