SETUP
Mosiah 27:31
Video
Sound
Pictures
INTRODUCTION
Read Mosiah 27:31 (read first part through “confess that he is God”).
At Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, everyone will recognize him as the Savior.
This was not true at his first coming. The Jews had studied prophecies about the Savior’s coming for centuries, but many of those who heard Jesus failed to recognize him as the Savior. Because Jesus did not free the Jews from Roman control, as they expected the Messiah to do, many of them rejected him and his message.
Luke Chapter 4
Background
Jesus was invited to read a passage of scripture and comment on it during the service in the synagogue in Nazareth
Setting
Quote 1 - Elder James E. Talmage described the setting. On this occasion, The minister in charge handed the Savior the book of Isaiah. The Savior turned to the part known to us as the beginning of the sixty-first chapter, and read: [Luke 4:18–19]. … The scripture He had quoted was one recognized by all classes as specifically referring to the Messiah, for whose coming the nation waited”
Note
In Jesus' era, it was customary to stand while reading but to sit while teaching.
Read Isaiah 61:1–2 These verses provide a summary of Jesus' earthly mission and atoning sacrifice. The verses referred to a person who was “anointed”—a term the Jews recognized as meaning “the Messiah.”
Video - Jesus declares he is the Messiah (covers Luke 4:15-30)
The people of Nazareth “wondered” at Jesus Christ’s declaration of Himself as the Messiah and questioned, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
Quote 2 - Elder James E. Talmage explained that the Savior anticipated the people’s response to His message and rebuked their unspoken wish to see proof of His Messiahship: “In their hearts the people were eager for a sign, a wonder, a miracle. They knew that Jesus had wrought such in Cana, and a boy in Capernaum had been healed by His word; at Jerusalem too He had astonished the people with mighty works. Were they, His townsmen, to be slighted? Why would He not treat them to some entertaining exhibition of His powers? He continued His address, reminding them that in the days of Elijah, when for three years and a half no rain had fallen, and famine had reigned, the prophet had been sent to but one of the many widows, and she a woman of Sarepta in Sidon, a Gentile, not a daughter of Israel. And again, though there had been many lepers in Israel in the days of Elisha, [only] one leper, and he a Syrian, not an Israelite, had been cleansed through the prophet’s ministration, for Naaman alone had manifested the requisite faith. Then great was their wrath. Did He dare to class them with Gentiles and lepers? Were they to be likened unto despised unbelievers, and that too by the son of the village carpenter, who had grown from childhood in their community? Victims of diabolical rage, they seized the Lord and took Him to the brow of the hill on the slopes of which the town was built, determined to avenge their wounded feelings by hurling Him from the rocky cliffs”
Read John 1:11 - Jesus Christ “came unto his own, and his own received him not”
This ties back to the introduction when talking about how the first coming was different than what the second coming will be
*** Why do you think some people today have difficulty accepting Jesus Christ?
Luke Chapter 5
Luke 5: 1–9. - Launch Out into the Deep
At the time of his call to be a disciple, Simon Peter was working as a successful fisherman who, with his partners, owned at least two ships. Yet Peter was willing to forsake everything to follow Jesus Christ. The account of Simon Peter forsaking a spectacular catch of fish to follow the Savior is found only in Luke, though a similar event that occurred after the Resurrection is recorded in John 21:2–6.
Quote 3 - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained the significance of this event in Peter’s life: “Peter was, in President [Spencer W.] Kimball’s words, ‘a diamond in the rough—a diamond that would need to be cut, trimmed, and polished by correction, chastisement, and trials—but nevertheless a diamond of real quality. The Savior knew this apostle could be trusted to receive the keys of the kingdom’. Time was short. Much had to be done in a matter of months. Jesus prepared Peter as quickly as possible for the call that was to come. ‘Launch out into the deep,’ he counseled this fisherman one morning in Galilee, ‘and let down your nets for a draught.’ After an unsuccessful night of effort, Peter’s expert judgment told him a final effort was useless. But this was a man of genuinely childlike faith, and he lowered the net. The number of fish taken in that single attempt strained the strings until they began to break and filled two boats until they began to sink. In that small ship Peter kneeled, stunned, at the feet of the Master. Jesus said lovingly, ‘Henceforth thou shalt catch men.’ “Launch out into the deep! Peter could not have known the ever-widening circles that single command would make in the stream of his plain and simple life. He was launching out into the expanse of godliness, into the eternal possibilities of redeemed and celestial life. He would be learning the mysteries of the kingdom. He would be hearing unspeakable things. To launch out into that limitless sea of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Peter brought his craft to shore, turned his back on the most spectacular single catch ever taken from Galilee, ‘forsook all, and followed him.’
Jesus called Peter, James, and John to be his disciples. Later he would call them to be Apostles.
What is the difference between a disciple and an Apostle?
Explain that a disciple is any follower of Jesus Christ. An Apostle is a disciple who has been called to be a special witness of Christ (D&C 107:23). The word Apostle means “one [who is] sent forth.” The members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are sent forth to testify to the world that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of mankind.
Quote 4 - President James E. Faust said “What is discipleship? It is primarily obedience to the Savior. Discipleship includes many things. It is chastity. It is tithing. It is family home evening. It is keeping all the commandments. It is forsaking anything that is not good for us. …
“… Discipleship [requires] us to forsake evil transgression and enjoy what President Spencer W. Kimball has called ‘the miracle of forgiveness’, This can come only through repentance, which means that we forsake sin and resolve each day to be followers of truth and righteousness. As Jesus taught, ‘What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am’
*** How has your life been affected because of your decision to follow Jesus Christ?
Read Mark 1:17
How did the miracle with the fishing nets foreshadow the experiences that Peter, James, and John would have as “fishers of men”?
Luke 5:5: “At thy word I will let down the net.” (They would work where Jesus directed them.)
Luke 5:6: “They inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” (They would find many people who would accept the gospel.)
Luke 5:7: “They beckoned unto their partners … that they should come and help them.” (They would call others to assist in the work.)
Luke Chapter 6 - Jesus calls his 12 apostles
Matthew Chapter 10
Matthew 10 records the calling of the Twelve Apostles and the Lord’s instructions to them.
Quote 5 - After declaring that latter-day Apostles are “men who have a witness of [the Lord’s] divinity, and whose voices have been and will be raised in testimony of his reality,” President Gordon B. Hinckley further described the work of the Apostles: “Their one chief concern must be the advancement of the work of God on the earth. They must be concerned with the welfare of our Father’s children, both those within the Church and those out of the Church. They must do all that they can to give comfort to those who mourn, to give strength to those who are weak, to give encouragement to those who falter, to befriend the friendless, to nurture the destitute, to bless the sick, to bear witness, not out of belief but out of a certain knowledge of the Son of God, their Friend and Master, whose servants they are”
Read v.9–10 - Without Purse or Scrip
In the Savior’s time, a purse carried money, while a scrip was a larger bag used to carry food and other supplies. The Savior instructed His Apostles that they were not to worry about food, clothing, lodging, or other temporal needs; they were to rely on the Lord and the mercies of others for their sustenance. This was in harmony with the hospitality and social customs of the day. Later, in Luke 22:35–36, Jesus revoked this command to rely on the hospitality of the people, perhaps because the Apostles would soon carry the gospel to Gentile nations that did not have the same standards of hospitality and because they would face opposition from the Jews as they went out into the world .
What blessings are promised to those who follow the Apostles?
Read Matthew 10:40-42
To receive a prophet “in the name of a prophet” means to accept him as a prophet and to recognize his words as coming from the Lord (see D&C 1:38).
Quote 6 - Elder M. Russell Ballard shared an example of a young woman who showed by her actions that she received President Gordon B. Hinckley as a prophet. Elder Ballard referred to counsel that President Hinckley had given to youth of the Church concerning their physical appearance, including admonishing young women to wear only one pair of earrings. “I know a 17-year-old who, just prior to the prophet’s talk, had pierced her ears a second time. She came home from the fireside, took off the second set of earrings, and simply said to her parents, ‘If President Hinckley says we should only wear one set of earrings, that’s good enough for me.’ “Wearing two pair of earrings may or may not have eternal consequences for this young woman, but her willingness to obey the prophet will. And if she will obey him now, on something relatively simple, how much easier it will be to follow him when greater issues are at stake”
Read Matthew 10:39
President
James E. Faust taught that losing
our lives means overcoming selfishness and committing ourselves to the
service of others: “For each of us unselfishness can mean being the
right person at the right time in the right place to render service.
Almost every day brings opportunities to perform unselfish acts for
others. Such acts are unlimited and can be as simple as a kind word, a
helping hand, or a gracious smile. The Savior reminds us, ‘He that
findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake
shall find it’ [Matthew 10:39]. One of life’s paradoxes is that a person
who approaches everything with a what’s-in-it-for-me attitude may
acquire money, property, and land, but in the end will lose the
fulfillment and the happiness that a person enjoys who shares his
talents and gifts generously with others. The greatest fulfillment in
life comes by rendering service to others, and not being obsessed with
‘what’s in it for me’"
May we become disciples of Christ by following him and losing our life in his work and in sustaining the apostles and committing ourselves to the direction in which they give.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
Matthew 3-4, John 1 - Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
SETUP
Computer / Monitor
Confessing aids ________. (forsaking)
If we entertain ________, soon they begin ________ us. (temptations, entertaining)
Matthew 3:1–12. John the Baptist preaches repentance and baptizes, preparing the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3:13–17. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.
Matthew 4:1–11. Jesus withstands Satan’s temptations in the wilderness.
John 1:35–51. Some of John the Baptist’s disciples decide to follow Jesus.
Matthew 3:1–12
What was John the Baptist's mission?
Prepare the way of the Lord
How did John prepare the way of the Lord?
Preached repentance and baptized people
v.6 - John teaches them about confessing sins is an important part of repenting and preparing to receive Jesus Christ.
Quote 1 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught about the essential role of confession in repentance: “True repentance also includes confession: ‘Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers.’ (Ezra 10:11.) One with a broken heart will not hold back. As confession lets the sickening sin empty out, then the Spirit which withdrew returns to renew. “All sins are to be confessed to the Lord, some to a Church official, some to others, and some to all of these. A few may require public confession. Confessing aids forsaking”
v.9 - God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham
The Jews believed that they were the only people who could provide righteous children for Abraham and that only Abraham’s literal descendants could be saved. But John rebuked their pride and unrighteousness by saying that God could raise up descendants of Abraham from stones.
Quote 2 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave the following explanation of this statement: “Our Lord’s forerunner is teaching the principle of adoption: that Abraham is ‘the father of all them that believe’ both Jew and Gentile; that through belief in Christ all men become ‘Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise’ that all who believe the gospel shall be accounted as Abraham’s seed and rise up and bless him ‘as their father.’
v.11 - John only had the Aaronic Priesthood
v.12 - Whose Fan Is in His Hand
The “fan” referred to in v.12 is a winnowing fan that was used to toss wheat into the air. This allowed the wheat to be separated from the chaff. Wheat kernels would fall back to the ground while the wind blew the lighter chaff away. The wheat was then gathered into a garner, or storehouse, and the chaff was burned with fire. John the Baptist taught that the Savior, who would come after him, would separate believers from nonbelievers in the same way that wheat was separated from chaff.
Matthew 3:13–17
v.13 - Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus?
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
see also 2 Nephi 31:6–12
VIDEO - Baptism of Jesus
How did Jesus Christ’s Baptism Teach about the Godhead?
At the baptism of Jesus Christ, all three members of the Godhead were separately manifest: Jesus was in the water, the voice of Heavenly Father was heard from heaven, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Savior like a dove.
Did the Holy Ghost Appear as a Dove?
Quote 3 - The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that the Holy Ghost did not appear as a dove after the baptism of Jesus Christ. Rather, the descending dove signified that the Holy Ghost was present on that occasion: “The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.
Matthew 4:1–11
Quote 4 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie added these insights into why Jesus went into the wilderness: “Jesus did not go into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil; righteous men do not seek out temptation. He went ‘to be with God.’ Probably he was visited by the Father; without question he received transcendent spiritual manifestations. The temptations came after he ‘had communed with God,’ ‘after forty days’
Satan tempts when we are vulnerable.
When God has revealed Himself to a mortal, as recorded in the scriptures, Satan has often also revealed himself, seeking to diminish God’s influence. At the beginning of His ministry, the Savior went into the wilderness “to be with God”. While He was there, Satan came to tempt Him at a time when He was weakened by hunger.
Quote 5 - President Howard W. Hunter explained that Satan’s temptations are often strongest when we are vulnerable: “When Jesus had completed the fast of forty days and had communed with God, he was, in this hungry and physically weakened state, left to be tempted of the devil. … Such a time is always the tempter’s moment—when we are emotionally or physically spent, when we are weary, vulnerable, and least prepared to resist the insidious suggestions he makes. This was an hour of danger—the kind of moment in which many men fall and succumb to the subtle allurement of the devil”
Jesus Christ Gave No Heed to Satan’s Temptations
Quote 6 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell said of the Savior’s example in resisting temptation: “By emulating the Master, who endured temptations but ‘gave no heed unto them’, we, too, can live in a world filled with temptations ‘such as are common to man’. Of course Jesus noticed the tremendous temptations that came to Him, but He did not process and reprocess them. Instead, he rejected them promptly. If we entertain temptations, soon they begin entertaining us!”.
Quote 7 - President Spencer W. Kimball taught that showing interest in sin can make us more vulnerable to being tempted: “It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the devil to enter a door that is closed. He seems to have no keys for locked doors. But if a door is slightly ajar, he gets his toe in, and soon this is followed by his foot, then by his leg and his body and his head, and finally he is in all the way”.
Scripture Study and Obedience Help Us Overcome Temptation
The Savior’s response to each of Satan’s temptations included the phrase, “It is written”. Christ’s knowledge of the scriptures was part of what had prepared and strengthened Him to turn aside from temptation. The Savior later taught, “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived”.
John 1:35–51
v.46. “Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazareth?”
Nazareth was a small village of approximately 200 to 400 residents, situated 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee and 20 miles east of the Mediterranean Sea. Archaeological remains indicate that no paved roads existed in the village, nor did any significant social, political, or economic activity occur there. While Nazareth was commonly thought of as insignificant by many people during the Savior’s lifetime, it became known later in New Testament times as the hometown of the Redeemer of mankind. Nathanael’s question about whether any good thing could come from Nazareth reflected the thinking of many others.
Quote 8 - President Thomas S. Monson posed an answer to Nathanael’s question:
“From Nazareth came he who made blind men to see, lame beggars to walk—even the dead to live. He set before us an example to emulate. He lived the perfect life. He taught the glad tidings that changed the world. …
“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
“From Nazareth came example.
“From Nazareth came sight.
“From Nazareth came strength.
“From Nazareth came life.
“From Nazareth came faith.
“From Nazareth came peace.
“From Nazareth came courage.
“From Nazareth came Christ”.
v.47. Without Guile
Quote 9 - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to be without guile: “To be without guile is to be free of deceit, cunning, hypocrisy, and dishonesty in thought or action. To beguile is to deceive or lead astray, as Lucifer beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden. A person without guile is a person of innocence, honest intent, and pure motives, whose life reflects the simple practice of conforming his daily actions to principles of integrity. To be without guile is to be pure in heart—an essential virtue of those who would be counted among true followers of Christ. If we are without guile, we are honest, true, and righteous. All of these are attributes of Deity and are required of the Saints. Those who are honest are fair and truthful in their speech, straightforward in their dealings, free of deceit, and above stealing, misrepresentation, or any other fraudulent action. I believe the necessity for the members of the Church to be without guile may be more urgent now than at other times because many in the world apparently do not understand the importance of this virtue”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles discussed what we can learn about being disciples from the experiences Jesus’s disciples had as He called them to follow Him:
VIDEO - Come Follow Me
CLOSING
The invitation to “come and see” the Savior is extended to each of us. We can accept that invitation by repenting, being baptized, keeping our baptismal covenants, and withstanding temptation.
Computer / Monitor
Confessing aids ________. (forsaking)
If we entertain ________, soon they begin ________ us. (temptations, entertaining)
Matthew 3:1–12. John the Baptist preaches repentance and baptizes, preparing the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3:13–17. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.
Matthew 4:1–11. Jesus withstands Satan’s temptations in the wilderness.
John 1:35–51. Some of John the Baptist’s disciples decide to follow Jesus.
Matthew 3:1–12
What was John the Baptist's mission?
Prepare the way of the Lord
How did John prepare the way of the Lord?
Preached repentance and baptized people
v.6 - John teaches them about confessing sins is an important part of repenting and preparing to receive Jesus Christ.
Quote 1 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught about the essential role of confession in repentance: “True repentance also includes confession: ‘Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers.’ (Ezra 10:11.) One with a broken heart will not hold back. As confession lets the sickening sin empty out, then the Spirit which withdrew returns to renew. “All sins are to be confessed to the Lord, some to a Church official, some to others, and some to all of these. A few may require public confession. Confessing aids forsaking”
v.9 - God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham
The Jews believed that they were the only people who could provide righteous children for Abraham and that only Abraham’s literal descendants could be saved. But John rebuked their pride and unrighteousness by saying that God could raise up descendants of Abraham from stones.
Quote 2 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave the following explanation of this statement: “Our Lord’s forerunner is teaching the principle of adoption: that Abraham is ‘the father of all them that believe’ both Jew and Gentile; that through belief in Christ all men become ‘Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise’ that all who believe the gospel shall be accounted as Abraham’s seed and rise up and bless him ‘as their father.’
v.11 - John only had the Aaronic Priesthood
v.12 - Whose Fan Is in His Hand
The “fan” referred to in v.12 is a winnowing fan that was used to toss wheat into the air. This allowed the wheat to be separated from the chaff. Wheat kernels would fall back to the ground while the wind blew the lighter chaff away. The wheat was then gathered into a garner, or storehouse, and the chaff was burned with fire. John the Baptist taught that the Savior, who would come after him, would separate believers from nonbelievers in the same way that wheat was separated from chaff.
Matthew 3:13–17
v.13 - Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus?
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
see also 2 Nephi 31:6–12
VIDEO - Baptism of Jesus
How did Jesus Christ’s Baptism Teach about the Godhead?
At the baptism of Jesus Christ, all three members of the Godhead were separately manifest: Jesus was in the water, the voice of Heavenly Father was heard from heaven, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Savior like a dove.
Did the Holy Ghost Appear as a Dove?
Quote 3 - The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that the Holy Ghost did not appear as a dove after the baptism of Jesus Christ. Rather, the descending dove signified that the Holy Ghost was present on that occasion: “The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.
Matthew 4:1–11
Quote 4 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie added these insights into why Jesus went into the wilderness: “Jesus did not go into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil; righteous men do not seek out temptation. He went ‘to be with God.’ Probably he was visited by the Father; without question he received transcendent spiritual manifestations. The temptations came after he ‘had communed with God,’ ‘after forty days’
Satan tempts when we are vulnerable.
When God has revealed Himself to a mortal, as recorded in the scriptures, Satan has often also revealed himself, seeking to diminish God’s influence. At the beginning of His ministry, the Savior went into the wilderness “to be with God”. While He was there, Satan came to tempt Him at a time when He was weakened by hunger.
Quote 5 - President Howard W. Hunter explained that Satan’s temptations are often strongest when we are vulnerable: “When Jesus had completed the fast of forty days and had communed with God, he was, in this hungry and physically weakened state, left to be tempted of the devil. … Such a time is always the tempter’s moment—when we are emotionally or physically spent, when we are weary, vulnerable, and least prepared to resist the insidious suggestions he makes. This was an hour of danger—the kind of moment in which many men fall and succumb to the subtle allurement of the devil”
Jesus Christ Gave No Heed to Satan’s Temptations
Quote 6 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell said of the Savior’s example in resisting temptation: “By emulating the Master, who endured temptations but ‘gave no heed unto them’, we, too, can live in a world filled with temptations ‘such as are common to man’. Of course Jesus noticed the tremendous temptations that came to Him, but He did not process and reprocess them. Instead, he rejected them promptly. If we entertain temptations, soon they begin entertaining us!”.
Quote 7 - President Spencer W. Kimball taught that showing interest in sin can make us more vulnerable to being tempted: “It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the devil to enter a door that is closed. He seems to have no keys for locked doors. But if a door is slightly ajar, he gets his toe in, and soon this is followed by his foot, then by his leg and his body and his head, and finally he is in all the way”.
Scripture Study and Obedience Help Us Overcome Temptation
The Savior’s response to each of Satan’s temptations included the phrase, “It is written”. Christ’s knowledge of the scriptures was part of what had prepared and strengthened Him to turn aside from temptation. The Savior later taught, “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived”.
John 1:35–51
v.46. “Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazareth?”
Nazareth was a small village of approximately 200 to 400 residents, situated 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee and 20 miles east of the Mediterranean Sea. Archaeological remains indicate that no paved roads existed in the village, nor did any significant social, political, or economic activity occur there. While Nazareth was commonly thought of as insignificant by many people during the Savior’s lifetime, it became known later in New Testament times as the hometown of the Redeemer of mankind. Nathanael’s question about whether any good thing could come from Nazareth reflected the thinking of many others.
Quote 8 - President Thomas S. Monson posed an answer to Nathanael’s question:
“From Nazareth came he who made blind men to see, lame beggars to walk—even the dead to live. He set before us an example to emulate. He lived the perfect life. He taught the glad tidings that changed the world. …
“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
“From Nazareth came example.
“From Nazareth came sight.
“From Nazareth came strength.
“From Nazareth came life.
“From Nazareth came faith.
“From Nazareth came peace.
“From Nazareth came courage.
“From Nazareth came Christ”.
v.47. Without Guile
Quote 9 - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to be without guile: “To be without guile is to be free of deceit, cunning, hypocrisy, and dishonesty in thought or action. To beguile is to deceive or lead astray, as Lucifer beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden. A person without guile is a person of innocence, honest intent, and pure motives, whose life reflects the simple practice of conforming his daily actions to principles of integrity. To be without guile is to be pure in heart—an essential virtue of those who would be counted among true followers of Christ. If we are without guile, we are honest, true, and righteous. All of these are attributes of Deity and are required of the Saints. Those who are honest are fair and truthful in their speech, straightforward in their dealings, free of deceit, and above stealing, misrepresentation, or any other fraudulent action. I believe the necessity for the members of the Church to be without guile may be more urgent now than at other times because many in the world apparently do not understand the importance of this virtue”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles discussed what we can learn about being disciples from the experiences Jesus’s disciples had as He called them to follow Him:
VIDEO - Come Follow Me
CLOSING
The invitation to “come and see” the Savior is extended to each of us. We can accept that invitation by repenting, being baptized, keeping our baptismal covenants, and withstanding temptation.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Luke 1, Matthew 1 - My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
INTRODUCTION
Endless supply of food
Wierdest thing you've eaten
Favorite thing to do in the summer
Visit any place in the world
Unique or corky habit
Morning or Night person
Describe yourself in 3 words
Favorite Hobbies
BACKGROUND
Who wrote John?
The author of the Gospel of John never referred to himself by name, although he is referred to as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” Christian writers as early as the second century agreed that the author was John, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Latter-day revelation confirms that this disciple “whom Jesus loved” was John and that the Savior empowered John to continue ministering on the earth until the Second Coming.
About 92 percent of the material in the Gospel of John is not found in the other Gospel accounts. This is probably because John’s intended audience—Church members who already had a basic understanding of Jesus Christ—was decidedly different from Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s intended audiences
Though a large amount of Matthew’s material is also found in Mark and Luke, about 42 percent of Matthew’s Gospel is unique. A major theme in Matthew is that Jesus Christ came to establish His kingdom
Luke 1
How were Zacharias and Elisabeth described in the scriptures? (v.6-9)
BG: Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed to have a child. Zacharias and Elisabeth had probably prayed for many years that they would be blessed with a child. However, Heavenly Father did not grant them this blessing until the time was right to accomplish his purposes.
*** How can we remain faithful and avoid discouragement when our sincere prayers are not immediately answered in the way we desire?
BG: Gabriel was the angel who came and visited both Zacharias and Mary
v.13 - How many people have been visited by angels and promised a child and told what the name should be?
v.19 - How would you feel to get the assignment of sharing the news to Zacharias and Mary about their children?
v.12, 29 - Zacharias and Mary were both troubled at the first sight of the angel Gabriel
BG: Gabriel prophecies about John's mission
What did Gabriel prophesy about John’s mission?
A. John would “turn [many people] to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:16).
B. He would “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” (Luke 1:17).
C. He would “turn … the disobedient to the wisdom of the just” (Luke 1:17).
D. He would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).
v.15 - Shall drink neither wine nor strong drink
Note: John the Baptist was “the outstanding bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood in all history - Bible Dictionary
BG: Gabriel came to Mary to tell her about her son
*** As a Mother, share about receiving news that your child would be the Son of God
Why did the Savior need to be the son of a mortal mother and an immortal Father?
Quote 1 - Speaking of Jesus Christ, Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “God was his Father, from which Immortal Personage … he inherited the power of immortality, which is the power to live forever; or, having chosen to die, it is the power to rise again in immortality, thereafter to live forever without again seeing corruption. Mary was his mother, from which mortal woman … he inherited the power of mortality, which is the power to die. It was because of this … intermixture of the divine and the mortal in one person, that our Lord was able to work out the infinite and eternal atonement. Because God was his Father and Mary was his mother, he had power to live or to die, as he chose, and having laid down his life, he had power to take it again, and then, in a way incomprehensible to us, to pass on the effects of that resurrection to all men so that all shall rise from the tomb”
v.27 - What's the significance of always calling Mary a virgin?
The birth of the Savior gets overlooked when thinking about miraculous things that have happened.
Quote 2 - "You may heard people try to rationalize and justify their own weaknesses by saying "Of course Jesus could live a perfect life because his Father was God. Look at the advantages he had that I don't have." Those who rationalize like this seem to forget that wherever there is a greater blessing, there is a greater trial. The greatest Spirit in the premortal world could be tested only by submitting to greater trial.
What can we learn about Mary from her conversations with the angel and with Elisabeth?
A. Mary had found favor with God (Luke 1:28, 30).
B. Mary was worthy to have the Lord with her (Luke 1:28).
C. Mary was humble and submissive to the will of the Lord (Luke 1:38, 48).
D. Mary rejoiced in her Savior (Luke 1:47).
v.68 - Interesting that it's past tense
Early Christian writers of the second century A.D. suggested that John wrote this book in Ephesus, which was in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Proposed dates for the writing of the Gospel of John range from A.D. 60 through A.D. 100. It is likely that John wrote his Gospel after he authored the book of Revelation.
Matthew 1
How was Joseph’s love for Mary tested?
Matthew 1:19 - Footnote - he desired to release or divorce her secretly.
According to the law, Joseph could have accused Mary of violating the marriage covenant and brought her to a public trial. Such a trial could have resulted in a death sentence. Rather than do this, he decided to release her privately from the marriage contract.
How do the examples of Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph help you see the Savior’s greatness and increase your faith in him?
How can we help others increase their faith in Jesus Christ?
Marriage
Endless supply of food
Wierdest thing you've eaten
Favorite thing to do in the summer
Visit any place in the world
Unique or corky habit
Morning or Night person
Describe yourself in 3 words
Favorite Hobbies
BACKGROUND
Who wrote John?
The author of the Gospel of John never referred to himself by name, although he is referred to as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” Christian writers as early as the second century agreed that the author was John, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Latter-day revelation confirms that this disciple “whom Jesus loved” was John and that the Savior empowered John to continue ministering on the earth until the Second Coming.
About 92 percent of the material in the Gospel of John is not found in the other Gospel accounts. This is probably because John’s intended audience—Church members who already had a basic understanding of Jesus Christ—was decidedly different from Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s intended audiences
Though a large amount of Matthew’s material is also found in Mark and Luke, about 42 percent of Matthew’s Gospel is unique. A major theme in Matthew is that Jesus Christ came to establish His kingdom
Luke 1
How were Zacharias and Elisabeth described in the scriptures? (v.6-9)
BG: Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed to have a child. Zacharias and Elisabeth had probably prayed for many years that they would be blessed with a child. However, Heavenly Father did not grant them this blessing until the time was right to accomplish his purposes.
*** How can we remain faithful and avoid discouragement when our sincere prayers are not immediately answered in the way we desire?
BG: Gabriel was the angel who came and visited both Zacharias and Mary
v.13 - How many people have been visited by angels and promised a child and told what the name should be?
v.19 - How would you feel to get the assignment of sharing the news to Zacharias and Mary about their children?
v.12, 29 - Zacharias and Mary were both troubled at the first sight of the angel Gabriel
BG: Gabriel prophecies about John's mission
What did Gabriel prophesy about John’s mission?
A. John would “turn [many people] to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:16).
B. He would “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” (Luke 1:17).
C. He would “turn … the disobedient to the wisdom of the just” (Luke 1:17).
D. He would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).
v.15 - Shall drink neither wine nor strong drink
Note: John the Baptist was “the outstanding bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood in all history - Bible Dictionary
BG: Gabriel came to Mary to tell her about her son
*** As a Mother, share about receiving news that your child would be the Son of God
Why did the Savior need to be the son of a mortal mother and an immortal Father?
Quote 1 - Speaking of Jesus Christ, Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “God was his Father, from which Immortal Personage … he inherited the power of immortality, which is the power to live forever; or, having chosen to die, it is the power to rise again in immortality, thereafter to live forever without again seeing corruption. Mary was his mother, from which mortal woman … he inherited the power of mortality, which is the power to die. It was because of this … intermixture of the divine and the mortal in one person, that our Lord was able to work out the infinite and eternal atonement. Because God was his Father and Mary was his mother, he had power to live or to die, as he chose, and having laid down his life, he had power to take it again, and then, in a way incomprehensible to us, to pass on the effects of that resurrection to all men so that all shall rise from the tomb”
v.27 - What's the significance of always calling Mary a virgin?
The birth of the Savior gets overlooked when thinking about miraculous things that have happened.
Quote 2 - "You may heard people try to rationalize and justify their own weaknesses by saying "Of course Jesus could live a perfect life because his Father was God. Look at the advantages he had that I don't have." Those who rationalize like this seem to forget that wherever there is a greater blessing, there is a greater trial. The greatest Spirit in the premortal world could be tested only by submitting to greater trial.
What can we learn about Mary from her conversations with the angel and with Elisabeth?
A. Mary had found favor with God (Luke 1:28, 30).
B. Mary was worthy to have the Lord with her (Luke 1:28).
C. Mary was humble and submissive to the will of the Lord (Luke 1:38, 48).
D. Mary rejoiced in her Savior (Luke 1:47).
v.68 - Interesting that it's past tense
Early Christian writers of the second century A.D. suggested that John wrote this book in Ephesus, which was in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Proposed dates for the writing of the Gospel of John range from A.D. 60 through A.D. 100. It is likely that John wrote his Gospel after he authored the book of Revelation.
Matthew 1
How was Joseph’s love for Mary tested?
Matthew 1:19 - Footnote - he desired to release or divorce her secretly.
According to the law, Joseph could have accused Mary of violating the marriage covenant and brought her to a public trial. Such a trial could have resulted in a death sentence. Rather than do this, he decided to release her privately from the marriage contract.
How do the examples of Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph help you see the Savior’s greatness and increase your faith in him?
How can we help others increase their faith in Jesus Christ?
Marriage
Marriage
between a young man and a young woman was arranged and agreed to by the
heads of the respective families—usually the fathers. Once a
prospective wife had been identified by the groom’s father or family
head, negotiations were begun. They focused on, but were not limited
to, the size of the “bride price,” a kind of dowry in reverse, paid by
the groom’s father or family head to the bride’s family. Once the
marriage was agreed upon, the wedding consisted of two stages: betrothal
(also called espousal; see Matthew 1:18) and a wedding ceremony.
Betrothal
was legally and religiously more significant than the subsequent
marriage ceremony, after which the couple began living together.
Betrothal was regarded as the final part of a solemn covenant. It
carried the force of a covenant to be honored between God-fearing
parties (see Genesis 2:24; Ezekiel 16:8; Ephesians 5:21–33). Though betrothed couples were legally regarded as husband and wife (see Deuteronomy 22:23–24), between the time of betrothal and the wedding ceremony, a strict code of chastity was enforced (see Matthew 1:18, 25). At the time of betrothal the young man took legal possession of the young woman, but not physical possession.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Let Us Rise Up and Build - Ezra 1-8; Nehemia 1,2,4,6,8
SETUP
Pass out cards 1-32, pencils, white paper, and quotes
Have you ever been reading the scriptures and felt that a particular passage spoke directly to you?
“God, the Father of us all, uses the men of the earth, especially good men, to accomplish his purposes. It has been true in the past, it is true today, it will be true in the future
Jeremiah 29:10
INTRODUCTION
Quote 1 - Elder Dallin H. Oaks: “We may find that a specific verse of scripture that was spoken for quite a different purpose in an entirely different age will, under the interpretive influence of the Holy Ghost, give us a very personal message adapted to our personal needs today. … If we seek to liken the scriptures to our own circumstances, ‘that it might be for our profit and learning’, a loving Father in heaven can use them to bless us in highly individual ways”
Have you ever been reading the scriptures and felt that a particular passage spoke directly to you?
The events discussed in this lesson were set in motion by a man who found that a passage of scripture written 150 years before his birth spoke to him personally—in fact, it mentioned him by name.
BACKGROUND
In 721 B.C., when the kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom, or ten tribes) was taken captive by Assyria, the Assyrian empire was the greatest in the world. By 612 B.C., however, the Assyrian empire had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Under King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon ruled most of the lands that had been conquered by the Assyrians. The Babylonian conquest of the kingdom of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) extended from about 605 B.C., when they took many Jews captive, to 587 B.C., when they destroyed Jerusalem.
While in captivity the faithful Jews wept by the rivers of Babylon. Because of sorrow, they could not bear to sing the songs of Zion, for their hearts yearned to be back in their land of promise and in their holy city. But how could they go back? They were captive to the powerful nation of Babylon. Yet the Lord rules in the heavens and watches over His chosen people. He would provide a way for the faithful of Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city.
After Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C., Babylon declined rapidly in power. In 539 B.C., Babylon fell to the Medes and the Persians, united under the leadership of Cyrus. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, who treated those he conquered with cruelty, Cyrus was a benevolent ruler. By treating conquered peoples kindly and respecting their religions, Cyrus won the loyalty of those he ruled. The Lord had foreordained Cyrus to make possible the return of the Jews. Cyrus was not of the house of Israel, but the Lord nonetheless had chosen him before he was born to bless the house of Israel.
Quote 2 - Elder Ezra Taft Benson spoke of the contributions of Cyrus: “King Cyrus lived more than five hundred years before Christ and figured in prophecies of the Old Testament mentioned in 2 Chronicles and the book of Ezra, and by the prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Daniel. The Bible states how ‘the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia.’ Cyrus restored certain political and social rights to the captive Hebrews, gave them permission to return to Jerusalem, and directed that Jehovah’s temple should be rebuilt.
Quote 3 - “Parley P. Pratt, in describing the Prophet Joseph Smith, said that he had ‘the boldness, courage, temperance, perseverance and generosity of a Cyrus.’
Quote 4 - President Wilford Woodruff said: “‘Now I have thought many times that some of those ancient kings that were raised up, had in some respects more regard for the carrying out of some of these principles and laws, than even the Latter-day Saints have in our day. I will take as an ensample Cyrus. … To trace the life of Cyrus from his birth to his death, whether he knew it or not, it looked as though he lived by inspiration in all his movements. He began with that temperance and virtue which would sustain any Christian country or any Christian king. … Many of these principles followed him, and I have thought many of them were worthy, in many respects, the attention of men who have the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’ “God, the Father of us all, uses the men of the earth, especially good men, to accomplish his purposes. It has been true in the past, it is true today, it will be true in the future.”
Ezra 1
Read v.1
The prophecy referred to by Jeremiah can be found in Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10
Read v.2-3,7 (Cyrus decreed that the temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt. He invited the Jews in his empire to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, and he returned the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar’s troops had stolen from the temple)
How did Cyrus know the Lord wanted him to do this?
see Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5
Note: How did Cyrus learn about this if Ezra is before the book of Isaiah?
Where Do the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Fit in the Old Testament?
The books of the Bible do not fall into chronological order. Their position is determined usually by whether they are historical or prophetic books. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally part of a compilation that included 1 and 2 Chronicles. Ezra 1:1–3 and 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 are almost identical. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are actually the last two historical books of the Old Testament. Zechariah and Haggai were prophets during this same period. Malachi is the only prophet known to have served in Israel between the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and the beginning of the New Testament. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of Israel’s history from the first return to Jerusalem until the end of Nehemiah’s second term as governor of Judah.
***How would you feel if you were reading the scriptures and read a prophecy that gave your name and described specific things you would do?
Ezra 2-3
Zerubbabel and Jeshua lead approximately 50,000 people back to Jerusalem, and they begin to rebuild the temple.
Ezra 4
When Zerubbabel and Jeshua led the first group of Jews back to Jerusalem, they found the Samaritans there.
The Samaritans were descendants of Israelites who had escaped at the time of captivity and had intermarried with Assyrian and Babylonian colonists whom the kings had sent to occupy the land.
v.1,2 - The Samaritans wanted to help build the temple
v.3 - The Jews refused to let the Samaritans help rebuild the temple because they felt the Samaritans were not true Israelites
v.4-7 - The Samaritans tried to stop the rebuilding of the temple by complaining to the kings who succeeded Cyrus and also tried to frustrate their purpose.
The work of rebuilding the temple ceases
Ezra 5
Several years later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah exhort the Jews to finish the temple; the Samaritans continue to oppose it.
Ezra 6
King Darius renews the decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple, and it is finished and dedicated in about 515 B.C
Ezra 7-8
Ezra leads another group of Jews back to Jerusalem
Read 7:27-28
What are some examples of the Lord softening the hearts of government leaders toward the Church in the latter days?
What can we do to encourage government leaders’ hearts to be softened toward the Church? (Obey the laws of the land, do good, prepare to teach the gospel to all the world, and pray for the Lord to soften the hearts of the leaders)
v. 8:21–23, 31- Ezra fasted and prayed to ensure that the group of Jews he was taking to Jerusalem was protected
***How have you, your family, or others you know been blessed by fasting?
Nehemiah 1,2,4,6
Nehemiah was the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia. This was a position of great trust and responsibility, requiring Nehemiah to ensure that the king’s food and drink were safe. Even though Nehemiah was in a position of importance in Persia, he cared about his people in Jerusalem and sought to help them when he heard of their difficulties.
v. 1:4 - Nehemia prayed and fasted upon hearing the difficulties of his people in Jerusalem?
v. 2:2-5 - The king granted Nehemiah permission to go, provided him guards and an escort for safety, and authorized him to use timber from the forest to rebuild the city walls
***What can we learn from Nehemiah that can guide us when we are troubled by the suffering of others?
v. 2:17-18 - Nehemiah encourages his people to rebuild the walls around the city by testifying
Why do you think testifying of the truth and sharing spiritual experiences have such power to inspire others to do good?
***How have the testimonies and spiritual experiences of others inspired you?
Sanballat was the governor of Samaria, and he and his people were enemies of the Jews who had returned with Zerubbabel.
v. 2:10 - Sanballat was grieved
v. 2:19 - They laughed and despised the Jews
v. 4:7-8 - They conspired to fight against Jerusalem
v. 4:11 - They shall slay them and cause their work to cease
v. 4:9 - The Jews prayed unto God and watched against them at night
v. 4:13-15 - The Jews armed themselves and continued working on the wall
v. 6:1-4 - Sanballat asked Nehemia to stop working and meet with him
How do some people try to distract Church members from the Lord’s work today?
How should we respond to such distractions?
Quote 5 - Elder Marvin J. Ashton counseled: “Certain people and organizations are trying to provoke us into contention with slander, innuendos, and improper classifications. How unwise we are in today’s society to allow ourselves to become irritated, dismayed, or offended because others seem to enjoy the role of misstating our position or involvement. Our principles or standards will not be less than they are because of the statements of the contentious. Ours is to explain our position through reason, friendly persuasion, and accurate facts. Ours is to stand firm and unyielding on the moral issues of the day and the eternal principles of the gospel, but to contend with no man or organization. … Ours is to be heard and teach. Ours is not only to avoid contention, but to see that such things are done away”
TEAMWORK ACTIVITY
v.4:19 - The work is great and large, and we are separated
At times they were far apart, but they were all working toward the same goal, and by working together they were able to complete the wall.
The Church is divided into different units (such as families, wards, branches, stakes, districts, and quorums) throughout the world. Sometimes a unit may seem far from other units. But all the Saints are working toward the same goals, and if each individual and each unit works diligently, the entire Church will continue to grow.
Nehemiah 8
v. 1-2 - After finishing the wall, the Jews requested Ezra to read the scriptures to them
Note : Most of the Jews had been in captivity so long that they had never heard or read the scriptures
v. 3 - He read to them from morning until midday and all ears were attentive
v. 6 - The people lifted up their hands and bowed their heads to worship the Lord
v. 9 - The people wept when they heard the words of the law
How can we be more attentive as we read the scriptures?
***How can we develop the kind of excitement for the scriptures that these people had?
v. 8 - Ezra gave sense and caused them to understand the reading
What has helped you in your efforts to understand the scriptures and to help your family understand them?
CONCLUSION
Quote 6 - Nehemiah’s energy, ability, unselfish patriotism, and personal integrity brought a new, exuberant Judah into existence once again. The restoration of Jerusalem, which had lain in ruins for a century and a half, was begun. Ezra, a righteous, dedicated priest, joined Nehemiah in this work, and together they succeeded in restoring a Jewish community in Jerusalem once again”
Just as the Jews had the responsibility to rebuild Jerusalem, Latter-day Saints have the responsibility to build Zion throughout the world. To help us do this, we need to follow the teachings in the scriptures and participate in temple work. Let us rise up and build the kingdom of God on Earth by doing our own part for the betterment of the overall goal we are all striving for.
Pass out cards 1-32, pencils, white paper, and quotes
Have you ever been reading the scriptures and felt that a particular passage spoke directly to you?
“God, the Father of us all, uses the men of the earth, especially good men, to accomplish his purposes. It has been true in the past, it is true today, it will be true in the future
Jeremiah 29:10
INTRODUCTION
Quote 1 - Elder Dallin H. Oaks: “We may find that a specific verse of scripture that was spoken for quite a different purpose in an entirely different age will, under the interpretive influence of the Holy Ghost, give us a very personal message adapted to our personal needs today. … If we seek to liken the scriptures to our own circumstances, ‘that it might be for our profit and learning’, a loving Father in heaven can use them to bless us in highly individual ways”
Have you ever been reading the scriptures and felt that a particular passage spoke directly to you?
The events discussed in this lesson were set in motion by a man who found that a passage of scripture written 150 years before his birth spoke to him personally—in fact, it mentioned him by name.
BACKGROUND
In 721 B.C., when the kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom, or ten tribes) was taken captive by Assyria, the Assyrian empire was the greatest in the world. By 612 B.C., however, the Assyrian empire had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Under King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon ruled most of the lands that had been conquered by the Assyrians. The Babylonian conquest of the kingdom of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) extended from about 605 B.C., when they took many Jews captive, to 587 B.C., when they destroyed Jerusalem.
While in captivity the faithful Jews wept by the rivers of Babylon. Because of sorrow, they could not bear to sing the songs of Zion, for their hearts yearned to be back in their land of promise and in their holy city. But how could they go back? They were captive to the powerful nation of Babylon. Yet the Lord rules in the heavens and watches over His chosen people. He would provide a way for the faithful of Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city.
After Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C., Babylon declined rapidly in power. In 539 B.C., Babylon fell to the Medes and the Persians, united under the leadership of Cyrus. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, who treated those he conquered with cruelty, Cyrus was a benevolent ruler. By treating conquered peoples kindly and respecting their religions, Cyrus won the loyalty of those he ruled. The Lord had foreordained Cyrus to make possible the return of the Jews. Cyrus was not of the house of Israel, but the Lord nonetheless had chosen him before he was born to bless the house of Israel.
Quote 2 - Elder Ezra Taft Benson spoke of the contributions of Cyrus: “King Cyrus lived more than five hundred years before Christ and figured in prophecies of the Old Testament mentioned in 2 Chronicles and the book of Ezra, and by the prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Daniel. The Bible states how ‘the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia.’ Cyrus restored certain political and social rights to the captive Hebrews, gave them permission to return to Jerusalem, and directed that Jehovah’s temple should be rebuilt.
Quote 3 - “Parley P. Pratt, in describing the Prophet Joseph Smith, said that he had ‘the boldness, courage, temperance, perseverance and generosity of a Cyrus.’
Quote 4 - President Wilford Woodruff said: “‘Now I have thought many times that some of those ancient kings that were raised up, had in some respects more regard for the carrying out of some of these principles and laws, than even the Latter-day Saints have in our day. I will take as an ensample Cyrus. … To trace the life of Cyrus from his birth to his death, whether he knew it or not, it looked as though he lived by inspiration in all his movements. He began with that temperance and virtue which would sustain any Christian country or any Christian king. … Many of these principles followed him, and I have thought many of them were worthy, in many respects, the attention of men who have the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’ “God, the Father of us all, uses the men of the earth, especially good men, to accomplish his purposes. It has been true in the past, it is true today, it will be true in the future.”
Ezra 1
Read v.1
The prophecy referred to by Jeremiah can be found in Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10
Read v.2-3,7 (Cyrus decreed that the temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt. He invited the Jews in his empire to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, and he returned the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar’s troops had stolen from the temple)
How did Cyrus know the Lord wanted him to do this?
see Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5
Note: How did Cyrus learn about this if Ezra is before the book of Isaiah?
Where Do the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Fit in the Old Testament?
The books of the Bible do not fall into chronological order. Their position is determined usually by whether they are historical or prophetic books. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally part of a compilation that included 1 and 2 Chronicles. Ezra 1:1–3 and 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 are almost identical. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are actually the last two historical books of the Old Testament. Zechariah and Haggai were prophets during this same period. Malachi is the only prophet known to have served in Israel between the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and the beginning of the New Testament. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of Israel’s history from the first return to Jerusalem until the end of Nehemiah’s second term as governor of Judah.
***How would you feel if you were reading the scriptures and read a prophecy that gave your name and described specific things you would do?
Ezra 2-3
Zerubbabel and Jeshua lead approximately 50,000 people back to Jerusalem, and they begin to rebuild the temple.
Ezra 4
When Zerubbabel and Jeshua led the first group of Jews back to Jerusalem, they found the Samaritans there.
The Samaritans were descendants of Israelites who had escaped at the time of captivity and had intermarried with Assyrian and Babylonian colonists whom the kings had sent to occupy the land.
v.1,2 - The Samaritans wanted to help build the temple
v.3 - The Jews refused to let the Samaritans help rebuild the temple because they felt the Samaritans were not true Israelites
v.4-7 - The Samaritans tried to stop the rebuilding of the temple by complaining to the kings who succeeded Cyrus and also tried to frustrate their purpose.
The work of rebuilding the temple ceases
Ezra 5
Several years later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah exhort the Jews to finish the temple; the Samaritans continue to oppose it.
Ezra 6
King Darius renews the decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple, and it is finished and dedicated in about 515 B.C
Ezra 7-8
Ezra leads another group of Jews back to Jerusalem
Read 7:27-28
What are some examples of the Lord softening the hearts of government leaders toward the Church in the latter days?
What can we do to encourage government leaders’ hearts to be softened toward the Church? (Obey the laws of the land, do good, prepare to teach the gospel to all the world, and pray for the Lord to soften the hearts of the leaders)
v. 8:21–23, 31- Ezra fasted and prayed to ensure that the group of Jews he was taking to Jerusalem was protected
***How have you, your family, or others you know been blessed by fasting?
Nehemiah 1,2,4,6
Nehemiah was the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia. This was a position of great trust and responsibility, requiring Nehemiah to ensure that the king’s food and drink were safe. Even though Nehemiah was in a position of importance in Persia, he cared about his people in Jerusalem and sought to help them when he heard of their difficulties.
v. 1:4 - Nehemia prayed and fasted upon hearing the difficulties of his people in Jerusalem?
v. 2:2-5 - The king granted Nehemiah permission to go, provided him guards and an escort for safety, and authorized him to use timber from the forest to rebuild the city walls
***What can we learn from Nehemiah that can guide us when we are troubled by the suffering of others?
v. 2:17-18 - Nehemiah encourages his people to rebuild the walls around the city by testifying
Why do you think testifying of the truth and sharing spiritual experiences have such power to inspire others to do good?
***How have the testimonies and spiritual experiences of others inspired you?
Sanballat was the governor of Samaria, and he and his people were enemies of the Jews who had returned with Zerubbabel.
v. 2:10 - Sanballat was grieved
v. 2:19 - They laughed and despised the Jews
v. 4:7-8 - They conspired to fight against Jerusalem
v. 4:11 - They shall slay them and cause their work to cease
v. 4:9 - The Jews prayed unto God and watched against them at night
v. 4:13-15 - The Jews armed themselves and continued working on the wall
v. 6:1-4 - Sanballat asked Nehemia to stop working and meet with him
How do some people try to distract Church members from the Lord’s work today?
How should we respond to such distractions?
Quote 5 - Elder Marvin J. Ashton counseled: “Certain people and organizations are trying to provoke us into contention with slander, innuendos, and improper classifications. How unwise we are in today’s society to allow ourselves to become irritated, dismayed, or offended because others seem to enjoy the role of misstating our position or involvement. Our principles or standards will not be less than they are because of the statements of the contentious. Ours is to explain our position through reason, friendly persuasion, and accurate facts. Ours is to stand firm and unyielding on the moral issues of the day and the eternal principles of the gospel, but to contend with no man or organization. … Ours is to be heard and teach. Ours is not only to avoid contention, but to see that such things are done away”
TEAMWORK ACTIVITY
v.4:19 - The work is great and large, and we are separated
At times they were far apart, but they were all working toward the same goal, and by working together they were able to complete the wall.
The Church is divided into different units (such as families, wards, branches, stakes, districts, and quorums) throughout the world. Sometimes a unit may seem far from other units. But all the Saints are working toward the same goals, and if each individual and each unit works diligently, the entire Church will continue to grow.
Nehemiah 8
v. 1-2 - After finishing the wall, the Jews requested Ezra to read the scriptures to them
Note : Most of the Jews had been in captivity so long that they had never heard or read the scriptures
v. 3 - He read to them from morning until midday and all ears were attentive
v. 6 - The people lifted up their hands and bowed their heads to worship the Lord
v. 9 - The people wept when they heard the words of the law
How can we be more attentive as we read the scriptures?
***How can we develop the kind of excitement for the scriptures that these people had?
v. 8 - Ezra gave sense and caused them to understand the reading
What has helped you in your efforts to understand the scriptures and to help your family understand them?
CONCLUSION
Quote 6 - Nehemiah’s energy, ability, unselfish patriotism, and personal integrity brought a new, exuberant Judah into existence once again. The restoration of Jerusalem, which had lain in ruins for a century and a half, was begun. Ezra, a righteous, dedicated priest, joined Nehemiah in this work, and together they succeeded in restoring a Jewish community in Jerusalem once again”
Just as the Jews had the responsibility to rebuild Jerusalem, Latter-day Saints have the responsibility to build Zion throughout the world. To help us do this, we need to follow the teachings in the scriptures and participate in temple work. Let us rise up and build the kingdom of God on Earth by doing our own part for the betterment of the overall goal we are all striving for.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Ezekial 43,44,47 - Every Thing Shall Live Whither the River Cometh
SETUP
What will make us happy as individuals and families?
Map
ATTENTION ACTIVITY
What's the most exciting sport event or entertainment event that you've been to?
Have you ever been so excited at such an event that you stood and shouted or cheered?
Can you think of sacred events that have been or will be accompanied by enthusiastic expressions of joy and gratitude?
Some of these events include:
- The creation of the earth (Job 38:4–7).
- The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (John 12:12–16).
- The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
- Hosanna shout
How does the excitement of sporting events or other entertainment compare to the joy of these sacred events?
BACKGROUND
After the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel no longer spoke of God’s judgments on his contemporaries but of Israel’s redemption in the latter days. It was as though he had done all he could to stave off the destruction of his people, and when that was impossible and they were actually experiencing the suffering that captivity had imposed upon them, he turned their hearts to the future and the source of their ultimate hope in the Lord.
So Saints of the latter days should be most enthusiastic about Ezekiel’s prophecies in chapters 25–48. Of Ezekiel’s twelve, precisely recorded visions, seven were given after the fall of Jerusalem and dealt with such events of the last days as the building of the great Jewish kingdom under a shepherd named David, the gathering of scattered Israel, the unification of all the tribes of Israel, the joining of the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the battle of Armageddon, and the building of a modern temple in Jerusalem. Truly, Ezekiel was a prophet of the Restoration.
Ezekial 43 (Ezekiel is shown a vision of the temple in Jerusalem.)
v.5 - The glory of the Lord filled the house.
Will anyone share a time when they felt the presence of a living prophet or apostle?
How have you felt the glory of the Lord in the temple?
Has there been time you haven't felt it?
Why wouldn't we feel it every time?
v.11-12 - This is the law of the house
How do you understand the law of the house? (Be holy, learn everything about the temple, and receive all the ordinances)
What we learn about the temple in Ezekiel 43:1–12; 44:6–9, 23.
- The glory of the Lord fills the temple (Ezekiel 43:2, 4–5).
- The temple is “the place of [the Lord’s] throne” on earth (Ezekiel 43:7).
- The Lord walks in the temple, calling it “the place of the soles of my feet” (Ezekiel 43:7).
- The temple is a place where the Lord may “dwell in the midst” of his people (Ezekiel 43:7).
- We learn about the laws of the Lord in the temple (Ezekiel 43:11).
- There are ordinances that the Lord wants us to perform in the temple (Ezekiel 43:11).
- Even the grounds that surround the temple “shall be most holy” (Ezekiel 43:12).
- Only those who are worthy should enter the temple (Ezekiel 44:6–9).
- In the temple we learn the difference between holy and profane and between clean and unclean (Ezekiel 44:23).
*** What gifts do we receive for obeying the laws of his house?
- Eternal Life
- Being sealed as a family
- Greater understanding
- Promises of greater spiritual protection
- Personal revelation
- Personal peace
Display, candy, coins, a $20 bill and a picture of an expensive item.
Which of these items would my three year old be most interested?
Which of these is the most expensive?
Why don’t most little children choose the most expensive item? (They don’t understand the value)
How are people sometimes like my three year old in valuing the temple?
Sometimes people don’t understand the value of temples so they make choices that keep them from entering the temple.
Ezekial 47 - Ezekiel sees a river flowing from the temple that gives life to the desert and heals the Dead Sea.
What did Ezekiel see coming from the east doors of the temple in Jerusalem? (v.1)
Map (Note: Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea are east of Jerusalem. The Judean wilderness is a barren desert, and the Dead Sea is too salty to sustain animal life.)
Read v.6-12
According to Ezekiel’s vision, what changes will take place in the Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea because of the river flowing from the temple?
Trees (v.7)
Dead Sea will be healed (v.8)
Dead Sea will have fishes (v.9)
Every thing shall live wither the river cometh (v.9)
Note in Ezekial 43:7 the Lord calls the temple “the place of my throne”
In a vision similar to Ezekiel’s vision of the temple, John the Beloved was shown the throne of God. Read Revelation 22:1–3;
What flowed from the throne of God in John’s vision? (v.1 Water of Life)
What is the “water of life”? (The doctrines of the gospel;)
(see also John 4:10–14.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that living water is “the words of eternal life, the message of salvation, the truths about God and his kingdom; it is the doctrines of the gospel”
How are we like the Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea if we do not partake of the water of life?
How does the water of life that is available in the temple heal and give life to:
Marriages?
Families?
Our ancestors?
The Church?
What else flows from the temple that gives spiritual life and healing? (truth, wisdom, revelation, and covenants.)
What did the trees have in common with the waters of the river? (v.12 - They had healing and life-giving powers.)
*** How have you seen the temple bless you with healing and life-giving powers?
What grew along the banks of the river in John’s vision?
*** How does the love of God heal and give life?
The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed: "Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance."
Ezekiel measures the river’s depth.
Read v.2-3
How deep was the river the first time Ezekiel waded across it?
Read v.4-5
How deep was it the second, third, and fourth times he waded across?
***What truth do these verses suggest about the temple? (The power of the temple increases in our lives the more often we attend.)
Wonderful truths are taught in the temple, many through symbols.
If at first our understanding of these truths or of temple ordinances is only “ankle deep,” what should we do? (attend the temple as often as possible.)
CONCLUSION
President Howard W. Hunter said: "I invite the Latter-day Saints to look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of your membership. It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple. It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend. The things that we must do and not do to be worthy of a temple recommend are the very things that ensure we will be happy as individuals and as families."
Note: What the prophet said will ensure we our happy as individuals and as families.
One way to receive living water is to go to the temple, the house of the Lord, where we may be endowed with power and understanding, be instructed by the Lord, feel peace and joy, and become healed both physically and spiritually.
How can we make the temple the “great symbol of [our] membership” in the Church?
How would looking to the temple in this way affect our outlook on life and our dedication to the Lord’s work?
What will make us happy as individuals and families?
Map
ATTENTION ACTIVITY
What's the most exciting sport event or entertainment event that you've been to?
Have you ever been so excited at such an event that you stood and shouted or cheered?
Can you think of sacred events that have been or will be accompanied by enthusiastic expressions of joy and gratitude?
Some of these events include:
- The creation of the earth (Job 38:4–7).
- The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (John 12:12–16).
- The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
- Hosanna shout
How does the excitement of sporting events or other entertainment compare to the joy of these sacred events?
BACKGROUND
After the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel no longer spoke of God’s judgments on his contemporaries but of Israel’s redemption in the latter days. It was as though he had done all he could to stave off the destruction of his people, and when that was impossible and they were actually experiencing the suffering that captivity had imposed upon them, he turned their hearts to the future and the source of their ultimate hope in the Lord.
So Saints of the latter days should be most enthusiastic about Ezekiel’s prophecies in chapters 25–48. Of Ezekiel’s twelve, precisely recorded visions, seven were given after the fall of Jerusalem and dealt with such events of the last days as the building of the great Jewish kingdom under a shepherd named David, the gathering of scattered Israel, the unification of all the tribes of Israel, the joining of the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the battle of Armageddon, and the building of a modern temple in Jerusalem. Truly, Ezekiel was a prophet of the Restoration.
Ezekial 43 (Ezekiel is shown a vision of the temple in Jerusalem.)
v.5 - The glory of the Lord filled the house.
Will anyone share a time when they felt the presence of a living prophet or apostle?
How have you felt the glory of the Lord in the temple?
Has there been time you haven't felt it?
Why wouldn't we feel it every time?
v.11-12 - This is the law of the house
How do you understand the law of the house? (Be holy, learn everything about the temple, and receive all the ordinances)
What we learn about the temple in Ezekiel 43:1–12; 44:6–9, 23.
- The glory of the Lord fills the temple (Ezekiel 43:2, 4–5).
- The temple is “the place of [the Lord’s] throne” on earth (Ezekiel 43:7).
- The Lord walks in the temple, calling it “the place of the soles of my feet” (Ezekiel 43:7).
- The temple is a place where the Lord may “dwell in the midst” of his people (Ezekiel 43:7).
- We learn about the laws of the Lord in the temple (Ezekiel 43:11).
- There are ordinances that the Lord wants us to perform in the temple (Ezekiel 43:11).
- Even the grounds that surround the temple “shall be most holy” (Ezekiel 43:12).
- Only those who are worthy should enter the temple (Ezekiel 44:6–9).
- In the temple we learn the difference between holy and profane and between clean and unclean (Ezekiel 44:23).
*** What gifts do we receive for obeying the laws of his house?
- Eternal Life
- Being sealed as a family
- Greater understanding
- Promises of greater spiritual protection
- Personal revelation
- Personal peace
Display, candy, coins, a $20 bill and a picture of an expensive item.
Which of these items would my three year old be most interested?
Which of these is the most expensive?
Why don’t most little children choose the most expensive item? (They don’t understand the value)
How are people sometimes like my three year old in valuing the temple?
Sometimes people don’t understand the value of temples so they make choices that keep them from entering the temple.
Ezekial 47 - Ezekiel sees a river flowing from the temple that gives life to the desert and heals the Dead Sea.
What did Ezekiel see coming from the east doors of the temple in Jerusalem? (v.1)
Map (Note: Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea are east of Jerusalem. The Judean wilderness is a barren desert, and the Dead Sea is too salty to sustain animal life.)
Read v.6-12
According to Ezekiel’s vision, what changes will take place in the Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea because of the river flowing from the temple?
Trees (v.7)
Dead Sea will be healed (v.8)
Dead Sea will have fishes (v.9)
Every thing shall live wither the river cometh (v.9)
Note in Ezekial 43:7 the Lord calls the temple “the place of my throne”
In a vision similar to Ezekiel’s vision of the temple, John the Beloved was shown the throne of God. Read Revelation 22:1–3;
What flowed from the throne of God in John’s vision? (v.1 Water of Life)
What is the “water of life”? (The doctrines of the gospel;)
(see also John 4:10–14.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that living water is “the words of eternal life, the message of salvation, the truths about God and his kingdom; it is the doctrines of the gospel”
How are we like the Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea if we do not partake of the water of life?
How does the water of life that is available in the temple heal and give life to:
Marriages?
Families?
Our ancestors?
The Church?
What else flows from the temple that gives spiritual life and healing? (truth, wisdom, revelation, and covenants.)
What did the trees have in common with the waters of the river? (v.12 - They had healing and life-giving powers.)
*** How have you seen the temple bless you with healing and life-giving powers?
What grew along the banks of the river in John’s vision?
*** How does the love of God heal and give life?
The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed: "Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance."
Ezekiel measures the river’s depth.
Read v.2-3
How deep was the river the first time Ezekiel waded across it?
Read v.4-5
How deep was it the second, third, and fourth times he waded across?
***What truth do these verses suggest about the temple? (The power of the temple increases in our lives the more often we attend.)
Wonderful truths are taught in the temple, many through symbols.
If at first our understanding of these truths or of temple ordinances is only “ankle deep,” what should we do? (attend the temple as often as possible.)
CONCLUSION
President Howard W. Hunter said: "I invite the Latter-day Saints to look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of your membership. It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple. It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend. The things that we must do and not do to be worthy of a temple recommend are the very things that ensure we will be happy as individuals and as families."
Note: What the prophet said will ensure we our happy as individuals and as families.
One way to receive living water is to go to the temple, the house of the Lord, where we may be endowed with power and understanding, be instructed by the Lord, feel peace and joy, and become healed both physically and spiritually.
How can we make the temple the “great symbol of [our] membership” in the Church?
How would looking to the temple in this way affect our outlook on life and our dedication to the Lord’s work?
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Jeremiah 16,23, 29, 31 - I Will Write it in Their Hearts
BACKGROUND
Israel - Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham
12 Tribes - 12 sons of Israel - children of Israel - Abrahamic covenant promised to them
Judah vs Israel
INTRO
The prophet Jeremiah lived through one of the most troubled periods of history. He witnessed the fall of a great empire (Assyria) and the rising of another (Babylon). Jeremiah declared God’s message for forty years, warning of coming disaster and appealing in vain to the nation to turn back to God. He, like Mormon, was called to labor among a people for whom there was no hope because they refused to repent, and “the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually”. Mormon, after witnessing the destruction of the Nephite nation, cried out for his people. Here was a righteous man, one of the best, lamenting over his people who were so blind, so foolish, so spiritually dead. Jeremiah, too, mourned his people’s wickedness. You may think of Jeremiah as a harsh man as you read his scorching denunciations of the Jewish people and the lives they were living, but he was not. His motivation, like Mormon’s, was love.
Think back and realize that the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt is one of the most miraculous events in the Old Testament
Quote 1 - A prophet does not select where and when he serves. God chooses when and to whom a prophet is sent. One may be an Enoch and build Zion, or a David O. McKay and preside over the Church in times of peace and prosperity. Another may be a Mormon or a Jeremiah and try in vain to save a rebellious and backsliding people. Each has his calling. Each has his time. Each has his lesson for us to learn.
Jeremiah 16
What do you know about the scattering of Israel?
At the death of Solomon, probably about 975 B. C., the kingdom was divided; the tribe of Judah and part of the tribe of Benjamin accepted Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, as their king; while the rest of the people, usually spoken of as the ten tribes, revolted against Rehoboam, thus breaking their allegiance with the house of David; they chose Jeroboam as their king. The ten tribes under Jeroboam retained the title Kingdom of Israel, though the kingdom was likewise known by the name of Ephraim,[915] from its most prominent tribe; while Rehoboam and his subjects were known as the Kingdom of Judah. For about 250 years the two kingdoms maintained a separate existence; after which (721 B. C.), the independent status of the kingdom of Israel was destroyed, and the people were brought into captivity by the Assyrians. The Kingdom of Judah was recognized for over a century longer, after which it was brought to an end by Nebuchadnezzar, who inaugurated the Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah was commanded to explain clearly to the people the reasons for his actions as well as the reasons for their coming punishment.
What did Jeremiah prophecy that gave Israel any kind of hope?
The Lord showed Jeremiah a vision of the future that put the calamities he had witnessed into a perspective of hope. Like other prophets of his time (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Micah, and Zechariah), Jeremiah was shown that scattered Israel would one day be gathered, that Judah would return to the lands of her possession, and that eventually all of Israel would become great. These visions and prophecies were recorded by Jeremiah and for centuries have provided hope to a nation of suffering people. They hold a very important place in the latter-day work of restoration.
Read v.14-16 (I will bring them again unto their land. He will send fishers, hunters, etc.)
Quote 2 - Elder LeGrand Richards commented on these verses: "Just contemplate that statement for a few moments. Think how the Jews and the Christians all through these past centuries have praised the Lord for his great hand of deliverance under the hands of Moses when he led Israel out of captivity, and yet here comes Jeremiah with this word of the holy prophet, telling us that in the latter days they shall no more remember that, but how God has gathered scattered Israel from the lands whither he had driven them. And Jeremiah saw the day when the Lord would do this very thing, when he would call for many fishers and many hunters, ‘and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.’ Where do you find those fishers and hunters that we read about in this great prophecy of Jeremiah? They are these 14,000 missionaries of this church, and those who have preceded them from the time that the Prophet Joseph Smith received the truth and sent the messengers out to share it with the world. Thus have they gone out, fishing and hunting, and gathering them from the hills and the mountains, and the holes in the rocks. I think that is more literal than some of us think"
Jeremiah 23
Read v.3 (Lord will bring them again to their folds)
Quote 3 - President Spencer W. Kimball said: "The gathering of Israel is now in progress. Hundreds of thousands of people have been baptized into the Church. Millions more will join the Church. And this is the way that we will gather Israel. The English people will gather in England. The Japanese people will gather in the Orient. The Brazilian people will gather in Brazil. So that important element of the world history is already being accomplished. It is to be done by missionary work. It is your responsibility to attend to this missionary work."
Chapter 23 is primarily a scathing denunciation of the religious leaders of Jeremiah’s. He mentions the following about the sins of the Jewish religious leaders, the priests and the “prophets.”
(v.11) - Both prophets and priests are profane.
(v.13) - They prophesied in the name of Baal and led the people into error (see v. 13).
(v.14) - The prophets are adulterers, liars, and supporters of evil men. They are as evil as Sodom and Gomorrah in God’s sight.
(v.16) - They speak their own words, not those of the Lord.
(v.17) - They tell the wicked they can have peace and that there is no evil in what they are doing.
(v.21) - They called themselves to the ministry and prophesy without revelation.
(v.31) - They say “Thus saith the Lord” when the Lord has not spoken through them.
Jeremiah29
Jeremiah tells Jews in Babylon to prepare for 70 years of captivity (v.4,10)
Jeremiah31
Read (v.12-14) - “They Shall Not Sorrow Any More at All”
These verses picture the great joy and happiness that will accompany the return of Israel. The promises of great abundance (see v. 12) and rejoicing (see v. 13) and the end of sorrow. Though Judah did not heed Jeremiah’s warning and his dire predictions came to pass, the hope of a brighter day was clearly given here.
Quote 4 - Elder LeGrand Richards said "While the members of the Priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not paid for their services, and thousands of them have left their families for years at a time to do missionary work in the nations of the earth, paying their own expenses and without remuneration from the Church, yet, in their hearts, they feel they are better paid than any other religious leaders in the world, because of the joy and satisfaction the Lord plants in their hearts, which could not possibly be purchased with money. Thus He has satiated ‘the soul of the priests with fatness,’ and His people are satisfied with His goodness."
Read (v.31-34)
What does it mean to have God’s law written in our hearts?
Joseph Smith was once asked how he successfully governed so many people. He said, “I teach the people correct principles and they govern themselves”
How does this statement relate to having God’s law written in our hearts?
What is the extent and purpose of the gathering?
1. Return of the Jews to Jerusalem.
2. Restoration of the Ten Tribes.
3. Assembling in the land of Zion of the people of Israel from the nations of the earth.
D&C 110:11 (1836 Moses restored the keys of the gathering of Israel)
D&C 133:8-9 (Tells us how/where to gather)
D&C 133:14 (Purpose: depart from spiritual Babylon - separate ourselves from wickedness that we may learn the ways of God and serve him the more fully)
D&C 133:26-34 (They who are in the north countries shall no longer stay themselves)
v.32 - Zion should already be established.
As being the tribe of Ephraim, we are charged to bless the families of the earth with the Gospel and gather Israel.
Jeremiah 16:29–30 "The Fathers Have Eaten a Sour Grape, and the Children’s Teeth Are Set on Edge" - This proverb conveyed the idea that children are affected by what their parents are and do
"There is the man who resisted release from positions in the Church. He knew positions were temporary trusts, but he criticized the presiding leader who had released him, complaining that proper recognition had not be given; the time had not been favorable; it had been a reflection upon his effectiveness. He bitterly built up a case for himself, absented himself from his meetings, and justified himself in his resultant estrangement. His children partook of his frustrations, and his children’s children. In later life he ‘came to himself,’ and on the brink of the grave made an about-face. His family would not effect the transformation which now he would give his life to have them make. How selfish! Haughty pride induces eating sour grapes, and innocent ones have their teeth set on edge.
“Eight lovely children had blessed the temple marriage of a man and woman who in later years were denied a temple recommend. They would not be so dealt with by this young bishop. Why should they be deprived and humiliated? Were they less worthy than others? They argued that this boy-bishop was too strict, too orthodox. Never would they be active, nor enter the door of that Church as long as that bishop presided. They would show him. The history of this family is tragic. The four younger ones were never baptized; the four older ones never were ordained, endowed, nor sealed. No missions were filled by this family. Today the parents are ill at ease, still defiant. They had covered themselves with a cloud, and righteous prayers could not pass through. “Sour grapes! Such unhappy food!” - Spencer W. Kimball
Israel - Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham
12 Tribes - 12 sons of Israel - children of Israel - Abrahamic covenant promised to them
Judah vs Israel
INTRO
The prophet Jeremiah lived through one of the most troubled periods of history. He witnessed the fall of a great empire (Assyria) and the rising of another (Babylon). Jeremiah declared God’s message for forty years, warning of coming disaster and appealing in vain to the nation to turn back to God. He, like Mormon, was called to labor among a people for whom there was no hope because they refused to repent, and “the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually”. Mormon, after witnessing the destruction of the Nephite nation, cried out for his people. Here was a righteous man, one of the best, lamenting over his people who were so blind, so foolish, so spiritually dead. Jeremiah, too, mourned his people’s wickedness. You may think of Jeremiah as a harsh man as you read his scorching denunciations of the Jewish people and the lives they were living, but he was not. His motivation, like Mormon’s, was love.
Think back and realize that the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt is one of the most miraculous events in the Old Testament
Quote 1 - A prophet does not select where and when he serves. God chooses when and to whom a prophet is sent. One may be an Enoch and build Zion, or a David O. McKay and preside over the Church in times of peace and prosperity. Another may be a Mormon or a Jeremiah and try in vain to save a rebellious and backsliding people. Each has his calling. Each has his time. Each has his lesson for us to learn.
Jeremiah 16
What do you know about the scattering of Israel?
At the death of Solomon, probably about 975 B. C., the kingdom was divided; the tribe of Judah and part of the tribe of Benjamin accepted Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, as their king; while the rest of the people, usually spoken of as the ten tribes, revolted against Rehoboam, thus breaking their allegiance with the house of David; they chose Jeroboam as their king. The ten tribes under Jeroboam retained the title Kingdom of Israel, though the kingdom was likewise known by the name of Ephraim,[915] from its most prominent tribe; while Rehoboam and his subjects were known as the Kingdom of Judah. For about 250 years the two kingdoms maintained a separate existence; after which (721 B. C.), the independent status of the kingdom of Israel was destroyed, and the people were brought into captivity by the Assyrians. The Kingdom of Judah was recognized for over a century longer, after which it was brought to an end by Nebuchadnezzar, who inaugurated the Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah was commanded to explain clearly to the people the reasons for his actions as well as the reasons for their coming punishment.
What did Jeremiah prophecy that gave Israel any kind of hope?
The Lord showed Jeremiah a vision of the future that put the calamities he had witnessed into a perspective of hope. Like other prophets of his time (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Micah, and Zechariah), Jeremiah was shown that scattered Israel would one day be gathered, that Judah would return to the lands of her possession, and that eventually all of Israel would become great. These visions and prophecies were recorded by Jeremiah and for centuries have provided hope to a nation of suffering people. They hold a very important place in the latter-day work of restoration.
Read v.14-16 (I will bring them again unto their land. He will send fishers, hunters, etc.)
Quote 2 - Elder LeGrand Richards commented on these verses: "Just contemplate that statement for a few moments. Think how the Jews and the Christians all through these past centuries have praised the Lord for his great hand of deliverance under the hands of Moses when he led Israel out of captivity, and yet here comes Jeremiah with this word of the holy prophet, telling us that in the latter days they shall no more remember that, but how God has gathered scattered Israel from the lands whither he had driven them. And Jeremiah saw the day when the Lord would do this very thing, when he would call for many fishers and many hunters, ‘and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.’ Where do you find those fishers and hunters that we read about in this great prophecy of Jeremiah? They are these 14,000 missionaries of this church, and those who have preceded them from the time that the Prophet Joseph Smith received the truth and sent the messengers out to share it with the world. Thus have they gone out, fishing and hunting, and gathering them from the hills and the mountains, and the holes in the rocks. I think that is more literal than some of us think"
Jeremiah 23
Read v.3 (Lord will bring them again to their folds)
Quote 3 - President Spencer W. Kimball said: "The gathering of Israel is now in progress. Hundreds of thousands of people have been baptized into the Church. Millions more will join the Church. And this is the way that we will gather Israel. The English people will gather in England. The Japanese people will gather in the Orient. The Brazilian people will gather in Brazil. So that important element of the world history is already being accomplished. It is to be done by missionary work. It is your responsibility to attend to this missionary work."
Chapter 23 is primarily a scathing denunciation of the religious leaders of Jeremiah’s. He mentions the following about the sins of the Jewish religious leaders, the priests and the “prophets.”
(v.11) - Both prophets and priests are profane.
(v.13) - They prophesied in the name of Baal and led the people into error (see v. 13).
(v.14) - The prophets are adulterers, liars, and supporters of evil men. They are as evil as Sodom and Gomorrah in God’s sight.
(v.16) - They speak their own words, not those of the Lord.
(v.17) - They tell the wicked they can have peace and that there is no evil in what they are doing.
(v.21) - They called themselves to the ministry and prophesy without revelation.
(v.31) - They say “Thus saith the Lord” when the Lord has not spoken through them.
Jeremiah29
Jeremiah tells Jews in Babylon to prepare for 70 years of captivity (v.4,10)
Jeremiah31
Read (v.12-14) - “They Shall Not Sorrow Any More at All”
These verses picture the great joy and happiness that will accompany the return of Israel. The promises of great abundance (see v. 12) and rejoicing (see v. 13) and the end of sorrow. Though Judah did not heed Jeremiah’s warning and his dire predictions came to pass, the hope of a brighter day was clearly given here.
Quote 4 - Elder LeGrand Richards said "While the members of the Priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not paid for their services, and thousands of them have left their families for years at a time to do missionary work in the nations of the earth, paying their own expenses and without remuneration from the Church, yet, in their hearts, they feel they are better paid than any other religious leaders in the world, because of the joy and satisfaction the Lord plants in their hearts, which could not possibly be purchased with money. Thus He has satiated ‘the soul of the priests with fatness,’ and His people are satisfied with His goodness."
Read (v.31-34)
What does it mean to have God’s law written in our hearts?
Joseph Smith was once asked how he successfully governed so many people. He said, “I teach the people correct principles and they govern themselves”
How does this statement relate to having God’s law written in our hearts?
What is the extent and purpose of the gathering?
1. Return of the Jews to Jerusalem.
2. Restoration of the Ten Tribes.
3. Assembling in the land of Zion of the people of Israel from the nations of the earth.
D&C 110:11 (1836 Moses restored the keys of the gathering of Israel)
D&C 133:8-9 (Tells us how/where to gather)
D&C 133:14 (Purpose: depart from spiritual Babylon - separate ourselves from wickedness that we may learn the ways of God and serve him the more fully)
D&C 133:26-34 (They who are in the north countries shall no longer stay themselves)
v.32 - Zion should already be established.
As being the tribe of Ephraim, we are charged to bless the families of the earth with the Gospel and gather Israel.
Jeremiah 16:29–30 "The Fathers Have Eaten a Sour Grape, and the Children’s Teeth Are Set on Edge" - This proverb conveyed the idea that children are affected by what their parents are and do
"There is the man who resisted release from positions in the Church. He knew positions were temporary trusts, but he criticized the presiding leader who had released him, complaining that proper recognition had not be given; the time had not been favorable; it had been a reflection upon his effectiveness. He bitterly built up a case for himself, absented himself from his meetings, and justified himself in his resultant estrangement. His children partook of his frustrations, and his children’s children. In later life he ‘came to himself,’ and on the brink of the grave made an about-face. His family would not effect the transformation which now he would give his life to have them make. How selfish! Haughty pride induces eating sour grapes, and innocent ones have their teeth set on edge.
“Eight lovely children had blessed the temple marriage of a man and woman who in later years were denied a temple recommend. They would not be so dealt with by this young bishop. Why should they be deprived and humiliated? Were they less worthy than others? They argued that this boy-bishop was too strict, too orthodox. Never would they be active, nor enter the door of that Church as long as that bishop presided. They would show him. The history of this family is tragic. The four younger ones were never baptized; the four older ones never were ordained, endowed, nor sealed. No missions were filled by this family. Today the parents are ill at ease, still defiant. They had covered themselves with a cloud, and righteous prayers could not pass through. “Sour grapes! Such unhappy food!” - Spencer W. Kimball
Sunday, November 9, 2014
ISAIAH 54-56, 63-65 - Enlarge the Place of thy Tent
STAKES OF ZION
Isaiah 54:2
What does the tent mentioned represent? (The Church of Jesus Christ.)
What do the tent stakes represent?
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The term stake is a symbolic expression. Picture in your mind a great tent held up by cords extended to many stakes that are firmly secured in the ground. The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently, Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion”
D&C 101:20–21
The first stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were organized in Kirtland, Ohio, and in Clay County, Missouri, in 1834. As the Church grew, more stakes were added as commanded by the Lord . Today there are hundreds of stakes located throughout the world.
Region Temples Missions Stakes Districts Wards Branches
World 170 406 3,104 554 22,083 7,381
United States 81 120 1,533 9 12,065 1,936
Utah 17 9 573 1 4,633 330
Outside U.S. 89 286 1,571 545 10,018 5,445
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/statistics/units/
Back to Isaiah 54:1-2
What do you think is the meaning of the phrase “Enlarge the place of thy tent”?
What other counsel is given regarding the tent, or Church?
Isaiah’s Counsel What We Can Do
Stretch the tent curtains and lengthen the cords. Serve as full-time missionaries; share the gospel with friends and neighbors.
Strengthen the tent stakes. Strengthen our local stakes.
What can we do to strengthen the stake in which we live? (Develop personal spiritual strength, influence our families and friends to do the same, serve our member and nonmember neighbors, and accept calls from priesthood leaders to serve in the Church.)
How can stakes bless people’s lives? (see D&C 115:5–6.)
What examples have you seen where stake of Zion is a place of defense and refuge?
Groups of people whom the Lord wants to come to him and find safety in the gospel:
A. All who thirst (Isaiah 55:1–3)
B. The wicked who will repent. (Isaiah 55:6–7)
C. Strangers who do not know the Lord. (Isaiah 56:3, 5–8)
A) ALL WHO THIRST
Isaiah 55:1-2
2 Nephi 9:50-51
What kind of thirst is referred to in these verses? (Spiritual thirst)
Who does the water represent? (Jesus is the living water and the bread of life)
What is this call to all who thirst? (Come unto Christ, Receive Salvation)
How much does it cost?
2 Nephi 2:4 - Salvation is free
What is Salvation?
D&C 6:13 - Salvation if greatest gift
What happens when we try to satisfy spiritual thirst by spending money and effort on temporal things?
What kind of effort is needed in this life to obtain salvation?
* The invitation to come unto Christ and obtain those gifts without money and without price suggests not that they can be obtained without effort but that one does not need the goods of this world to obtain them.
What is the price we pay for salvation?
Elder Marion G. Romney explained what price is required: “When earth life is over and things appear in their true perspective, we shall more clearly see and realize what the Lord and his prophets have repeatedly told us, that the fruits of the gospel are the only objectives worthy of life’s full efforts. Their possessor obtains true wealth—wealth in the Lord’s view of values. I conceive the blessings of the gospel to be of such inestimable worth. The price, is within the reach of us all, because it is not to be paid in money nor in any of this world’s goods but in righteous living. What is required is wholehearted devotion to the gospel and unreserved allegiance to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A half-hearted performance is not enough. We cannot obtain these blessings and be like the rich young man who protested that he had kept the commandments from his youth up but who went away sorrowful when, in answer to the question, ‘What lack I yet?’ Jesus said unto him,‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor … and come and follow me.’ (Matt. 19:21.) Evidently he could live everything but the welfare program. There can be no such reservation. We must be willing to sacrifice everything. Through self-discipline and devotion we must demonstrate to the Lord that we are willing to serve him under all circumstances. When we have done this, we shall receive an assurance that we shall have eternal life in the world to come.”
SECOND COMING
Isaiah prayed fervently for the Second Coming of the Savior, which would bring retribution for the wicked and great rejoicing for the righteous
Isaiah 64:1–4
How does this message increase your desire to endure to the end in serving the Lord?
MILLENNIUM
The closing chapters of Isaiah’s record present a beautiful picture of the Millennium
Isaiah 65:17–25
What conditions will exist during the Millennium?
A. The Lord will create new heavens and a new earth (v.17).
B. There will be great joy and no more weeping for the Lord’s people (v.18–19).
C. People will not die young; they will live to be 100 years old (v.20).
D. People will enjoy the fruits of their own labors (v.21–23).
E. Prayers will be answered immediately (v.24).
F. There will be no enmity among beasts (v.25).
It is my prayer that we will be dedicated to help strengthen the stakes of Zion and prepare for the Second Coming and the Millennium.
Isaiah 54:2
What does the tent mentioned represent? (The Church of Jesus Christ.)
What do the tent stakes represent?
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The term stake is a symbolic expression. Picture in your mind a great tent held up by cords extended to many stakes that are firmly secured in the ground. The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently, Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion”
D&C 101:20–21
The first stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were organized in Kirtland, Ohio, and in Clay County, Missouri, in 1834. As the Church grew, more stakes were added as commanded by the Lord . Today there are hundreds of stakes located throughout the world.
Region Temples Missions Stakes Districts Wards Branches
World 170 406 3,104 554 22,083 7,381
United States 81 120 1,533 9 12,065 1,936
Utah 17 9 573 1 4,633 330
Outside U.S. 89 286 1,571 545 10,018 5,445
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/statistics/units/
Back to Isaiah 54:1-2
What do you think is the meaning of the phrase “Enlarge the place of thy tent”?
What other counsel is given regarding the tent, or Church?
Isaiah’s Counsel What We Can Do
Stretch the tent curtains and lengthen the cords. Serve as full-time missionaries; share the gospel with friends and neighbors.
Strengthen the tent stakes. Strengthen our local stakes.
What can we do to strengthen the stake in which we live? (Develop personal spiritual strength, influence our families and friends to do the same, serve our member and nonmember neighbors, and accept calls from priesthood leaders to serve in the Church.)
How can stakes bless people’s lives? (see D&C 115:5–6.)
What examples have you seen where stake of Zion is a place of defense and refuge?
Groups of people whom the Lord wants to come to him and find safety in the gospel:
A. All who thirst (Isaiah 55:1–3)
B. The wicked who will repent. (Isaiah 55:6–7)
C. Strangers who do not know the Lord. (Isaiah 56:3, 5–8)
A) ALL WHO THIRST
Isaiah 55:1-2
2 Nephi 9:50-51
What kind of thirst is referred to in these verses? (Spiritual thirst)
Who does the water represent? (Jesus is the living water and the bread of life)
What is this call to all who thirst? (Come unto Christ, Receive Salvation)
How much does it cost?
2 Nephi 2:4 - Salvation is free
What is Salvation?
D&C 6:13 - Salvation if greatest gift
What happens when we try to satisfy spiritual thirst by spending money and effort on temporal things?
What kind of effort is needed in this life to obtain salvation?
* The invitation to come unto Christ and obtain those gifts without money and without price suggests not that they can be obtained without effort but that one does not need the goods of this world to obtain them.
What is the price we pay for salvation?
Elder Marion G. Romney explained what price is required: “When earth life is over and things appear in their true perspective, we shall more clearly see and realize what the Lord and his prophets have repeatedly told us, that the fruits of the gospel are the only objectives worthy of life’s full efforts. Their possessor obtains true wealth—wealth in the Lord’s view of values. I conceive the blessings of the gospel to be of such inestimable worth. The price, is within the reach of us all, because it is not to be paid in money nor in any of this world’s goods but in righteous living. What is required is wholehearted devotion to the gospel and unreserved allegiance to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A half-hearted performance is not enough. We cannot obtain these blessings and be like the rich young man who protested that he had kept the commandments from his youth up but who went away sorrowful when, in answer to the question, ‘What lack I yet?’ Jesus said unto him,‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor … and come and follow me.’ (Matt. 19:21.) Evidently he could live everything but the welfare program. There can be no such reservation. We must be willing to sacrifice everything. Through self-discipline and devotion we must demonstrate to the Lord that we are willing to serve him under all circumstances. When we have done this, we shall receive an assurance that we shall have eternal life in the world to come.”
SECOND COMING
Isaiah prayed fervently for the Second Coming of the Savior, which would bring retribution for the wicked and great rejoicing for the righteous
Isaiah 64:1–4
How does this message increase your desire to endure to the end in serving the Lord?
MILLENNIUM
The closing chapters of Isaiah’s record present a beautiful picture of the Millennium
Isaiah 65:17–25
What conditions will exist during the Millennium?
A. The Lord will create new heavens and a new earth (v.17).
B. There will be great joy and no more weeping for the Lord’s people (v.18–19).
C. People will not die young; they will live to be 100 years old (v.20).
D. People will enjoy the fruits of their own labors (v.21–23).
E. Prayers will be answered immediately (v.24).
F. There will be no enmity among beasts (v.25).
It is my prayer that we will be dedicated to help strengthen the stakes of Zion and prepare for the Second Coming and the Millennium.
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