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Drawing Near: How We Come to Know Christ

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Spiritual Epistemology in President Eyring’s “Draw Near unto Me”

Have you ever wondered how you can really know the Savior—not just believe in Him, but know Him?

In his deeply personal testimony Draw Near unto Me, President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency invites us to consider the many ways we come to know Jesus Christ—not just through grand revelations, but through small, faithful acts: prayer, covenant, scripture, service, and spiritual memory. [Read more…] about Drawing Near: How We Come to Know Christ

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 76 – Mike Parker

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The Vision of the three degrees of glory (D&C section 76)

by Mike Parker

(Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don’t conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best.)

Class Notes [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 76 – Mike Parker

Doctrine & Covenants 76; the Vision of the Degrees of Glory

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Compiled by Dennis B. Horne

Elder Harold B. Lee told a close friend (who decades later told me) that, “Twenty years ago, the most electrifying and most interesting man in the Quorum of the Twelve was Melvin J. Ballard. People used to travel miles just to go and hear him at a stake conference. People just flocked to hear him. Hardly anyone knows who he is now.” Elder Lee told the Ballard family that of all the men he knew, he most wanted to be like Elder Melvin J. Ballard.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve (Pres. M. Russell Ballard’s grandfather):

Excerpts from his famous address, “The Three Degrees of Glory”:

The greatest revelation the Lord, Jesus Christ, has ever given to man, so far as a record is made, was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on the 16th of April, 1832, known as the 76th section of the book of Doctrine & Covenants, commonly called for years and still known as “The Vision.” This to my mind is the climax of all wonderful revelations that have come from the Lord from the days of Father Adam until the present moment. . . .

Your minds and hearts are set upon knowing what you must do to obtain the greatest thing the Lord has offered. I want to talk about that more than anything else because I do not discover many of you who would be satisfied with second-hand things, and you are not contented or happy by having second best or third best. So we will begin by reading a description of the terms and conditions that we must comply with to obtain the celestial glory. I think it will be worth every sacrifice required and a hundred times more if need be. Personally, I would give it to attain that which God has offered to men and women who enter into the celestial glory.

CONTINUED HERE

 

 

Dennis B. Horne grew up in south Davis County and he served in the Independence Missouri mission. He attended BYU and Weber State Universities, earning a degree in Communications. After working in television broadcasting for a number of years he became a technical writer for the LDS Church Material Management Department. He became an independent researcher/author because of his love of church history and doctrine. This pursuit led him to write a biography of Elder Bruce R. McConkie, an edited publication of the diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, and biographies of President Lorenzo Snow and Orson F. Whitney. He also wrote about callings to serve in the church, the doctrine of giving healing blessings, and a compilation of the teachings of prophets and apostles about how to determine doctrinal authority. He has twice presented at the BYU Church History Symposium. His articles occasionally appear at Truth Will Prevail, Interpreter, and FAIR.

Classic FAIR – Ancient Names in the Book of Abraham – John Tvedtnes, 2005

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“Authentic Ancient Names and Words in the Book of Abraham and Related Kirtland Egyptian Papers” by John Tvedtnes at the 2005 FAIR Conference

Over the last century a number of scholars have looked at names and other transliterated words in the Book of Abraham and in the Kirtland Egyptian Papers in an attempt to determine their authenticity. In some cases it can be demonstrated that the name is actually attested in Ancient Near Eastern documents. For unattested names it is sometimes possible to postulate an etymology based on known words in Egyptian and other ancient languages in use in the time of Abraham.

While I can claim credit for some of the work contained in my presentation today, it is appropriate to acknowledge that I’ve drawn upon research by various others such as Hugh Nibley, A. Richards Durham, Robert F. Smith, John Gee and John M. Lundquist. Indeed one of the most thorough researchers of the Book of Abraham onomasticon is Robert F. Smith most of whose contribution is embodied in a series of unpublished manuscripts that he shared with me during the 1960s and ‘70s. I’ve mentioned some of his research in previous publications. I must acknowledge however that I’ve added my own contributions and I’m the only one who can really be faulted for any mistakes here.

One of the primary sources of the names used in this study is of course the Book of Abraham as published in our Pearl of Great Price. These names have been carefully compared with the forms as found in the four extant handwritten manuscripts of the Book of Abraham, one of which you see on the left here, that’s held in the LDS Church Archives.

CONTINUED HERE

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 77–80 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

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Equal in Earthly Things

by Autumn Dickson

In Doctrine and Covenants 78, the Lord is establishing a practical system to help the Saints live the Law of Consecration. Here is some of what the Lord said regarding the Law of Consecration. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 77–80 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

Confidence in the Presence of God

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Becoming Holy Through Charity and Virtue

Have you ever felt that eternal life is meant for people holier than you—people more spiritual, more disciplined, more sure of themselves in God’s presence?

In his final remarks at the April 2025 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson offers a bold and empowering invitation: We can prepare for celestial glory now—by becoming the kind of person who feels confident standing in the presence of God. [Read more…] about Confidence in the Presence of God

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 76 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

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Hear Him

by Autumn Dickson

In Section 76, we receive an immense amount of information that had been lost over time. If you grew up with the Plan of Salvation, it may not feel that way but this was all very new. Though it was hard for some Saints to accept it at the time, we rejoice in this doctrine that the Lord restored. I am so grateful to know it. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 76 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 76 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

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A Glorious God

by Autumn Dickson

For those of us who grew up with the concept of the Plan of Salvation and its many kingdoms, the vision recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76 is nothing new. Because of our familiarity with it, I think it can be easy to miss the majesty and goodness that is God. One of the things I love about the doctrine we received in this section is that it upholds the idea that God is good and perfect and just. As Latter-day Saints, we don’t just claim that God is a perfect judge. He actually is a Perfect Judge. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 76 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

FAIR Really Needs Your Help

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FAIR began as an organization in 1997. Until fairly recently, we’ve been an all-volunteer organization. That is no longer sustainable in keeping up with the attacks against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and so we have gradually been hiring a small staff. However, we have been operating mostly on small donations and the proceeds from our annual conference and bookstore, and it just is not enough anymore. We need additional donations in order to continue operating at the level we’re currently at, but we’d really like to be able to do much more.

Please consider making a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference. And if you’re in a position to give a more substantial gift, it would be a tremendous blessing to this work and to those we serve.

Help us reach more people, with more answers, and more timely responses. Make your donation here today.

Sincerely,

Trevor Holyoak
FAIR Vice President

 

Trevor Holyoak is the Vice President of FAIR. He joined FAIR in 1997 and received the John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award in 2014. He graduated magna cum laude from Weber State University with a BS in computer science and now works as a programmer and systems administrator. He is currently serving as a young mens advisor in his ward and is also involved in the leadership of the Utah Valley Amateur Radio Club. He and his wife have five children and live in Cedar Hills, Utah.

 

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 71–75 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

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Purpose Drives Revelation

by Autumn Dickson

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon paused work on the translation of the bible and were called to go and preach the gospel in order to dispel some of the hatred and persecution being heaped up against the church. After a conference held with the elders, Joseph and Sidney were called once again to work on the translation of the bible. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 71–75 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson