Holy Ghost

One of the most important things that Christ taught the disciples before He left was about the Holy Ghost.  This is important because since Christ was no longer going to be with them, He needed someone to be able to teach them the things that He needed them to know.  This is where the Comforter or Holy Ghost comes in.  The Holy Ghost comes in Christ’s name and teaches us the simple Truths of the gospel and helps us remember the things that we have already learned.  He reproves sin and encourages righteousness and will abide with us forever if we try out best to follow the commandments laid down by Christ.  His main purpose is to testify of Christ.  Because of this, any learning we do through the Holy Ghost is much more powerful and deep.  It has more conviction and power.  When we receive this conviction and power through the Truths we are presented with, it is then our duty to share those Truths with others.  This Comforter is also there for our protection (physical and spiritual).  He will guide us where we are supposed to go and the paths we are supposed to be walking.  If we just listen, then we will have power and confidence in our lives and where they are headed.

Listening to the Holy Ghost isn't always easy.  I know there are many times that I have felt a prompting but ignore it for some reason or another.  Sometimes I found out afterwards that I really should have followed it and it would have made my life or someone else’s life that much easier, but other times, I will never know what that prompting was for.  One of the greatest helps the Holy Ghost gives me is through my work in school and when I teach.  It truly is a source of comfort for those hard times and also has helped me learn to the best of my abilities and gives me ideas to best teach and help the people I am working with.  I don’t know how many times we have hit a wall in trying to understand/convey a concept and then suddenly a completely off the wall answer hits me that works!  It’s amazing to me that the Holy Ghost can help me overcome my limitations so I can be more effective in helping others.

Leadership

Many people have varying ideas of what leaders are and what they should do.  Christ's idea of leading is far different from what the world thinks a leader should be.  The world puts leaders on a pedestal way above those they are in charge of whereas the Lord was more personable and involved with his followers.  He genuinely cared for them and sought to put their needs first above His own.  Instead of putting His needs first and seeking to advance Himself, He focuses on the needs and respecting those that are beneath and in His charge.
Christ stressed the idea that none is greater than the other.  The master is not greater than the than the servants and the servants are not any greater than those they serve.  There is equality and we should work together to achieve similar goals.  We are all working towards eternal life and are helping each other along the way.  So while there is one that is directing and being in charge of activities, there is not one that is elevated above another in worth.  This is different from the worlds view where when a person is in a leadership position, they are above and better than everyone else.
Throughout my life, there have been many leaders that have influenced me and my decisions.  All of those leaders exemplify these qualities of service, love, and humility.  This makes me more willing to take correction from them and listen to what they have to say to me.  One of my favorite and influential leaders was someone who would take time out of her busy scheduled to help me or listen if I had a concern about life.  She never was judgmental and offered all the love and support she could while still allowing me to grow and make decisions myself.

Service

Luke 22:32- When you are converted then you will help lift and strengthen others.

One of my favorite quotes from Pres. Kimball is "One can hardly help another to the top of the hill without climbing there himself".  Many times we think that we have to finish working on ourselves before we can start helping others; (that whole put your oxygen mask on before you help others put theirs on).  I think there is some truth to that but I think more often than not, most of our growth and 'becoming' comes when we reach out and focus on others and serve.  I think that when Christ says 'converted', it is talking about the desire to do better, the desire to become more like Christ, not necessarily being an amazing/spectacular human.  That becoming and that true change into becoming as Christ is, comes when we reach out and strengthen others and give our all to serving them.

Events Leading up to the Second Coming

Christ taught his disciples about the events that would lead up to the Second Coming, the time when Christ would again return to the Earth and usher in the Millennium and the destruction of the Temple.  Following is a list of some of the events leading up to the greater events and promises that accompany them.

Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (JS-M 1:5-20)

1) Events to occur - Many will be deceived, people shall hate and offend one another, love shall wax cold, sorrows and tribulation

2) Promises to the righteous - Shall be saved if they remain faithful, their days shall be shortened

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (JS-M 1:21-55)

1) Events to occur - Wars and rumors of wars, false prophets and false Christ's, the elect will be deceived, famine and earthquakes, gospel preached to the world, the righteous will be gathered, wicked will be destroyed and cut off from the presence of God,

2) Promises to the righteous s - All God's promises will be fulfilled, those that overcome shall be saved, treasure up His words and do not be deceived

Although there are some bad or scary things that are going to happen, there is hope.  We do not need to fear as the righteous will always be saved and protected.

The Last Week

Christ spent the last week of His life, doing all He could to lay down the ground work for the new Law that was to be instituted.  He also taught His apostles to prepare them for running the Church in His absence.

Day 1: Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem.  He is greeted with shouts of Hosanna and rides on a path of palm leaves.
Day 2: Christ challenges the Jewish leaders and cleanses the temple of those defiling it.
Day 3: Christ returns to the temple and challenges the Jewish leaders and their teachings, offending them.  They plot His death.  He then spends time exclusively with the Twelve Apostles preparing them for His absence.
Day 4:  Christ spends time outside the city of Jerusalem in Bethany.
Day 5: There is a Passover where the Twelve are again instructed and the sacrament instituted.  He then suffers in the garden of Gethsemane for the sins of the world.  Judas betrays Him and Christ is taken to the Roman authorities to be tried.
Day 6: Christ is falsely charged with blasphemy and sedition.  He is ordered to be put to death by hanging on a cross.  Christ is crucified and after His death, His body is sealed in a tomb.
Day 7 (The Sabbath): Christ's body lays in the tomb but His spirit spends the time teaching in the Spirit world.
Day of the Resurrection: Christ is resurrected and returned to His body.  He appears to Mary and comforts her.

More on Parables

Here is a list of some of the stories and parables spoken of in Luke and the principles that can be gleaned from them:

• Luke 16: 1-12- The Parable of the Unjust Steward.  Be faithful and diligent in the things that you are entrusted with now and do not worry about the future.  If you are diligent then the Lord will make things right and will provide for your needs.

• Luke 16: 19-31- The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  While here in this life, we need to accept the Truths we are presented with and do good unto others with the knowledge we are blessed with.

• Luke 17: 11-19- The 10 Lepers. Give thanks constantly unto God, our Heavenly Father, for the things He has given us and blessed us in our lives.

• Luke 18:1-8- The Parable of the Unjust Judge. The Savior is the ultimate Judge and we cannot and should not try to act in His place.  Pray always to Heavenly Father for guidance and understanding.

• Luke 19: 9-14- The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.  Beware of self-righteousness and exalting oneself above God.  Those who are humble and respect and fear God will be given the reward of exaltation in the life to come.

Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

• have and show others mercy 
• build a relationship with Christ through prayer and scriptures 
• seek the Kingdom of God above all things 
• look outward toward others and not inward to yourself 
• trust that God will watch over and protect you 
• serve others
• repent of all things and strive to be more like Him

 Ultimately, to become disciples of Christ, we are required to give of all we have and all we are to serving Him and keeping His commandments.
I feel like service to others and not thinking about yourself but always looking for that person in need is one of the most important aspect of becoming a disciple of Christ.  We were not sent down here to earth in isolation, but with others; to help lift and strengthen one another.  During General Conference April 2011, Pres. Eyring gave a talk (Opportunities to Do Good) about how we can go about searching for opportunities to do good to those around us. He encouraged each of us to pray daily to find someone that we can serve. This sacrifice allows us to grow and develop faith enough to become more like Christ in our actions and thoughts and be disciples of Him.

"He who only serves himself withers and dies.  He who serves others blossoms and grows." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Become as Little Children

One of the most well-known and most quoted scriptures is when Christ tells his followers to "be converted, and become as little children" as a prerequisite to entering the kingdom of heaven.  Since this is obviously a big deal, what does it mean to become as a little child?  What qualities does that entail?  How are we like children to God? In Mosiah, King Benjamin tells us that children are "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father" (3:19).  Many of those qualities seem to overlap and, ultimately, require one to have faith in God and trust that He knows what is best for our individual lives.

We do not know all things; we cannot know all things; therefore, we have to rely even more on God and His blessings.  In D&C we read, "...ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer for I will lead you along..." (78:18-19).  With His ever-watchful eye, God is careful to lead us where we need to go and is quick to give blessings and help when it is needed. 

President Ezra Taft Benson said of this, "Men and women who turn their lives to God will find out that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.  He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, and pour out peace."  That is a great blessing and promise that we have if only we have the faith enough to turn our lives completely over to God and follow His will.  

Walking on the Sea

One of my favorite stories from Christ's time on earth is the story of Peter walking on water to meet Christ in Matthew 14:22-33.  There are many applications from this passage that can parallel our lives.  This account happens right after Christ is done feeding the five thousand and teaching the people.  After He is done with His sermon, He asks the disciples to get on a boat and meet Him on the other side of the sea.  After they and the multitude left, Christ went up into a mountain to pray.  The scriptures then talk about how the sea was "boisterous" and wind "contrary" and yet the disciples went anyway.  Christ was the one that sent them out into the less than friendly sea and was watching over them from the mountain, but did not come down to them till the "fourth watch".  Sometimes we are sent down paths in life that are not the most pleasant but God is always watching out for us and will come save us, even if He does let us struggle a little first.
Another vital part of this story is Peter walking on water.  When he first saw Christ walking on the water and heard His voice, Peter wanted to come out and meet Him.  He had faith to know that Christ would help him and allow him to come out and meet Christ out on the turbulent sea.  While this faith was with him, Peter had no trouble walking on water and facing the storm; it was when he got distracted and looked away at the tempest around him that he started to sink.  In life, we must have our eye single to the glory of God and have faith in His ways.  If not, then we are more easily besotted and bogged down by the cares and trials of the world.  Even if we do allow our gaze to wander though, Christ is there with an outstretched hand to immediately reach out and grab our hand if we are sinking.  Faith and doubt cannot co-exist.  When we have faith in Christ and in His plan for us, then there is no room for doubt in our lives.  It is when we allow doubt to enter our lives that faith starts to diminish and paralyzing fear creeps in.  Christ is there for us and when we call to Him, He will come rescue us from the waves and winds of the Sea of Life.

"Sometimes the Lord calms the storm, and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child."
-Elder John Groberg

Parables

A parable is a word of Greek origin that means a setting side by side, a comparison.  It is a story on the surface, but underneath, there is a deeper meaning.  Divine Truth is presented alongside material things or subjects.  It is important to take the context of time and culture when listening to parables as that may have significant parts to play in the interpretation of the parable.
Christ used parables for a number of reasons. When teaching in parables, it is up to the hearer to divine what is being taught.  If the person listening to the parable doesn't search for the deeper meaning behind the words, then a story is all that it will remain.  It takes a person willing to seek to find the religious truths that are hidden within the story.
A couple of the parables mentioned in the chapters we read this week were the parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:47-50); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46); parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50).  All of them have great insights into God's kingdom and it's movement throughout the Earth.  The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven talk about how such small things like a mustard seed can grow into a large tree or that the little bit of yeast can make a large amount of bread rise.  The Kingdom of God started out small on this Earth, but through diligence and the efforts of people to spread the Word, it has grown into one of the most dominant forces on this planet.  It is our responsibility to spread our nets and help others to come unto Christ, even in the smallest ways.
We must strive to live as an example of the believers so that others want to get to know Christ because they have known us.

The Calling of the Twelve Apostles

One of the first things that Christ did at the beginning of his ministry was to call twelve Apostles to assist him during his ministry here on earth and then to represent Him and the Church after his crucifixion.  These twelve men were to be Christ's closest disciples and helps while Christ was establishing his church among the people of the time.

Among these men were: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Lebbaeus, Simon and Judas.  Most of these men were of humble profession (fishermen and carpenters) and were not people of great importance in their cities. Because of this, they were humble and teachable enough to listen and obey when Christ gave them instructions to preach, minister and heal the sick.  One of the biggest things that Christ stresses when they go out to work, is the reliance on the Spirit and faith in God.  They are not to worry about the things of men and of flesh, but to go to work trusting that God will prepare a way for them.  That doesn't mean that their work will be easy.  Christ also warns them that they will be "hated" and "persecuted... for my name's sake" but that in the end, if they are faithful, then they shall have their reward of eternal life (Matt. 10: 5-42).

The word "Apostle" means "one sent forth".  To be called as an apostle is to be a special witness of Jesus Christ in all the world.  Although not all of us are called to be apostles, we are each called to certain responsibilities and duties in this life.  Recently I decided to go on a mission and just got my call yesterday.  It was never in my life plan (any more than being an apostle was in any of the Twelve's plan, I am sure) but when the Lord calls, you go.  Eighteen months is a long time to be away serving strangers in a strange area but never have I been so sure that I am doing the right thing.  The apostle's example is one of faith, dedication and commitment.  They "forsook all and followed him" (Luke 5:11).  For me personally, this is the example I want to follow and do what I can to be faithful disciples and followers of Christ like they were.

We Must Be Born Again

God loves each and every one of us as his children.  He sent his son to atone for us so that we can be born again and return to live with Him once more.  If we believe in Christ and his word and follow him, then all the blessings that our Heavenly Father is just waiting to pour out on us can be ours.
What does it mean to be born again?

• What is the difference between “seeing” the kingdom of God and “entering” the kingdom of God?
• Knowing what is right vs. doing what is right
• Making that goal to become better vs. achieving that goal
• What did Jesus Christ teach Nicodemus that he must do to enter the kingdom of God?
• To enter into the kingdom of God, one must be born both of water and the Spirit.  That is to say, baptism by immersion and having a change of heart with faith in Christ
• Baptism as a symbol of rebirth (Moses 6:59):
• Cleansed of sin
• Become a new person, cast off the old
• Baptism as a symbol of death (Romans 6:4):
• Bury the old life/ways
• Leave behind sin and the ways of the world
• What does it mean to be “born of the Spirit?”
• In Mosiah 5:5, the people of King Benjamin had a change of heart and said, "And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days..."
• It is desiring to do God's will in all times, in all things, and in all places
• It is a change of heart
• What natural element does the Lord compare with the Spirit? Why is it an effective comparison?
• Fire
• A purifying agent: can destroy the imperfections while leaving the good behind
• Can give light and warmth that sustains life
• Can make one uncomfortable if used the wrong way

 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life:  but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). 

The Childhood of Jesus Christ

Most of the time, we focus on Christ's birth and then skip ahead to his ministry and miracles among the people.  Although these times a very important and necessary to our understanding of Christ and his work among men, we can also learn much from his childhood and how he grew into the man that was Savior of the world.  Here are some main points that stood out to me about his experience as a child.

• He went through the veil just as we did and grew "grace to grace" until he had the fullness of truth (D&C 93:12-13)

• He learned from and served his Father and did not need the teachings of man (JS-Translation: Matthew 3:34-36)

• By 12, he was knowledgeable enough to be teaching the priests of the temple (Luke 2:46-47)

• Because he was the Son of God, he was tempted more than any of us could even imagine; this prepared him for the atonement and to suffer for our sins (Mosiah 3:7)

We can learn much from his example of faith and perseverance.  We too must learn grace by grace, step by step, precept upon precept until we have reached that same point that Christ did.  "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.  And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130: 18-19).  This life is a constant journey and struggle against temptation and trials to become better and more like Christ.  Through his ultimate sacrifice, this is now a possible goal for us to reach while on this Earth.

New Project

For my online New Testament class, as one of our projects, we have the choice to add to a blog once a week about some things we have been discussing during class.  Much more interesting than just writing a paper each week!  We are studying the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John); the life and ministry of Christ.  So stay tuned each week for some amazing knowledge from yours truly ;)