Exam 2

Question 1

What is the official church position on Book of Mormon geography?

Answer 1

The Church’s only position is that the events the Book of Mormon describes took place in the ancient Americas.

Question 2

What is the difference
between an internal
map of the Book of
Mormon and an external
map?

Answer 2

An internal map archeology, anthropology, artifacts, linguistic study, etc. It looks at what does the Book of Mormon itself say about the locations that are mentioned inside of the book.

Question 3

Describe the early
movements of the Book
of Mormon peoples

Answer 3

Lehi’s family leaving Jerusalem and traveling to the Americas. Once they arrived tensions divided them into the Nephites and Lamanites.

Question 4

What is the basic outline of 2 Nephi, its major sections and its major themes?

Answer 4

Scattering and gathering of Israel (covenants of the Lord). The redemption of humankind from the Fall (Gospel of Jesus Christ)

Question 5

Explain how the question of whether a prompting to do good is from God or oneself is often irrelevant

Answer 5

Reason: I want to do what I am prompted.
Fear: I don’t want to do something good if I’m not.
Our own thoughts and feelings are important. We should not ignore them.

Question 6

Describe Sam’s blessing and his reward given to him by his father and what implications that has for our own reward

Answer 6

He will inherit the land and he will be blessed in all his days.

Question 7

Describe how Nephi’s Psalm follows patterns of biblical prayers found in the Book of Psalms

Answer 7

The pattern is invocation, complaint, confession of trust, petition, vow of praise. The verses aren’t the same word for word, but they are saying the same things.

Question 8

What is the meaning of ‘righteousness’ according to the scriptures?

Answer 8

The fulfillment of faith and hope. It is about having right relationships with others.

Question 9

Explain synonymous parallelism as a part of Hebrew poetry, and how this helps us understand righteousness

Answer 9

It means two lines that build upon each other. Righteous is about right relationships with others. God show righteousness to us by rescuing us. We show God’s righteousness by partnering with him to rescue others.

Question 10

Identify the “awful monster” and know its Old Testament background

Answer 10

Death and Hell. Physical and Spiritual death. Also known as Rahab, he represents power of death and hell.

Question 11

What does it means for the covenant path to be a righteous path?

Answer 11

We chose to reach out to others as he has reached out to us.

Question 12

How does the behavior of the Gentiles changes once they step onto the path?

Answer 12

They receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they choose to rescue Israel out of captivity and bring them home.

Question 13

What is President Nelson’s quote?

Answer 13

“When you and I also enter that path, we have a new way of life. We thereby create a relationship with God that allows Him to bless and change us.”

Question 14

What does Pres. Ballard teach us about being saved by grace “after all we can do.”

Answer 14

No matter how hard we try and work it would not have been enough had it not been for Jesus Christ and his loving grace. “Despite all we can do” Jesus Christ saves us.

Question 15

What is the “awful monster.”

Answer 15

Death and Hell. Physical and Spiritual Death.

Question 16

What does it mean to be saved by grace?

Answer 16

We will be saved by Jesus Christ because of what he has done for us.

Question 17

Know the times periods that each section of Isaiah focuses on, and what is happening during those times.

Answer 17

Isaiah lived in Jerusalem around 700 BC.
Isaiah 1-39
* Focus on the 700s BC
* Assyria was the world power
* Northern Kingdom of Israel destroyed and exiled in 720s
* Sennacherib invades Southern Kingdom of Judah around 700
* Only Jerusalem is left
Isaiah 40-66
* Focus on the 500s BC
* Tells of Babylon’s fall and the return of Judahites to Jerusalem

Question 18

Know the main points of the promised happy ending in 2 Nephi 12 and how Israel at the time of Isaiah is not doing their part.

Answer 18

-The ‘day of the Lord’ is when God comes to protect his people and destroy his enemies
-Israel will suffer the same fate as others

Question 19

Explain how prophecy is like a promise and Isaiah 2 can have multiple fulfillments.

Answer 19

Many of Isaiah’s prophecies are not completely fulfilled in either time period (Prophecy as promise)

Question 20

Explain how we can participate in making the happy ending a reality.

Answer 20

We can gather Israel
The temple in Jerusalem
All nations come to learn from Jehovah
All nations obey Jehovahs judgment
Peace

Question 21

Explain how Israel is not demonstrating righteousness to God or others during Isaiah’s lifetime

Answer 21

By embracing idolatry, social injustice, and moral corruption, turning away from God’s commandments. Despite being His covenant people, their pride and disobedience led to spiritual blindness and oppression of the poor, which invited divine warnings and impending judgment.

Question 22

Know Pres. Nelson’s quote about love.

Answer 22

The covenant path is a path of love—that incredible hesed, that compassionate caring for and reaching out to each other. Feeling that love is liberating and uplifting. The greatest joy you will ever experience is when you are consumed with love for God and for all His children.

Question 23

Explain the idea of a prophetic lawsuit.

Answer 23

The prophet accuses, indicts, or prosecutes the people. as if he were bringing an action against them in a court of law.

Question 24

Explain God’s plan for the remnant of his people and how Isaiah’s message is a part of this plan.

Answer 24

-God’s plan is that those who are left after the calamities will be a righteousness remnant
-God will rebuild Zion with this remnant

Question 25

Know Pres. Nelson’s quote about hesed.

Answer 25

Because God has hesed for those who have covenanted with Him, He will love them. He will continue to work with them and offer them opportunities to change. He will forgive them when they repent. And should they stray, He will help them find their way back to Him.

Question 26

Explain how Isaiah’s call is similar to Lehi’s call

Answer 26

He also receives his call in the divine council

Question 27

Explain the circumstances of the Syro-Ephraimite war and know the names, capitals, and nations involved.

Answer 27

Wanted Kingdom of Judah to join anti-Assyrian alliance.
-Judah, Jerusalem, Judah, Ahaz, of the house of David.
-Syria, Damascus, Aram, Rezin.
-Israel, Samaria, Ephraim, Pekah, son of Remaliah

Question 28

Explain the sign that the Lord gives to Ahaz and its multiple fulfillments.

Answer 28

-A young women will give birth to a child named “Immanuel”
-Before he reaches the age of accountability, both kings will be gone

Question 29

Explain Ahaz’s reaction to Isaiah’s message and the consequences.

Answer 29

Ahaz’s reaction to Isaiah’s message was one of disbelief and fear; he refused to trust God’s promise of protection against his enemies, specifically Israel and Aram. This lack of faith led to consequences for Ahaz and Judah, including a devastating alliance with Assyria and the eventual downfall of his kingdom, as Isaiah warned that their reliance on foreign powers would bring judgment upon them.

Question 30

Explain what it means to ‘bind up the testimony and seal the law’

Answer 30

The deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the blind shall see.

Question 31

Explain the meaning of the book and when the people will understand it in Isaiah 29

Answer 31

The book means prophecy and they will understand it when it is revealed to them.

Question 32

Explain the role of Assyria and Babylon and their fates

Answer 32

Assyria serves as an instrument of God’s judgment to humble Israel, but due to Assyria’s arrogance and cruelty, it is prophesied that God will punish and destroy it. Similarly, Babylon represents pride and wickedness, and its eventual fall symbolizes God’s justice against nations that defy Him, ensuring that His people are ultimately delivered.

Question 33

Explain the role of the Messiah in Isaiah 11 and the use of banners in Isaiah

Answer 33

The Messiah is the protector and the leader. He will raise the banner to the Gentiles. The banner is a sign of unity

Question 34

Describe what two methods Nephi expects us to use while we read Isaiah.

Answer 34

Study and Faith

Question 35

Explain how Isaiah can be made clear by study and how prophets show they learn by study in the Book of Mormon.

Answer 35

Save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought.

Question 36

Explain the spirit of prophecy and who can receive this gift.

Answer 36

It is the ability to receive revelation. Anyone can receive it as long as they have faith in Christ.

Question 37

`Explain how God’s plan for Isaiah’s time matches up with his plan for Nephi’s people.

Answer 37

God’s plan for Isaiah’s time and Nephi’s people aligns in His desire to gather, protect, and redeem those who are faithful, while warning them against pride and disobedience. For both groups, God promises deliverance through the coming of the Messiah, a future gathering of Israel, and a path to righteousness, emphasizing reliance on Him over worldly alliances or self assuredness.

Question 38

Describe how a relationship between a parent and child helps us understand how we are saved by Christ’s grace.

Answer 38

Child do not earn their shelter, food, clothing, or love. Children are in debt to their parents.

Question 39

Know how Elder Ballard understands the phrase “after all we can do”

Answer 39

“despite all we can do” that Jesus Christ saves us.

Question 40

Know the three groups the Book of Mormon is meant to reach.

Answer 40

The Jews, Gentiles, and Remnant

Question 41

Describe how the Book of Mormon will fulfill all three covenants of the Lord.

Answer 41

-Sinai Covenant – the people are gathered again from exile
-Davidic Covenant – Jesus Christ and his words will gather his people home, and he will reign
-Abrahamic Covenant – God will enlist the Gentiles to save his people, and all nations will be blessed because of his people.

Question 42

Describe the reality behind the statement “all is well in Zion” and what the Lord is trying to accomplish.

Answer 42

Reflects a false sense of security and complacency, where people believe they are spiritually safe without examining their lives or seeking further growth.

Question 43

Describe the state of churches built up and “not unto the Lord” in 2 Nephi 28:4; what they emphasize and what they deny

Answer 43

Churches that are “not unto the Lord” are described as organizations that prioritize worldly success, popularity, and teachings based on human wisdom rather than divine truth. They emphasize personal gain and appealing doctrines but deny essential truths like the power of God, repentance, and the transformative role of the Holy Ghost, leading people away from sincere worship and true discipleship.

Question 44

Describe the connection between learning and repenting, and why we are often hesitant to do either one

Answer 44

Both require humility. They can feel uncomfortable and they require humility and an openness to change.

Question 45

Describe how the Lord teaches us “line upon line” rather than all at once

Answer 45

The Lord teaches us “line upon line” by gradually revealing knowledge and understanding as we are ready to receive it, allowing us to build a strong foundation of faith over time. This gentle, step-by-step approach respects our capacity to learn and grow, helping us apply each principle fully before moving on to deeper truths.

Question 46

Describe how childbirth is a metaphor for what God’s covenant people have done for the Gentiles and the Gentiles obligation to them.

Answer 46

Childbirth serves as a metaphor for the intense and often painful effort God’s covenant people, the Jews, have endured to bring forth the Bible and, through it, the knowledge of salvation to the Gentiles. Just as a mother endures labor to bring life into the world, the Jews labored spiritually and physically to preserve God’s word despite persecution and suffering. This metaphor suggests that the Gentiles, having received these blessings, are morally and spiritually obligated to respect, honor, and support the Jewish people, recognizing their essential role in delivering God’s word and offering gratitude instead of disdain.

Question 47

Describe who God speaks to according to 2 Nephi 29:12 and how our own quest for God’s word takes us beyond even the Book of Mormon or the scriptures;

Answer 47

God speaks to all nations. Our quest for God’s word extends beyond the Book of Mormon and scriptures, as it involves seeking personal revelation and understanding through the Holy Ghost.

Question 48

Know what defines the covenant people of the Lord

Answer 48

The covenant people are the people that that repent, believe in Christ, and come unto Him.

Question 49

Know the “doctrine of Christ” as described by Nephi and how Nephi and Christ describe its importance.

Answer 49

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; Repentance; Baptism;
Gift of the Holy Ghost.
The only and true doctrine of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’

Question 50

Know how John the Baptist role is connected to the writings of Isaiah and the gathering of Israel.

Answer 50

John’s role fulfilled Isaiah’s vision of preparing people to receive the Lord and restored Israel by turning them back to God through the covenant of baptism.

Question 51

Know the name of the church in the first century AD

Answer 51

The Way

Question 52

Know the purpose of Jesus’s baptism, the meaning of righteousness, and how Jesus (and us) can fulfill all righteousness

Answer 52

And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
Jesus was perfect and he was still baptized, so that means us the sinners really ne

Question 53

Know the quotes by Pres. Nelson

Answer 53

“The covenant path is all about our relationship with
God— our hesed relationship with Him.”
The covenant path is a path of love—that incredible hesed, that compassionate caring for and reaching out to each other. Feeling that love is liberating and uplifting. The greatest joy you will ever experience is when you are consumed with love for God and for all His children.

Question 54

Explain, according to Nephi, how we walk the path, and how we know what to do

Answer 54

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
God will guide to help us know what to do.

Question 55

Explain the source of the Nephite’s pride

Answer 55

The source of the Nephite’s pride was material wealth. They cared too much about their gold and silver.

Question 56

Explain how God’s love helps us realize that we are enough

Answer 56

We have to understand our worth as children of God. W
We’re reminded that we are all dependent on God for life and breath, emphasizing that our value is inherent, not based on accomplishments

Question 57

Know Elder Bednar’s quote about pride

Answer 57

May I suggest that if you or I believe we are sufficiently strong and stalwart to avoid the arrogance of pride, then perhaps we already are suffering from this deadly spiritual disease. Simply stated, if you or I do not believe we could be afflicted with and by pride, then we are vulnerable and in spiritual danger. In the space of not many days, weeks, months, or years, we might forfeit our spiritual birthright for far less than a mess of pottage.

Question 58

Be able to describe wealth’s purpose and what Jacob describes as “doing good”

Answer 58

Material wealth is used by the wealthy to help the needy and build up God’s kingdom.

Question 59

Know Brigham Young’s worst fear for church members

Answer 59

That they will get rich in this country, forget God and His people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell.

Question 60

Describe other ways of understanding the
Book of Mormon’s description of skin color

Answer 60

One example is the ancient description of Laman’s people as having “a skin of blackness” so “that they might not be enticing” to the Nephites.

Question 61

Know the Church’s statement on race

Answer 61

The Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form.”

Question 62

Describe the characters, the premise of the plot (problem and solution), and the ending of the Allegory of the Olive Tree

Answer 62

• A tame olive tree (v.3) = House of Israel
• A wild olive tree (v.7) = Gentiles
• Lord/Master of the Vineyard = God/Christ
• His Servant = Us
  The problem is the spiritual decline of the House of Israel, shown by the tame olive tree producing bad fruit, symbolizing apostasy and unfaithfulness. To solve this, the master and his servant work diligently, pruning and grafting branches, nourishing the roots, and transplanting branches to other parts of the vineyard. These actions represent God’s efforts to restore His people through prophets, covenants, and missionary work.
  The allegory concludes with a harvest of good fruit, symbolizing a righteous and united people gathered to God. The bad branches are cast away, leaving a thriving vineyard. This ending represents a time of spiritual renewal and covenant fulfillment, where God’s people are faithful and at peace in His care.

Question 63

Understand what question prompts the Allegory, and how the story answers the question

Answer 63

How can God’s covenant people be restored and saved despite their unfaithfulness and spiritual decline?
How shall they build upon this stone if they have
rejected it?
He will never stop trying to reclaim his people. There is a happy ending.

Question 64

Describe how the Allegory not only applies to the
House of Israel, but to our own lives as well (see Elder Holland’s quote)

Answer 64

God actively “digging and dunging, watering and weeding” symbolizes His persistent efforts to nurture us spiritually. His willingness to invest time and resources in us illustrates His deep love and desire for us to flourish.
This illustrates that personal growth often requires sacrifice and change, and it is a necessary part of becoming who we are meant to be.
In summary, the Allegory of the Olive Tree invites us to see God’s engagement in our lives and reminds us of the transformative power of His love. It encourages us to embrace the processes of spiritual growth, seek help when needed, and participate actively in our own journey toward becoming more like Him.

Question 65

Describe the relationship between the servants and the master of the vineyard.

Answer 65

The relationship between the servants and the master of the vineyard is characterized by deep trust, cooperation, and mutual commitment to the welfare of the vineyard (representing God’s covenant people).
Overall, the relationship between the servants and the master of the vineyard illustrates a model of divine stewardship, where authority, responsibility, and compassion are intertwined. This dynamic serves as an allegorical representation of the relationship between God and His prophets, as well as between God and His people, highlighting themes of cooperation, love, and commitment to a common purpose.

Question 66

Know Elder Maxwell’s quote about God’s particularized plan

Answer 66

Becoming a true believer, however, means trusting not
only in the Lord’s plan for all of mankind but especially
trusting in His unfolding and particularized plan for each of us.

Question 67

Describe the backstory for how the Nephites, Jaredites,
and Mulekites arrive in the land of Zarahemla

Answer 67

The Nephites, after being driven from their homeland, and the Mulekites, fleeing the fall of Jerusalem, find common ground, while the remnants of the Jaredites serve as a cautionary tale of pride and destruction. This intermingling of cultures and histories is a central theme in the Book of Mormon, emphasizing the importance of covenant relationships, divine guidance, and the quest for spiritual redemption among the people of God.

Question 68

Know where the metaphor of wrestling with God is used in the Scriptures and how this metaphor helps us
understand faith

Answer 68

Jacob- wrestles with a mysterious figure (often interpreted as God or an angel) throughout the night. Jacob receives a blessing and is renamed Israel, meaning “he who wrestles with God.”
Enos- the son of Jacob, describes his earnest prayer in the wilderness, where he wrestles with God for forgiveness and understanding. Through his wrestling, Enos receives assurance of his salvation and a deepening of his relationship with God.
Alma- likens exercising faith to a wrestling match with God, indicating that it often involves struggle and effort.

The metaphor of wrestling with God enriches our understanding of faith as an active, challenging, and transformative process, emphasizing the importance of struggle, persistence, and engagement in our spiritual journeys.

Question 69

Discuss what it means for Enos to “hunger” and how
might this be a way to look at repentance

Answer 69

Symbolizes a deep, spiritual yearning for forgiveness, guidance, and a closer relationship with God.
Provides a powerful perspective on repentance, emphasizing that true repentance involves a deep, sincere yearning for spiritual renewal and a restored relationship with God

Question 70

Discuss how Enos’s guilt was swept away and how we can exhibit similar faith

Answer 70

Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

Question 71

Describe how Enos continues to “wrestle” or
“struggle” even after receiving forgiveness, and
how this continues to strengthen his trust in Christ.

Answer 71

Enos exemplifies that the journey of faith does not end with forgiveness but continues with a deeper engagement with God through prayer and intercession for others. His struggles after receiving forgiveness illustrate that faith is dynamic, involving ongoing wrestling with God, seeking to understand His will, and striving for the welfare of those around him. This continued struggle strengthens Enos’s trust in Christ, affirming that authentic faith is characterized by active engagement, persistence, and a commitment to the well-being of others within the framework of divine grace.

Question 72

Know the quote by Charles Penrose

Answer 72

For the inspiration of God in olden times was not confined to the men who wrote the Jewish Scriptures. God has permitted His Spirit, which is the light of truth, and which manifests truth, to be poured out upon all the inhabitants of the earth to some extent; … There have been inspired bards and sages and poets, who have uttered words of truth, words of inspiration concerning things of which they had been enlightened of God. And many things that such men wrote have been recorded and handed down”

Question 73

Know the quote by Orson Whitney

Answer 73

other good and great men, not bearing the Priesthood, but possessing profundity of thought, great wisdom, and a desire to uplift their fellows, have been sent by the Almighty into many nations, to give them, not the fulness of the Gospel, but that portion of truth that they were able to receive and wisely use. Such men as Confucius, the Chinese philosopher; Zoroaster, the
Persian sage; Gautama or Buddha, of the Hindus; Socrates and Plato, of the Greeks; these all had some of the light that is universally diffused, and concerning which we have this day heard. They were servants of the Lord in a lesser sense, and were sent to those pagan or heathen nations to give them the measure of truth that a wise Providence had allotted to them”

Question 74

Know the quote by Neal A Maxwell

Answer 74

The day will come, brothers and sisters, when we will have other books of scripture which will emerge to accompany the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Presently you and I carry our scriptures around in a “quad”; the day will come when you’ll need a little red wagon.

Question 75

Know the quotes by President Packer

Answer 75

“I do not know now any more surely that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father, than I did then as a soldier boy sitting on the cliff on that tiny speck of an island. There is one difference— now I know the Lord.”

Question 76

Know President Eyrings Quote

Answer 76

You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. His work is to bless His Father’s spirit children with the opportunity to choose eternal life. So, your calling is to bless lives. That will be true even in the most ordinary tasks you are assigned and in moments when you might be doing something not apparently connected to your call. Just the way you smile or the way you offer to help someone can build their faith.