These notes do not represent all concepts in the lecture series, only a few which stood out to me while I listened to them.

Notes principally taken from his Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price courses. These courses are in audio format and some video format..

Topics: philosophy, repentance, forgiveness, honesty, emotion, faith, war, time, creation, Adam, practicality/conservationism, Satan, we are liable to fall, gifts, prophecy, joy, visions and vocation.

Brigham Young said we need to cease childishness and become philosophers.

Brigham said we would be a happier and a wiser people if we ate less, wore less clothes and worked less.

Fasting is to keep self within bounds, not to exhaust self. We like to eat ’till we burst, but we must fast daily. It is to have an attitude towards God and to not have more than enough, because more than enough is just that, more than enough.

Note: He says elsewhere that having more than we need is a form of theft. Also his point on fasting isn’t to say never go completely without food or water, but that on the daily, we should be focused on self control and avoid excess. End note.

Two things we can do perfectly are repent and forgive.

Christ’s prayers did not focus on obtaining diplomas, etc. They focused on forgiveness for others.

We share particles with each other as we interact and hence change the universe.

Note: And let’s cut down on the non-sense of adoptive parents being so different from biological parents. Whoever raises the child is the parent of the child. The life force of the parent is poured into the child, and that’s not just at conception. Biology changes. Some have even spoken of blood changing at conversion and baptism. The more we learn about science, the more we see that we influence each other in permanent physical ways. And adoption is a recurring theme in Christ’s teachings – ultimately each person choses what to identify with and belong to. End note.

The honest person will say how he feels.

A BYU registrar, John Hayes, knew all the individuals he checked into the university by name. He knew details about their lives. He cared for and had intimate friendships with each. Twenty-five years later, he still remembered their names. God can and does know us all personally, like a parent’s love for each individual child.

Happily ever after is usually at the end of a play, but there is where the play should begin. The world does not know what we will do in the hereafter. We will do things like travel from planet to planet sharing scientific knowledge and will increase in posterity and create forever. God’s work and His glory is to share (Moses 1:39).

When all know God, they have a common friend, and hence are friends.

Note: Like a triangle: if two corners move toward the 3rd, they will at the same time be moving closer together. End note.

Minister means converse, not merely lecture. This is the root word of minister.

Learn Latin and you will learn the rest much better.

During WWI they had bibles in their pockets. During WWII they only had good luck charms, like rabbit’s feet. There was less faith in God.

The three greatest gifts God has given man are life itself, progeny, and time to repent.

Joseph Smith said everything you teach must square with the scriptures.

Note: Some have even made a game of this – whenever someone teachings something or requires it of you, see if it can be found in the scriptures! If it can’t, question that thing. End note.

Brigham said prophecy is not an office. It is a gift. For example, Eliza Snow was one of the people who was most notably blessed with it. We ought not to neglect it.

Science does not explain, it only describes.

Intelligence is problem solving ability.

Moroni broke an oath out of charity for his people to alleviate their suffering.

A true scientist or artist does what he does for love.

In the book of Moroni, the best gifts are listed first, those of intelligence. We need a clear mind in order to do all. Today, we are going brain dead.

What is the filthy gift spoken of in the New Testament and the Book of Moroni? Money.

One translation of “to know” as in “to know God and His Christ whom He sent is life eternal” is “covenant,” hence He says He has only known the House of Israel. He has only covenanted with them.

The Book of Mormon teaches about how the Jaredite, Nephite, and Jewish Nations were destroyed. It speaks of what led to that destruction. This is a very serious message to us in our day.

A messenger may be an emissary, like a case in the New Testament. An Apostle says he can’t argue their points on the law; he must only give the message he was sent to give.

Angels coming represent God and they come at critical times. Their visit is as though God had personally came.

The Book of Genesis, Bereshith is what it’s called in Hebrew. The word translates to premortal council.

Brigham said this earth is patterned exactly after the world God lives on.

When you know of the hereafter, nothing can discourage the righteous.

Nephi said he lived after the manner of happiness, which means they were happy all the time, and so should we be.

The Zohar states, “We, like God, may create and destroy worlds if we qualify.”

Angels keep worlds coordinated under the same law; the Pearl of Great Price teaches this.

Like some generations being destroyed, some worlds’ citizens have not qualified for God’s visits, and were destroyed.

Ancient religion promised followers unlimited worlds.

Democritus said God would make more worlds, seeing as how this one works.

The Pearl of Great Price says that Adam walked into another time system when he left Eden.

The world was created not in time, but with time. Time began existing with this earth.

Kolob is at the center of a group of stars, the center of God’s system.

Adam was a great man. He was the first man on the earth, like how you start a university with great men and hope it stays that way. You don’t start one with stupid men and hope it becomes great. The current status in society is not always the best! Just because we live later than people before us does not mean we are better than they were!

Note: This is also an indictment of evolution theory. God placed his intelligent children Adam and Eve here to start it off – not Neanderthal ‘hominids.’ Unfortunately, Nibley isn’t so clear on this point, and sometimes toys with pre-Adamite ideas. The prophets have repeatedly rejected all notions of pre-Adamites. Further, scientific findings are beginning to reveal that the whole of macro evolution was a hoax, and that God did truly place various species of life on this Earth, mankind being the greatest of these. End note.

Men are not carnal, sensual and devilish until they began to act that way. They are born good.

Note: Since the fall our natures are fallen, but it is easy to recognize that children are both innocent and wonderful. But the fact remains that we must train children in character development – they won’t develop it without training. We also must limit power in government due to man’s fallen nature. End note.

Cain’s offering to the Lord was not acceptable as it was Satan who told him to do it; Cain was acting out of love for Lucifer.

Lucifer asks people to make offerings to the Lord; for example, he told this to Adam and Cain. He wants to be our leader and wanted to save souls, but not in God’s way. Now he seeks our misery.

Note: Many movies these days depict the heroes as using a lack of self-control, lying and manipulation to accomplish their work. Sadly, the idea of the end not justifying the means is now lost. Using a corrupt means for a good end is how good guys turn into bad guys! Involvement with the corrupt leads to darkness. Tolkien’s ring teaches this lesson well – we can’t use bad things to accomplish good goals. End note.

Adam and Eve had many children before Cain and Abel. They went astray. Cain was a great hope for them.

Brigham said it’s the work of the temples that set the bells of hell ringing like nothing else and I want to hear them ring again!

Brigham says how he could weep like a whipped child when he thinks of how far the saints fell short of their possibilities and opportunities.

There is no end to what we can and will receive so long as we don’t reject it.

Shakespeare was right about this world being dross and asleep, but when the gospel in fullness you find, all else is cast aside. It’s not just fine arts where you look at the menu, it’s the feast.

Once he had found the restored gospel, Brigham Young said he felt his bones in him would be consumed lest he preached the gospel, and he left all temporal things so to do. He said he is not bound back by wife and child or anything, but is living for the gospel. He said I want you to wear yourselves out [for the gospel cause].

Five times Brigham Young was driven out entirely. He said. ‘Let ’em burn the temple. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Let go of all and go worship. Things will care for themselves. Nothing has worn to me a gloomy aspect since I got the gospel. Even facing mobs. All works toward the good of the Kingdom.’

Never will you find a sad, true Saint. Joy to each in the needed measure is given. Brigham saw the temple burning and said ‘Good. Three cheers. What the Lord lets go, we do too, with joy. All that matters is the work the Lord has for me to do today.’ This is what Brigham was known to say.

Visions aren’t just minds being opened like a symphony, it’s much more.

Brigham said ‘Let none be known as privileged.’ He said this while giving his grains to the poor.

Those who live as they should constantly see glimpses of eternity.

Brigham said there are no inexhaustible resources, and was an earth conservationist. This is the earth the Saints will receive. Keep it well and love it. When they got to Salt Lake he said don’t pollute it.

Brigham said if we would be nice to all animals, the snake would become tame.

Brigham said when you hate something try to bless it and you’ll be well.

Brigham said the Indians know just as much about the Lord as anyone else.

Brigham said I think myself a coward. There’s more trouble when we think of ourselves as brave; But don’t be sentimental about it.

Brigham said Indians aren’t to be trusted and neither are we. Only trust God.

Brigham said animals will be exalted [in their sphere]. They are armies of the Lord. Let them eat your crops so long as you have enough.

Brigham said if I’m going to build a house or a temple I never count the cost. If the Lord deems it, let it be. He said I never insure my property. My insurance company is in heaven.

Brigham became practical by not being practical.

Lucifer was one of the highest ones in heaven to fall, so don’t think you can’t.

Brigham said there is no life of more importance than this one.

Brigham said the man who honors their Priesthood will be exhausted.

It’s better to live in wagons than to be set on your homes. Be as ready to leave your nice homes as you would a dugout.

Brigham said we aren’t, never have been, nor ever will be in danger. The only thing in this life is to resist evil, an inner thing. Never fear being afflicted. Rather, living not as you ought is what you need to fear. Aside from that there is no problem.

Brigham said worship the Lord even when you think you can’t say one good thing about Him.

Brigham said I am more afraid of covetousness than of all the hordes of hell. God will make the victor of His people.

Brigham said if we love our religion, we will increase faster than they [the covetous] [as a people].

Brigham said the most despicable man on earth is worth worlds.

Brigham said all Satan can do is destroy, so let’s not imitate him. Brigham was known to be a builder.

Brigham said I won’t bring a railing opposition against Satan, for he is fulfilling his calling manfully.

Friend and enemy alike, no soul ever said that Joseph Smith ever did an unkind thing.

When asked how to confront the scandalous words against his character, Brigham said he knew not whether he had any character. He never stopped to ask.

Brigham said when men are oppressed, it’s in their own hearts and feelings.

Brigham said the main problem with people who see ill in others is how they find lack in themselves.

Brigham said the kingdom doesn’t need you. Don’t try to steady the ark unless called upon. It’s a dark spot in yourself when you seek such.

Brigham said the secret of mine is to never worry. I never do. Also, Joseph Smith came to Brigham often and said, “Don’t be in a hurry.” Note: Better to be consistently diligent than sporadic. End note.

Brigham was filled with awe in the presence of his fellow men, even in addressing children.

Brigham said there is no place in the kingdom of God for worldly ambition.

Brigham said never show your political views with the gospel. We want no contention with any man, nor nation.

Brigham said mind your own business, never ask to see how great you are, never seek a leadership calling.

Brigham said I’d rather go to the humblest of homes and speak of the gospel than to go to 50 fancy parties.

Brigham loathed how people wanted him to be governor.

Brigham said thirty years now in the church and we are not ready to see visions of eternity.

Brigham said many of the Saints are glued to material things. They say, ‘This is mine.’ Mankind holds to the earth as if it was their all. God is who gives all sustainment. There will be no power for the Saints until they are prepared to wield it.

Brigham said if the Saints rely on the world, they’ll work wearily to death, and a future generation will forsake what was in store for them.

Brigham said lust after the world has destroyed the greatest nations ever. Often the saints want to get very rich before helping the church instead of helping it now.

Brigham said some saints magnify one scripture and leave others excusing themselves, especially as they acquire land.

Brigham said just like Babylon, some saints trade and traffic with each other, and are like the people in the world who are in a sea of confusion, trying to take advantage of the Gentiles.

If you are a Saint, you know this world is a wicked one. All holy men must be alien to this world.

Temple ordinances are everywhere in the Book of Mormon, if we know where to look for them.

Greek tragedies show what life is like without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith said a righteous man back in the day had a better chance at being righteous than a righteous man of today does.

Note: It’s been said that a good society is one that makes it easy to be good, and a bad society is one that makes it easy to be bad. See Peter Kreeft’s Culture War book. End note.

There’s nothing more important than preserving the gap between what is holy and what is profane. (We need to know what each are).

Before the Lord all things are manifest – past present and future.

Pause

Grass, shrubs, trees in that order appeared on this earth in the creation. Elephants then lions came.

Note: God placed various life forms here, they didn’t evolve from a single common ancestor as atheists and secularists claim! End note.

Adam’s real career didn’t begin until he was married in the covenant.

Earth was not made at the same time as all other creations.

The “New earth” Adam was on was formed long before he got there.

Note: Adam helped create the earth.

Dominion over animals does not equal extermination, but leadership. We must love and be concerned for all of God’s creatures because He cares for them. This is the commandment.

Note: God has provided animals for the use of man, but the responsible use. End note.

The 1st thing Moses taught the children of Israel was the free will offering, which was totally required, to see if they would pass like Abraham, giving the amount they chose.

Humor is intelligent poking at how our society is, etc. It’s not light mindedness. Joseph Smith had a laugh that shook his whole frame.

To receive a new name is to receive a new persona or role or societal role. There may be a name only a parent knows a child by.

Timothy read an ancient thing saying that in the council in Heaven, when Adam was chosen to be in the Presidency of creation, Lucifer would not recognize him and said Adam should worship him, Lucifer, for he was before him. At this point Christ had him kicked out and told the angels to remove his sign of words from off of his right hand and remove his protective armor. The angels were hesitant to do so to one so high in authority. He and his followers had to leave. He was pierced through his shoulders, removing 1/3 of his strength, hence his attacks would always be by stratagem and not by physical personal strength.

Brigham Young said the Law of Consecration is the easiest to understand. So, when the saints ignore it, they do it consciously.

Drink water, never eat candy, candy is for kids.

Joseph Smith used the word, “endow,” (get a gift) and “endew” (put on robe or a calling) interchangeably.

The watchers, angels from God, were sent to help Enoch’s people. But they fell from grace for the daughters of men, and giants were born. They had ordinances and thought to set up false priesthoods as Adam predicted. Their punishments were to be rejected, like Cain, from both heaven and earth.

On revealing unlawful sacred things, one merely gives up his integrity.

The veil is not a wall. It is used to suggest we can pass into and hear from heaven if we wish.

The Shabako text is the oldest of all religious writings. It speaks of the temple, etc.

Joseph Smith said the sectarian religion is the apostate religion. Masonry was priesthood but now is apostate, although much of what they do is perfect.

Joseph Smith said I advise all to go on to perfection and continually seek the mysteries of Godliness. I find new things for my hearers. I always try to find new things for my hearers.

Joseph Smith said never aspire, accuse, contend, or coerce.

Brigham said the only real world is Zion.

May our anxiety be upon our purification. At a casino, a saint is out of place.
Note: No more going there for cheap food! The toxic environment is not worth it! End note.

Nixon wrote that faith without strength is nothing, but really faith is strength. Nixon said the sword is the best defense, but Ammon knew gospel preaching was.

Nibley says what I like most about The Law of Consecration is that there is no economics.

Brigham Young said competitiveness halts us from bettering our minds, which is why we are here.

Abraham never drove a hard bargain.

Having an enemy hinders creativity.

At war time don’t turn to the military, but to God.

When the Earth is a Celestial globe, a sea of glass, will it be boring? No. The Urim and Thummim can cause our surroundings to be a mountain, a beach, whatever we will.

In the Law of Moses a newlywed man was not to join the army for the first year of their marriage, but was to stay home and cheer his wife during that time.

Adam walked with the Lord in the evening in the garden of Eden, and conversed often with angels there. Also, the company of his wife and caring for the land kept him in a splendid state.

Adam’s post-Eden mission in life was 1. Search the scriptures. 2. The work of the kingdom. 3. Till the land.

Note: Adam wrote scripture, and for him, search the scripture likely mean to write scripture. Indeed, on some level, we are all commanded to write important things. To keep our own ‘book of remembrance.’ End note.

Our employer, God, pays for our food, etc., and says take no thought for it; you’re here to learn. Satan wants our employ and wants us to study only how to get bigger and better lunches. “Sufficient for our needs” is nothing to Satan. He wants us to milk our employer or employee for all they are worth. Brigham Young started BYU to get people to not be obsessed with ‘lunch,’, to negate or put down the philosophy that we are here to take advantage of each other and that such is our right. Brigham said there’s plenty of schools who teach what scientists say but don’t dare preach the gospel, and BYU is to not be that way.

Note: Sadly, BYU now preaches (yes preaches, and dogmatically so) that Darwinism is fact, something Brigham was violently opposed to. End note.

The law of Moses forbids not letting oxen eat corn while they plow. Moses cursed people who covered their trees, forbidding the birds their lunch. Passing by beggars was also forbidden.

One reason the ancients lived longer was from eating better food.

Brigham said Joseph was not as good at management and economics, but the wisdom of God is greater than that of men.

Brigham said down with common Mormons, cliche Mormons, I want diversity!

How do you tell if something is of this world? The test is whether you can have it for money. If not, it does not belong to this world.

It is not well to limit what missionaries can read or listen to, to an extent.

Brigham wouldn’t sign a thing saying what his virtues were for he knew them.

Einstein said in his book, “The World As I See It”, that daily he considered 100 times how he depended on the world of others on his outside and inside. They that went before him gave him so much he has to work always to give back and contribute similarly. Yet Einstein was one of the most aloof or reclusive people you would know. And he said he depended totally on his society.

Brigham said that no two worlds are alike, similarly to how he never built two houses to look exactly alike.

When we seek to expand our property, we take one step further from Zion.

Zion isn’t here, it’s in heaven. It’s perfect. When offended, it, like a chaste, virtuous woman, flees.

Brigham said we must not wait for Enoch or angels to bring Zion, but need to build Zion so we are ready (for when Enoch and his city come to us).

Brigham said that those who think ‘how can I get richer or get this or that?’ can’t make it into the Celestial Kingdom and aren’t magnifying their priesthood.

Plato said, “Rhetoric is the art of making false seem true, and true seem false.”

Respectability is a mask of Babylon.

The idoler in Zion not eating means the big whig capitalists should not be able to live better than others. We often interpret it to mean that lazy people don’t deserve bread, but neither do those who sit around in big corporate chairs taking advantage of their constituents.

Note: Often entrepreneurs do work very hard, but yes, surely there are those who think they have found a way out of work. Not so. Life is work. God’s system requires effort from everyone. End note.

To say ‘these are mine for I earned them’ is getting into anti-Christ.

To take more than we need is to take what does not belong to us. (Brigham or Nibley said this).

Legality is an excuse for immorality, people say.

People call institutions “Zion’s bank, Zion’s car sales, etc.” and it’s Babylon in Zion’s name.

The ancient Seric story of the pearl and Baruch writings, etc. show treasure in heaven is a real treasury we can add to by good works. There is a robe there for us etc.

President J. Fielding Smith said Jacob 5 is one of the best and most powerful parts of the Book of Mormon.

The Lord’s people are ever referred to as the poor; this is said some 30 times in the Book of Mormon.

Note: Poverty can be a virtue. Peter Kreeft talks about this well in his Culture War book. End note.

When the Apostles failed to cast out devils in an instance in the New Testament, the Lord lost His patience with them because He knew they could do better than that. The devils in this instance are also referred to as “it.”

Brigham said someone is out to destroy our minds by having us think of what we ought not.

Joseph said learning of eternity makes the most zeal in a person.

Counting the cost to build a tower, Jesus said we all do this. Jesus is saying why can’t we take our eternity more seriously? You count the cost of a tower before you build it lest you fail, then why can’t you do something similar for your spiritual welfare? We are too economical.

Brigham said I don’t like the world at all and don’t like being associated with them of the world.

Devils who have more knowledge than us have power over us, so we need revelation.

We can only think of one thing at a time. Scientists don’t know why. God can think of many things at once.

Leave the devils employ, then what? Simple. Trust God.

Brigham said if Gods liked knowledge for power they would cease to be Gods.

Joseph said to learn Hebrew. We need scripture in the original languages because we can’t get it all by revelation.

Psychologists teach that the mind without knowledge will make things up because the mind craves knowledge like the body does food.

Note: Or we will turn to junk entertainment and trivial things like sports statistics, pop music, gossip, and heap them up. End note.

Mosiah 4:11-12 is the key – always remember your own nothingness and the goodness of God, and you’ll always rejoice! (Me Nothing + Good God = Rejoice!)

At BYU they don’t burn the candlelight for scholarship like at other schools. You’ll see none of that at BYU. You need to shape up BYU, and study longer! You can’t go to bed till 3 am. Perhaps 2 am will suffice for you.

The sermon of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon fits perfectly with what they would do in those days; the king would traditionally get up and teach the people that he was not their real king, that God is, and that they should obey God.

In the ancient world there was always a gathering of the year, where they celebrated the creation, and sang the creation song, which is the song we sang in pre-mortality. They did representations of the creation, acting it out.

The Pearl is an ancient account of a man who is in heaven, and is sent off by his heavenly parents to go to earth to find a pearl. This is not a latter-day saint or Christian story, mind you. This is way before Christ. The man’s mother (in heaven) is the last to bid him goodbye as he goes. He goes and on earth is met by a serpent at a type of hotel. He thinks he will get the best of that serpent, but he should just stay away from the serpent. The serpent tricks him. Angels (messengers) are sent to tell the man that he needs to stay focused and get the pearl so he will not lose his inheritance. He finds the pearl and returns to heaven where his heavenly parents greet him and he gets the family robe and ring, showing family membership and inheritance.

He reads the newspaper regularly, most every day.

He has a Dr. degree in world history, though he started out in sociology.

How to write an anti-Mormon book: adapted from a speech on that: To write an anti-Mormon book, all you have to do is say things like “the Mormons do so many horrible things, oh do they ever. I can’t even begin to mention how many!” Then change the subject.

To write an anti-Mormon book, some take the approach of “I’ve lived among them in the more Mormon populated areas, and so let me tell you the insiders story of what those Mormons are really like, the which those of you who don’t live in highly populated Mormon places could not possibly know!” Others take the approach “I’ve lived on the outskirts of the Mormons, not where the majority of them live, let me tell you the secrets of how they REALLY behave, the which you couldn’t possibly know living in the places where they are more populous!”

To write an anti- Mormon book, you put in your fair share of blatant lies about how we behave. Take things out of context and blow them up to extreme and ever more unrealistic proportions.

The Hopi Indians are a good example of how a people can refuse to take up arms and yet survive longer than other peoples. They are wonderful people. Among the Hopi, if one has corn, they all have corn. They share with each other.

To the Hopi, there are 2 types of people: White men, and Mormons. Mormons they view as being a mix of the white man and Hopi.

The Hopi celebrate with a massive party every weekend, this is good.

The Hopi have been offered their children to go off to live in a nice home with all you could ever want, but that to them is Babylon; all that is being offered them is money. They would rather carry out their lives and teach their children in their own homes.

Note: We too can keep our children at home for their education! End note.