Come Follow Me - Alma 13-16 (part 1): "The Order of His Son" 

Thank you so much for your kind words, Robert. I'm really touched by your gratitude. The Book of Mormon and the Spirit of God deserve all the credit. I'm just grateful for the chance to teach such powerful truths--especially to such open-hearted fellow disciples. I'm grateful we get to learn together!

Thank you for your kindness and encouragement! I know what you mean about wanting to know how to study the scriptures more effectively. We talk a lot about scripture study in the Church, but we don't do much to teach people HOW to do it. I'm glad these lessons have been helpful. Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

Thanks, Brady! I'm grateful we get to study the scriptures together again!

I'm grateful you found the lesson to be helpful. It's such an important subject, with so much more for us to learn!

I loved Paradise Lost! I think Milton shares insights into the Fall that I've only seen in the Pearl of Great Price accounts (not in the Genesis version). It must have been the Spirit that helped Milton to be so insightful!

Thank you for being open to the strength the scriptures bring! I pray they will continue to bless and empower you. Thank you for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

Unshaken w

Thank you! It's an honor to join you for scripture study!

No catch up needed! I'm grateful the Lord will take us wherever we are, and help us progress at whatever pace we can handle. Welcome home, brother!

Thank you, Stacey. You've always been a joy to teach, and that continues even from a distance (though two-way communication "in class" would be even better! Thank you for sharing the word with others! I'm grateful for you!

Thank you for your kind words. I'm grateful these lessons have been a blessing to you. Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

What a beautiful tradition! The scriptures never cease to amaze me--like the loaves and the fishes, they just keep multiplying, feeding me whenever I'm in need of the Bread of Life! Thank you for watching!

So grateful you found your way home! We all spend time wandering and not everyone lets the Good Shepherd bring them back. Thanks for being an example of His love.

Amen! Thanks for opening your heart to it!

You are so welcome. I'm amazed at the ways our Father in Heaven helps us home--blessing both giver and receiver, both leader and follower, both shepherd and sheep. Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

You are very welcome!

Aloha! Thank you for your kind words. I'm honored you would invite me into your scripture study. The Book of Mormon is such a treasure!

Nice to meet a fellow Californian! Thanks for tuning in!

Thank you so much! I'm grateful we get to learn together!

Thank you so much. I'm grateful the Book of Mormon is bringing greater light and truth into your life, and it's done in mine. It's a blessing to be able to study together!

Thank you! I'm grateful that this has been a good learning experience for you. Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

Thank you for being such an eager learner! I'm grateful to be able to study the scriptures together.

Thank you, Tanja! I'm just grateful we get to learn together! It's always been a blessing to study the gospel with you!

I love your comment! Thank you for sharing. I'm grateful for the way the scriptures deepen our understanding and give us added desire to make a difference in others' lives. Bless you in your efforts!

Thank you! I'm grateful it was a blessing to you. The Book of Mormon is such a rich source of spiritual strength.

Amen! God is the Father of us all, and He doesn't play favorites. I'm grateful for that understanding as well. Thank you for watching, and for sharing your perspective!

You're very kind. I'm grateful you've found these lessons to be a blessing to you. Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

I'm glad these lessons are a blessing to you! Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

I hope it's helpful! Thanks for watching!

Thank you! I'm grateful you enjoyed it. The Book of Mormon is full of incredible truths!

Thank you for sticking with it! I know the videos are long, but the Book of Mormon is just so full of incredible truths!

I'm so glad they've been a blessing to you! Thank you for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

Thank you for being such an eager learner! That makes an even bigger difference than the teacher!

Me too! Thanks for the encouragement!

Gracias hermano! Estoy agradecido tener un emigo en Colombia!

I'm so glad the Book of Mormon is coming to life for you! Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

I'm glad it helped! It's definitely a tricky--and fascinating--concept. Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

Excellent insight! Another example of faith without works being dead. And like you said, a great example of the ways that scriptures expand upon each other. One great "cloud of witnesses"!

Such beautiful verses. If only we could always view one another through the lens of the Fatherhood of God. Thank you.

Thank you! I lived in Tennessee for 8 years and I miss the South! Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

Welcome aboard! Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

Haha! Milton is definitely an acquired taste :) And I agree with your take on the Book of Abraham. Thanks for sharing!

Great idea! I'd love to make something more "official-looking" eventually, but that would be a good intro for now. Thanks!

Thanks!

Yes, we need "show notes"

Thanks for your interest in deepening your study! I don't make transcripts when I teach; just bullet-point outlines. But even those are mostly just cues to help me remember things. I'm sorry I don't have clearer "show notes" but the video editing takes so much time that it's all I can do to keep up! Thanks for putting up with me!

Not sure if this is still relavent to you, but if you are on youtube desktop, you can click the 3 dots just below the video and select "show transcript". On mobile, tap the down arrow on the right of the video title for transcript.

@@Unshaken This is now possible as RU-vid does it automatically. if you are on RU-vid desktop, you can click the 3 dots just below the video and select "show transcript". On mobile, tap the down arrow on the right of the video title for transcript.

Great question! The key is whether or not we get to "stay" in God's presence and live with Him eternally. Overcoming our sinfulness so that we can eventually be able to do that is the point of the whole Plan. The unclean can "be" in the presence of God, but they cannot eternally "dwell" in God's presence. It's the "dwelling" part that's the difference. In some ways, because of the omnipresence of God's spirit, we are always "in His presence." As the Psalmist said, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" (Ps. 139:7). The question is, can we become worthy enough to "dwell" in His presence (to stay there permanently)? As Lehi taught, "there is no flesh that can DWELL in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Ne. 2:8). A fallen Adam and Eve tried to hide (unsuccessfully) from God's presence; at the beginning of the Book of Job, Satan is in God's presence; there's a great verse in the Psalms (Ps. 51:11) when a fallen David prays, "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me." Again, there's that sense of being in God's presence but not being able to stay there. I hope that helps a bit!

Great question. There must be something we don't fully understand about that verse in D&C 107. One thought I've had is that it speaks of "the name of the Supreme Being" and the full name of the priesthood mentions "God," but not "Jesus Christ." So perhaps it is the Father whose name that verse is protecting. Also, talk of the Melchizedek Priesthood usually occurs between members, while the name of the Church is used very frequently with non-members, and we're not doing them any favors by not clarifying whose Church it is. There's probably more than that, but there's my two cents! Thanks for letting me be a part of your scripture study!

I'm grateful for the rich treasure trove that the Book of Mormon presents us, every time we open it! Sorry to take so long to cover the ground, but there seems to be something beautiful under every rock!

I for one love that you bring in all the scriptures to teach with

@@dns16372 Thank you! I consider the scriptures "one great whole." A "cloud of witnesses" with connections running throughout.

@@Unshaken I agree with Dan. I also love it when you bring in other scriptures and i don't care how much time you take. An honest seeker of truth, when they hear it will cleave unto it.

Great question. Usually they feel that it somehow takes away from God, when from our perspective it is simply adding to His glory. Or they think that we're replacing God, usurping His authority, or somehow becoming independent of Him (none of which is true). And often it's our own fault, in terms of the way that we explain it. Most believe that the grace of Jesus makes us into people who are more like Him. We just clarify the eternal nature of that growth--forever becoming more and more like Jesus. In one of the videos about King Benjamin (I think!), I talk a little more about this topic. It's such a powerful one!

Great question! I love how Paul uses that phrase ("reasonable service") in Romans 12:1, which he defines as "present[ing] your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God." I think that's a beautiful tie-in to the ancient priesthood, since so much of their daily service was presenting sacrifices to God. Like we talked about in this lesson, if everything they did was meant to point them (and others) forward to Jesus Christ, then their sacrificial offerings were a type and shadow of Jesus presenting His body "a living sacrifice," which is also what He asks of each of us. Considering all He gave for us, it does seem perfectly "reasonable" for us to offer Him all our heart, might, mind, and strength in service to God and humanity--treating one another like the "precious stones" the high priest bore over his heart, lifting each other like the "precious stones" on his shoulders, serving with "holiness to the Lord" always on our minds, etc. We often think we're being asked to do too much, but like Paul said, the service God asks of us is perfectly "reasonable." In fact, it's an honor to give it. Thanks so much for asking!

I keep meaning to, but haven't forced other things out of my schedule to make the time. I'll probably just end up separating the audio out from the video and posting that, but I still need to make some kind of intro to explain what's going on. I need more days in the week! (Don't we all!)

Unshaken I can do a general intro for you if you want.

Great thoughts. Psalm 78:41 says that ancient Israel "limited the Holy One of Israel" and I think we continue to do that all the time. And the Lord in His patience waits for us to catch up, to get out of His way, to allow Him to do what He's wanted to do for a long, long time. Thanks again for your comments!

Yes. I'm grateful for his clear and powerful voice! Sad to think that the last remaining apostles that were there for the 1978 revelation have all passed on. What a blessing to have that added light and truth.