Week 11: Jesus' Instructions on the Holy Ghost

For this week’s assignment I chose to talk about the Savior’s instructions about the Holy Ghost.  I will first be going through verses in John chapters 14, 15 and 16 and identify what Jesus says in each verse what the Holy Ghost does and what the disciples must do to receive the Holy Ghost.

Starting in John 14 we begin at verses 15-17.  In here, Jesus tells His disciples to keep His commandments and He will pray unto God that He will give them the Holy Ghost to abide with them forever.  How He describes the Holy Ghost in this is that the Holy Ghost is the spirit of truth that the world can’t receive because they can’t recognize him, but the disciples now him because he dwelt with them and will be in them.  Next verses are 26-27 where Jesus says that the Comforter is the Holy Ghost whom God will send in Jesus’ name and he will teach the disciples all things and bring all things to their remembrance of the things Jesus has taught and told them.  Jesus went on to say that he leaves His peace with them, but not as the world gives.  Then we jump to John 15:26-27 and Jesus tells His disciples that when the Comforter comes who He sends to them from God, which is the spirit of truth will testify of Christ, and that the disciples will bear witness as well, because they had seen Him.  Now we go to John 16:7-8 where Jesus says that it’s expedient for Him to go away or else the Comforter can’t come to them, but if He does leave, the Comforter can come, and when he does come, he’ll reprove the world of sin, righteousness and Judgment.  Hopping to verses 13-14 of the same chapter, Jesus asked how is that when the Holy Ghost comes he’ll guide the disciples into all truth because he doesn’t speak of himself but whatever he hears he will speak and will so them the things to come and will glorify Christ because he will receive of His and show it to them.

When the Savior died for our sins and then resurrected, the disciples had to rely on the Holy Ghost to guide them and help them recall truth.  The Holy Ghost became their constant companion and helped them in many ways.  When the disciples went to spread the Gospel, they had the spirit with them to help those they preached to feel the truthfulness of it.  They were able to make the church grow so big because of the Holy Ghost.  Another way the spirit helped them was by being the Comforter to them in times of hardships, trials and sufferings. 

The Holy Ghost has also been my aid and companion.  The Spirit testified to me the truthfulness of this Gospel which gave me my testimony.  The Comforter came to comfort me when I asked God for comfort.  This church would have a very hard time existing without the Holy Ghost, and so I am eternally thankful for the Spirit.

Week 10: A New Commandment

A New Commandment

How can others know if we are disciples of Jesus Christ?

In John 13:34-35 Jesus gave a new commandment to His disciples and told them to love one another as He loves them.  For us, others can know we are Disciples of Christ by loving them as Jesus loves us.  For example, if someone we knew was made fun of because of the way the dress, we would go them and make them feel better about themselves as well as make them feel loved and appreciated.  We would also remind them how Jesus sees them, and how that is the most important person to view them in a good way, which He does.  We would also tell them to ignore the mockers and that they are not being Christ-like. 

  Another example of being a disciple of Christ is noticing a new person at church.  We would go up to them and introduce ourselves.  We would try to get to know the new person and try to make them feel welcomed.  

I now come to the question: am I a disciple of Christ?  I believe I am, but I will work on it to become better.  I will use my husband as training.  I’ll make him feel better about himself when he feels down.  I will often remind him of God’s love for him and how I believe He views Him.  I will avoid arguing with Him.  I will make him feel loved.  That should be a good start!  I think it would be good if I did some of that with the ladies I visit teach to help them see their value in God.  

I challenge anyone who reads this to choose a person and start being a disciple of Christ to them, to love them as He loves us.

Week 9: Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ

This week, I will write about the truths given about how to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ from the references that were given to me.  

The first reference is Doctrine and Covenants 87:8 which advises to stand in holy places and not move from them until He comes.  The interesting part of the scripture is “be not moved” so it not only says not to move yourself from the holy places, but not to let anyone or anything else remove you from it.  The second reference is Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:32.  It says that again the abomination spoken by Daniel the prophet will be fulfilled.  So apparently whatever abomination Daniel spoke of, happens more than once, but what was the abomination?  It is the destruction of Jerusalem.  It’s already happened, and it will happen again.  Next is Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:37 which says that whoever treasures up His word won’t be deceived, for the Son of Man will come and send His angels before Him with the great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together the remainder of His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.  I find this scripture very curious.  We know about the trumpets from John’s book of Revelation, but I always wondered how it will sound and if the whole people of the earth will be able to identify it, or only the elect.  Then, I looked at the footnote for the word “remainder” and it says the remnant of Israel and also found that curious.  Then the whole gather together part, I wonder if it’s gathering in Temples or stakes or wards or branches, and if it would be in the meeting buildings, or somewhere else.  Also, what about Missouri?  There too?  This verse definitely makes me curious!  Next reference is Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:46-50 which speaks about being on guard and watch for the Savior’s coming as we would for a thief.  I don’t know if there is another time where He relates Himself to a thief, but I know he wasn’t saying that He’ll be one, just like the stealthiness of one for when He will come.  

I know the Lord will come, and that it will be soon.  We do not know what day he will come, and so we must prepare ourselves now and wait.  We must do our repenting now before it’s too late, because we don’t know when it will be too late.  He will come, and we must be prepared.

Week 8: Comparison of the Jewish leaders

I chose an assignment for this week where I talk about the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ days on earth.  There are scriptures where Jesus says something and it relates to the Jewish leaders somehow.  I will go over those scriptures and explain how the Jewish leaders relate to them.  Here are the comparisons:

Matthew 21:17-20 The Fig Tree.  Jesus was hungry, saw a tree and went to get food from it, but then saw that it had no fruit.  He then cursed it.  This is a difficult one for me, it’s hard to tell.  What I can think of is that the Jewish leaders should be the ones to recognize the Messiah and yet they didn't  and they even wanted Jesus dead.  I hope that connection makes sense to whoever reads this.

Matthew 21:28-32 The Second Son.  Jesus shares a story of a father and two of his sons which he tells them to go work in the vineyard.  The first son said he wouldn't, but then repented and did his father’s will.  The second son said that he would do it, but did not.  The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ days were like the second son.  They were supposedly the ones closer to God and more knowledgeable of the scriptures.  However, they were hypocrites and wanted to kill their Messiah.

Matthew 21:33-41 The Husbandmen.  There was a householder who planted a vineyard and made a wine-press in it and built a tower.  He “let it out” to husbandmen and went away.  Eventually he sent servants to go get the fruits, but the husbandmen would beat or kill the servants.  Eventually the householder sent his son thinking the husbandmen would reverence him, but they desired to kill him also so that they could gain his inheritance.  The Jewish leaders were like the husbandmen.  They wanted to give the Son of God.

Matthew 22:1-14 The Wedding Guests and the Man Without the Wedding Garment.   There was a king who made a marriage for his son and sent servants to tell those who were invited to come but they didn't and the king sent servants a second time to tell them to come but they went and did their own things not caring, and others killed the servants with the message to them.  When the king heard about the murders, he sent his armies to destroy them and their cities.  After that all those who were invited and would not come became unworthy to come and the king had his servants invite those from the highways, both good and bad.  Then the king saw a guest who he originally invited and saw that he had no wedding garment, and had him thrown out because of his unworthiness to be there.  The Jewish leaders were like the man with no wedding garment.  They thought they were good, but they denied the Son of God and so they would end up being in the outer darkness… is what the scriptures made it seem like, but I’m not sure if I’m translating that correctly.

Anyways, the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time were major hypocrites and wanted to kill Jesus.  They were considered to be the highly educated in the scriptures and to be the main examples of how Jews should be.  However, as I said before they were hypocrites.  And, Satan had their hearts and so they would not accept their Savior.  I however know that Jesus is our Savior, and that He suffered and died for our sins that we may have the chance to repent because we are imperfect.  I know that He resurrected and that He still lives and has his body with the nail markings to show who He is.  Jesus is the Christ.

Week 7: Parables and Accounts from Jesus

This week I will be talking about the parables and accounts that teach eternal truths.  Also, I will mention what I believe to be the major principles the Lord wants us to understand from each of the parables that I cover.  

First is the parable in Luke 16:1-12.  It’s about the Unjust Steward.  The principle I got from this is to be diligent with your earthly riches since they will not last long.  The second one is in the same book and chapter, but verses 19-31.  This parable is of Lazarus and the Rich Man.  The principle I got from reading this is that the gulf between the spirit paradise and spirit prison was not bridged in order for those in paradise to preach those in prison until Christ performed the Atonement.  Next is Luke 17:11-19 which is the parable of the Ten Lepers.  This one’s principle is that we are not made whole from being healed until we give the Lord our gratitude.  Fifth is in Luke 18:1-8.  It is the parable if the Unjust Judge, and what I found in it was that God will avenge His followers who are hurt or made fun of for their righteousness and doing the Lord’s will.  Also that He will do so speedily.  The last one is in Luke 18:9-14, and is the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.  The principle I got from this is that if I am self-righteous, I won’t get anything for it, but if I humble myself, I will receive many blessings for it.  

These parables all have great meaning in them.  For anyone who reads this, I hope I did not butcher anything or even say false doctrine (I don’t think I did).  The Lord gave these parables for a reason.  He also knew they would be recorded and that we would all read it in these latter days.  These can relate to us.  Some are easier to understand and relate than others, but I know that if you try, you will find the things that the Savior wants you to learn.

Week 6: The Establishing of the Seventy

I chose to talk about the Seventy, both when it was formed first by Christ, and the quorums in the latter days.  When the Lord called Seventy, He told them many things.  First, was that they must travel in pairs everywhere.  They should not have anything precious on them.  He tells them to stay in the same house every night that they are in an area, and to bless the house when they first go into it.  They must eat anything and everything that they are given for their meals.  Anyone that receives or denies them receives or denies Christ as well.  They are given the power to cast out devils and to heal.  They are also given the power to overcome Satan.  

When the church was first being established by Jesus, he called the Seventy, having them travel in pairs, and healing the sick, and power over Satan and to cast out devils.  This day, in the Gospel, we also have Quorums or Seventy called of God that still go around having watch and leadership over certain areas as but in pairs.  They can heal, cast out devils, and have power over Satan.  Our gospel has the same organization as when Jesus established the church.  These are things that our church to today believes in, and that is what our present-day Quorums of the Seventy do.  

Presently, the quorums of Seventy hold the Melchizedek Priesthood.  They are General Authorities in the church, and have Apostolic authority, but are not ordained as apostles.  They are always ministering and devoted all their time to do so.  I know that they are all called of God, and are just men.  I have had the privilege to hear a couple of their talks in Stake meetings.  I know that the church uses the same organization as Jesus started.

Week 5: Become as Little Children

This week, I chose the topic about becoming as little children.

In Matthew 18:4 Jesus says to humble ourselves as a little children.  A little child knows very little compared to adults.  They always ask questions and seek truth and answers to them.  We also know little when compared to the Lord’s knowledge.   Because of that, we should become humble, acknowledge that fact and also should seek truth and wisdom like a little child would. 

The Lord wants to become like little children by being Submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord sees fit to inflict upon us, just like a child submits to his parents.  A child is all of these things, but sadly we grow out of them just to end up being chastised back to that.  By changing and becoming like a child, we can become better disciples of the Lord and we will be better people in general.  I know that if we make the effort and change to become like a child, we will be blessed for doing so, especially for those of us who have pride issues.