Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Lord Appointed Other Seventy Also


Luke 10:1–24. “The Lord Appointed Other Seventy Also”

  1. Review Luke 10:1–24. Based on these verses, write a summary of the Lord’s counsel and instructions He gave the seventy.
They were to go to every city and place, two by two, that the Lord himself would go. They were to carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes. They were to say “peace be unto this house” to the houses they went into. If the spirit was there, they would know it, if not it will come back to them. If they were received, they should eat the things placed before them. They should also heal the sick. If they weren’t received in that city, they were to dust off their feet. Those that hear the seventy, hear Him. They have power over Satan. Their names are written in heaven because of their faithful service. They were blessed to see and hear the things that they have; many wish they had that same opportunity.
  1. Articles of Faith 1:6 states, “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church.” Using the principles taught from Luke 10:1–2, 8–9, 17–20, write a paragraph that supports this Article of Faith.
The church is established today the same as it was when Christ was on the earth. The Seventy are ordained and still sent out, “as traveling minters”, to all the world to testify and help in the harvest. They use their priesthood today to heal the sick and call others unto repentance, warning them to do so soon. They also have power over Satan and are blessed for their faithful service.
  1. Go to the Church’s scripture website and read the topic of “Seventy” in the Guide to the Scriptures. Describe in one or two sentences how the scriptures show the existence of this office in the priesthood.
The Seventy were mentioned in Luke 10, with more specific details found in Doctrine & Covenants 107. Their role is to testify, as special witnesses, to all the world; building up the Church and regulating the affairs in all nations. 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Feeding of the Multitudes

 

The Feeding of the Multitudes

The Savior provided two similar miracles. As a summary of what took place, complete the following chart:


Matthew 14:14-21
Matthew 15:32-38
How many people were present?
Multitude-About 5000 men, beside women and children
Multitude 4000 men, beside women and children 
What did they need?
 To eat
 To eat
What were they able to offer in an effort to meet that need?
 Five loaves & 2 fishes
 7 loaves, few little fishes
What words or phrases describe the Savior's feeling toward the multitudes in their time of need?
 Compassion
 Compassion
What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for the multitudes?
All were able to eat with 12 baskets remaining
They did all eat and had 7 baskets full of broken meat
In each story, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome. Read Romans 3:23 and ​explain in writing another way human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Without the atonement, we can’t return to our Heavenly Father.
According to Ether 12:27, how does the Lord help us overcome this insufficiency?
We’re given weaknesses so that we may be humble. If we are humble and have faith, the weak things become strengths.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Miracles Are Evidence of Faith and God's Power

Matthew 8-9; Mark 2 Miracles Are Evidence of Faith and God's Power


Reference
 
Miracles of the Lord
 
Who Demonstrated Faith
Matthew 8:1-4
Healed the leper
 
Leper
Matthew 8:5-13
Servant healed of palsy
Centurion
Matthew 8:14-15
Healing of Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever
Jesus
Matthew 8:16
Cast out spirits of those possessed with devils
Christ
 
Matthew 8:23-27
Calmed the sea
Christ
Matthew 8:28-34
Devils cast out into swine
Christ
 
Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34
Woman with blood issue (hemorrhage) made whole
Woman
 
Matthew 9:27-31
Gave sight to 2 blind men
Blind men
 
Mark 2:1-12
Healed one sick of palsy
The 4 people that brought the man
 

Explain how it affects your faith to know that God has this kind of power.


With God nothing is impossible. So by reading of these miracles, it reminds me of who I need to turn to when I am in a situation that is beyond my control. This can be done through prayer as well as receiving a priesthood blessing. At the same time, I need to also realize that His will be done and accept that. Recently I was in a lot of pain. During this time, when medicine didn’t curb the discomfort, I turned to God in prayer. I pleaded for His help. I received a priesthood blessing, in which I was told my body would be made complete. As things turned out, I ended up needing to have my gallbladder removed. I was able to get the help that I needed (from the hospital) to get my pain under control and have the surgery. Since that time, my body has been able to compensate for the loss of my gallbladder and function as “normal”. To me this is an answer to my prayer, although not how I was hoping it would be answered.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

The Birth of Jesus Christ

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Option 1 Choice 3

  • What did Joseph initially want to do when he found out Mary was with child? He was going to have his espousal annulled. 
  • What did Joseph decide to do after the visit of the angel in his dream? What does this suggest about Joseph’s character? He decided to take Mary as his wife. That he was faithful and knew what he needed to do. It also showed that he had a great love for Mary.
  • How many times in these chapters was Joseph guided by the Lord in a dream? What does this suggest about Joseph’s spiritual sensitivity? Joseph had two different dreams in those chapters. It suggests that he was living worthily of having those types of dreams to receive the direction and guidance that he did.
  • Although Joseph was not the literal father of Jesus, he was a righteous man entrusted by Heavenly Father to be a guardian to His Son in mortality. Write about at least two qualities Joseph demonstrated that you think you could develop to help you prepare to be a good parent. The first quality he possessed is dedication. He put Mary’s needs above his own. He also was spiritually in-tune. He lived his life in such a way that he was worthy to receive revelation and insight for his future family.
  • 2. How is Mary referred to in Luke 1:28? From the account in Luke 1:26–56, make a list of Mary’s qualities that you think distinguish her as one who would be “favoured” by God with the special mission of being the mother of the mortal Messiah. Write a paragraph about one of Mary’s qualities you want to develop more fully and what difference it would make in your life. 
  • Mary is referred to as "highly favoured."
  • Qualities she possessed: 
    • Virgin 
    • Blessed among women 
    • Obedient, accepting of what she told to do 
    • Faithful 
    • Submissive (handmaiden)
    • In tune w/Spirit 
    • Humble 
    • Came from a good, strong family 
  • Obedience to the will of our Heavenly Father would be the quality that Mary had that I would want to develop more fully. I think this quality would help me be a better mom, wife, daughter, sister, and member of the church. So often I find myself fighting those things that I know I ought to be doing with feelings of self-doubt. I can also become defiant when I feel like I'm being told what to do. The only person that hurts is me, and it thwarts my progression. If I were more obedient in things of the gospel, I would also have more humility and faith which in turn would help me to receive more guidance from the Spirit.
  • 3. Matthew 1:1–17 and Luke 3:23–38 contain genealogies of Jesus Christ. In the institute student manual, read the commentary for Matthew 1:17; Luke 3:23–28, “Jesus Descended from Kings” (p. 22). Write a statement about the possible significance of the genealogy of Jesus Christ and why the two accounts are slightly different. It gave the genealogy of Joseph, even though Jesus was not his son, Mary shared the same lineage, as they were cousins. Jesus had a rightful claim as he was of the blood of David, inheriting David's throne. The two accounts are slightly different because one goes in a legal successor to King David's throne order and the other is father to son genealogy even though Joseph was not Jesus's biological father. 
  • 4. Write a paragraph explaining why it was necessary for Jesus Christ to have an immortal Father and a mortal mother. Because Christ was the son of God, giving him the power of immortality as well as a mortal mother, having the ability to die, it gave him the power over life and death. He needed to have both of those abilities in order to atone for our sins as well as overcome physical death, allowing us all to be resurrected. 
  • 5. Study Luke 2:1–16 and complete the following assignments: 
    • Write six questions that cover what you think are the most important details of the Savior’s birth. In parentheses after each question, write the correct answer and the verse where the answer can be found.
    • 1. Why was Jesus laid in a manger? (because there was no room for them in the inns vs. 7)
    • 2. Where was Christ born? (Bethlehem vs. 4 & 11) 
    • 3. Who announced the birth? (an angel vs. 9-10) 
    • 4. What was the baby Jesus wrapped in? (swaddling clothes vs 7, 12) 
    • 5. Why did Mary and Joseph leave their home? (because he was of the house and lineage of David, so he needed to leave Nazareth and go to the city of David, to be taxed, vs. 4)
    •  6. Who set out a decree that all should be taxed? (Caesar Augustus, vs. 1) 
    •  List five phrases from Luke 2:1–16 that you think would be good titles for a talk about Jesus Christ at Christmastime. 
    1. Fear not; …I bring you glad tidings of great joy 
    2. For unto you is born this day… a Saviour 
    3. Glory to God in the highest …
    4. On earth peace, good will toward men.
    5. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them