Choice 4: 1 John 1–3. That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God

John’s desire for us in 1 John 1:1-4 is that we join the apostles in the Gospel and believe in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father with them. He then tells us that he wrote about that so that our “joy may be full”. The following scriptures teach about how we can come to know God better and have greater joy and fellowship with God:

1 John 1:8-10	We need to admit that we have sinned and not deny it. If we do that, then Christ will forgive our sins and cleanse us. If we deny it, “his word” will not be in us.
1 John 2:3-6	We need to keep God’s commandments. If we keep His word, we will have the love of God with us and we’ll know that we are in God. In addition to knowing that we are in God, we must walk as He and Christ walk.
1 John 2:9-11; 3:11-19	In order to have the love of God with us, we must love our fellow brothers and sisters and not hate them. We need to show that love through actions and truth. If we do that, we will be in Him.
1 John 2:15-17	We need to not love the world. If we love the world, God’s love isn’t in us, and the pleasures we find in the world will surely pass away. If we do the will of the Father, that will will abide forever.
1 John 2:20-21, 27	Christ has anointed us and teaches us all things. What He teaches us are truths and not lies.
1 John 3:4-6	Sin is the transgression of the law. In Christ there is no sin, so therefore whoever fully abides in Him does not sin. If we sin, we do not fully know Him.

One of my favorite scriptures from the list above are 1 John 2:9-11 and 3:11-19. It is essential for us to love our fellow brothers and sisters in order to have greater joy and fellowship with God. There are a few ways that I can better implement this principle in my life. One of the ways is by giving more selfless service to others. By doing that, I know that I will gain a greater love for those others and grow closer to God. Another way would be that of listening to others more intently when they are entrusting me with personal feelings, etc. I want to keep that trust strong. These are just a couple of ways that I know I can implement this principle better in my life.

Choice 1: James 1. “Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only”

• What words or phrases encourage you to look for direction from God?

A. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” (v. 5-6); “For let not the man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” (v. 7); “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” (v. 19); “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (v. 21); “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (v. 22); “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” (v. 23-24); “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (v. 25); “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart this man’s religion is vain.” (v. 26)

• How did James further define the phrase to “ask in faith”?

A. James further defines that phrase by saying that someone who doesn’t have the faith “is like a wave of the sea”. That wave is moved about in the ocean everywhere is not stable and strong against the wind.

• How do Matthew 6:24 and 1 Kings 18:21 add to your understanding of James 1:8?

A. When you connect those three verses, I would find a connection through the principle of being in the world or in God…being double-minded. Matthew 6:24 teaches that have to serve only one of those. We can’t serve both. Serving both would make us unstable.

• From James 1:13-15, 19-27, make an outline of how we can better live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A. We need to avoid sin.We need to remember that God cannot tempt us with sin. We need to avoid the lusts in our lives. Lusts can lead us to sin. We need to bridle our tongues and watch what we say. We need to making hearing and listening to others a priority. At the same time, though, we need to not only hear and listen but also do what we hear and listen to. When we hear and not do, we forget what kind of man we are. Lastly, in order to practice a pure and undefiled religion, we need help those that are needy…the fatherless and the widows. We need to be there to comfort them in their afflictions.

• Give a few modern examples of how you have recently seen individuals exemplify James 1:22.

A. My first example is that of a couple of people at Wal-Mart on Thursday night who were doers of things they were most likely taught in the past. They helped me through small acts of service amidst all the chaos. My second example is that of the faithfulness of members in my ward in doing their home teaching. The last example I will share is that of a father spending a little time with his family when he can easily ignore his family for that little time and do schoolwork.

 

In the institute student manual commentary for James 1:5-6, “If Any of You Lack Wisdom” (p. 409), Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave various reasons of why those verses have “had a greater impact … upon mankind than any other” scripture. They are:

-“the opening of the heavens in modern times” and

-it has an impact on every person who is, has, or will investigate the Church and the gospel

Thanksgiving #18

I am thankful for Jared’s grandparents. They always love to take care of him and always smile at him. Whenever we need their help, they’re there. His grandparents give their love and support all the time. Even though Julie's parents are far away, we feel their love and support too :)

Thanksgiving #17

I am a grateful for a computer. It is a wonderful piece of technology…a great invention. Computers can be used for bad, but they can also be used for a lot of good. They are very useful in many ways, and I am grateful that my family and I have the opportunity to use it.

Thanksgiving #16

I am grateful for my church leaders from the past and present. They have all helped my grow and learn. They are all great examples to me and represent that which is good. I hope, whenever I’m a church leader, that I can follow their great examples and be a help for others and their lives.

Thanksgiving #15

I am grateful for teachers, educational and religious. They have all taught a lot of things that I will treasure throughout my life and use forever.

Thanksgiving #14

I am grateful for friends. Friends are always necessary to have. I’ve had friends from college and high school who have helped me a lot through the trials of life. Thank you, friends, for your examples, love, and strength.

Thanksgiving #13

I am grateful for BYU-Idaho. It (again) has a great atmosphere for gaining an education and for learning. There are great people (students, teachers, and leaders) who are on the campus.

Thanksgiving #12

I am thankful for my sisters and sister-in-laws from my family and Julie’s family. They are wonderful, loving and fun to be with.

Thanksgiving #11

I am thankful for board and card games. They are perfect opportunities to spend time with family and friends.

Thanksgiving #10

I am grateful for snow. It is white and pure. Some of my favorite nights during my life have been those where I walk outside and stand in the middle of a snowfall. The sky is brown and the white snow is falling in a quiet world. The world is truly quiet when snow falls .

Thanksgiving #9

I am grateful for Melchizedek, a great king and prophet of the Old Testament.

Thanksgiving #8

I’m grateful for Mitt Romney…especially for things he stood for in our country. I know that he truly wants to help and guide our nation out of the challenges that we are facing right now. He is an example to all of us of selfless service and courage.

Thanksgiving #7

I am grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Without this restored church, I wouldn’t have the loving family that I do.

Thanksgiving #6

I am grateful for Family Home Evening. It brings peace, happiness, and joy into our home.

Thanksgiving #5

I am grateful for a wife (Julie) . She takes care of me and makes sure that I’m doing well. She supports me while I stress out about work and school, and she is a great mother to our son Jared! Thank you, Julie, for all that you do .

Thanksgiving #4

I am grateful for LDS authors and the clean literature that they write. Some specific ones that I love are Gerald N. Lund, Chris Heimerdinger, Dean Hughes, etc…

Thanksgiving #3

I am grateful for Football (specifically college football). College football games, especially those with BYU playing, are comforting and relaxing to me after a long week of school, homework, and work.

Thanksgiving #2

I’m grateful for BYU. BYU and it’s two sister universities, BYU-Idaho and BYU-Hawaii, are sanctuaries for all who want to gain an education in a peaceful environment…where the light of Christ is found everywhere on the campuses.

Thanksgiving #1

I am grateful for my son Jared. He is the light of my life and is a handsome stud. Thank you, Jared, for coming down and joining our family.

Choice Three: Hebrews 13. Works of Righteousness

Q. How should we treat strangers and those "in bonds”?

A. Paul taught that we should treat strangers with brotherly love. We must treat strangers with hospitality. We should remember that those who are “in bonds…and…which suffer adversity” are going through the same things that we ourselves are going through. We have adversity also in our own lives, and we must remember that.

Q. How is marriage looked upon?

A. Marriage is looked upon as a honorable thing. Being clean morally (the law of chastity) and not being immoral is what we must strive for.

Q. What warnings are given about covetousness?

A. We should watch ourselves as we talk with others so that our speech does not include covetousness. Paul teaches us that we need to be content with what he have.

Q. What is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”?

A. The being who is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” is our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Q. How are we sanctified?

A. We are sanctified through the blood of Christ. He went through the Atonement so that we can be sanctified. He suffered for our salvation.

Q. How do we respond to those who rule over us?

A. We need to obey those who rule over us.

Q. Who did Paul ask the people to pray for?

A. Paul asked the people to pray for him and the other leaders of the church.

Choice 3: 2 Timothy 1–4. Paul’s Final Counsel to Timothy

Examples of Faithful Discipleship

Counsel Paul Gave to Timothy to Help Him Have Strong Faith

- Having the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind - Know in who you believe -Be a partaker of the fruit -Endure all things -Purge yourselves of worldly treasures - Be gentle unto all men - Be apt to teach - Be patient - Instruct in meekness - Do not have the spirit of contention - Have faith, longsuffering, charity, and patience -Fight the good fight -Finish your course -Keep the faith -Love the Lord’s appearing

- Don’t be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord - Be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God - Hold fast to sound words in faith and love which is in Jesus Christ - Be strong in the grace - Endure hardness - Study the scriptures - Shun profane and vain babblings - Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace - Avoid foolish and unlearned questions - Continue in the things which he had learned - Know who has taught you those things -The scriptures are able to make you wise -Preach the word -Watch in all things -Endure afflictions -Do the work of an evangelist -Make full proof of the ministry

-from 2 Timothy 1:7-13; 2:1-26; 3:10-17; 4:1-8

From the second column above (about the counsel Paul gave to Timothy to help Timothy have strong faith), the counsel that is of most value to me at this time is that of enduring hardness. This semester has been a tough semester due to all the homework and difficult classes I’m taking. I have been striving to endure it and get through the semester, but sometimes I just want to stay home and give up. I push forward, though, and keep going…knowing that there is an end to the semester. I am striving to endure the hardness better each day.

In 2 Timothy 1:15; 2:17-19; 4:3-4, 10 ,14, Paul gave some evidence that the general apostasy had already begun in his day. In 1:15, Paul taught that there were already some people who were rejecting the teachings and counsels of Church leaders (specifically Paul). In 2:17-19, Paul gives evidence of the general apostasy by warning that there are those who say that the resurrection has already passed. Those people overthrow the faith of others through this incorrect teaching. In 4:3-4, Paul warns that there will be a time when the saints will not want to listen to true doctrine and turn to those who teach false doctrine. They turn away from the truth. Finally, in 4:10, 14, Paul talks about a couple who have forsaken the  Lord.

“Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die;” (2 Nephi 28:7) That is one of many verses that describe the perilous times and signs of apostasy that are evident in our day. Some of those verses can be found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 2 Nephi 28:3-9, and Doctrine and Covenants 1:15-16. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2 Timothy 3:1) In these verses, perilous times includes all of the following and more…men of corrupt minds, blasphemers, ingratitude, pride, lying, despisers of good, hearts that are puffed up, no belief in miracles from God, lack of faith, breakers of promises and ordinances, and worshipers of the idols of the world.

How can we, and more specifically me, protect ourselves against these evils and many others that were not listed? I know that some things that I can do are to stand in holy places, pray continually without ceasing, hold to the scriptures in my life, build my family up, have the essential spiritual and physical things with my family (family home evening, recreational activities, etc.), and always remembering the Lord in all things throughout my life. I know that if I do these things, I will not have to worry for myself and my family. We will be safe.

One way that I have experienced the truthfulness of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is by striving to listen to the Spirit as I read and study the scriptures. I know that as I do that, I do gain new knowledge and/or understanding of something either in the verses that I read or about something not related to the verses at all. If one strives to keep their hearts and minds open to the Spirit, the Spirit will undoubtedly teach.

Choice 1: Philippians 1–4. Find Solutions in the Scriptures to Life’s Challenges

1. People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week (see Philippians 2:1–8, 14–15).

Be as Christ. Christ, who did not seek a reputation, was humble and made the choice to become a servant. He served others and did not hold back. When there was someone who needed to be healed, He healed that person by that person’s faith. He did not hold back and gave all that he had. Likewise we need to not be selfish but think of others. We are all sons and daughters of God. We need to be one and remember that God loves each of His children the same. He doesn’t love one less than another. He may be disappointed at times, but he will never stop loving us.

2. Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12–15 and institute student manual commentary for Philippians 2:12, “Work out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling” [pp. 361–62]).

They need to remember to work out their own salvation. There will be a point in their lives when they won’t have the spiritual strength of their parents to keep them strong. There will be a point where an individual’s testimony will be the only thing that a youth will have to draw upon. We need to make a belief or faith “a moving power to do, to accomplish, to produce soul growth…”

3. An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7–16; 4:13).

Something that I would like to help that investigator understand is that they will always have Christ on their left side and on their right side. He will always be with them through all trials and tribulations. As Paul said in chapter 4 and verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We need to remember that Christ’s Atonement was not just for our sins but for our trials also. He will never leave us.

4. How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3?

The scriptures are a guide in everything we do and in all the challenges we face in this world and life. We only need to feast on them.

Choice 1: Romans 12-16. Live as Saints Should Live

In Romans 13:11, Paul counsels the Romans that now was when they needed to wake up, because the thing that was “nearer” was salvation. He said that it was closer than they believed. In Ezekiel 3:20 and Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, there is found counsel of what we can continue doing to work out our salvation. In Ezekiel 3:20, the counsel is that we need to stay away from sin, which is a stumbling block on the path to salvation. In Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, we are counseled to do a couple of things. We are counseled to keep the commandments and endure to the end. It stays that if we do those two things, we “shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”

In Romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. The following verses include a list of various things that will help lead us to salvation.

Scripture	Those that will help lead us to salvation
Romans 12:1	to present our bodies as a holy and living sacrifice to God
Romans 12:2	we shouldn’t be of the world but have renewing of our mind
Romans 12:9	let love be sincere; abhor the evil and cleave to the good
Romans 12:13	give to those of us who are need but are lacking
Romans 12:16	be of the same mind toward one another; do not be prideful
Romans 12:21	“Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 13:1	we need to “be subject” to the powers of God; His is the only power
Romans 13:3	do good
Romans 13:8	love one another
Romans 13:9	don’t commit adultery; don’t kill; don’t steal; don’t bear false witness; don’t covet; “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

From Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3.

Q. What cautions did Paul give about judging?

A. Paul cautioned that God and the Lord are the judges of all things…not us. We are not to judge others.

Q. People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?

A. We should not judge them. We are all children of God, and He loves each of us. God will be the judge and not us. We need to serve our fellow men.

Q. What additional insight comes from reading Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27?

A. We need to be one. It says in those verses, “be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine”. We need to treat others the way we would like to be treated. “…let every man esteem his brother as himself.” God won’t say to two of his sons that one of them has to be a king while that son’s brother is a peasant. He is a just God, and loves each of his children equally.

In Romans 15:25-26, 31 and 16:2, 15, Paul uses a term frequently in referring to members of the Church in his day. He refers to them as “saints”. According to the Bible Dictionary, “The word saint is a translation of a Greek word also rendered ‘holy,’ the fundamental idea being that of consecration or separation for a sacred purpose;”. The saints back in Paul’s day were consecrated for a sacred purpose as they were baptized, therefore entering “into the Christian covenant.”

Choice 3: Romans 6. Baptism

I will do this blog in a Question & Answer format.

From Romans 6:1-13

Q. (Question) What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

A. (Answer) We must disconnect ourselves from sin. We shouldn’t let sin rule what we do, say, and think. That way we can be prepared for one of the principle steps in the gospel…baptism.

Q. What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

A. When Christ died and was resurrected, his life became a symbol of baptism. In baptism we are lowered into the water and then rise out of it washed and clean. So is the same with death and resurrection. We become pure and perfect after resurrection (as long as we are righteous in this life. I’m excited for that day.

Q. Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

A. I believe that baptism by immersion…which is what I mention in the last answer…is the only way to have a true baptism. Immersion is how you are made completely clean. Sprinkling is just not sufficient.

Q. What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

A. After we are baptized, we are confirmed as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then comes one of the most important steps in the gospel…that of enduring to the end. It is through enduring to the end that we can maintain the “newness of life”. We must continually forsake sin (no one is exempt from this since we are all not perfect). We need to not follow the lusts of the natural man, and we must always remember that we are “instruments of righteousness” to God.

Q. According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

A. Ideally, the part of us that would die at baptism would be the natural man. As King Benjamin taught, we need to become like unto a child. I look at my 4-month-old son and find pure innocence, patience (sometimes haha), and love. He brings me to remember what I should be striving to become like.

 

Romans 6:14-23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (v. 23) How do we know whose servant we are. As Paul taught, we know through our choices, our thoughts, and our actions. When one is freed from sin, they are servants of righteousness. When we freely sin, we are free of righteousness. Therefore, let us seek to be servants of righteousness so that we can have eternal life, one of the greatest gifts God can give to us.

The true source of freedom is to be servants of righteousness and not of sin.

Choice 2: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11. Forgiveness

The people of Corinth were commanded to, “if any have caused grief”, to forgive them. One thing that stood out to me is found in verse 7 of 2 Corinthians 2. Paul teaches that not only should we forgive each other but we must comfort each other also. We should let the other person know that we care about them and do not want to be enemies.

The blessings we see if we forgive are simple. We gain forgiveness from our Heavenly Father if we forgive others. If we do not forgive others, as it says in the book of Matthew, our Father will not forgive us.

The danger in failing to forgive is that of is as I mentioned above…the Lord will not forgive us of our sins and trespasses. Therefore, it is essential for us to find the faith and willingness to forgive others. If we do not, our personal repentance will be for nothing.

Choice 1: 1 Corinthians 4:2, 9-17; 8:9-13. The Impact of Example

According to 1 Corinthians 4:2, the thing that is required in stewards is that they are faithful.

In 1 Corinthians 4:9-17, the group that was specifically selected to be examples as stewards were the apostles. The apostles had a great opportunity to be an example to all the met in faith, service, charity, humility, and hope. Without that example, the Church wouldn’t have grown as it did.

The next question I will answer will be does being a good example apply to more than the group of apostles. The answer is yes. The saints of the Church…the members…must also be good examples to those who are not believers of the resurrected Jesus Christ.

I then read Alma 39:11-12 which talks about when Alma the younger was talking to his son, Corianton, about his bad example he had in front of the Zoramites. The Zoramites were not believing what they taught because they saw the example of Corianton. They saw that he was doing what he taught. So, it is not enough just to know what is right. We have to do what is right or else others will see our bad examples and not believe what we teach them about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

The last thing that I will address is taken from 3 Nephi 8:1. There was a “just man” talked about in that verse who could perform many miracles. He was viewed as a just man by those who witnessed his example. If we live what we know, we be able to perform miracles (miracles in various ways) and be viewed as a “just” man or woman by others. They will see us as ones who live what we know and believe. I know that as long as I strive to do this, I will not have to worry about others viewing me a bad person. I will be able to gain more respect from those who see me.

Choice 3: 1 Thessalonians 3-5; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6 11. Counsel for Members

I will first compile a list of various attributes that Paul counseled the members to improve upon. In 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul counseled them to increase and abound in love towards everyone. He say increase and abound even as he and his companions did towards them. In 1 Thessalonians 4, they were counseled to walk and to please God, they should turn away from fornication, to abound in sanctification and honor, to not “defraud” their brother, to increase in righteousness, and to work with their own hand and be honest in all things. Some things taught in 1 Thessalonians 5 are they do not need to be afraid of the Second Coming of Christ but be sober, that they need to put on the armor of God, that they should edify and comfort each other, to “pray without ceasing”, have a spirit of gratitude, obey prophecies, and “hold fast that which is good”. In 2 Thessalonians 3, members are counseled to follow the commandments given to them, let the Lord direct their hearts to the love of god, and to be directed into “the patient waiting for Christ”.

One thing I feel that I can work better on is that of increasing in righteousness. I feel that I still have various things in my life that are the best things…they may be good but they’re not the best. I have plans to continue to set goals in doing better at reaching those best things instead of remaining complacent with that which is just “good”, as Elder Dallin H. Oaks mentioned a while ago.

Another thing I feel that I can work on is that of abounding in love towards everyone, even those who are the nicest of people. There are people that I meet that I view in my thoughts as someone I don’t want to talk to or smile at because of the way they look or the way they act. I am striving and am determined to continue striving to smile at them and not just ignore them. I need to always strive to show kindness to them at all times.

The last thing that I will list here is to be patient and listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides me into patience. Sometimes I find myself becoming impatient and having a hard time waiting. Then the Lord comforts me in saying that I need to be patient. What will happen will happen when it needs to happen. My goal is to not forget that counsel/comfort…to always remember the virtue and attribute of patience.

Choice 1: Acts 13-14. Paul’s First Mission

Using the map “Paul’s First Mission” found in the New Testament institute student manual on page 218, I will list some of the cities that Paul went through. He left from the city of Seleucia and first stopped on the island of Cyprus. On his way to the first major city he stopped at, Paphos, he went through Salamis. He then traveled north to the mainland and stopped in cities like Antioch, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra. He then made his way back to Seleucia after visiting those cities and a couple of others.

In Acts 13:1-5, there are at least three points that could help a missionary who is discouraged. Those three that  I have chosen are to fast, to pray and to go out and preach “the word of God”. Those, I believe are three of the best things a missionary can do when they have a discouraging time/moment. Fasting and prayer, especially when you do them together are miracle workers. Going out and preaching the gospel is also one of the best medicines, because it helps the missionary focus on what he is called and needs to do instead of allowing him to focus on the discouragements that he faces.

Barnabas was Paul’s companion during Paul’s first mission. From what is said about him, he played an integral part in Paul’s life. He was the one who got Paul into the ministry. His history before Paul was that he was part of those who sold their possessions in order to help other saints and to have everything in common. They had one contention about a new third companion and separated for a time, but got back together later on.

There are a few blessings and advantages of the Lord sending missionaries out by twos. One of them is that the companions can support each other’s teachings and testify that they are true. This advantage reminds me of Alma in the Book of Mormon. He had his companion, Amulek. In Alma 12:1, it says, “Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done.”

In Acts 14:8-18, Paul and Barnabas heal a man crippled since birth in the city of Lystra. The people see this and think that they are Gods. They call them Jupiter and Mercurius. Then, the priest of Jupiter rally the people to perform sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas get mad and chastise them for turning away from their only one true God, Heavenly Father. After chastising the people, the people repented and didn’t make sacrifices.

In Acts 14:19, certain Jews came into the city and persuaded the people to stone Paul. Paul was dragged out of the city and taken care of by disciples. He then enters back and builds up the saints of that city. It was interesting that in this second experience the people were easily turned to believe oppositely from verses 8-18. As Paul was building up the saints in that city, he said that only through much tribulation can we enter the kingdom of God. Both of these experiences are examples of what he taught about entering the kingdom of God because of the tribulation that he and Barnabas went through. I think he saw it as a great teaching experience for all those who followed him in that city. They saw all that he went through and yet he was still strong in the gospel and hadn’t given up.

Choice 3: Acts 2. The Day of Pentecost

For all those who read my blog, this is for a online New Testament class. I will be doing these for at least the next 12 weeks once a week.

The day of Pentecost is the day after the seven weeks of Passover. It is a day where the people pour out their hearts with gratitude towards God. The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word pentekoste…which means “fiftieth.” Another name for the day of Pentecost is the day of the first fruits.

On the day of Pentecost after the Holy Ghost came upon everyone gathered, Peter taught some great doctrine. He taught that whoever calls “on the name of the Lord” will be saved. He quoted Joel in telling about some of the signs before the Lord comes. For example, the sun will be dark and the moon will turn into blood. He also quoted Joel in saying that in the last days, God is going to “pour out” His Spirit on everyone and everyone will prophesy, have visions, and have dreams. Another thing that he taught was about the resurrection of Christ.

Peter fulfilled his role as a special witness of Jesus Christ by testifying of Christ’s second coming. He testified with boldness and surety. I love his testimonies that he shared in the New Testament. He had his lows where he learning experiences, but it was said by Christ that he will be the head of the Church. He was predestined, and his witness in Acts 2 showed everyone in that gathering that he was the leader of the Church.

Some of the great gifts of the Spirit that were manifest were the gift of tongues, the gift of testimony, and the gift of prophecy.

With what occurred on that day, the people responded by desiring to get baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost. They received their desire and joined the Church. They were becoming unified and helped each other out in their physical needs.

Be Ye Not Ashamed

"Mine has been the opportunity to meet many wonderful men and women in various parts of the world. A few of them have left an indelible impression upon me. One such person was a naval officer from Asia, a brilliant young man who had been brought to the United States for advanced training. Some of his associates in the United States Navy, whose behavior had attracted him, shared with him at his request their religious beliefs. He was not a Christian, but he was interested. They told him of the Savior of the world, of Jesus born in Bethlehem, who gave his life for all mankind. They told him of the appearance of God, the Eternal Father, and the resurrected Lord to the boy Joseph Smith. They spoke of modern prophets. They taught him the gospel of the Master. The Spirit touched his heart, and he was baptized.

"He was introduced to me just before he was to return to his native land. We spoke of these things, and then I said, 'Your people are not Christians. You come from a land where Christians have had a difficult time. What will happen when you return home a Christian and, more particularly, a Mormon Christian?'

"His face clouded, and he replied, 'My family will be disappointed. I suppose they well cast me out. They will regard me as dead. As for my future and my career, I assume that all opportunity will be foreclosed against me.'

"I asked, 'Are you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel?'

"His dark eyes, moistened by tears, shone from his handsome brown face as he answered, 'It's true, isn't it?'

"Ashamed at having asked the question, I responded, 'Yes, it's true.'

"To this he replied, 'Then what else matters?'"

-Be Thou an Example, by Gordon B. Hinckley (pages 3-4)

What a great piece of knowledge to have...to know that things are true. If something is true than nothing could change our mind about it. For example, what if we witness a crime. We are brought in front of the judge in court and are asked what we saw. Other people might say differently, but what we saw would not be changed. We know what we say is true. It's the same with Christ. If we know what he taught is true, nothing should be able to change our mind. We should not "be ashamed" of Christ in our lives.

goodreads.com

I also want to invite y’all, if y’all want, to see what books I’ve read in the past, what I’m currently reading, and what I plan to read.

You would just have to go to this website, http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7676064-jesse-cottam

Plunging into a Book

You know what’s great about books? You can get lost in them. Some of my favorite books are those where when you read them, you get start imagining in your mind all that is actually happening. I love creating a certain place in my mind using the descriptions that I’m reading. It doesn’t matter if there is a lot of description or very little description. With little description, you can use more of your own imagination to fill in the details. With a lot of description it’s easy to visualize what the place would look like and plunge into it.

For example, I remember when I read the great writing of J.R.R. Tolkien in “The Hobbit” a little under a year ago. I would read, for example, the section where the reader gets to met Gollum for the first time or goes through Mirkwood and be able to place me in those settings. I could feel the eerie and gloomy darkness of the cavern where Gollum lives. I could see the old trees of Mirkwood…a place where you couldn’t see any sunlight for days. I could see Bilbo and the dwarves floating inside barrels. I love books like that one.

I hope y’all have had the opportunity to plunge yourself into a book. I know it is one of the greatest experiences one can have in their life. If you want to, I ask you to post some comments on this blog post of books you’ve read that have helped you have a similar experience as I have had many times in my life.

The Challenge of Forgiveness

I just finished reading a section of the book, The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences, and felt like I want to share something that Bruce C. Hafen teaches. He his talking about forgiveness in cases of abuse from parents to children. He talks about the “transitional figure”…someone in the family line who decides to halt “the process” that occurs through generations (a process of parents abusing their children because those parents went through the same thing with their parents) “by simply absorbing, rather than passing along the current of harm. ‘Instead of seeking retribution, one learns to absorb pain, to be forgiving, to try to reconcile with forebears, and then become a generator of positive change in the next generation.’”

I really enjoy this section because it shows the power of forgiveness in a situation where forgiveness might be one of the hardest things to find.

He illustrates this through a story “of a young woman whose therapist encouraged her to place herself in such a transitional role, temporarily setting aside years of bitter feelings toward the father who had abused her…she…’went home.’ There, rather than confronting her father again over the pain he had caused her, she simply spent time with him, learning about his identity and experiences, including tape-recording and transcribing her interviews. Her therapist reported that this became ‘a gentle experience occurring in a forgiving atmosphere,’ and it ‘caused a dramatic reconciliation between the woman and her father,’ helping him ‘to face certain realities he had never faced.’”

He then goes on…

“Those who would become transitional figures confront the question about human nature raised so powerfully in Shakespeare’s Hamlet: should one forgive being wronged or seek to avenge the wrong? As Hamlet became convinced of the identity of his father’s murderer, his question was: ‘To be or not to be?’ Could he, more educated and reflective than most, muster the moral strength to offer mercy, rising above the typical impulse to seek revenge? Would he extend mercy unto forgiveness absorbing great injustice—or would he, like most others, simply avenge it?

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing, end them.

Then again, would Hamlet really ‘end’ the chain of harm by ‘opposing’ it? The blood-soaked stage at the end of Hamlet tells us that his choice to seek vengeance only extended the outrageous fortune. But true transitional figures find ways to absorb and suffer the slings and arrows—and thereby stop their intergenerational flow.”

I like to see this as an example to me of how forgiveness can heal rifts ripped between families and friendships…even in the situation of abuse. My goal is to personally be able to forgive others. I don’t want to fall as Hamlet did when he sought for vengeance instead of healing. 

“The divine blessing of hope”

“To develop toward Christlike character is a process, not an event. There may on day be some crowning event, in which the final endowment of grace completes a process that may take longer than mortal life. But to qualify for such a conclusion requires patience and persistence more than it requires flawlessness. It is, indeed, our own groping and reaching in the struggle for growth that qualifies us for divine help. Reid Nibley described this process in these lines:

A distant star

But not too far

To lure us out into the firmament

And tho we ne’er may reach it,

We have tried.

And in the trying

Have learned, perchance,

To make an orbit of our own.

“Our effort to reach for the distant star of the idea, of what ought to be, is much like the massive effort required to allow a rocket ship to break through the forceful pull of gravity. But our own orbit awaits us beyond the edge of gravity.

“The divine blessing of hope gives us much-needed perspective and strengthens our will to keep moving, against the odds, against the backward pull. It is the principle by which our Father guides us—line upon line, precept upon precept…

“And as we expand the reach of our circle of reality, the strangest thing happens: The circle of the ideal recedes to the horizon, creating both new aspirations and a new gap. We are like a toddler just learning to walk. A parent kneels a few steps away and coaxes with outstretched hands: ‘You can do it; come to Mommy!’ Just as the toddler is about to arrive, the parent might move back a step or two, stretching the todler’s reach beyond his grasp.

“Our Father in Heaven also waits and coaxes and literally gives us hope—and something about the perspective of hope maintains in our vision an optimal distance between the ideal and the real.”

-The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences by Bruce C. Hafen

Replacing Anger with Love

“’It wasn’t easy at first…I’d always believed that God would be there to sustain me if I was ever given a heavy cross to bear. But in the beginning, I felt alone. And abandoned. The God in whom I’d put my trust seemed to have vanished, along with all my hopes and dreams for the future. I called out to Him over and over again, asking for comfort and guidance. Asking why. Yet He seemed deag to my pleading. Finally I got angry and turned away from Him.’…

“’What happened next?’…

“’I stopped searching for answers.’

“Confused, he stared at her. ‘What do you mean?’

“’I stopped asking why.’

“’That’s it?’

“’Yes.’

“’I don’t understand.’

“…’Neither did I. And in the end I realized I never would. That’s my point. The thing is, Keith. God’s ways aren’t our ways. his plans surpass all our understanding. Seeking a logical explanation for what happened to me…it doesn’t make sense to even try. There is no logical, human answer. Only God knows why I was given that cross. Someday, when He and I are face-to-face, I might be given the wisdom to understand. But for now, it’s beyond me. I had to learn to accept without understanding.’

“…’Once I did that, I started to hear His voice again. I suspect it was there all along, but the clamor of my questions—demands, even—was drowning it out. And my anger was blinding me to His presence. you can’t reconnect with a loving God when your heart is filled with rage. So I let it go. And when I did, when I replaced it with love instead, God was waiting to welcome me back. That doesn’t mean it was always smooth sailing after that. Some days were rougher than others. Despair resurfaced on occasion. But over time, it got better. The sorrow over my loss will always be with me. But at least it’s easier to bear with God by my side.”

-Rainbow’s End, by Irene Hannon

“All we can do”

“I once had a sad and tender conversation with a stake president whose entire life represented a pattern of stalwart obedience. But he and his equally stalwart wife were carrying the burden of feeling total responsibility for the rebellion of their wayward son. He told me about their boy’s very serious mischief and their inability to contain him, despite continual and fervent effort. Then he said, “You know, we always tell our members that no other success can compensate for failure in the home. And the scriptures say that if a man doesn’t know how to manage his own house, how shall he take care of the Church?” (see 1 Timothy 3:5). Because of what he saw as his failure in the home, this man asked if he should request a release from his Church position.

“It was impossible for me to know, and probably impossible for him to know, just how much blame was really his for what his son was doing. But I knew firsthand of his good faith, his good heart, his own good life, and the spiritually successful lives of his other children. As I saw the tears in his eyes, I thought of the prophet Alma, whose rebellious son repented and later himself became a prophet. The older Alma was not released from his position as the high priest among the people of Zarahemla. I thought of other parents whose adolescent children have agency and friends and minds of their own. I thought of our Father in Heaven, whose rebellious offspring included not only Satan and Cain but a third of the hosts of heaven.

“I thought also that, while it is true that we can achieve no other success that will in fact compensate for our failures within or outside our homes, there is a success that compensates when we cannot—after all we can do in good faith (2 Nephi 25:33). That success is the Atonement of Jesus Christ, whose influence can mend what for us is beyond repair. perhaps, I thought, that holy influence could even do for this man’s son what it did for the younger Alma.

“Once we do all we can do, thereby qualifying for the blessings of mercy, the law of justice is satisfied. In addition, the Savior’s healing power may do its work of compensation. But restoring the balance of justice and restitution to an even state is not yet enough. Faith, repentance, and baptism are essential, but they are only the beginning, the gate by which we should enter the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:18), not the end of the road”

-The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences, by Bruce C. Hafen

“We are the Earth’s Caretakers”

“Ida B, some day this land is going to be yours…And the law is going to say that you own this land and you can do pretty much what you want with it…But I want you to remember this: We don’t own the earth. We are the earth’s caretakers, Ida B…I’m grateful we have this land and grateful that you’ll have it, too. But we don’t own it. We take care of it and all of the things on it. And when we’re done with it, it should be left better than we found it.”

-Ida B…and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World, pg. 29-30

Insightful Star Wars Quotes

I love some of the quotes off of Star Wars. They are so thought-provoking :D

 

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

• “Do or do not... there is no try.”
  
• “Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.”
  
• “The Force will be with you, always.”
  
• “A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.”
  
• ‎"Clear your mind must be..."
  
• “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”
  
• 
  
  “Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Luke... Luke... do not... do not underestimate the pow...ers of the Emperor or suffer your father's fate you will. Luke, when gone am I... the last of the Jedi will you be. Luke, the Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned, Luke. There is... another... Sky... walker.”See More
  
• ‎"The dark side clouds everything..."
  
• “The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.”
  
• “Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.”
  
• “[Luke:] I can’t believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail.”
  
• “Ohhh. Great warrior.Wars not make one great.”
  
• “May the Force be with you.”
  
• And some fun ones :D
  
• “I do, yes, I do. Sick have I become. Old and weak. When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not. Hmm?”

Humility: If Our Heart is Right

“If our heart is right, we will be free from the excesses and risks of being either too demanding or not demanding enough with ourselves. The greater our willingness to be humble about our errors and inadequacies, the less we will be likely to repeat them and the more we will learn from our experience. As this attitude draws us closer to God, our confidence in his presence will grow, as will our assurance that we do not seek his face in vain. We might then make the same discovery as did a righteous group of Book of Mormon people: ‘Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God’ (Helaman 3:35).”

This is a paragraph in a book I am reading called “The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences”. It was written by Bruce C. Hafen and is a wonderful book. I encourage all to read it.

This book has given me a new outlook on personal life. Every time I read it and ask myself how I can do better. I hope y’all will enjoy it as much as I do.

When I read this quote, which is basically the summary of one of the chapters in the book, I set a higher standard for myself to continually strive to be more humble before God. I know that as I do this I will find a strength added upon myself so that I can overcome the weaknesses that I have.

There comes a time in a man's life when to get where he has to go--if there are no doors or windows--he walks through a wall.     

Bernard Malamud

    The author of The Natural

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare died on this day the 23rd of April in 1616 at the age of 52

Absence from those we love is self from self - a deadly banishment.

A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.

A peace is of the nature of a conquest; for then both parties nobly are subdued, and neither party loser.

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.

He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.

How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

Read more athttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_shakespeare_3.html#IPqzE7FivgeDDYwX.99

Victory Over the Tomb

"I declare my personal witness that death has been conquered, victory over the tomb has been won. May the words made sacred by Him who fulfilled them become actual knowledge to all. ... He is risen."
—President Thomas S. Monson

Our Bull’s-Eye

“An image suggesting this kind of private relationship with the Lord is described in a story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson tells of his boyhood, growing  up in a part of England where darkness came early in the evening. He and his friends imitated British policemen by carrying small, tin “bull’s-eye” lanterns on their belts. Just for the fun of it, Stevenson and his friends made a game out of hiding the glowing lantern inside their buttoned overcoats and then making their way along the dark paths as if they had no light with them. In Stevenson’s words:

When two of these [lads] met, there would be an anxious, “have you got your lantern?” and a gratified “Yes!” That was the shibboleth, and very needful, too; for, as it was the rule to keep our glory contained, none could recognize a lantern-bearer unless (like the polecat) by the smell….The essence of this bliss was to walk by yourself in the black night, the slide shut, the top-coat buttoned, not a ray escaping, whether to conduct your footsteps or to make your glory public,—a mere pillar of darkness in the dark; and all the while, deep down in the privacy of your foo’s heart, to know you had a bull’s-eye at your belt, and to exult and sing over the knowledge….

[One’s] life from without may seem but a rude mound of mud: [but] there will be some golden chamber at the heart of it, in which he dwells delighted; and for as dark as his pathway seems to the observer, he will have some kind of bull’s-eye at his belt.

Stevenson then describes the ultimate subjectivity of true joy, noting that other people simply cannot fully appreciate the innermost delights and sorrows of our lives. He suggests that if we could only experience forms of joy quickly perceived and acknowledged by others, that kind of joy would fall far short of the high forms of happiness and insight of which the human soul is capable…

To feel this assurance is to sense the reward of peace in this world and the promise of eternal life in the world to come. This is a more excellent way.”

-The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences (Expanded Edition) by Bruce C. Hafen

Nobody to Somebody

“An unbelievable twist for two kids who had been palmed off on an uncaring guardian who, in turn, palmed them off on a series of au pairs. Now they knew the truth—they were relatives of Benjamin Franklin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and more—geniuses, visionaries, and global leaders. We were nobody. Suddenly we have a chance to shape the world….”  - One False Note by Gordon Korman

This section I read in my book really got me thinking about how I am slowly learning through experiences that I am somebody and have potential. I can do something that will effect other’s lives for good.

Everything in the world exists in order to end up as a book.

- Stéphane Mallarmé, a French poet

Sounds of a City

As I read this, I wondered how this would physically feel if I experienced it too...stuck in a smothered and quiet place and then allowed to see and feel the liveliness of a city.

"As we rode onto the avenue, the sound of our horses' hooves was muddled with the other noises of the city. It was just before midday, and we were in the middle of the last surge of activity before people withdrew into their homes to wait out the afternoon heat. There were a few other horses on the road, and many more donkeys. People traveled on foot and in sedan chairs carried by servants. Merchants brought their goods up the avenue in carts and then led loaded donkeys down the narrow alleys to the back doors of the great houses, hoping to sell their vegetables to the cook, their linen to the housekeeper, or their wine to the steward. There was jostling and shouting and noise, and I relished it after the perpetual smothered quiet of the prison."

-The Thief, a book written by Megan Whalen Turner

This is a great book, by the way. Julie, my wife, read it for her young adult literature class and really wanted me to read it so I did. I’m enjoying it so far. There is a swear word that shows up a few times near the beginning so it’s not one I would own without marking that word out, but I love the story and characters so far

The book is about a young man who is a thief. He got caught by the king’s soldiers and had been in prison for many months when the king and his scholar takes the young man, Gen, out of prison in order to steal something for them. One thing I love about this book is how the author put Greece landscape into it in a way. There are olive trees all over

I hope y’all will enjoy it as much as I do.