Lesson 9
Seek Ye for the Kingdom of God
See also
|
1. Cover page |
|
|
|
Seek Ye for the Kingdom of God
Background and Student Reading
Dieter F. Uchtdorf Pride and the Priesthood Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 55-58
Spencer W Kimball Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods before Me Chapter 14 in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (2006), 145-53
Ezra Taft Benson The Great Commandment - Love the Lord Chapter 1 in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson (2014), 37-45
|
Matthew 6:33 • Jacob 2:12-28; 3:10-12 • Mosiah 2:20-25; 4:13, 21-26 • Alma 7:14-16, 19, 21-24 • 3 Nephi 12:27-30
|
Elevated Learning
As you go through this institute lesson make notes in your study journal of the things that impress on your mind and heart and expand your personal understanding. Take the time to review these notes and share with others after the lesson. This is an important part of your elevated learning experience and will help the gospel of Jesus Christ get down into your heart and contribute to your successful graduation of this institute course.
2. Check regularly |
|
|
|
What things need to be checked regularly to keep them in good working order?
Questions
What are the benefits of checking on these regularly?
3. Evaluate your spiritual condition |
|
|
|
(Addressing Gideon and his followers)
For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight.
Alma the Younger
Alma 7:19
Questions
How did Alma describe the spiritual condition of the people of Gideon?
4. The kingdom of God |
|
|
|
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as it is now constituted is the kingdom of God on earth. In the eternal worlds, the celestial kingdom is the kingdom of God. The gospel is designed to prepare men for an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God.
Bruce R McConkie
Mormon Doctrine. 2nd ed. (1966) 415-17
Questions
Why is it important to understand the two different meanings of the 'Kingdom of God?'
5. To inherit Eternal Life |
|
|
|
Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.
Alma the Younger
Alma 7:14-16
Questions
Why did Alma invite the people to repent when they were already on the path of righteousness?
6. The path to the Kingdom of God |
|
|
|
And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; ... And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God. And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
Alma
Alma 7:21-24
Questions
What will help us inherit the Kingdom of God?
7. Prophets warn against sin |
|
|
|
But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God.
Jacob
Jacob 2:5
Questions
When have the modern prophets rebuked us for our sins?
8. Keeping us from God |
|
|
|
Jacob 2:12-14
Jacob 2:20-21
Jacob 2:23-28
Jacob
Jacob 2:12-14, 20-21, 23-28
Questions
What specific sins does Jacob mention?
9. The awful consequences |
|
|
|
Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day. O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death. And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the people of Nephi, warning them against fornication and lasciviousness, and every kind of sin, telling them the awful consequences of them.
Jacob
Jacob 3:10-12
Questions
What words or phrases illustrate the seriousness of people's sins?
What are the consequences of sin?
10. Ways to avoid sin |
|
|
|
Jacob 2:12-14 ... Mosiah 4:13, 21-26
(Love of riches)
Jacob 2:20-21... Mosiah 2:20-25
(Pride)
Jacob 2:23-28 ... 3 Nephi 12:27-30
(Immorality)
Jacob
Questions
How will this counsel help us strengthen the Lord's Church on earth?
11. Overcome our unrighteous desires |
|
|
|
Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good?to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
Jacob
Jacob 2:17-19
Questions
What can we learn from Jacob's counsel to help us avoid sin?
What does it mean to seek first the Kingdom of God?
12. Put God first |
|
|
|
When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.
Ezra Taft Benson
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson (2014), 40
Questions
What have you seen 'fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives?'
How will putting God first help us when we are faced with temptations?
13. Seek not the things of this world |
|
|
|
Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
JST Matthew 6:38
Jesus Christ
Matthew 6:33
Questions
How do we establish righteousness?
14. Building up the kingdom |
|
|
|
'Seek first to build up the kingdom of God' means to assign first priority to God and to His work. The work of God is to bring to pass the eternal life of His children (see Moses 1:39), and all that this entails. Everything else is lower in priority. As someone has said, if we do not choose the kingdom of God first, it will make little difference in the long run what we have chosen instead of it.
Dallin H Oaks
Focus and Priorities Ensign, May 2001, 83-84
Questions
What are some ways we can choose the Kingdom of God first?
15. Separate from the world |
|
|
|
By choosing to be in God's kingdom, we separate - not isolate - ourselves from the world. Our dress will be modest, our thoughts pure, our language clean. The movies and television we watch, the music we listen to, the books, magazines, and newspapers we read will be uplifting. We will choose friends who encourage our eternal goals, and we will treat others with kindness. We will shun the vices of immorality, gambling, tobacco, liquor, and illicit drugs. Our Sunday activities will reflect the commandment of God to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We will follow the example of Jesus Christ in the way we treat others. We will live to be worthy to enter the house of the Lord.
Robert D Hales
The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom Ensign, Nov. 2000, 8
Questions
How can seeking God's kingdom significantly influence every aspect of our lives?
|