Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families New Testament Lesson #9 Matthew 6–7

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

New Testament Lesson #9

Matthew 6–7

So much to think about in the Sermon on the Mount, as we continue our study of these teachings of the Savior this week. The first part is on prayer. We do it so often, with varying degrees of sincerity—if I am honest with myself—and, coincidentally, this morning I was reading a talk by President Nelson from October 2003 General Conference entitled “Sweet Power of Prayer.” I am also reading his biography which was written about the same time. President Nelson was a ground-breaking heart surgeon, I believe, principally because of his ability to communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayer. Here is an excerpt:

Jesus taught us how [to pray]. We pray to our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is the “true order of prayer,” in contrast to “vain repetitions” or recitations given to “be seen of men.” . . . Jesus revealed that we pray to a wise Father who knows what things we have need of, before we ask Him. . . . We should pray in accord with the will of our Heavenly Father. He wants to test us, to strengthen us, and to help us achieve our full potential. When the Prophet Joseph Smith was held in Liberty Jail, he pled for relief. His prayers were answered with an explanation: “All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”[1]

In Relief Society last Sunday, we talked about better communication as a method for strengthening families. Surely better communication with our Heavenly Father through prayer will strengthen our faith and give us what we need to negotiate this rocky trail through life. Interestingly, trail is an anagram of trial!

One thing about prayer that was recently clarified for me is that it is OK to pray for the same things each day. Obviously we remember those we love in our prayers every day. Sincerity is the safeguard against vain repetition. If your mind wanders, and I speak from personal experience, then perhaps a vocal personal prayer is better if you are able. 

There is much more to the Sermon on the Mount, but hopefully this will lead into your study of this week’s two chapters and we can share next Sunday.

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[1]https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/04/sweet-power-of-prayer?lang=eng.

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families New Testament Lesson #8 Matthew 5; Luke 6

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

New Testament Lesson #8

Matthew 5; Luke 6

The Sermon on the Mount, as it is known, was given at least twice, and possibly three times. First is Matthew 5, 6, and 7, and second is 3 Nephi 12–14. The sermon in Luke 6:17–49 is sometimes represented as the same event as in Matthew, but the text tells us it was given on a plain (Luke 6:17) after Jesus came down from the mountain where he named/called His twelve disciples. The logistics are not critical; what is critical is the message. And I wonder if it came as a result of the Savior being asked, “what kind of person should we be?” “How do we achieve exaltation—what can we do in this life to return to live with our Heavenly Father and be with our family forever?”

These are the steps to perfection; the aim is high. In essence, perhaps these sermons are helping us understand how we cleanse our inner selves so that we can treat His other children the way He would want them to be treated. But, as always, the blessings we receive as we follow these injunctions far outweigh any sacrifice we might make of those elements within ourselves we have to give up. 

During Sunday School today, I was thinking about crossing or drawing a line. Are we aware of a drawn line within ourselves when crossing it would reveal unacceptable thoughts or actions? Have we actually drawn one? And what got me thinking, after Brother Linn’s comment about intentions, was is my line receding into grey, badly lit areas, and thereby becoming blurred, or is it gaining more contrast with light before it. 

How am I doing with meekness, mercy, peace-making, light-bringing. Is my spiritual house firmly embedded in rock? And, of course, if not, then what do I need to do to bring that line firmly into the light. 

Sorry if this is completely introspective today. But I’d love to have any thoughts and comments. 

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families New Testament Lesson #7 John 2–4

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

New Testament Lesson #7

John 2–4

Well, the last two days have certainly given us a lot to think about regarding how we implement Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families into our own study routines. Ice cream and Legos being at the forefront of what I remember. All kidding aside, I realized that writing this blog was not sufficient for what I need to be doing. I was encouraged by everyone’s shared experiences with it, in the various demographics in our Stake. We all have challenges, which are somewhat unique to our own situations, but the Lord can help each of us as we strive to obey His commandments, especially as regards the new home-centered learning with Come Follow Me.

D&C 7 gives us some information about John, and in the spirit of putting flesh and bones on the people we read about and hear from, I wonder how he feels now about the state of the world, walking upon it, as he presumably does. Was he the man on the white horse who saved Sister Cornish’s ancestor (I think it was Sister Cornish)? 

John is very definite about the first and second public miracle performed by the Lord: changing water into wine and resurrecting the nobleman’s son. But why did Mary ask her Son to do something fairly pedestrian. My answer to that is that Jesus Christ has power over all earthly things, from making a fig tree wither to the power over life and death themselves—the power of the Priesthood. Because He would never use His power for anything other than in accordance with His Father’s will, and demonstration of that power is not categorizable. It is His power, pure and simple. And with that power, He can bless us beyond our ability to comprehend. Truly, with God nothing is impossible. But, as Elder Cornish told us—quoting President Nelson, we have to do those things that will increase our spiritual capacity to receive revelation.

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families New Testament Lesson #6 Matthew 4; Luke 4–5

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

New Testament Lesson #6

Matthew 4; Luke 4–5

Since Google + is going away soon. I changed the comments section, so that anyone may comment with, or without a Google account. I hope that makes it easier for this to be a virtual group discussion as the Bishop envisioned.

We talked in Sunday School about the quote from last week’s lesson: “True repentance is “a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. … [It means] a turning of the heart and will to God” (Bible Dictionary, “Repentance”).” In this week’s lesson, we see the Savior turn His face toward His Father, setting his feet inexorably on the path that inevitably leads to Gethsemane. I tend to think about fasting 40 days and nights as impossible—especially when the 24 hours recommended for Fast Sunday is sometimes so hard. But I think where Jesus was—as He was with His Father (JST Matthew 4:1), He was being spiritually fed and prepared for His mission. His physical body was perhaps left behind. This is just my musing—no doctrinal support for it, other than Luke 1:4 where Luke says Jesus was “led by the Spirit,”—but assuming that, what a shock to “return” to His depleted physical body and then immediately face Satan’s temptations. 

S. Kent Brown’s commentary on Luke has this to say:

We are left to imagine the enormous will power that Jesus exercises in wrestling down his appetites by refusing to eat. His challenge is foretold in prophecy: “he shall suffer . . . hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death” (Mosiah 3:7). It is curious that Luke writes nothing of Jesus’ not drinking. Perhaps he assumes his readers will conclude that Jesus does not drink for he separates eating and drinking in other passages (see 12:19; 13:26; 17:8;

Acts 9:9; 23:12, 21). In certain places on both sides of the Jordan River, water is abundant.[1]

Something I have been pondering is that, of the Gospel writers, Matthew and John were disciples of the mortal Christ, Mark and Luke were not (as far as we know they were both companions of Paul, and Mark was also a companion of Peter). There is also the suggestion that Mark is reporting what Peter told him. That scripture is inspired and the Lord can inspire His writers to record directly what He tells them is not in question. But the differences between the Gospels, as well as the similarities, do require some pondering. 

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[1]S. Kent Brown, The Testimony of Luke,140.