Episode 116: Using Precepts to Draw Closer to Jesus Christ (Maclane Heward)

Y Religion

BYU Religious Education

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4.8 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 15 November 2024

⏱️ 46 minutes

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Summary

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught “that the book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the key stone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” But what exactly are precepts? And how are those recorded in an ancient record relevant to our lives today? In this episode Church history and doctrine professor Dr. Maclane Heward discusses ways to identify key precepts in the Book of Mormon and intentionally incorporated them into our lives. He examines a micro approach (like verse-by-verse analysis) and a macro approach (such as examining larger sections or entire books for overarching themes) for uncovering and understanding precepts. Further, he shares how applying such precepts can lead to personal growth, increased spiritual understanding, and a deeper sense of purpose and direction. By studying and applying the precepts found in the Book of Mormon, we can strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and develop a closer relationship with him.

Publications:

“‘Abiding by Its Precepts’: Using Precepts to Draw Closer to Jesus Christ” (in Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
“The Washington D.C. Temple: Mr. Smith’s Church Goes to Washington” (in Latter-day Saints in Washington, D.C.: History, People, and Places, Religious Studies Center, 2021)

Click here to learn more about Maclane Heward

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello by religion friends. John Hilton here. Let's start today with a quiz. True or false?
0:06.6	Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the keystone of our religion and that a person would get nearer to God by reading it than by any other book.
0:16.4	I recently asked that question to about 500 college students and they almost all gave the wrong answer.
0:23.0	They thought the answer to the question was true, but it's actually false.
0:27.4	Joseph Smith didn't say that we would get nearer to God by reading the book of Mormon.
0:32.5	He said a person would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book.
0:38.3	Now, I acknowledge to my students and I acknowledge to you that that was a trick question,
0:44.3	but I hope it helps us see an important message. It's good to read the book of Mormon,
0:49.3	but we need to do more than read the book. We need to live its message. In fact, in Doctrine and Covenants
0:55.9	84, the Lord said that the children of Zion will remain under condemnation until they
1:01.6	remember the book of Mormon not only to say, but to do according to that which he has written.
1:08.3	I think that there's a dominant feeling among Latter-day Saint,
1:13.6	young adults, and youth, and even adults,
1:17.6	that they want a proximate relationship with God.
1:21.6	If we are going to do anything to invite more participation from young adults, it would be to teach them and help them
1:32.3	to see and experience the closeness of God.
1:38.3	As we come to an end of our Come Follow Me year of studying the Book of Mormon, it's a good time for us to step back
1:44.4	and ask ourselves how we could continue to abide by the precepts that we've been studying this
1:50.1	year, because this will truly bring us closer to God. I'm your host, Professor John Hilton,
1:56.5	and this is why religion.
2:06.1	Each year, religion professors at Brigham Young University produce hundreds of publications on subjects related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
2:11.0	This podcast brings this research into one place to enlighten the everyday seeker of truth.
	...

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