Sunday, September 13, 2015

NT#34 Prophets' comments on I Corinthians 11-14

re: 1 Corinthians 11:11.  “We never could be in the image of God if we were not both male and female. … When we become like [our Heavenly Parents] we will be presented before [them] in the form in which we were created, male and female. The woman will not go there alone, and the man will not go there alone, and claim exaltation.” (Elder Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 276.)

re: 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 . . .

. . . “[S]acrament meeting is the most sacred and the most important meeting … of the Church. If any … have in their hearts any feeling of hatred, envy, or sin of any kind, they should not partake . . . otherwise they will eat and drink unworthily and bring upon themselves the condemnation spoken of by Paul.” (Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 2:343)

. . . “To partake of the sacrament unworthily is to take a step toward spiritual death. No one can be dishonest within himself without deadening the susceptibility of his spirit…. On natural principles such a one ‘eats and drinks damnation to his soul.’” (Elder David O. McKay, October 1929 Conference Report).

. . . “There is the person who partakes of the sacrament unworthily rather than stir curiosity. Whom do they deceive?”(President Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, 240.)

. . . “Sacrament meeting … it is not a time for whispered conversations … or for texting ... When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see some violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, October 2008 Conference Report [CR].)

. . . “[S]ome check email, Facebook, Twitter, or [other] accounts or send text messages during the most important gathering in the restored Church of Jesus Christ . . . In this important meeting we should be focusing on the Lord through praying, singing hymns, and partaking the emblems of His body and blood . . . We need [to] wean ourselves from the distractions of our electronic devices … so that we can connect to the Spirit of God.” (See Elder Ballard, May 2014, CES Devotional.)

re: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, “charity [Greek, agape: love] . . .”

“The commandments … are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ … shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become”; “what children of God are supposed to become.” Eternal life (which Jesus said is to “know” our Heavenly  Father and His Son [John 17:3]) “is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason . . . the pure love of Christ. . . . The reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness is that charity is not an act but a condition or state of being.”(See Elder Dallin H. Oakes, Oct 2000 Conference Report.)

re: vs. 3.  (See James 2:15-16, 1 John 3:17)

re: vs. 4. Charity suffereth long . . .” 

“The suffering that can come from loving [may be] the result of our great caring …because [others will] matter to us so much” (President Aileen H. Clyde, Oct 1991 CR).  Jesus, “who loved most of all, endured the most” (Elder Hugh B. Brown, Oct 1954 CR).   “[H]e shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind . . . . for He loveth the world”(Alma 7:11; 2 Nephi 26:24). 

vs. 5.   “. . . seeketh not her own”  

“Charity never seeks selfish gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, October 1986 CR.)  “Our service should be for the love of God and the love of fellowmen rather than for … any other lesser motive” including “hope of earthly reward” or “the hope of an eternal reward” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 1984 CR).

“. . . is not easily provoked “I know of no instance where [it] would be . . . possible to feel the Spirit of our Heavenly Father when we are angry. . . .  No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us … we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible.” (President Thomas S. Monson, October 2009 CR.)

“. . . thinketh no evil(logizomai ou kakos: “counts no offenses”). 

“[The ‘saints’] have plenty to do to examine themselves and to purify their own hearts; and if they look at their neighbors and examine their conduct, they will look for good and not for evil.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 269-70.) “Watch constantly for that which is worthy and noble in others”  (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 112).  “Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ” (President Thomas S. Monson, October 2010 CR).


vs. 8.  “... never faileth [Gr. ceases]”   “... endureth forever”(Moroni 7:47).

“[P]ray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love …. which love endureth by diligence unto prayer” (Moroni 7:48; 8:26).

 “Love is a choice”(Elder Lynn G. Robbins, 2015; see also Elder & Sister Bednar, 2015, "Face to Face")

“[W]e must … reach out to [help] others even as we reach [up] to God [for help to do so], rather than waiting to respond to others' needs until our charitable instincts are quickened by the Spirit” (Elder Bruce C. Hafen, 2011, The Broken Heart, 234).

1 Corinthians 14:1-31 “... prophesy [Gr. propheteuo: speak by divine inspiration, testify]


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