ing and conspiracy of the unbelievers. -Nephi's special pleading for his people. The answer: "On the morrow come I into the world."-The night of light. The new star.-Baptisms and remissions.-Revival of the Gadianton robbers.-Disregard of the signs given.-The Nephite calendar.-War for freedom. — Threat howlings and lamentations of the inhabitants left upon the continent.— The ill-fated cities and their rebellious inhabitants.-The voice of revelation in warning, announcement, commandment, reproof, admonition, promise. Time, 33 A. D. Ref. III Nephi, 8, 9, 10. Self-review:-1. Describe the terrible tempest preceding the three days of thick darkness. 2. What is said of the destructive changes in what is now known as North America? 3. Mention evidences of terrible upheavals referable to that sublime and awful event. 4. What was the fate of the cities of Zarahemla, Moroni, Moronihah, Gilgal, Jerusalem, Jacob, and Laman respectively? 5. Give a synopsis of the proclamation of the VOICE that was heard among all the people. ened destruction of the Nephite nation. The curse removed from the faithful Lamanites, their children exceedingly fair. The remarkable epistle from Giddianhi, the leader of the robbers, to Governor Lachoneus, demanding of the Nephites their possessions. Preparations for the final contest.-Deliverance promised on conditions of repentance only. Gidgiddoni the prophet, commanderin-chief, and chief judge.-The terrible slaughter.-Repulse of the invaders. Great rejoicings of the people of God. Mormon the compiler. Time B. C. 1 to A. D. 22. Ref., III. Nephi, 1 to 5 in- ADVENT OF THE SAVIOR TO THE clusive. LECTURE 22. NEPHITES. divinely-preserved The edifice. voice of God the Eternal Father Self-review:- -1. What answer was Subdivisions:-The multitude of given to Nephi's earnest prayer for the Temple city assembled at the his people? 2. Describe the night of light. 3. What followed the appearance of the new star? 4. Explain the Nephitic calendar. 5. Give an instance where the curse of the dark skin was removed from the faithful Lamanites. 6. What was an essential qualification of a chief captain among the Nephites in times of their righteousness? 7. Who was Mormon, the compiler? LECTURE 21. THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORD. introducing His Son Jesus Christ.The descension of Jesus.-Proclamation of His personality, authority, relation, physical proofs of His identity.-Special instruction in regard to baptism.-Simplicity and positiveness of His doctrines. —His testimony of the superiority of the knowledge that comes by faith.His comprehensive sermon. (See Matt. 5, 6, and 7.) Time, A. D. 34. Ref., III Nephi, 11–15. Self-review:-1. What were the Subdivisions: Nature's procla- topics of conversation with the peomation; (a) the thunderings and ple assembled about the temple in lightnings during the three hours of Bountiful? 2. Give an account of the agony on the cross; (b) the three voice they heard from heaven. 3. days of utter darkness; (c) the scars What simple proofs did the Savior of Nature's face in the form of rug- give the people of Himself? ged upheavals and yawning chasms Whom did the Savior first call and commemorative of the conflict in commission on this occasion? 5. Give which victory over the grave was a synopsis of His remarkable serwon by the Great Redeemer.-The mon from your notes. 4. NEW TESTAMENT. the vineyard; (a) place, Peræra; (b) (Dispensation of the Meridian of ref., Matt. xx. 3. Marriage feast; Times, continued.) LECTURE 20. Subdivisions:-1. The unmerciful servant; (a) place, Capernaum; (b) ref., Matt. xviii, 23-35. 2. The two debtors; (a) place, Galilee; (b) ref. Luke vii, 41-50. 3. The good Samaritan; (a) place, Jerusalem; (b) ref., Luke x; 25-37. Self-review:-1. What is charity? (Moroni vii, 47, and viii, 17.) 2. Make a practical application of parable one in this lesson. 3. What is the relation of love to forgiveness? 4. What was the cause of the unfriendliness between the Jews and the Samaritans? (Josephus, Antiquities, Bk. IX, ch. xiv; Bk. XI, ch. viii, p. 418. 5. What is meant by a neighbor? LECTURE 21. Group V.—Illustrating the principle of reward. Subdivisions:—I. Talents; (a) place, Jerusalem; (b) ref., Matt. XXV, 14-30. 2. The ten pounds; (a) place, Jericho; (b) ref., Luke xix, 12-27. 3. The vineyards, (a) place, Jerusalem; (b) ref., Matt. xxi, 33-41. 4. Sheep and goats; (a) place, Jerusalem; (b) ref., Matt. XXV, 31-46. Self-review:-1. What is meant by a reward? 2. Upon what are rewards predicated? 3. Show the distinction between rewards and gifts. 4. Make an application of parable three, this lesson. 5. How can man be kind to God? LECTURE 22. Group VI-Illustrating the principle of integrity. Subdivisions:-I. Servants waiting for their lord; (a) place, Galilee; (b) ref., Luke xii. 2. Laborers in (a) place, Jerusalem; (b) ref., Matt. xxii. 4. The faithful steward; (a) place, Jerusalem; (b) ref., Luke xii. Self-review:-1. What is meant by integrity? 2. Apply parable one of this lesson. 3. In parable two, why was each laborer entitled to the same amount? 4. What is meant ever much is given, of him shall be by the expression "For unto whomsomuch required?" 5. What special lesson is taught in parable one of this lesson? SLEEP. "TIRED nature's sweet restorer." Take enough of it-in the fore-part of the night, if possible. "Midnight oil" is a great humbug and healthdestroyer. Sleep! It is nature's time to carry on processes of assimilation--to manufacture food into blood, and blood into healthful tissue. The time for repose is the time for the repair of waste. A man is taller in the morning than he is at nightfall— his brain is clearer, his step more elastic, his nerve steadier, his muscles more energetic. Give children plenty of sleep. Put them to bed early. Shut the glare of gas, and resist the appeals to "sit up," to go to night parties, night concerts, night Sundayschool exhibitions, night meetings. Send them to bed betimes, and give them sound sleep, sound nerves, sound constitutions. Night-air is bad. Malarias are abroad, and there is no kindly sun to dispel the noxious vapors, and war upon the deadly venoms. Sleep in the upper stories, in the largest rooms of the house, and the best ventilated. Let a child have its sleep out in the morning. Never wake it up till it wakes of its own accord. Some young men and young women have to get up at six to go to employments. It will not do for such to sit up till eleven or twelve the night before. Sleep till the eyes open of their own accord. Different persons require different amounts of sleep. Some want six hours, some seven, some nine. General Grant wanted nine, and said, at the siege of Vicksburg, he could get but seven, and it almost killed him. John Wesley found that he could do with six, and fixed his hours of rest between ten and four; and, by example, if not by precept, put the whole Methodist fraternity into the same inexorable strait-jacket. John Wesley became thus the author of a fearful waste of life and energy. killed off whole generations of preachers, who undertook to sleep six hours because this exceptional bundle of animated iron-wires could do with six. The strong require much sleep, the weak and feeble more. He Sleep should be graded by periods of life, and, perhaps, by temperaments; but no one man's experience is a guide for any other. The average has been given as follows: The infant sleeps twenty hours, and wakes four: the old man wakes twenty and sleeps four; in middle life seven to nine hours sleep are requisite to keep up the balance between waste and supply. Nervous persons find it difficult to sleep. Such should nurse the hours of rest with great care; avoid tea, coffee, and stimulants before retiring; avoid hard, exciting studies of an evening; avoid excitements of all kinds, and court quiet, music, genial conversation, and soothing employments or meditations. Above all, go to sleep when the first fit of drowsiness comes on. Roused out of that, one may lie for hours, and roll and toss, and not be able to entice sleep to the uneasy pillow. A compliment, to be appreciated by any sensible person, must be prompted by sincerity. As there are no laws extant against ingratitude, so it is utterly impossible stances shall reach it. to contrive any that in all circum It is a test of politeness for a man to listen with interest to things he knows all about, when they are being told by a person who knows. nothing about them. 'Tis not a motto fine as some, GRIN AND BEAR IT. Perhaps, in terms high-sounding; When cherished projects come to naught, When banks and bonds your firmest thought A sunny smile of perfect peace 'Twill help-just "grin and bear it." When woes come thick and still more thick, When hope deferred the heart makes sick, All bravely "grin and bear it." Ah, 'neath these homely words there lie Well worth most careful gleaning; Let earth's and heaven's best wisdom mergeTrust God, then "grin and bear it." Philip B. Strong. |