Assess Your Learning 9

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tree stump with tree rings

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

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President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

It’s remarkable how much we can learn about life by studying nature. For example, scientists can look at the rings of trees and make educated guesses about climate and growing conditions hundreds and even thousands of years ago. One of the things we learn from studying the growth of trees is that during seasons when conditions are ideal, trees grow at a normal rate. However, during seasons when growing conditions are not ideal, trees slow down their growth and devote their energy to the basic elements necessary for survival. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Of Things That Matter Most,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 19)

Like trees, we have periods of growth and times when we may feel like we are just trying to survive. Each of us experiences growth in different ways and at different rates. Think about times in your life when you may have experienced spiritual growth.

• What were some of the conditions that helped you grow spiritually? What kind of growth did you experience?

• What are some ways we can periodically evaluate our spiritual growth?

In this lesson, you will have the opportunity to explain some of what you learned and evaluate goals you may have set while studying Mormon 7–Ether 15.

Imagine you are a missionary who is explaining the importance of the Book of Mormon in the Restoration of the gospel. You are about to give a copy of the Book of Mormon to someone to read.

Prepare what you would say using one or more scripture passages in Mormon 8. You could also use the title page of the Book of Mormon. Look for opportunities to explain how the Book of Mormon helps us believe in Jesus Christ.

You could refer to passages you may have marked in Mormon 8 and notes you have made in your study journal. If you need help, you could review Mormon 8:14–16, 25–26, 34–35. You might also use other passages you have found in the Book of Mormon during your study this year.

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icon, record

1. Write what you would say if you were explaining the Book of Mormon’s role in the Restoration of the gospel using Mormon 8 and the title page of the Book of Mormon.

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bread

• What are some ingredients in a loaf of bread?

• Besides combining the ingredients, what else do you need to do to make bread?

The ingredients in a loaf of bread could include flour, yeast, salt, and water. You also may need time for the bread to rise, and you need to bake it.

Baking bread can be compared to exercising faith in Jesus Christ. The results, witness, or miracle you seek is like the finished loaf of bread. Your efforts to exercise faith in Jesus Christ can be compared to the ingredients, rising time, and baking of the bread. In recent lessons, you studied accounts of individuals who exercised faith in Jesus Christ (see Ether 3:1–16; 12:6–22). You also studied the words of prophets inviting you to exercise faith in the Lord and to seek miracles (see Mormon 9:15–27; Ether 12:6–9).

Read Mormon 9:19–21; Ether 3:9; 12:6–9 to help you remember what you studied about faith in Jesus Christ and plans you may have made.