Thursday, June 27, 2013

Preparing for the Second Coming of the Lord

These are scriptural references that help us to prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ. 

Believers can watch for the calamities that have been foretold, they can be prepared by continuing in righteous ways and in prayer, and they can be aware of those that will try to deceive us.

How to prepare for the Second Coming:
Doctrine and Covenants 87:8-Stand in Holy places
Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:32-Desolation and abomination will occur, which will be fulfilling of prophecy from the Prophet Daniel.
Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:37-Those who gained and kept a solid testimony of true Gospel will be gathered together by the Angels of the Savior as His elect people.
Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:46-50-Always be prepared because we do not know the day the Savior will come again. Be prepared and continue to do those things which are right which will bless your family and make the Lord happy with you.
Doctrine and Covenants 33:17- Always be prepared for the coming of the Lord. Be prepared!

Doctrine and Covenants 45:56-57-Parable of the Ten Virgins. Always be prepared by doing what is right, that it won’t matter what day the Savior returns again; we will be ready with oil in our lamps. 

Friday, June 21, 2013

The Last Days of Jesus Christ

This is an account of the Last Days of Jesus Christ before His mortal ministry was to end by crucifixion of His own people. This is for my New Testament class and really reminded me of how grateful I am for my Savior and what He endured for me because it was the will of our Father in Heaven who sent Him. He died for you and for me, because He wanted too, and He knew it was what needed to be done in order for us to be able to return to our Father in Heaven. The Atonement covers not only our sins, that we can pray for forgiveness for, but it also covers our Sorrows, struggles, and joys. Our Savior felt everything we feel now whether good or bad and that is why He tells us to come to Him, to let Him help us carry the burdens we carry. We were never asked to get through this life alone. That is why our Heavenly Father sent our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Day 1:
Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. He rode through the city gates on a donkey with a colt to a large crowd of people who knew Him as the “Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” Palm branches were put in His path and He was greeted with a Hosanna shout: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21:9.) He went straight to the temple, recorded what He saw, and retired for the night.

Day 2:
The next day Jesus went straight to the temple again and challenged the religious Jewish leadership by clearing the area of those who were using the temple to trade and make money. By doing this He challenged their leadership. The issue was whether the House of God was to be a place to worship God or get gain. “As he cleared the temple courts, he said, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13.)”

Day 3:
Jesus’ wrath in the temple raised the issue of authority and the priests would not let that go. The next day when Jesus came to the temple, the priests asked Him by what authority did He clear the temples? Jesus responded by giving a series of parables that offended the religious leaders in the temple. The scribes and Pharisees challenged Him again and Jesus openly denounced them and called them hypocrites. After this Jesus taught more in public, but to the Twelve Apostles only. The religious leaders felt that Jesus had the upper hand in the confrontations they had, and were plotting a way to bring about His death. They had to think of a way to arrest Christ without provoking crowd reaction, because Jesus had become very popular with the Jewish people. Something happened that was not expected and one of Jesus’ own disciples offered to betray Him.

Day 4:
Jesus knew of the plot and most likely spent the day in Bethany. The record of the gospel writers was silent on this day.

Day 5:
Jesus commemorated the Passover meal in a private home, where He introduced a new ordinance which was the Sacrament which would represent His atoning sacrifice. Christ prophesied of His death and indicated who would be the one to betray Him. Jesus then after some instructions offered a great intercessory prayer. Judas had left and he took the 11 to Gethsemane with Him. He took Peter, James and John further into the garden with Him, and then left them and went off alone to pray. “There he pled with his Heavenly Father to “let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39.) The cup did not pass and Jesus suffered “the pain of all men” (D&C 18:11), an agony so excruciating that it caused him to bleed at every pore (D&C 19:18).” (LDS institute manual, New Testament pgs. 135-37)
   Later He rejoined His apostles and indicated that His betrayer was at hand. Then Judas came with an armed band to arrest Him. Jesus submitted without resistance and was brought to an illegal trial that same night.

Day 6:
The Jewish leaders didn’t want to just put Jesus to death but wanted to discredit Him before His own people. In order to do this the leaders charged Him with two crimes. Since He said He was the Son of God He was charged with blasphemy, which was a capital offense under Jewish law. This would discredit Jesus but the Jewish leaders knew with that only they could not sentence Him to death because the Roman governor could only do that. So they had to find a political indictment against Him.  They charged Him with sedition against the state (rebellion against government) for saying He was the “King of Jews.” “Though Pilate’s examination found Jesus guiltless of the charge, the Jewish leaders had incited the crowd to “destroy Jesus.” (Matthew 27:20.) Fearing a demonstration, Pilate gave in to the clamor to crucify Jesus, and the death sentence was pronounced.” (LDS institute manual, New Testament pgs. 135-37) Jesus was executed by crucifixion and later that afternoon voluntarily gave up His Spirit. At sundown Passover would begin and the Jewish leaders did not want a man remaining on the cross on the Sabbath especially the paschal Sabbath. Jesus’ body was removed that night and He was buried in a sealed tomb by two revering disciples.

Day 7:
This was the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus’ body stayed in the tomb, but in Spirit Christ administered in the realm of departed spirits.

Day of Resurrection:
“Had the gospel ended with Jesus’ burial, there would be no gospel story, no “good news.” The great message of these testators is that Jesus was risen and was seen again by many witnesses. On the first day of the week, the most memorable Sunday in history, Jesus Christ emerged alive from the tomb, and appeared before Mary. The testimony of these witnesses constitutes the gospel story, the “good news.”

“These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31.)”  (LDS institute manual, New Testament pgs. 135-37)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Parables

Luke 16:1-12
1. To me the main principle I learned from this parable is, that since we have knowledge of what is to come in the next life, use this life and what you have to help others and prepare yourself for what is to come in the future. Help others, and live worthy to live eternally.

Luke 16:19-31
2. This parable is really eye opening. We learn that now those who were not able to hear the gospel can hear it and progress. It wasn’t until the Savior visited the spirit world the gulf with bridged and vicarious ordinances can now be performed. The main principle I learned from this was that this life is so temporary and we must take care of the those in need now, because in the next life we want our earthly choices to have been good ones.

Luke 17:11-19
3. The main principle from this parable for me personally is that we must remember to give thanks in all thanks, and we must be obedient to that which we are asked to do even if we do not understand. The Gospel is peace needed to go to all men not just men of certain races. The man who came back to give thanks was a Samaritan and Jesus loved and thanked him and showed His Apostles race did not matter.

Luke 18:1-8
4. The main principle from this parable is to continue to ask the Lord in faith and patience for that which you are seeking. Sometimes we must pray a long time for things, but we must continue to do so in faith believing that we will receive. If we receive something right away we may not be grateful for it, or we may not learn the lesson we need to.

Luke 18:9-14

5. To me this parable was given to remind us that we must pray in humility. We can’t think of ourselves in as such amazing people who are better than our neighbors. We must recognize before Heavenly Father that we are of nothing without Him, and we are not better than others. 

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Becoming Like a Child

Read: Matthew 18: 1-14, Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-18

We are like little children if we humble ourselves and become converted. We are like little children, because we can’t handle the understanding of all the blessings Heavenly Father has in His hands and prepared for us. Heavenly Father will lead us along the path we should take to obtain the blessings He has prepared for us.


To become like a child we must be submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon us just like a child submits to the will of his Father.  (Mosiah 3:19)