April 1–14. Matthew 16–17; Mark 8–9; Luke 9: ‘Thou Art the Christ’

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

April 1–14. Matthew 16–17; Mark 8–9; Luke 9: ‘Thou Art the Christ’

If you look at the online or mobile version of this lesson, there is a video of L. Tom Perry narrating a time when President Kimball was with some of the Twelve in Denmark and they went to the chapel where Thorvaldson’s original statutes of the Christus and the Twelve Apostles were displayed. It is a touching video relating President Kimball’s explanation of the keys held by him at that time, Peter of old, and those held by the Apostles then and now. 

This incredible experience was recently repeated in the Rome Temple Visitor’s Center. The best and most complete versions of the statutes of Christ and the Twelve Apostles have been digitally scanned and reproduced there. The iconic photographs of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles in front of those statues bear witness that they hold the same priesthood keys and authority from Christ. 

This week, as we prepare for General Conference and the words from our those men and our auxiliary leaders that will direct our lives for the next six months, for me it will be helpful to realize that their inspiration, and the authority with which they lead us to do what the Lord would have us do, comes through the same Spirit which will confirm the truthfulness of their words to us. 

One thing about Peter. These scriptures bring out his humanity and his nobility. He dared to express himself to the Savior, sometimes bringing censure, sometimes approval, but he always tried to make sense of the situation he was in, as he was learning from the Savior how to eventually lead His Church. We too act in ways that might bring censure or approval, but we need to act. The difference is that we have His Spirit to guide us, to help us to develop the kind of faith that the Lord would have us have. 

March 25–31. Matthew 14–15; Mark 6–7; John 5–6: ‘Be Not Afraid’

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

March 25–31. Matthew 14–15; Mark 6–7; John 5–6: ‘Be Not Afraid’

Miracles happen in prisons in the Book of Mormon, Alma and Amulek stand alone as the prison walls and all those in it who reviled them were destroyed (Alma 14) Aaron and Muloki and their brethren are released from prison after the miraculous conversion of Lamoni’s father (Alma 20). Many Lamanites were converted as a result of divine intervention when Nephi and Lehi were in prison (Helaman 5). In contrast, John the Baptist was in prison because Herod feared doing anything more drastic to him, and eventually, “knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” But Herod got drunk and backed himself into a corner with Salome which led to his beheading the man of whom the Savior said, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). Such was the impact of John the Baptist on Herod, that when he heard of Jesus’s miracles, he said, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him” (Matthew 14:2).

Why my focus on John the Bapist today? Well basically because Matthew 14 seems to start with Herod as if something was going to happen, then backs up and gives the background, but never completes it. You have to go to Mark 6 to get a fuller description, but even then it is up to us to make the connection. And because I am getting confused, here are the Herods, and the political/religious leaders we deal with in the time of Christ:

Herod the Great is the ruler who was responsible for the massacre of the innocents in Matthew 2. 

Herod Antipas, his son, was the tetrarch referred to with regard to John the Baptist and before whom Jesus was brought. 

Pontius Pilate was the Roman leader assigned to Judea. Herod Antipas served under him. 

The Sanhedrin was the political and judicial court, comprising—possibly—Pharisees, and Saducees.

The Scribes and the Pharisees were basically lawyers, having different views of resurrection. 

The Saducees were high priests who clung to the Torah (5 books of Moses) 

That is a very simplified run down on who was instrumental in bringing events to the crucifixion of Christ.

What stuck out to me most in this week’s reading occurred after Jesus had walked on water to the disciples’ boat and they had reached shore to be met by many people. 

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. (Mark 6:52).

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled (John 6:26)

Miracles happen in our lives, but that is not what leads to our lasting conversion. That comes from our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, through prayer, through studying Their words, and listening and heeding the counsel of Their prophets.

March 18–24. Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13: ‘Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear’

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

March 18–24. Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13: ‘Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear’

Matthew 13 has a succession of parables, which we all know. At least I thought I did but I see that I have overlooked the last one:

Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old (Matthew 13:52).

This one is significant since it follows Christ asking his Apostles, “Have ye understood all these things?” So I think this means that we, as disciples of Christ, should be constantly seeking to understand His teachings, however they come. Especially since in three short weeks, we will again hear His words through living prophets and leaders in General Conference. New and old teachings we learn are treasures to us.

Obviously, the Lord taught in arable parables (sorry—couldn’t resist that) using symbols which would be familiar to those around Him who relied on Mother Earth for sustenance, “by the sweat of thy face . . .” (Moses 4:25). And I think for us, as always, having the Book of Mormon as a guide to some of these parables is pivotal. For instance, Alma 32 helps us understand the parables of the mustard seed and of the sower. 

A few years ago, President Dallin H. Oaks gave us a hard-hitting, uncompromising analysis of the parable of the sower as it applies to us today. The messages given to us at General Conference are increasing in their urgency as we careen through these last days almost as if we were in rapids. Here is an excerpt:

If we are not rooted in the teachings of the gospel and regular in its practices, any one of us can develop a stony heart, which is stony ground for spiritual seeds.

Spiritual food is necessary for spiritual survival, especially in a world that is moving away from belief in God and the absolutes of right and wrong. In an age dominated by the Internet, which magnifies messages that menace faith, we must increase our exposure to spiritual truth in order to strengthen our faith and stay rooted in the gospel. .[1]

I used to almost dread the inaction of Sundays—for me the lack of structure outside of the time we spend at Church; always having to choose between things I think I want to do and things I should be doing on the Sabbath—was distressing. I don’t have it down yet, but having this opportunity to focus on Come Follow Me helps a great deal. One more guide from President Oaks’s talk, important not least because he quotes one of my personal heroes: Hugh Nibley.

We are overcome by the “cares … of this life” when we are paralyzed by fear of the future, which hinders our going forward in faith, trusting in God and His promises. Twenty-five years ago my esteemed BYU teacher Hugh W. Nibley spoke of the dangers of surrendering to the cares of the world. He was asked in an interview whether world conditions and our duty to spread the gospel made it desirable to seek some way to “be accommodating of the world in what we do in the Church.” His reply: “That’s been the whole story of the Church, hasn’t it? You have to be willing to offend here, you have to be willing to take the risk. That’s where the faith comes in. … Our commitment is supposed to be a test, it’s supposed to be hard, it’s supposed to be impractical in the terms of this world.”

Enough of my musings. Suffice to say listening to Carole King singing “Tapestry” is possibly not helping this introspection. Have a wonderful week.

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[1]https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-parable-of-the-sower?lang=eng.

March 11–17. Matthew 10–12; Mark 2; Luke 7; 11: ‘These Twelve Jesus Sent Forth’

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

March 11–17. Matthew 10–12; Mark 2; Luke 7; 11:
‘These Twelve Jesus Sent Forth’

I mentioned last week how much more significant it was for the Savior to forgive sins than to heal physical ailments. As the crowds flock to Him in this week’s reading, would they have gone away sad if He had forgiven their sins but not healed them. I feel this has very much to do with us in our day when we are so used to instant gratification from the world around us. Do we, do I, demand that of God? Do we/I sometimes get frustrated when little children talk about losing something precious to them which is immediately restored after they pray? Kara taught us last week that we are all children to our Heavenly Father, so why aren’t we healed? Why aren’t our prayers answered immediately? I think it comes down to what we need to learn in this life in order to progress in the next. And what is of most value to us. 

We know who we are and, to a certain extent, what awaits us at the end of the rod of iron as we pass from this life to the next. We have the opportunity to repent and be renewed as we partake of the Sacrament each week. We know that our physical ailments will no longer be a factor when we pass through the veil, but our sins will. Do we go away sad when our prayers are not answered as quickly as, or in a manner that we expected. An important part of the Lord’s Prayer is later echoed as the Savior atoned for each of us in the Garden of Gethsamene: “Thy will be done” (Luke 11:2) “Not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).

As the twelve Apostles of the Lamb were sent forth, and continue to be sent by Him today, we are His disciples, endowed with power to do what He would have us do. Isn’t that cause to rejoice?

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families March 4–10. Matthew 8–9; Mark 2–5: ‘Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole’

Michaelangelo "Creation of Adam"

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

March 4–10. Matthew 8–9; Mark 2–5: ‘Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole’

One thought I had coming off our discussion in Sunday School on judging righteously was that it is all tied into the gift and power of discernment. If we pray for that gift as we review a situation or a person’s action, then that will help us/me know how to react righteously. I hope that makes sense.

The beautiful painting depicted above was created for the chapel at Magdala, Israel by Daniel Cariola. When I first saw a print of it, not knowing where it came from, I wondered whether it had to do with Isaiah—“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7). But as I looked closer I saw the hand among the feet and I understood that it showed the woman with the issue of blood touching the hem of the Savior’s robe. And that of course features in this week’s reading. But it also now puts me inexorably in mind of Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpiece where God—Elohim—is stretching out his hand to Adam, presumably putting in him the “breath of life.” God first reaches out to us so that we can reach out to Him. I don’t think the comparison is coincidental. 

There is a fairly though-provoking video in the Gospel Library or lds.org version of this manual entitled “Everyday Example: When Beliefs Are Questioned” that has to do with how we emulate the Savior in dealing with confrontation regarding our beliefs. I think of the time when He cleared the temple—Christ was not above taking action, but He did it to end confrontation, not foment it. 

One more thing for me to think about this week is spiritual healing. Do we concentrate on our physical discomforts and neglect our spiritual sore patches? I love the story in Mark 2 when the man “sick of the palsy” was brought to Him and the more important, and first thing the Savior did was to forgive him of his sins. That caused a furor among the Pharisees, who accused Him of blasphemy. His answer to them? “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” Thereby healing him physically. Spiritual and physical healing comes from our Savior. 

Encounter by Daniel Cariola