What can we learn?

Today, I am going to teach Sunday School about the lost 116 pages of The Book of Mormon. What can we learn from the story of the lost 116 page? While in Harmony, Pennsylvania; Joseph Smith translated the first 116 pages of The Book of Mormon with Martin Harris as his scribe. When they finished this portion of translation, Martin asked Joseph if he could take the manuscript to show his wife. Joseph asked the Lord if Martin could take the manuscript--a firm no! Time passed, and Martin who didn't have a very supportive wife kept asking Joseph if he could take the manuscript. Finally, Joseph asked the Lord again, and this time the answer was a very cautious, but be careful yes. Martin returned home with the promise that he would only show five members of his family. However, Martin began to show anyone the manuscript that walked through his door. Meanwhile, Joseph remained in Harmony where his wife gave birth to their first child Alvin, who died the same day. Emma was very sick and nearly died, Joseph nursed her for two weeks. As soon as Emma's health permitted he returned to Palmyra to retrieve the manuscript and return to translation. But Martin had broken his promise, and the manuscript was lost. Joseph cried out in inconsolable grief, "Oh, my God!…All is lost! all is lost! What shall I do? I have sinned—it is I who tempted the wrath of God". The gift of translation was taken away until September 22 of that year, when he started work on the translation of The Book of Mormon. Using Emma as a scribe, he began translating where he had stopped. In the spring of 1829, Oliver Cowdery came and Joseph quickly went to work translating the book.

1. We should accept the Lord's answers to our prayers.
2. We should fear God rather than man.
3. When we are faithful, the Lord will extend his arm of mercy to us.
4. The Lord knows that we will make mistakes, and in his infinite wisdom provides a Savior so we can repent and return to him.
5. In addition, the Lord knew that the pages would be lost, and he provided another record of the people to teach the gospel of Christ.
   
6. "The Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words." 1 Nephi 9:6
   
7. (This is for me!) We don't need to know why we should follow the spirit, we should just follow the spirit. Nephi said that he made two sets of plates for a wise purpose, which purpose he knew not. Mormon added the plates for a wise purpose, even though he didn't know all things, he trusted that the Lord knoweth all things.
   
8. God's work will go forth even though Satan tries to destroy it.
9. Like Joseph, we don't understand the gifts that God gave to us.
10. All gifts come from God, and we must remain humble to attain and keep those gifts.