The Savior’s Instructions about the Holy Ghost: John 14:15–17, 26–27; 15:26–27; 16:7–8, 13–14

1.            As you study the following verses, make a list of what the Savior taught about (1) what the Holy Ghost does and (2) what disciples must do to receive the Holy Ghost:

•                John 14:15–17: Jesus said that if His disciples loved Him, they would keep His commandments. The Holy Ghost is another Comforter and is the Spirit of truth.

•                John 14:26–27: The Holy Ghost teaches all things. The Savior said it would bring peace to the disciples and bring the Savior’s words to the disciples’ remembrance. 

•                John 15:26–27: The Holy Ghost testifies of Jesus Christ. He also instructed the disciples to bear witness of Him.

•                John 16:7–8: The Holy Ghost was sent when the Savior died. The Spirit will help rid the world of sin.

•                John 16:13–14: The Holy Ghost is a guide. He directs us to the truth. The Holy Ghost glorifies Christ.

2.            Add to your list as you study the following resources:

•                Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “The Holy Ghost Brings Man to His Fullest Potential” (pg. 167)

The Holy Ghost purifies us. It quickens our intellectual faculties and helps us put the natural man. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity.

•                Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “As a Messenger of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost Teaches Faithful Members” (pg. 168)

The Holy Ghost instructs and enlightens the minds of those who obey the commandments. He reveals the mysteries of God. He is a special messenger from the Father and the Son.

•                Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost” (pg. 704)

The Holy Ghost is the way by which we receive a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It sanctifies us from all sin.

3.            Review your list of what the Holy Ghost does. Then write responses to the following tasks:

•                Describe how the Holy Ghost helped the Apostles fulfill their missions after the Savior’s death and resurrection.

The Holy Ghost allowed the apostles to receive their testimonies. It blessed them to know what to say as they taught. It purified and sanctified them. It helped them bring people to Christ. Their mission would not have been fulfilled without the Holy Ghost.

Write a paragraph about a time when the Holy Ghost blessed you in one of the ways you listed above. Give an example of how the Holy Ghost has inspired you.

       One of the main ways the Holy Ghost has blessed my life is through my testimony. It is through the Holy Ghost that I know this gospel is true. When I have prayed for answers, the Holy Ghost has guided me. It confirms the truth to me all the time. The Holy Ghost is the best teacher. I’m very grateful for the Holy Ghost and the testimony I’ve been blessed with. 

A New Commandment: John 13:34–35

1.            According to John 13:34–35, how can others know if we are disciples of Jesus Christ?

Others know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ by how we treat people. Christlike love is the biggest indicator of your discipleship and commitment to Him. Christ taught that we must love everyone, overlook their faults, and even love those who are unkind to us. 

2.            List some specific ways a disciple of Jesus Christ might respond in the following situations (in accordance with John 13:34–35):

•                Someone you know is ridiculed or made fun of because of the way he or she dresses. 

A disciple of Jesus Christ would not lash out at the person who ridiculed them. They would forgive and treat that person with kindness and respect.

•                You see a new person at church.

A disciple of Christ would welcome the new person at church. They would smile, introduce themselves, and get to know the new person.

3.        Ponder the question, “Do people know that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ by the way I treat them?” Select a family member, coworker, or neighbor and make a short list of things you can do during the coming week to show him or her the kind of love the Savior would show. Then follow through with what you wrote down.

I can definitely do better at showing that I believe in the Savior. This week I can show my husband more Christlike love. I can show him more patience when we disagree on something or when he is impatient with me. I can also pray for him and do better at overlooking his imperfections. 

Preparing for the Savior’s Second Coming: Mark 13; Luke 21:5 – 38; Joseph Smith – Matthew

1. “Take heed” and “Watch”

5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

In order to be prepared to meet the Lord, believes could…

1. Pray always
2. Beware of false prophets (don’t be deceived)
3. Have faith, not fear

2. Additional Truths About How to Prepare for the Second Coming

·     Doctrine & Covenants 87:8 – Stand in holy places and be not moved

·     Joseph Smith – Matthew 1:32 – Watch for signs (like the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet)

·     Joseph Smith – Matthew 1:37 – Treasure up the word

·     Joseph Smith – Matthew 1:46 – 50 – Be a faithful and wise disciple now, so you’re ready when He comes

·     Doctrine & Covenants 33:17 – Have your lamp “trimmed and burning, and oil with you”

·     Doctrine & Covenants 45:56 – 57 – Have the Spirit as your guide

The Widow’s Mites: Mark 12:41 – 44

1. In Mark 12:30, the Savior said, “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all they strength: this is the first commandment.” This widow from this parable showed that she loved God with all her heart, and was willing to give everything she had to Him. James E. Talmage said, “The rich gave much yet kept back more; the widow's gift was her all. It was not the smallness of her offering that made it especially acceptable, but the spirit of sacrifice and devout intent with which she gave.” The widow showed her devotion to Christ by sacrificing everything she had. Even though it wasn’t very much, she gave all that she could.

2. Mark 12:44 says, “For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” The wealthier people gave more, but they also had a lot more to begin with. They did not sacrifice nearly as much as the widow did. She gave 100% of what she had, and they gave a much smaller percentage of what they had. I think this teaches that an acceptable offering to the Lord is one where we sacrifice for Him. That could mean that we make a financial sacrifice, or that we sacrifice our time or our talents for Him. For example, when we read the scriptures five minutes before we go to bed, and we’re falling asleep as we read, that’s not much of a sacrifice. On the other hand, if we set aside an hour of our time to read the scriptures, even though we’re busy, that will mean so much more to God because we’re showing Him that we love Him enough to make a small sacrifice for Him. 2 Nephi 25:23 teaches us that we must do all that we can to follow Christ, but ultimately it is only through His grace that we are saved. It’s so important to do our very best and do all that we can to show that we love Him.

3. I could better follow the widow’s example of sacrifice and obedience by doing better at making the gospel the focus of my life. I need to do better at sacrificing my time to read the scriptures, pray, and think about the Savior. Right now I know I’m not giving my all. I can commit to doing better so that I can show the Savior how much I really love Him and how grateful I am for everything He has done for me.  

Parables and Accounts That Teach Eternal Truths: Luke 16:1 – 12, 19 – 31; 17:11 – 19; 18:1 – 14

• Luke 16:1 – 12, The Parable of the Unjust Steward: The major principle form this parable is that we need to carefully approach the task of preparing for eternal life.

• Luke 16:19 – 31, The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: This parable teaches us about the spirit world. Before Christ’s visit to the spirit world, there was a great gulf between “Abraham’s bosom” and hell. Now people in spirit prison can receive the gospel.

• Luke 17:11 – 19, The Parable of the Ten Lepers: I think there are two main principles in this parable. The first is faith, because all ten lepers needed faith to be healed. The second principle is gratitude, because only one thanked Jesus for this miracle.

• Luke 18:1 – 8, The Parable of the Unjust Judge: The main principle is “men ought always to pray, and not to faint”.

• Luke 18:9 – 14, The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican: The main principle in this parable is to avoid self-righteousness and not to think that this is an assurance of justification before God. 

Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ: Luke 10:38-42; 11:1-13; 12:13-40; 13:23-24; 14:16-33

1. One of the things it means to be a disciple of Christ is a willingness to put him first.   We must love him with all we are.  Following him has to be more important than having the beautiful material things the world offers. Nice clothes, the latest technology, things money can buy have to be put aside.  We need to seek the Lord first, then have faith that the rest will work out.  The Savior teaches about a wealthy man who had so much he needed more space to hold it, he died before he could complete the larger barn.  All his stuff didn’t matter at all.  Following him is also more important than the good things we can do.  Martha wanted to put together a nice meal for the Savior and his disciples, a reasonable desire, but when she asked Jesus to tell Mary to come help her, he told her she worried about it too much about it, other things were more important.

The costs of following Christ may be great.  We may lose our parents or family, we will need to give up what we want, and become dedicated to doing his will.

2. I don’t like to admit it to myself but the teaching I would like to apply more fully in my life as a disciple of Christ is Faith.  I think sometimes in being self reliant, and hard working, which are things I and my family value, I stop relying on the Lord and feel like I can just take care of things.  There is no room for faith, just work.  I am going to apply my efforts to having more faith that the Lord will help me.  I think it will grow a feeling of greater humility, which I hope can help me depend more fully on the Lord.

3. Ultimately what is required to be a disciple of Christ is to give all that we are to him.  We must be willing to turn over our will to him.  When we do this, we are like the man who sold all he had to buy the field where lay the pearl of great price.

The Good Shepherd: John 10

1. Review John 10:1–11 and identify two parts of the parable that Jesus compared Himself to. What additional information do you learn from 2 Nephi 9:41–42 that helps you understand the symbol of Jesus Christ as the door in the parable?

In John 10:1-11 Jesus compares himself to the shepherd and to the door of the sheepfold.  In 2 Nephi 9:41-42 the idea if Christ as the door or gate is repeated.  Our Savior is the gate or door because it is through him and his atonement, that we are able to return to our Heavenly Father.

2.    Read John 10:12–29 and the institute student manual commentary for John 10:1–15, “The Symbolism of the ‘Good Shepherd’” (pgs. 109–10). Then respond in writing to the following questions:

o       How is what a shepherd does for his sheep similar to what Jesus Christ does for us?

A good shepherd, just like our Savior, is willing to give his life for his sheep.  The good shepherd, just like our Savior, leads, and shows the way.  The good shepherd, like our Savior knows those he cares for.

o       How do we know if we are of the Savior’s fold?

We know we are of the Savior’s fold, if we know his voice.  We follow him.

o       What does the Savior teach about giving His life for the sheep?

The Savior teaches that the good shepherd loves his sheep and is willing to give his life for them.  A hired servant will run away and abandon the sheep in the face of danger but the good shepherd never will.  Our Savior gave his life for us, even when it was so difficult, he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for us, his sheep.

3.    Read 3 Nephi 15:11–24 and 16:1–3 and describe who the “other sheep” are referred to in John 10:16.

The other sheep that Jesus refers to are the people on the American continent that the Savior visited after his resurrection.  The lost tribes of Israel are the rest of the other sheep.

Walking on the Sea: Matthew 14:22–33

1. Review Matthew 14:22–33. Identify in writing what the reaction of the Apostles was when they first saw the Savior walking on the water toward them.

When the apostles saw the savior walking on water toward them,  they were afraid, they thought they were seeing a spirit.

2. What did Peter’s response indicate about him?

Peter responded to seeing the Savior walk on water by issuing a test whereby he could determine if it was indeed the Savior.  He asked the Lord, if it were really him, to invite him onto the water.  He showed through this question that he trusted Jesus.  He had faith that the Lord would not allow harm to come to him.

3. According to Matthew 14:30, why did Peter begin to sink?

Peter began to sink when he saw the wind blowing and started to fear and have doubts about what he was doing.

4. What did Peter do when he began to sink? What word in the verses describes the expediency or the timing when Jesus responded to Peter’s request?

When Peter began to sink he called to the Savior asking him to save him.  The verse tells us that Jesus immediately reached out and helped Peter.

5. Read Doctrine and Covenants 88:67. Write a paragraph describing what principle from this verse relates to what Peter did to successfully walk on the water. How can this same principle be applied to your life to assist you in walking over the storms of life?

The principle in Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 that applies to Peter walking on water is the idea of Faith. When Peter was completely focused on the Lord and did not let anything distract him he was fine.  When he let the influence of the storm enter into his thoughts he began to sink.  In our lives if we have unwavering Faith and focus on the gospel and our Savior we get weather any hardship or storm we encounter in our lives.

The Lord Often Taught with Parables: Matthew 13: 24-48

1.    In the Bible Dictionary read the first three paragraphs under the entry “Parables” (pgs. 740-41). In your own words, write a definition of a parable.

      The word parable means to a setting side by side, or a comparison. Parables are a way to compare divine truth with material things. Although parables were a common form of instruction, no teacher used them as exclusively as Jesus at one point in his ministry. The reason Jesus taught in parables was to veil the meaning of what he was teaching. The Bible Dictionary says, “The parable conveys to the hearer religious truth exactly in proportion to his faith and intelligence; to the dull and uninspired it is a mere story, ‘seeing they see not,’ while to the instructed and spiritual it reveals the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Thus it is that the parable exhibits the condition of all true knowledge. Only he who seeks finds.”

2.    Read the following parables: 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). Next to each of the following questions write the name of the parable that best answers that question.

o       What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Parable of the leaven

o       Why does the Church send out so many missionaries? Parable of the gospel net

o       How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier?  Parable of the mustard seed

​o       Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?  Parable of the treasure and pearl of great price

o       Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church? Parable of the tares

3.    Write answers to the following questions:

o       Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (see Matthew 13:44-46), what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?

I would hope that I would be willing to give up anything and everything for the gospel. I have not been faced with a real-life situation where I’d have to make this choice, but I think I would be willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary to obtain the treasure of the gospel. I’m definitely willing to sacrifice my time and talents and I’m willing to give up my sins and give them to the Lord. I know of people who have had to sacrifice relationships, jobs, and even their lives for the gospel. I think when we really know that the gospel is true, we should be willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary in order to obtain that treasure.

·   What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? (See Matthew 13:47). What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away? (See Matthew 13:48-50).

                        I think the net represents missionary work, gathering people into the gospel. Being     gathered by the net is like accepting the gospel and being baptized. It says that it’s like the end of the   world where angels will come forth and separate the wicked people from the good.

The Calling of the Twelve Apostles, Matthew 10; Mark 3:13-35; Luke 5:1-11

I looked up three of Jesus' Twelve Apostles in the Bible Dictionary and learned some things I did not know about them: 

James – Son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of three chosen to be with the Lord on certain special occasions: at the raising of the daughter of Jairus, at the Transfiguration, and at Gethsemane.

Simon Peter – Another one of the three disciples present on certain special occasions. It is interesting that Peter means rock. Peter was one of the greatest of men. It was through Peter’s ministry that the gospel was first opened up to the Gentiles.

Andrew – Brother of Simon Peter. As a disciple of John the Baptist he met Jesus and then brought Peter to meet Jesus. He was one of the earliest called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and was one of the Twelve.

I also found these verses which helped me better understand what it means to be an Apostle. 

Acts 4:33: "And with great power gave the apostles awitness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great bgrace was upon them all."

D&C 107:23: "The atwelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve bApostles, or special cwitnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling."

The word apostle means “one sent forth”. The Twelve Apostles are special witnesses of Jesus Christ in all the world. They witness of the Lord’s resurrection.

In Matthew 10:5-42 the Savior prepared His disciples to proclaim the gospel. He taught them not to worry about what they would say because the Spirit would tell them. He warned them that they would be hated, but if they endured to the end they would be saved. The Savior also told them that they must love the Him and be loyal to Him above all else. He told them to devote their lives to Him and the ministry.

In Luke 5:1-11, the Savior calls Peter, James, and John. I love verse 11, which says that the Lord’s disciples, "forsook all, and followed him.” This is such a great example of how we should follow the Savior. Forsake all else, all worldy things, and follow Jesus Christ. I can apply this in my life by putting the Savior as the center of my life. That means obeying His commandments and striving to follow His perfect example. The Lord must be the absolute most important part of your life. The gospel  should be your first priority. 

The Baptism of Jesus Christ, Matthew 3:13–17

Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus?

John was hesitant to baptize Jesus because he said that Jesus should be the one baptizing him. He did not feel worthy to baptize the Savior. (He mentioned earlier that he did not feel he was worthy to even buckle the latchets of the Lord’s shoes).

What is taught here about the Holy Ghost? 

We learn that the Holy Ghost comes when we have repented of our sins and are baptized. When are obedient to the Lord’s commandments, we are blessed with the Spirit. Verse 16 describes the Spirit of God “descending like a dove and lighting upon [Jesus]”. When Jesus was baptized, the sign of the dove was given to signify the truth of his baptism.

Jesus Christ said He must be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness.” What are some reasons why  Jesus Christ was baptized? (See 2 Nephi 31:6–11) 

• One reason that Jesus was baptized was to humble Himself before the Father. 
• Jesus was baptized to show Heavenly Father that He would obey all of the commandments. 
• He was baptized to set an example for us, so that we will also repent and be baptized.

What evidence is found in Matthew 3:16–17 that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate personages in the Godhead?

It is obvious that the Holy Ghost is a separate personage because he descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. Then, Heavenly Father speaks from heaven and says that He is pleased with His Beloved Son.

* * * * *

As I was studying the Savior’s baptism, I found some other wonderful quotes and scriptures about baptism and the Holy Ghost that strengthened my personal testimony. I felt the Spirit testify to me of the importance of baptism and of the truthfulness of the things I read. I also felt my testimony of the Savior grow as my heart was filled with gratitude for His perfect example.  Here are some of the other references that stood out to me this week:

John 3:5 teaches that “except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

2 Nephi 31:5 which says, “And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!”

2 Nephi 31:13, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.”

2 Nephi 32:5, “For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”

“Our first birth takes place when we are born into mortality. Our second birth begins when we are baptized by water by one holding the priesthood of God and is completed when we are confirmed, and ‘then cometh a remission of [our] sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.’” (President James E. Faust)

 “If the sinner will repent of his sins, and go down into the waters of baptism, and there be buried in the likeness of being put into the earth and buried, and again be delivered from the water, in the likeness of being born—if in the sincerity of his heart he will do this, his sins shall be washed away. Will the water of itself wash them away? No; but keeping the commandments of God will cleanse away the stain of sin.” (President Brigham Young)

The Bible Dictionary says, “Baptism is a most sacred ordinance, which a person, having received it, can remember throughout life as a reminder of the personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Its symbolism is beautiful, and its consequences ever so desirable. John the Baptist had the signal honor among all men to take the Son of God into the water and baptize Him, after which he saw the Holy Ghost descend upon Jesus. By being baptized Jesus obeyed the law Himself and set the example for all mankind.”

The Premortal and Mortal Savior, John 1:1–14; 17:1–5

One of my favorite verses from these scriptures is John 17:3. This is also the principle I chose for this week. It reads,

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Those who truly come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will have eternal life. I thought about what it means to truly come to know them. If you really understand the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement and all that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for you, you will love them and want to grow closer to them. This reminded me of John 14:15 that says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." I think it becomes like a cycle. As you draw closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior and realize all that they have done for you, your love for them grows, and as your love grows, you will have a greater desire to keep the commandments, and as you keep the commandments you will draw closer to them, and on and on. When you truly come to know them, you will devote your life to them, make and keep covenants, and be able to receive eternal life. This is such a blessing! This verse also made me think about sharing the gospel with others, so that they can also come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and receive eternal life. 

Titles of the Savior…. 

• Christ: Greek meaning the anointed. It is equivalent to the Hebrew word Messiah. Jesus is mostly referred to as Christ in the New Testament.  

• Messiah: An Aramaic word meaning the anointed. It is used as a title of an office; it denotes the King and Deliverer whose coming the Jews were eagerly awaiting.  

• Jehovah: The covenant or proper name of the God of Israel. It denotes the “Unchangeable One,” “the eternal I AM”.

• Immanuel: God is with us. A name-title given in two verses of Isaiah as a sign of God’s deliverance. It was Specifically identified by Matthew as a prophecy of Jesus’ birth into mortality. It signifies that Christ as God will be born into mortality of a virgin and will be among the people to save and redeem them. This prophecy received its fulfillment in Christ.

• The Word: Heavenly Father operated through His Son, Jesus Christ, in the Creation, “who thus became the executive through whom the will, commandment, or word of the Father was put into effect. It is with incisive appropriateness therefore, that the Son, Jesus Christ, is designated by the apostle John as the Word; or as declared by the Father 'the word of my power.” (James E. Talmage) (John 1:1 – 14)

In his book Jesus the Christ, James E. Talmage said, "Christ is a sacred title, and not an ordinary appellation or common name; it is of Greek derivation, and in meaning is identical with its Hebrew equivalent Messiah or Messias, signifying the Anointed One. Other titles, each possessing a definitive meaning, such as Emmanuel, Savior, Redeemer, Only Begotten Son, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, and many more, are of scriptural occurrence; the fact of main present importance to us is that these several titles are expressive of our Lord's divine origin and Godship. As seen, the essential names or titles of Jesus the Christ were made known before His birth, and were revealed to prophets who preceded Him in the mortal state."

There is no way to put into words all that Christ means to each one of us. Without him there would be no hope and no purpose. I think all of these names help us better understand his essential role in the Plan of Salvation. The Bible Dictionary gave this beautiful description of our Savior, “He is the greatest Being to be born on this earth—the perfect example—and all religious things should be done in His name. He is Lord of lords, King of kings, the Creator, the Savior, the God of the whole earth, the Captain of our salvation, the Bright and Morning Star. He is in all things, above all things, through all things, and round about all things; He is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; His name is above every name and is the only name under heaven by which we can be saved.”

Scripture References:

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/1.1-14?lang=eng#primary

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/17.1-5?lang=eng#primary

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/christ?lang=eng&letter=c