Sunday's Lesson RECAP (1-4-15)

We had a fun, engaging Jeopardy! style lesson in which we learned about Ezra Taft Benson's life teachings.

Born on August 4, 1899, in Whitney, Idaho, Ezra Taft Benson learned early the principle of hard work on the family farm. He served a mission to Great Britain and after his return was married to his sweetheart, Flora Amussen, in 1926. He received his education in agriculture and went on to hold many important positions within the industry. He was called to be an Apostle after having been president of two stakes. From 1953 to 1961, he served as Secretary of Agriculture in the cabinet of U. S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. On November 10, 1985, he became President of the Church. Having a resolute testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon, he emphasized the importance of it in daily scripture study, missionary efforts, and gospel teaching. His love of freedom, home, and family were also evident in his addresses and counsel to Church members. Despite his failing health, the Church continued to grow under his administration, temples were dedicated, and missionary work expanded around the world, particularly in eastern Europe. He died in Salt Lake City on May 30, 1994, at the age of 94.

We learned about how much President Benson loved the Book of Mormon.  We talked about doctrines and teaching found in these two talks:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/the-book-of-mormon-keystone-of-our-religion?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/10/flooding-the-earth-with-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng

Ezra Taft Benson taught, 

"There are three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.  The FIRST is that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion.  It is the keystone in our witness of Christ.  It is the keystone of our doctrine. It is the keystone of testimony.

"The SECOND great reason why we must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study is that it was written for our day....Each of the major writers of the book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations.

"The THIRD reason why the Book of Mormon is of such value to Latter-day Saints is given in the same statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith... He said 'I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book'  That is the third reason for studying the book.  It helps us draw nearer to God.