Teenagers and young adults love to be
challenged and think at a deeper level than the trivia questions
require.
Questions For
Discussion
Why was there a great multitude
gathered together round about the temple? Was the temple in
Bountiful the only temple? Why were they marveling and wondering?
Why were those in Helaman 5:49 told to marvel not neither should they
doubt? Does marveling and doubting interfere with faith? What was
the great and marvelous change which had taken place in the land of
Bountiful?
1 And now it came
to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the
people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land
Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another,
and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which
had taken place.
Why were they talking about Jesus
Christ? What was the sign of Jesus Christ's death? Which prophets
had prophesied of His death? How had the sign been given?
2 And they were
also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been
given concerning his death.
Why didn't they understand the voice?
If the voice came out of heaven, why were they looking round about?
Were they looking at each other? Were they still talking to each
other? How is the voice described? What does it mean “it did
pierce them that did hear to the center”? What kind of message or
voice would pierce you to the center? Where is your center? Where is
your soul? What part of them was burning?
3 And it came to
pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they
heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes
round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and
it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless,
and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that
did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their
frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the
very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
How could they hear the voice and not
understand it?
4 And it came to
pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.
What is the significance of the number
three? When God says something three times, what does it mean? What
did they need to do to hear the voice? What does it mean “open
their ears to hear it”? Where were they looking when they
understood the voice? What does it mean to look steadfastly? Why
did they need to look towards heaven instead of round about? Why did
they need to look where the sound was coming from?
5 And again the
third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear
it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look
steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.
What does it mean to both hear and
understand? Had the voice been repeating this same message three
times?
6 And behold, the
third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it
said unto them:
What does it mean to be beloved?
Beloved: Loved; greatly loved; dear to the heart. Is Beloved a
title? Is Son a title? Are these titles we are to receive? Why was
God well pleased in His Beloved Son? How did He glorify His Name
through His Son? Who is this voice introducing the Son? Who has been
speaking up to this time?
7 Behold my
Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my
name—hear ye him.
Why couldn't they see a Man descending
out of heaven until they understood the voice? What was He wearing?
Where was Jesus standing? Where did they look? What is the
significance of Jesus standing in the middle with all eyes on Him?
Why wouldn't they dare open their mouths? Why did they stop talking?
Why didn't they know what this manifestation meant? Hadn't they
been talking about the sign of Jesus Christ's death? Then why did
they think it was an angel when the voice introduced Him as God's
Beloved Son?
8 And it came to
pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards
heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he
was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst
of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him,
and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist
not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared
unto them.
What does it mean when he stretched
forth his hand? What was this a sign of?
9 And it came to
pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people,
saying:
What is Jesus asking them to look at?
How does Jesus Christ fulfill the words of His prophets?
10 Behold, I am
Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
What does it mean to be the light and
the life of the world? What is the bitter cup? How did it glorify the
Father when Jesus took upon him the sins of the world? What does it
mean to suffer the will of the Father in all things from the
beginning? Which beginning? Why did Jesus need to declare these
things?
11 And behold, I
am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that
bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the
Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have
suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
Why did the multitude fall to the earth
when the realized who Jesus was?
12 And it came to
pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell
to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among
them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension
into heaven.
Why do they need to thrust their hands
into his side and feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in
his feet? How does this give them sure knowledge that he is the God
of Israel? How does this give them sure knowledge that he the God of
the whole earth? How does this give them sure knowledge that He has
been slain for the sins of the world? Can you have knowledge of God
without this manifestation?
13 And it came to
pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:
14 Arise and come
forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also
that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet,
that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the
whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
What does it mean to thrust? Thrust:
To enter by pushing; to squeeze in. What is the significance of
them going forth one by one? Is redemption ever a group event? How
did seeing and feeling give them a sure knowledge? What does it mean
to bear record? Bear: To show or exhibit; to relate; to carry,
to convey; to withstand something difficult or painful, to support or
hold up; sustain, cause to be born, bring forth, provide evidence
for. Record: To cause to be remembered; an authentic
account of any facts and proceedings
15 And it came to
pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his
side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his
feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all
gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their
hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he,
of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
What does it mean to witness for
themselves? Why is it essential that each one has this witness of
Jesus Christ? What does it mean to cry out with one accord? Accord:
Agreement; harmony of minds; consent or concurrence of opinions or
wills.
16 And when they
had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out
with one accord, saying:
Notice they started on the ground
(verse 12), arose (verse 14), fell back down to the ground (verse
17). What does Hosanna mean? Hosanna: [Heb. save, I beseech
you.] An exclamation of praise to God, or an invocation of blessings.
Who is the Most High God (Alma 26:14)? Who do we worship?
17 Hosanna!
Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at
the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.
Who is Nephi? Why is Jesus calling him
forth?
18 And it came to
pass that he spake unto Nephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and
he commanded him that he should come forth.
Is kissing His feet a fitting response
when coming before the Lord? Do we show this same reverence when we
pray to Him?
19 And Nephi arose
and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his
feet.
Would Nephi have preferred to bow
before the Lord if not commanded to arise? No matter how unworthy he
felt, must Nephi obey?
20 And the Lord
commanded him that he should arise. And he arose and stood before
him.
Does Jesus touch Nephi to give power to
baptize? Why does Jesus tell him to baptize the people after Jesus
ascends into heaven? Why doesn't he baptize them while Jesus is
there?
21 And the Lord
said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this
people when I am again ascended into heaven.
Does Jesus give power to baptize by
speaking words? Why are there to be no disputations? What are
disputations? Disputation: The act of disputing; a reasoning
or argumentation in opposition to something, or on opposite sides;
controversy in words; verbal contest, respecting the truth of some
fact, opinion, proposition or argument.
22 And again the
Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto
them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye
baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you.
What is sin? What sins need to be
repented of? How are sins repented of through words? What does it
mean to be baptized in His name? What is His name?
23 Verily I say
unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and
desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize
them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my
name shall ye baptize them.
What is Jesus asking them to look at?
What is the significance of calling them by name?
24 And now behold,
these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:
Who gives authority to baptize? In
whose name do they baptize? Does this name have three parts?
25 Having
authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Why is baptism by immersion essential?
What is the meaning of this baptism?
26 And then shall
ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
What is His name? What is he asking
them to look at? Is Jesus explaining His name? What does He mean the
father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are one? How is He in the
Father and the Father in Him? What does it mean to be one? Does His
name include the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?
27 And after this
manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto
you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I
am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.
Can we be one in Him when we have
disputations among us? Why are there disputations concerning the
points of His doctrine? How do disputations work against the
doctrine of Christ?
28 And according
as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no
disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall
there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine,
as there have hitherto been.
Why do I argue about Christ's gospel
and His doctrine? Does all contention come from the devil? Is
arguing about the gospel of Jesus Christ an oxymoron? Does the devil
care what we are stirred up to anger about, or just that we are
stirred up to anger? Who is the father of contention? What does that
mean?
29 For verily,
verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not
of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he
stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with
another.
How are men stirred up to anger one
against one another? Why are such things to be done away? How are
such things done away?
30 Behold, this is
not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against
another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done
away.
Why is Jesus declaring His doctrine?
31 Behold, verily,
verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
Who gave Him this doctrine? How does
Jesus bear record of the Father? How does the Father bear record of
Him? How does the Holy Ghost bear record of the Father and Jesus?
Why does the Father bear record of Jesus and Jesus bears record of
the Father but they do not bear record of the Holy Ghost? Why must
Jesus bear record of the Father's commandment? Of what are all men
everywhere commanded to repent? Why is it necessary to believe in
Jesus?
32 And this is my
doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me;
and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me,
and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear
record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and
believe in me.
Is believing in Jesus and being
baptized the only requirements to be saved? Why will these saved
ones inherit the kingdom of God? What does it mean to believe in
Jesus? Is baptism a symbol of belief?
33 And whoso
believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they
are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
What does it mean to be damned? What
signifies we believe in Jesus Christ? Why are we damned if we don't
believe in Jesus Christ?
34 And whoso
believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
Why can Jesus claim this doctrine which
has been given from the Father as His own? If we believe in Jesus who
will we also believe in? How will the Father bear record of Jesus?
How will the Father visit those who believe in Jesus? What does this
fire do to us and for us? Does the fire come from the Father or the
Holy Ghost? Why is the presence of the Holy Ghost necessary when
someone is visited with fire?
35 Verily, verily,
I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it
from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father
also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will
visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
How is the Father bearing record of
Jesus? Why must the Holy Ghost bear record unto him of the Father
and Jesus? What does it mean “the Father, and I , and the Holy
Ghost are one”?
36 And thus will
the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record
unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy
Ghost are one.
In this verse what must we repent of
and do? What does it mean to become as a little child? Why do the
learned and proud refuse to be childlike? Again what is the
significance of baptism? What things will you receive if you become
as a little child and are baptized?
37 And again I say
unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be
baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.
Notice the order is reversed. . . be
baptized and become as a little child? When the exact words are
repeated with this one difference should it draw our attention to it?
What is being communicated?
38 And again I say
unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a
little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
What is His rock? What does it mean to
build upon His rock? What if I build on a foundation that is not
true? Can I build anything on a sandy foundation that will stand up
to the tests of time and eternity? What are the gates of hell?
39 Verily, verily,
I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon
this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against them.
What if more or less than this is
required for baptism? Is it a valid baptism? Why does it come of
evil? If we don't understand and build upon the doctrine of Christ
what will happen? Why is knowledge of correct doctrine essential?
Why do the gates of hell stand open to receive the ignorant? What
are the floods and winds?
40 And whoso shall
declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the
same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth
upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive
such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.
What's the importance of declaring
these words to others?
41 Therefore, go
forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken,
unto the ends of the earth.
