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Aaronic Priesthood Manual 1

Tools for Searching the Scriptures

"Lesson 43: Tools for Searching the Scriptures," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 1, 154

OBJECTIVE

Each Aaronic Priesthood holder will be motivated to learn to use the helps available in the Latter-day Saint editions of the scriptures.

PREPARATION

Note to the adviser

You may need two or three class periods to teach this lesson.

SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Object lesson

Display or have the young men describe a variety of tools used in building a house, such as a hammer, saw, and paintbrush. Ask the young men to tell what each of these tools is used for (the saw to cut wood or metal, the hammer to drive nails into material, the brush to apply paint). Point out that each tool has a specific use and is necessary in building the house, but that they cannot be interchanged. A paintbrush cannot be used to cut wood, nor can a saw be used to paint the house. Explain that they are going to practice using some important tools that can increase their ability to use the scriptures and increase their knowledge of scriptures.

The Latter-day Saint Editions of the Scriptures Help Us Understand the Gospel

Quotation and discussion

Explain the information in the following quotation:

"Many centuries ago an ancient prophet prophesied of the coming forth of two records for the house of Israel. (See Ezekiel 37:16-19.) One record would be of 'Judah,' and the other record would be of 'Ephraim.' He described them as 'sticks' of wood, probably 'wooden writing tablets' which were common in Ezekiel's day. ... He said he was commanded by God to join these records together so they would become as 'one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.' (Ezekiel 37:17.)

"From the beginning of this dispensation, this scripture has been interpreted to apply to the Bible and Book of Mormon. ... ([See] 2 Nephi 3:12; see also JST, Genesis 50:31.)

"That these scriptural records, one from Judah's posterity and one from Joseph's posterity, would 'grow together' in use to confound false doctrines, lay down contentions, establish peace, and extend the knowledge of God's covenants demonstrates the great strength the scriptures were intended to have in this area of the Restoration. ... To aid readers in their study of the scriptures, the First Presidency directed that new editions of the Bible and the Triple Combination be prepared that would improve doctrinal scholarship in the Church. ...

"These ... editions were the product of years of research and inspired direction. With the coordinated study aids and cross-references in each, these works are now truly 'one' in the hands of the user" (Edward J. Brandt, "Using the New LDS Editions of Scripture-As One Book," Ensign, Oct. 1982, pp. 42-43).

Explain that this lesson is an opportunity to practice using the various study helps in the Latter-day Saint editions of the scriptures.

The Latter-day Saint Editions of the Scriptures Contain Many Tools to Help Us

Adviser presentation and scripture search

Ask the young men to open their Latter-day Saint edition of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. Explain that this book is called the triple combination because it contains three books. Have the young men turn to the divisions between the three books. Point out that each of them begins with a page 1. Have them turn to the Index at the end of the triple combination, and explain that there is one index for all three books.

Next ask the young men to turn to the page at the beginning of the Bible entitled "The Names and Order of All the Books of the Old and New Testament." Point out that there are three sections in the Bible: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Appendix. Note that the Old Testament and the New Testament are numbered consecutively. The first page of the New Testament is page 1187, which begins the book of Matthew. Then note that the five sections in the Appendix begin again with page number 1 and continue through to the first page of the map section.

Wordstrip or chalkboard and discussion

Headings. Post the wordstrip "Headings" or write it on the chalkboard. Tell the young men that there are two kinds of headings in these scriptures-running headings and chapter headings. Ask them to open their Bibles to pages 2-3. Then post the wordstrips "Running Headings" and "Chapter and Section Headings," or write them on the chalkboard.

Footnotes. Post the wordstrip "Footnotes." In the scriptures, as in other books, footnotes are small superscript letters or numbers that refer to a note numbered in the same way at the bottom of the page. These footnotes give additional information about the material in the body of the chapter.

Explain that as in other editions of the scriptures, the Latter-day Saint editions identify footnotes by italic superscript letters. For example, have the young men turn to Matthew, chapter 1, and look at verse 1. A small superscript a is found before the word David. At the bottom of the page you will find a bold-faced (heavy-faced type) 1, which identifies the beginning of the footnotes for chapter 1. The first footnote is 1a, which means footnote a in verse 1.

The notes for each page are printed at the bottom of that page. They are arranged by chapter numbers printed in a larger bold type; then the verse number and the superscript letter used in the verse are listed. The information following the number and letter tells you more about that particular part of the verse.

Post the wordstrips of, or write on the chalkboard, the following words and abbreviations: "Cross-reference," "GR, HEB, IE, JST, TG, BD, OR." Tell the young men that as you continue your discussion, they will learn what each of these means. You may wish to have them turn to page vi [the page facing Genesis 1:1] to see the key to abbreviations printed there.

Explain that the Latter-day Saint editions of the scriptures use nine different kinds of footnotes. As you discuss each of the following examples, have the young men turn to the scriptural passages with you and discuss each as time permits.

Appendix. Post the wordstrip "Appendix" or write it on the chalkboard. The remaining helps of the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Bible are found in the appendix. The appendix contains the following:

The Study Helps Can Help Us Gain Scriptural Insight

Have a young man read Moroni 7:48. Have him look at footnote 48c. This leads to 1 John 3:1-3. Have another young man read this passage. (If your scriptures do not have the footnotes, tell the young man to look up 1 John 3:1-3.)

Explain that the Lord does not change his instructions from generation to generation. His message to us is consistent. Often, he uses the very same words.

Scripture search

As time permits, have the young men look up the following groups of scriptures. They will find several examples where the Lord gives similar words several times in many different scriptures. Explain that there are hundreds of such sets of similar instructions. The young men can find these instructions only by searching the scriptures.

Impress upon the young men that the instructions for priesthood bearers to be clean has been the same in all generations.

The Scriptures Are God's Words

Quotation

Write on the chalkboard: The scriptures are God's words.

Read the following statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"He that can mark the power of Omnipotence, inscribed upon the heavens, can also see God's handwriting in the sacred volume: and he who reads it oftenest will like it best, and he who is acquainted with it, will know the hand wherever he can see it" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], p. 56).

Explain that we cannot know the instructions the Lord has for us if we do not study the scriptures. However, as Joseph Smith said, if we study the scriptures often we will recognize the Lord's instructions for us and will learn the course we are to take in life.

The Prophets Speak the Words of God

Scriptures and discussion

Have the young men read the following passages: Isaiah 51:16 and Jeremiah 1:9.

To Moses he said: "I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say" (Exodus 4:12).

Nephi's final testimony says: "These words ... are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me" (2 Nephi 33:10).

Finally, have a young man read Doctrine and Covenants 18:34-36.

Conclusion

Testimony

Testify to the young men of your feelings for the scriptures and the importance of studying them. Explain that the LDS editions of the scriptures will help the young men more fully understand the teachings of the Lord as they use them properly.

Challenge

Explain to the young men that the LDS editions of the scriptures will be used for their lessons. Challenge them to bring their scriptures with them each week.

Urge the young men to use the tools provided in the Latter-day Saint editions of the scriptures not only in Church classes but also in their personal scripture study. Challenge the young men to read daily from the scriptures.

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