[1]. This book has been called the "Fifth Gospel," and deservedly so, though he who first used the term tried to disprove its claims. It richly deserves the title, however. Also it has been called the "American Gospel," see Defense of the Faith and the Saints, Art. "The Fifth Gospel."
[2]. The references under this subdivision, and the notes of this lesson are not intended to be considered as doctrines to be mastered here. The references and notes are given just to be read with a view to fixing in the mind of the student the fact that the Book of Mormon deals with these important subjects and is of value for that reason. The class is not dealing with doctrine now but with the Book of Mormon as Nephite literature; hence teachers will not allow their class to linger over these very attractive subjects, now.
LESSON VII.
SCRIPTURE READING EXERCISE.
(SPECIAL LESSON—TWO SUBJECTS.) Note. I.
| SUBJECTS. | REFERENCES. |
| I. The Conditions on Which the Gentile
Races May Continue Their
Freedom and Prosperity in the
Americas--the Land of Zion.
1. The Land of America a Choice and Promised Land. 2. The Inheritance Rights of the Gentiles in the Land of Zion. 3. The Decrees of God Concerning the Land of Zion. | I Nephi, xiii, also Chap. xiv, Chap. xxii. II Nephi, Chap. i, and Chap. x. III Nephi, xxi. Book of Ether, Chap. ii. "Defense of the Faith and the Saints" Art. Mormon Views of America. |
| II. Meet the Charge of Mormon Disloyalty from Book of Mormon Premises. |
SPECIAL TEXT: "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.—SOLOMON.
NOTES.
1. Extempore Speech: We are again arrived at our exercise which requires extemporaneous speaking—the method enjoined upon us by the word of the Lord. For he says "neither take ye thought before hand what ye shall say"—he adds in the very same paragraph, however—"treasure up in your mind continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion which shall be meted to every man." (Doc. & Cov. Sec. lxxxiv: 85). If this counsel is followed the teaching ministry of the church (as it does) will employ the method of extempore speech. But that method does not mean that materials shall not be gathered from the fields of knowledge, and hived with the studious years, to be used "in the very hour" that one has need to use it. Extempore speech does not mean speech without thought, without knowledge, of the matter to be presented. It may even be said that it requires more thorough knowledge of a subject than the written method or the memorized method of speech. Extemporaneous speech to be successful must be speech from a fullness of knowledge of the subject. And as connected with the teaching of the Gospel must be speech arising out of having "treasured up continually the words of life." The true extemporaneous method of speech is not the lazy man's method, on the contrary it requires that those who follow it, shall have their knowledge of things most carefully digested, and their intellectual powers most carefully trained.
2. St. Augustine's Advice to the Preacher: Comparing the advantages of extempore speech with other forms, Mr. Pittenger, in his work already quoted several times, relates the following of the great Christian teacher of the sixth century: