John 14-16. The Savior's Instructions about the Holy Ghost

What the Holy Ghost does:

        Comforter

        Dwell with and in us

        Teach all things

        Bring all things to our remembrance

        Testify of Christ

        Reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment

        Guide us to truth

        Tell us of things that will happen

        quickens all the intellectual faculties 

        purifies our nature and makes us better people in all ways 

        Instructs and enlightens minds

        Carries out the will of Heavenly Father and Christ

        Cleansing and purifying agent

        Witness of the truth of the gospel  

What we do to receive it:

        Keep the commandments

        Make the right covenants

        Proper and authorized baptism

        Laying on of hands

        Be worthy

After the Savior's death, the apostles were given the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This gift was integral to their successful service of the Lord's mission for them.  It testified to them of the truth of all aspects of the gospel. It cleansed them from their sins when they committed them, and it would have been hard to preach and convert without being clean and worthy.  It comforted them when their tasks were difficult or they had other afflictions.  They received enlightenment and instruction to help they carry out the Lord's purposes.  And it gave them the ability to know and tell of things that would happen.  

One of my major struggles in life is my tendency to doubt my decisions.  I always ruminate over whether or not the decision was right, or if I was wrong and should change my decision.  And, unfortunately, doubt leads to fear and makes it hard to feel confident in any decision, especially if you were right the first time.  A specific incidence of this happening had to do with my most recent major change, to English.  I'd had a growing feeling that a change needed to happen, so I prayed, and that feeling was solidly, irrefutably confirmed to me.  Over time, I prayed more, and came to feel that I needed to change my major specifically to English.  I listened, but of course it wasn't that simple.  This is my first semester majoring in English and it's hard.  I haven't felt inspired in my classes always and I don't feel like I'm that great at what I'm doing.  But recently I've been praying to Heavenly Father to help motivate me and make me feel like I'm doing the right thing to help me get through and even enjoy my schooling.  Since then, I've been able to feel the Holy Ghost testify to me in little ways and at different times that I'm doing the right thing, and inspire me to make the best out of this opportunity.  I've felt inspired to do my schoolwork and do it well, and I've felt inspiration in how I can make writing a really beneficial part of my life.  

Choice 3: Mark 14:3–9; Matthew 26:6–13. The Savior Anointed

1. Review Mark 14:3–9 and Matthew 26:6–13. Then write answers to the following questions:
• What reason is given for why the woman anointed the Savior with “very precious” (costly) ointment? What does Mark 14:8 imply that she understood? (see also Mark 9:31–32).
1. She anointed Him in preparation for his burial.  This implies that she knew he was about to be crucified. 
• Why did some of the disciples feel indignant and call her action a “waste”?
1. Because they didn’t know He was about to be crucified, and they thought the expensive ointment could be sold and the money given to the poor; basically, it was a pointless expense.   
2. The Savior said that the woman had “wrought a good work” and that wherever the gospel would be preached, the woman’s deed would “be spoken of for a memorial of her” (Mark 14:6, 9). What did the woman do that made it an act worthy of the Savior’s praise and our remembrance? How is the woman an example to you? Write a paragraph describing some ways that you could give the Lord something valuable. (see Matthew 25:40).
• I think it’s important to remember just how costly this ointment was.  From what I understand, she could have sold it for about a year’s wages.  If she had kept the money for herself and her family, that would enable her husband to not work for an entire year.  Given that, imagine the amazing things you could have bought with that money!  But she saved the oil for a special purpose instead.  She knew that Christ would be crucified and desired to come and serve him. 
• This makes me think of where I place my priorities.  For example, lately I have been taking myself to task a bit with how much I focus on my schooling.  Truly, that’s important.  But I’ve realized how silly it is to do my homework before my scripture study, among other things.  I think the most important sacrifice I could make is just to properly align my priorities so that Christ comes first in my life, and I think being the center of my life is one of the best gifts Christ could want from me.        

Joseph Smith--Matthew and The Second Coming

This week, I studied Joseph Smith--Matthew to compare and contrast the prophecies of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and those of the Second Coming of Christ.  I listed both events prophesied and promises to the righteous given.  And, like a nerd, I created it in an Excel file, which I just opted to copy in as a photo rather than try to do the proper formatting in Blogger.  So, here is the list.  

That all can seem pretty scary, so I also studied what 1 Nephi 22:16-22 has to say on the matter, as well as Doctrine and Covenants 97: 22&25.  What I learned may give a little hope to those who are worried about the Second Coming.  

Even though the wicked will perish, experiencing vengeance and the wrath of God and all the other scary things that are spoken of (not the least of which is “blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke”), Heavenly Father is doing these things for the sake of the righteous.  He gave us Christ as a prophet to prepare the way for us to escape the downfall of the wicked.  He will preserve us as long as we don’t harden our hearts.   As long as we are being righteous, we won’t be confounded, or destroyed—we will be escape these things and be preserved, and the wicked will be cut off from among us.  

--Katie

Matthew 18:1-14. Becoming as Little Children

In Matthew 18, Christ's disciples come to Him and ask, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" In response, he asks a child over to the group and puts him in the middle of them. He teaches, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

 There are negative ways in which we are sometimes like little children. We can be like little children in the sense that we are comparatively very spiritually immature, in the grand scope of things. None of us fully comprehend Heavenly Father's plans. We aren't able to bear everything we will ultimately need to yet (D&C 78:17-18).

Also, many of us are like little children in that, as Christ said, we haven't necessarily progressed to conversion in the gospel.

Heavenly Father will help us even though we don't understand His plans and are weak and are not yet where we need to be. He promises (D&C 78:17-18) to lead us along and help bring us to the blessings of salvation and eternity that are meant to be ours.

In Mosiah 3:19, King Benjamin lists a number of methods to become as a child in the sense we are commanded to, and qualities therein: we must put off the natural man and listen to and follow the Holy Spirit instead. We put off the natural man through the Atonement, and then we can become as saints, as little children, instead.

He says to become as a child is to be "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

 I love how almost all of these qualities share a certain commonality. They all lead up to the final point. If we are full of charity--love of God and of righteousness, we will submit to God's will meekly, with humility, and patience, as we would submit to a loving father who we also love, and be able to become as little children.

John 6. The Bread of Life

In the beginning of John 6, Christ feeds the 5,000 with only a small amount of bread and fish. Many people were seeking out the Savior at this time, but only because He had satisfied their hunger, not because they had seen him perform miracles.

In response, the Savior taught them about the difference between temporal and eternal food.  The food they seek after to fill their stomachs is temporal; they needed to seek after that which sustains for eternity, which is the gospel.  He taught them that they seek after the gospel--this eternal sustenance--by believing in Christ.  If they partake of the bread and water of Christ they will never thirst or hunger again, and they will have everlasting life.  Christ explains that Heavenly Father sent Him so that we can believe in Him, partake of the bread of life, and never perish.

Today, I seek the Lord because I need Him in my life.  The Atonement is the only thing keeping me from misery, in frank honesty.  I hope I’m not the only that feels that way.  It brings me peace and joy and happiness, and allows me to feel and be clean so I can feel the Spirit and know that I am worthy and feel of Heavenly Father’s love.  I need the Lord so that I can keep my covenants and be justified and sanctified through keeping those covenants.  I need the Lord so that I can be a better person and benefit the people around me.  I seek Him because I know He is there and has invited me to seek Him.  I know it’s what He wants me to do. 

The Savior also spoke about those who seek after another goal that won't sustain and won't last beyond this life: those who seek after riches.  Many people today are obsessed with money and live for "things" rather than living according to Heavenly Father's will. I think in our church, this can often start out innocuous enough; we seek money because we want to be on top of things enough to be more of a benefit to church, or to provide for big, happy families.  Over time though, nicer and nicer things seem necessary, until members' lives are controlled by material things and wanting more and more of them.  

After the Savior gave the bread of life sermon, many of the people turned away and left Him because they didn’t believe. He then asked his disciples, "Will ye also go away?" (John 6:67).  The disciples responded to Him that they wouldn't leave--that they had no where else to go, because He holds the keys to salvation. They were able to respond this way because they knew that He is Christ and has the gospel.  

Nephi gives us another good example of this kind of faith in the end of first Nephi chapter three and the beginning of chapter four, when he and his brothers are trying to obtain the plates from King Laban.  His brothers asked him, “How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?”  Nephi responded, “let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord.” He knew the Lord is stronger than any earthly thing, and thus stronger than Laban and all his forces.  His wording was incredibly powerful: “Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses . . . behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt?”  Nephi doesn’t even bat an eyelash.  He knows what he knows, and there doubt and murmuring will never cause him to doubt. 

John chapter six has taught me a lot about what it means to follow Christ even when it's not convenient.  So often we have to give up things that seem so crucial to us, but that are ultimately ephemeral.  Sometimes they really are important: we all have to eat.  But we still seek the Savior over these things.  It reminds me of Matthew 6:28. "And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin . . ."  I like this scripture so much that I call this the "consider the lilies" principle: Chill out.  The Lord will provide for you.  This reminder helps me get back on center, and helps me not forget what's really important.  Even when it's hard or when other things are competing for your time and attention, those things won't last.  Only the gospel will last, so I choose to follow the Savior and His gospel.

-Katie

Matthew 13:24-48. Parables

I've often thought of a parable as somewhat of an allegory. When a parable is given, a story is told that can either stand for itself, or be interpreted for a wider meaning, to convey a message.  Specifically, parables were used by Christ to teach spiritual principles in a way that people could understand on their level, but also according to their level of spiritual maturity.  Parables were a very important part of the Savior's earthly ministry.

This week I read the parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:31-33), the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46), and the parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50), and decided on the following interpretations:

o The parable of the tares describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

o The parable of the gospel net tells us why the Church send out so many missionaries.

o The parable of the mustard seed and the leaven describes the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier.

o The parable of the tares tells why some Church members choose to leave the Church. 

​o The parable of the treasure and the pearl of great price tells us why some members of the Church are willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church.

---

I have seen some weighty sacrifices made by those around me for the sake of the church and to follow the gospel and its teachings.  Those that have particularly impressed have had to sacrifice family, making decisions that could, at best, create a sore spot, and at worst, estrange them from those they love the most.  Many of us have those situations where we need to give up somewhat worldly things for the sake of righteousness: our favorite inappropriate TV shows, our Sunday mornings where we could be sleeping in, our friends whose negative influence is too strong for us to maintain the friendship.  The last of those can be very painful.  I've had to give up those things and many others.  But I am grateful to be in a family that can enrich my life both in temporal and gospel matters, and make it easier to make those kinds of sacrifices.  My heart goes out to people who can't say the same, but the testimonies that those choices reveal are incredibly inspiring.  

In the parable of the net, I see the net as meaning the missionaries of the church, and all those in the church that preach the gospel.  To be gathered into the net is to be converted to the gospel and become part of the body of saints.  As the scripture states, the separation of the good and bad fish from what was gathered in the net is representative of the judgment.  

Parables are really fun for me.  I love that they are so customizable (turns out, Christ is super smart :D ).  It's really interesting to go back to them over time and think of them differently or find new meaning.  It's a simple way to learn more about the basic truths of the gospel.  

-Katie

Matthew 5:1-2. The Beatitudes

What is blessedness? To be blessed is to achieve a higher degree of happiness--one that abounds in the soul and cannot be ruined by outside sources.

How have I previously, and can I in the future, become this sort of blessed?

By hungering and thirsting after righteousness:

At least for me personally, this beatitude ranks first. All of the others must be preceded by this one. It's been a process for me to desire and seek for righteousness. There have been far too many times I haven't desired that much, if at all. But a little of this hunger goes a long way. I've heard an adage somewhere: if you give the Lord an inch, he'll take you for a mile. Starting with just a fledgling desire to be righteous, Heavenly Father has built and built on that feeling in me. As a result, all aspects of my righteousness have improved. Church attendance, prayers, scripture study, personal conduct, media, etc. etc. I've been so blessed to be able to do better in these things. We are granted blessings according to our desires, so the blessing of hungering and thrusting after righteousness is to grow in righteousness. I believe as long as I can maintain my current desire and build upon it continually, I will always be blessed with a higher capacity to be righteous than I ever would have on my own. As Elder Oaks talked about last conference, our desires dictate our actions. So, the blessings of desiring righteousness, simply put, are attaining righteousness.

By becoming pure in heart:

Becoming pure in heart is a challenge we've been tasked with in many different ways. I think we each have our own weaknesses and consequential trials for not fulfilling these challenges. My personal challenge is an ability to see people for who they really are. An impure heart is full of selfishness, insecurity, pride, and just general uncleanness--all faults that can mar our perceptions of those around us. Starting a new semester, this has been more difficult for me. Meeting so many new people, having so many new responsibilities placed on me, I can become very insecure and hence very petty, so I end up harboring icky attitudes in my heart. When I've been able to keep my heart more pure in the past, there have been stark differences and blessings which followed. When I am pure in heart, I am much more optimistic. I see the good in the people and things around me, and the world is a much sunnier place. When I am pure in heart, I can see outside of myself better, instead of having such a concentration inward and on myself. Most importantly, when I am more pure in heart, I can feel the Spirit in my life. Since having the Spirit is requisite to so many other blessings, this is one beatitude in particular I would like to develop.

By being a peacemaker:

An ability to stay calm when others are riled up is a very, very new one for me. I used to be quite the fighter. As I've worked to overcome that disposition toward contention, and instead develop a disposition toward peace, all of my relationships have become better. I've learned I never, ever "have to be right," so I've become more humble and teachable. By staying out of the fray of disagreement, I've learned to see people more clearly, and be able to have compassion for them and help them rather than malign them. I've come to learn that anger is so often a cover-up, or an outlet for emotions that are more difficult or vulnerable to express. By being a peacemaker, I've been able to learn more about the inner workings of the people around me. Contention puts up huge emotional barriers between people; I've been able to get closer to those I love. Of course, I still get worked up sometimes. But I'm hoping I can grow this attribute further and become a peaceful enough person to increase the blessings I've already gotten from this progress, and especially to bring more good to the lives of those around me, and to help bring them to Christ and the gospel.

___

A lot of these thoughts look, and to some extent are, very self-centered. I certainly don't want to be conceited about my righteousness. I can't take the credit there.

Lately my spiritual eyes are dead-set focused on how the Atonement and the grace of God can bless our lives, cleanse our sins, and change our natures. As I've studied and pondered through this focus, I've realized the amazing changes that have happened to me since I accepted the Atonement in my life. So, this assignment was pretty well-timed to help me ponder the magnitude and just ... awesomeness! Of those blessings I've been given.

I testify that there is no force more powerful than the Atonement of Christ to bring us to the righteous qualities we desire and to help us become the disciple's of Christ we are meant to be. I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.