Unit 2 Choice 5

1.       Make a list of what Jesus Christ is superior to.

·         Jesus is greater than the angels.

·         Jesus is greater than Moses.

·         Jesus, as a high priest of Melchizedek, which is greater than the order of Aaron.

·         The superiority of Jesus’ word, to obey the words of Jesus who is greater than Moses.

2.       Make a list of three truths Paul taught about the Savoir Jesus Christ.

·         The Son is in the express image of the person of the Father.

·         Christ is the Only Begotten Son and thus above the angels.

·         Christ had by himself purged our sins.

3.       Explain the reasons the Son of God came to earth to experience mortality.

·         Hebrew 2: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

·         Hebrews 4: 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

·         Alma 7: 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.  12 And he will take upon him death that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

·         D&C 122: 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Unit 1 choice 1

While reading in Philippians chapter 1 I learned some council

People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week. We read in Philippians 2:1-8, 14-15

The saints should be of one mind and one spirit. We must not let petty matters distract us from the important matters such as Love, service and being like Jesus. We must focus on the pure and simple doctrines of the gospel like not being selfish and forgiveness.

 

Many youth feel their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength. Philippians 2:12-15 Work out your own salvation. Having parents with their own strong testimony is a blessing and they can help you learn for yourself but we must all be converted and this is not a onetime event it takes a lifetime.

An investigator is thinking about joining the church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does. Philippians 3:7-16; 4:13 The church is true it does not mean it is easy and it may be extremely hard. There are those that do not understand and feel that if they give you an ultimatum you will change your mind. I believe that if you stay strong and show then through your actions that you still love them and the many good things it has brought into your life. They may never come around in this life but hopefully they will through your good example. The biggest thing we can do is be their friends so it is a little easier on them to have to make such big sacrifices for the truth and the gospel. Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3 “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” We must turn to the Holy Ghost for comfort and guidance, we must have faith that when we choose the right we have the right to His help.

Unit 2 choice 2

While reading in Acts I learned much about Paul's commitment and testimony of Christ and his willingness to die for Christ.  

After three successful missionary that took them into many lands, Paul returned to Jerusalem even though he knew it was dangerous to do so.

Who was Agabus? A prophet

What did Agabus prophesy about Paul? Acts 21:11“Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

How did Paul respond? Acts 21:13 “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

What consequences did Paul know would come if he followed the Spirit’s direction to go to Jerusalem? He knew he would arrested and die.

How did Paul’s friend react to his commitment? They said then not the Lord’s will.

How did this demonstrate Paul’s commitment to Christ? He was willing to do anything for Christ

What did Paul do that led to his arrest? Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

What did the Lord say when he appeared to Paul following Paul’s examination by the Sanhedrin? How has the Lord helped you “be of good cheer” during difficult times?

What did Paul say that caused Felix to tremble? He told him he was Geek.

Why did Felix let Paul go? Because he almost converted to Christianity.

What happened to Paul when he appealed unto Caesar?

We must have faith, we must study ponder and pray to know the will of the Lord. We must study the saints that have given their lives for Christ and the gospel. We need to read our patriarchal blessing and find our gifts of the spirit and develop our talents so we can have faith in our abilities. We must be willing to serve others. Learn of Christ and do whatever we need to do to be Christ like.

What happened when the master of the ship rejected Paul’s counsel?

What motivated to centurion to disregard Paul’s counsel? Acts 27:11 “Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.”

Why do some people occasionally disregard our church leaders” counsel? They feel that it doesn’t necessarily pertain to them and their situation. They think it is too hard.

What have you experienced that has helped you know the importance of following our leaders counsel? I am a convert and I have lived my first 32 years without the church and the guidance of our leaders and the last 10 years with the church and I have done my best to follow their counsel. My entire life has changed for the better because I have peace and assurance that if I follow their counsel I will have the opportunity to live with my wonderful family forever because we have been sealed in the temple.

2 Nephi 9:20 O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.

Amos 3: 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

The Holy Ghost warned Paul. The centurion willing to save Paul helped and told all others to swim to shore. In Melita Paul used his priesthood power by not allow the snake bite to hurt him. He used his Priesthood power to show that he was a servant of the Lord.  When he was in Rome he took the time to preach the gospel.

We can learn from Paul that he was very courageous and that he knew he would die if he continued to preach but he knew that his blessings in heaven were worth any effort to tell the truth and spread the gospel. He knew his mission here on earth. He knew Jesus was the Messiah and nothing could change that and he only had one choice to be with him or against him. He knew and loved the Lord and trusted in him completely and knew the Lord would keep all of his promises to his children.

Unit 1 Choice 3

While reading Romans chapter 6 I learned about baptism, sin, repentance, freedom and the symbolisms that have to do with Christ’s death and resurrection. I am going to answer a few question from this chapter.

What must be done with sin before baptism can accure? I believe we must forsake our sins, I love how Limhi’s father said, “I would give all my sins away to know thee” To me this means to let go of things that bring instant gratification to have an eternal blessing.

What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism? Romans 6: 4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Death and the resurrection. Christ’s power over death and the grave.

Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling? Someone must be completely submersed as if dead and then rising from the dead. Sprinkling would remove all symbolism of Christ.

What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness” of the life? Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” I feel this means that we have a fresh start as if we have a new life and new chance to start over and have our hearts new and changed for the better.

According to Mosiah 3:19 what part of us would ideally die at baptism? The natural man is an enemy to God. We must allow ourselves to, “become a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, 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.”

Romans 6:14-23 describe how we know who’s servant we are? 18 “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”Identify the true source of freedom? 20 “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I feel that is like being is debt, you owe whether you want to or not, whether you make your payments or not. You have to pay for what you have done, even if you think you can run from it, eventually it will catch up to you. If you pay willingly you will have peace and freedom from this debt. Repenting and asking for forgiveness and working out your salvation with obedience brings freedom. Not having debt or sin hanging over you and knowing that you will need to make amends makes you feel trapped and helpless but when you make things right you can have the freedom to rise above to help others up and teach them the way to freedom as well.

While reading 2 Corinthians, D&C 64 and Matthew we learn very important lessons about forgiveness.

1.       What were the people of Corinth Commanded to do “if any have caused grief”?  2 Corinthians 2:7 “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow”  2:5 reads, “But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.”

Paul was very sad that the people were not obeying God and loving one another, he made it very clear to them that they must forgive one another in order to have the same mercy shown unto them and have their sins forgiven as well.

2.       What blessings do we see if we forgive? When we forgive someone quickly that has wronged us we can start by keeping the peace and bot having contention with others but also we are blessed with peace and we cannot have our hearts hardened and become bitter.

3.       What is the danger in failing to forgive? The danger in not forgiving others causes wedges between people that can last for years. This is something that brings pain to all those involved, also, we cannot expect God  to be willing to look past our false and failings if we are not willing to forgive and forget especially when the person had apologized and is sincere. However even if a person has never repented or asked our forgiveness we must leave it in the hands of the Lord and forgive them if we would like to be forgiven.

2 Corinthians 2: 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;  11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

1.            Matthew 6: 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

D&C 64:9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. 10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

 

Jesus is referred to as a rock this can mean many things such as a sure foundation, when building on a rock it cannot fall, the doctrines of the church, the foundation of the church, rock of revelation, rock of our redeemer. In the New Era there is a talk titled, Built on the Rock by Adam C. Olson there we read, “Jesus Christ is like a rock, because if He is what our faith and testimony are based on, our faith and testimony will stand firm against our trials.” We can have complete faith that when we put our trust in the Christ we are in complete safety and we can be sure we will be protected from harm and evil.

After reading 1 Corinthians 10, I read many examples of the sins committed then and now such as, being ignorant, lusting after evil things, being idolaters, committing fornication, tempting Christ, murmuring, lying, stealing, being hypocrites, coveting and being envious, being ungrateful, these sins are ways to keep us down and keep us from returning to our heavenly home, however in verse 13 we read, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” This brings us great comfort because we see that through Christ there is hope. But it does not say that it will be easy to escape it requires much work and diligence on our part and it is much easier to avoid the temptation in the first place by doing the things we know are right and avoiding the things and places that are not in harmony with God’s plan for us.

In Alma 13: 28  we read, “But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering.” This helps us to know where to turn for help from the temptations of this world which inevitably will come. We must turn to Christ through good attributes that help us become more like Jesus and thereby give us faith that God is there and that he wants to help us and that he loves us perfectly. Our communication with him through prayer gives us the reassuring peace that we are not alone and will get the help we need if we ask in humility, patience, love, and long suffering.

After reading in 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians I found attributes that Peter warns the saints about and they needed to improve. Such as, to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men. Stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, and walk to please God. Keep the commandments. Even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. Know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Do not lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. As of touching brotherly love, love one another. And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. That ye may walk honestly and that ye may have lack of nothing. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, and be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

I chose three that I would like to improve on myself.

1.       I really loved this quote, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” This is telling us that we have no excuse that we are children of light and that we need to continually watch for the coming of Christ. Even though it says he will come as a thief in the night we know who is and what to watch for. I plan to learn of Christ and strive to ready when he comes again.

2.       I believe that the Lord wants us to be happy and having the gospel and the knowledge of the plan of salvation is what brings this joy. Paul councils us to, “Rejoice evermore” I plan to try my best to enjoy the journey and allow myself to feel of God’s love and recognize his blessings in my life.

3.       “Pray without ceasing” is the third one I chose, I have a very strong testimony of prayer and I know that the Lord is listening and wants to answer us and help us on our path back to him. I believe that we must pray over every decision we ever make. He wants us to use our knowledge and intelligence but we can always get conformation from Him that we are on the right path and that he is pleased with us.

1.       In reading Acts chapters 1-8, and 10-12, I discovered several themes throughout. Such as the apostles worked diligently to do missionary work and bring the good news to all the saints in their sphere of influence. How the Holy Ghost plays a role in converting the Apostles and the Gentiles alike. How miracles are performed by the apostles in the same manner that Jesus did and his name through the priesthood power they were given by Jesus. How we all have been given the opportunity to repent in order to be forgiven, be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. How there must always be twelve apostles so the vacancy was filled when Judas was removed. How even though the apostles were repeatedly thrown into prison an angel released them because the Lord did not want them there. How the Lord can see each of our hearts and that if we are worthy it does not matter our back ground. How there are those that seal their salvation by dying for the cause of Jesus Christ. Both Herod and the couple that lie to God are punished by death.

2.       In reading Acts chapters 2-5, 8-10 and 12 I discovered many things that the Apostle Peter was doing, such as Testifying of Jesus’ resurrection, explains how to gain salvation and receive the Holy Ghost. He heals a lame man, preaches repentance, he teaches about the restoration of the gospel proceeding the second coming. Peter is arrested on several occasions but continues to testify of Christ and an angel delivers him.  Peter travels to many areas conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Peter has a vision that the Gentiles are now ready to receive the saving ordinances.

 

I really enjoyed reading this and leaning from it. I learned that because God is the head of the church that man cannot stop the work and that his will is going to be done. He is going to use worthy, good men and women that are willing to follow him to bring to pass his plan of happiness. I learned that miracles will never cease and that God want to bless his children. I have faith that through my obedience and because of God’s love for me I can repent of my sins, invite the power of the Holy Ghost into my life and see the many miracles and blessings in my life.  I learned how important missionary work is and sharing the gospel and we will have the help of the Holy Ghost to spread God’s plan with his children.