Patience
READ James 1:2-4 (including JST)
What is the relationship between
affliction and perfection?
Ask of God
READ James 1:5-7
What is the message of James 1:5?
Who lacks wisdom?
Who do we need to have faith in when we
pray: God to answer us, or our worthiness to approach Him and get an answer?
What is the ultimate implication of James
1:5?
STORY: Read the story of the dwarves who
will not be “taken in” when thrown through the stable door into what they think
is a dark room when in fact they are in Aslan’s Country (from C.S. Lewis’ The
Last Battle, Ch. 13)
“Aslan,” said Lucy through her tears,
“could you, will you, do something for these poor Dwarves?” “Dearest,” said Aslan, “I will show you both
what I can and what I cannot do.” He
came close to the Dwarves and gave a low growl: low but it set all the air
shaking. But the Dwarves (who are still
imagining that they are in a pitch black stable) said to one another, “Hear
that? That’s the gang at the other end
of the stable. Trying to frighten
us. They do it with a machine of some
kind. Don’t take any notice. They won’t take us in again!”…” You see,”
said Aslan, “They will not let us help them.
They have chosen cunning instead of belief. Their prison is only in their own minds, yet
they are in that prison; and so afraid of being taken in that they cannot be
taken out.”
Why might people not believe when God
Himself is reaching out to them to save them?
What does it mean that their prison is
only in their own minds?
READ James 1:17
Why can we have faith in Him to answer
our prayers?
Back to James 1:5-7…
What does it mean to give to ALL men
LIBERALLY?
What does it imply that God will not
upbraid or scold us for asking Him questions?
READ D&C 8:10-11
Oliver Cowdery was on his own agenda but
what did the Lord want him to ask about?
Will He answer our agenda questions
though?
Why must we ask God if He already knows
our hearts and what we lack?
READ JSH 1:10-13
What pattern can we see in Joseph Smith’s
experience that enabled him to receive an answer to his prayer?
What is more important to your salvation,
the answers and insights about God that Joseph Smith received in the First
Vision or the example Joseph Smith set to be followed?
Pure Religion
READ James 1:27 (including JST)
What is “pure religion”?
How does one keep themselves “unspotted
from the world”?
Faith and Works
READ James 1:22 and 2:14-20, 24, 26
What does it mean to be a “doer” of the
Word?
How is James defining faith?
How does Paul define faith?
What does it benefit us to believe in
Christ but not seek to do His works; will our belief save us?
How do we show where our faith is by our
works?
What works does Christ want to see, to
show our belief in Him?
Can we be a Zion people – be “one” –
because we believe in the theory or doctrine of equality, sharing with each
other, and ensuring none among us are in need/poor, or must we act?
