Saturday, January 31, 2015
Sunday, January 25, 2015
The Original Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles
Simon Peter
Peter was a fisherman, the
brother of Andrew and, with James and John, comprised the first “First
Presidency.” Pres. Kimball said, “Peter was a diamond in the rough—a diamond
that would need to be cut, trimmed, and polished by correction, chastisement,
and trials—but nevertheless a diamond of real quality. The Savior knew this
apostle could be trusted to receive the keys of the kingdom.”[1]
Peter was crucified upside down.
Andrew
Also a fisherman, Andrew
was the brother of Simon Peter and had been a disciple of John the Baptist.
James the son of Zebedee
Also known as James the
Greater (to distinguish him from both “James the Less” who was an Apostle, and James
who was the author of the Epistle of James and Jesus’s brother), James, a
fisherman, was brother to John and in the first presidency. He and John were
nicknamed “sons of thunder.” He was the first of the original Twelve to be
martyred in AD 44, having been sentenced to death by sword by Herod Agrippa.
John
Author of the Gospel and
the Book of Revelation, he was known as John the Beloved. He was the brother of
James and together they were known as the “sons of thunder.” He is reported to
have died of old age in Ephesus.
Philip
Philip was also a disciple
of John the Baptist first and came from Galilee. Little is known about him, but
he did recruit Nathanael.
Nathanael (believed to be Bartholomew)
Recruited by Philip,
Nathanael became a disciple after the Lord revealed He had seen him sitting
under a fig tree. He is reported to have been crucified upside down, like
Peter.
Matthew (Levi)
Writer of the Gospel,
Matthew was a tax collector whose call is documented in Matthew 9.
Thomas
Unfortunately nicknamed
“Doubting Thomas” because of his insistence to see the marks in the Savior’s
hands before he would believe that Jesus had been resurrected, Thomas was
nonetheless a true and dedicated Apostle.
James the Less
James was the son of
Alphaeus—very little is written about him in the New Testament other than he
was one of the Twelve Apostles.
Simon the Zealot
Other than this title for
him, virtually nothing is known about this Simon, other than he was chosen by
the Lord to be an Apostle.
Thaddeus or Jude
Again, very little known
about him. He is also known as “Judas,” not to be confused with Judas Iscariot,
and is a brother of one of the James’s—probably James the Less.
Judas Iscariot
Because of his surname,
Iscariot, it is possible he came from Kerioth which was near Hebron. It can be
assumed that early on he was with the other Apostles when they performed
miracles. Later, though, he was found to be a thief and a traitor. He hanged
himself after betraying the Savior.
[1]
Spencer W. Kimball, “Peter, My Brother,” Brigham Young University Speeches of
the Year (July 13, 1971), 2.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
NT Lesson #4—Bruce Lott
N.T. #4: “Prepare Ye the Way of the
Lord”
Matthew 3:1–4:17
Matthew 3:1–4:17
re: Matthew 3:1–12; Luke 3:11
What did John the Baptist preach in
preparation for Christ’s coming?
What are the elements of
repentance that brings forgiveness?
(See, e.g., 2 Cor. 7:10; Matt.
3:6; 6:14 ; D&C 1:32; Mosiah 4:26 ; 7:33 .)
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re: Matthew 3:8, please see Moroni
What are the fruits of repentance?
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re: Matthew 3:11
“Baptism in water is the introductory ordinance of the
gospel and must be followed by baptism of the Spirit in order to be complete” (Bible
Dictionary).
“The baptism of water, without the baptism of fire … is
of no use. They are necessarily and inseparably connected…. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is
good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:
Joseph Smith, 90, 95.)
What is complete baptism?
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President
Boyd K. Packer has said: “[T]here are two parts to baptism--baptism by water
and baptism by fire.” When teach about baptism we should “always” include both
parts. For example: “When you are eight years old,
you can be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.” (“The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Member Should Know,” Aug 2006 Ensign.)
Did John the Baptist practice this principle taught by
President Packer?
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“[T]he
baptism of fire by the Holy Ghost … cleanses, heals, and purifies the soul” (Elder David A. Bednar, October
2007 CR).
President Lorenzo Snow said: “[Some] weeks after I was
baptized [in water]…. I began to reflect upon the fact that I had not obtained
[the baptism of the Holy Ghost] and I began to feel very uneasy. I … left the
house and wandered around through the fields under the oppressive influence of
a gloomy, disconsolate spirit…. At length, realizing that the usual time had
come for secret prayer, I … knelt as I was in the habit of doing…. I had no
sooner opened my lips in an effort to pray, than … the Spirit of God descended
upon me, completely enveloping my whole person, filling me from the crown of my
head to the soles of my feet, and O the joy and happiness I felt! … It was a
complete baptism--a tangible immersion
in … the Holy Ghost.” (Teachings of
Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, 59, 61.)
Elder
Joseph L. Wirthlin told of a member friend who “had prayed often and long” to
receive the baptism of fire and had nearly given up on receiving it. “One
morning, while pondering the scriptures, he felt something surge through his
body from the top of his head to the bottoms of his feet. ‘I was immersed in a feeling of such intense
love and pure joy’ he said, ‘there was no room in me for any other sensation.’”(April 2003 Conference Report [CR].)
What is the baptism of fire?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
“For the gate
by which ye should enter is
repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by
fire and by the Holy Ghost” (2 Nephi 31:17).
“Baptism
by immersion in water is the introductory ordinance of the gospel, and must be
followed by baptism of the Spirit in order to be complete... [T]hen cometh a remission of your sins by
fire and by the Holy Ghost” (President
James E. Faust April 2001 CR).
“We
must be baptized by immersion in water” and “also be baptized by and immersed in the Spirit… and then cometh
a remission of sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost” (Elder David A. Bednar April 2006 CR.)
What is baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins?
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re: Matthew 4:3
“Satan was not simply tempting
Jesus to eat” but to use “His divine powers for selfish purposes” (Elder Howard W. Hunter, Oct 1976 CR). “There was nothing wrong with the Lord's providing
food by miraculous means. … [H]e would later multiply loaves and fishes so that
thousands could eat.” (Elder Dallin H.
Oaks, Pure in Heart, 18.) But Jesus always “acted out of love and compassion for
[others… H]e would not turn stones into bread to appease his own ... gnawing
hunger born of forty days of fasting—yet for others, whose needs were less and
whose hunger was but one day old, he would exercise his own divine power” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah 2:349).
What would have been wrong with Jesus heeding Satan’s “first
temptation”?
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Matt. 4:4,7,10) What did
Jesus’ responses to Satan’s temptations have in common?
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Matt. 4:
17 ) What did Jesus preach in preparation for the kingdom
of heaven?
Sunday, January 18, 2015
New Testament Lesson #3--Alison
New
Testament Lesson 3: “Unto Us A Child is Born”
Luke 2; Matthew 2
Quotes:
Thomas S. Monson—“We need not walk by the
shores of Galilee or among the Judean hills to walk where Jesus walked. All of
us can walk the path He walked when, with His words ringing in our ears, His
Spirit filling our hearts, and His teachings guiding our lives, we choose to
follow Him as we journey through mortality. His example lights the way. Said
He, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”[1]
James E Talmage—“Tidings of such import
had never before been delivered by angel or received by man—good tidings of
great joy, given to but few and those among the humblest of earth, but destined
to spread to all people. There is sublime grandeur in the scene, as there is
divine authorship in the message, and the climax is such as the mind of man
could never have conceived—the sudden appearance of a multitude of the heavenly
host, singing audibly to human ears the briefest, most consistent and most
truly complete of all the songs of peace ever attuned by mortal or spirit
choir. What a consummation to be wished—Peace on earth! But how can such come
except through the maintenance of good will toward men? And through what means
could glory to God in the highest be more effectively rendered?”[2]
Introduction: Most biblical
commentators agree that the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem “to be taxed”
was more likely to take part in a kind of census . “Joseph and Mary went from
Nazareth to Bethlehemto be taxed because Caesar Augustus decreed a taxation of
some kind, or enrollment for
taxation, throughout his empire. (JST)”[3]
Under Roman Law, once you reach the age of thirteen you are considered an adult
and therefore liable for taxes. Joseph must have had property in Bethlehem for
him to have to go there to pay the taxes.[4]
They almost certainly made the 100 mile journey in a caravan with other
travelers. It would have been too dangerous to go on their own.
Luke
2
See Video presentation here https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/1996-06-02-lesson-3-luke-ii?lang=eng.
Verse 4—David’s family originally
came from the Bethlehem area which is why, here only, Bethlehem is also called
a “city of David”—normally reserved for Jerusalem.
7—“brought forth” Question: How do we bring Christ into our
own lives? When we are born we almost have a greater knowledge of Christ
than we can gain in a lifetime because we were with Him and our Father, and the
veil is so very recently applied. How will we, from now, this minute on, bring
Christ into our lives?
8–17 That Luke brings in the
shepherds as the first recipients of the glorious news via the visit of an
angel that Christ is born ties into Christ as the Lamb of God, His humble birth
and upbringing, His role as the Good Shepherd. What would it have taken for
them to leave their flock since their main job in life was to guard them? They
had to search for the “manger.” And when they had seen and gained a testimony
of the divinity of the Babe, they “made known abroad the saying which was told
them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17).
Elder
Holland: “So why should we bear frequent and powerful testimony of Christ
as Savior, as Redeemer, as Atoning Lamb of God? Because doing so invites and
becomes part of the divine power of testimony borne by God the Father and by
the Holy Ghost, a testimony borne on wings of fire to the very hearts of
investigators. Such a divine testimony of Christ is the rock upon which every
new convert must build. Only this testimony of the atoning Anointed, Victorious
One will prevail against the gates of hell. So saith the Son of God Himself.”
19, 51 Mary kept all these
things/pondered them “in her heart.” Question:
What does pondering in your heart help
gain, a greater understanding, a different perspective, a strengthening of
faith?
22, 42—taking Jesus to the temple.
Once gain Luke emphasises the centrality of the temple in the life of righteous
Jews. In ancient times, the journey was made for feast and special occasions.
Today we can go pretty much anytime. Question:
What is our main purpose in going to the temple?
25–38 Simeon and Anna. Whether or
not divine inspiration through the Holy Spirit came in between the Testaments,
Luke details it in abundance. Simeon in vs. 26 had revelation “by the Holy
Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” Anna
“served God with fastings and prayers night and day” and was prvileged to know
of Christ’s divinity.
Quote:
Joseph F. Smith, Jr. said “The Prophet Joseph Smith has declared that every
man who has come into this Church; and every woman, for that matter, who has
received the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord, is a prophet or a prophetess;
that every man should be a prophet, because every man in the Church should have
the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy; and he should declare
the truth, teach the principles of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, call
upon the people to repent of their sins, and instruct them in the things of the
kingdom. This is the duty of a prophet and constitutes the office and calling
of a prophet just as much as the declaration of things which are yet to come.”[5]
Verse 40: All we know about Christ’s
childhood! Plus D&C 93:11–14. Question:
How can we receive a fullness?
Matthew 2
1–9 The wise men and Herod. Micah
5:2 prophesies of the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem and the wise men point
this out. Herod who wants to maintain his position at all costs has a history
of annihilating rivals, but is the arch politician so he courts the wise men
and encourages them to return with a report “that I may come and worship him
also.”
12 The wise men also receive
revelation—not to report to Herod.
13. Joseph receives revelation to
flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s infanticide.
16-17 With the slaughter of the
innocents in Bethlehem and its environs, scripture is again, tragically,
fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:15).
19—another angelic visition to
Joseph for their return, eventually to Nazareth, Galilee rather than Jerusalem.
Question:
With all these heavenly visions and manifestations attending the birth of
Christ and the restoration of the Gospel in the early 1800s, what can we expect
in our own lives?
Quote:
Hugh Nibley, “If you pray for an angel to visit you, you know what he'll do
if he comes. He'll just quote the scriptures to you—so you know you're wasting
your time waiting for what we already have. I'm quite serious about that.”[6]
[1]
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/ponder-the-path-of-thy-feet?lang=eng.
[2]
James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ at
https://www.lds.org/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-8?lang=eng.
[3]
D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew Skinner, Verse
by Verse: The Four Gospels (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006), 49.
[4]
See Naphtali Lewis, Life in Egypt under Roman Rule (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1983), 156–57, 172.
[5] Conference Report, April 1918, 159.
[6] Hugh
Nibley, Of All Things (Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book, 1993), 42.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Political Situation in Jerusalem since the Old Testament
The
Political Setting of the New Testament[1]
- · Israel/Palestine was in the middle of two great kingdoms of Egypt and Syria
- · In 333 BC Alexander the Great conquered Palestine and it remained mainly under Greek control.
- · During the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (250 BC) the Greek translations of the sacred Jewish books began at Alexandria
- · Around 179 BC Antiochus started trying to stamp out the Jewish religion, even consecrating the temple to Zeus.
- · This gave rise to the Maccabean revolt which, despite always being way outnumbered, culminated in 165BC with their retaking Jerusalem and reinstituting temple worship to Jehovah there.
- · In 143BC Simon Maccabeus achieved independence for the Jews and started the Hasmonean dynasty (named for his father Mattathias/Hasmon).
- · Eventually their religious zeal was replaced with an acquisitive one which led to warring action within the dynasty appealing to Pompey in Rome.
- · In 63BC Pompey entered Jerusalem on the Sabbath and took control, slaughtering 12,000 Jews.
- · Because of his support of Rome, Antipater (father of Herod the Great) was made governor.
- · His son, Herod, married a Hasmonean princess; although there was no actual Jewish blood in the family, his grandfather had been forced to convert to Judaism. He brought a Hellenistic influence to Jerusalem.
- · Rome ruled much of Europe and many of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean
- · The Roman empire included Judea and Galilee, where Jesus walked and talked—as well as Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome, where Paul traveled and preached.
[1] Taken
from Paul E. Dahl, “The Setting of the New Testament “ at https://www.lds.org/ensign/1983/07/the-setting-of-the-new-testament?lang=eng.
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