Nephi’s Mission

The heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood each day.

It’s about the size of a fist and weights 11oz It beats about 70 times per minute, or

100,000 beats per day. The Human Body has 60,000 miles of blood

vessels. A good laugh can send 20% more blood

flowing through the entire body. Satan interested in the hearts of men.

Helaman 6:1–3

Helaman 6:17, 21, 26, 28–31, 35 - look for the word ‘heart’ See also

▪ Prov 23:7▪ Matt 5:27-28▪ 2 Ne 28:20-22▪ 2 Ne 2:7▪ D&C 121:34-36

NOTE: Helaman 6:40

Helaman 6:40 (and Hel 5:2–3); look for the use of the word ‘ripe’

What does ‘ripe’ mean?

Helaman 7:6–9 and look for Nephi’s heart.

Helaman 7:4-5 and look for the leaders’ hearts.

Helaman 7:21 and look for the peoples’ hearts.

Helaman 8 – 11 A look at prophet’s heart

Helaman 7:10

Towers and Gardens

In 1830, the idea of ancient Americans having urban gardens, multiple markets, highways, and personal towers seemed out of place. Recent discoveries now show that Helaman 7:10 is entirely plausible. Historian John Welch explains, “The tower might easily refer to pyramidal mounds, some built and used by families and lineage leaders for religious ceremonies and which were referred to by the Spanish conquerors as ‘towers.’”

(ed. John Welch, Deseret Book Comp., Salt Lake City, UT, 1992, pp. 236-237)

At the archaeological site of El Tajin near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico are the remains of a city. At that time, the houses of its middle-class people in 300AD were surrounded by gardens and fruit trees. Likewise, the famous city of Tula, north of the capital of Mexico, had gardened houselots. These things once seemed problematic but they turn out instead to have substance beyond what was known only a few years ago.

(ed. John Welch, Deseret Book Comp., Salt Lake City, UT, 1992, pp. 236-237)

Cement Houses and Cities

A tower and palace at Palenque

Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou has done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word.

And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word.

Why would God give someone this power?

And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

“The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have. I have been afraid to ask God to kill my enemies, lest some of them should repent” (Joseph Smith, Teachings, 340).

SEAL: To make valid in heaven the ordinances performed by priesthood authority on earth. Ordinances are sealed when they receive the approval of the Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the Holy Ghost.

Guide to the Scriptures, lds.org

Buenos Aires Argentina Temple Sealing Room

ca 900 BC 1 Kings 17:1 Elijah has sealing power

897 BC 2 Kings 2:11-12 Elijah is translated

420 BC Malachi 4:5-6 Malachi prophecies Elijah’s return

23 BC Helaman 10:7 Nephi receives the sealing power

AD 33 Mathew 17:3 Elijah returns and gives sealing power to

Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration

21 Sep. 1823 D&C 2 Moroni appears to Joseph Smith and repeats Malachi’s prophecy

3 April 1836 D&C 110:13-16 Elijah returns and gives the sealing power to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland temple on Passover

11 June 1998 Eric and Megan Richards are sealed in the San Diego Temple

Sealing Power Time Line

What does the sealing power mean to you?

What are you doing to prepare for the sealing ordinance in the temple?

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Sealing Room

Helaman 11:1-5Helaman 11:7-8, 16-18Helaman 12:3

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

“Those who cannot _________ _______are condemned ___________.”

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

“Those who cannot remember _______are condemned _________.”

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned _________.”

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

(George Santayana, The Life of Reason; or the Phases of Human Progress, 5 vols. [1905], 1:284).

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

1. Blessings & 1. Blessings & ProsperityProsperity

2. Pride & 2. Pride & WickednessWickedness

3. Destruction& 3. Destruction& SufferingSuffering

4. Humility & 4. Humility & RepentanceRepentance

Read Helaman 12:1–6 and mark words that describe the cycle.

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

“Divine chastening has at least three purposes: (1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 98).

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

1. Blessings & 1. Blessings & ProsperityProsperity

2. Pride & 2. Pride & WickednessWickedness

3. Destruction & 3. Destruction & SufferingSuffering

4. Humility & 4. Humility & RepentanceRepentance

•Where in the cycle do you think your country is right now? Why?

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

1. Blessings & 1. Blessings & ProsperityProsperity

2. Pride & 2. Pride & WickednessWickedness

3. Destruction & 3. Destruction & SufferingSuffering

4. Humility & 4. Humility & RepentanceRepentance

•Where in the cycle do you feel that you are right now?

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

Amazingly enough, if God commanded _______________ to _____________________, it would happen.

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

• What would happen if God said to a mountain, "Move on top of Lee’s Marketplace?

• What would happen if God commanded all bees to nest in the High School?• What would happen if God told all cats to walk backwards?• What if God commanded the Atlantic Ocean to trade places with the

Pacific?• What if God commanded all automobiles to hop instead of roll?• What if God commanded all young men to serve a mission?• What if God commanded his children to attend church?• What about to keep the Sabbath Holy?• Pay tithing?• Home teach 100% each month?

Helaman 12:9-17

Helaman 12

The Pride Cycle

1. Blessings & 1. Blessings & ProsperityProsperity

2. Pride & 2. Pride & WickednessWickedness

3. Destruction & 3. Destruction & SufferingSuffering

4. Humility & 4. Humility & RepentanceRepentance

Helaman 12:23-26: Mormon’s counsel for avoiding this cycle.

Is it OK to have pride?Did Nephi have pride?

President Uchtdorf, Pride (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-gRSLEv96A)

“The outlook for the world is not encouraging, but we know what the answer is. There is only one answer, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Men’s hearts must change, and righteousness must rule in the lives of the people of the world before peace can come, that God’s children may escape the calamities which are impending” (President Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Apr. 1947, 157).

Nephi