Beatitudes. Name given to certain declarations of blessedness in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–11, cf. Luke 6:20–22). They describe certain elements that go to form the refined and spiritual character, and all of which will be present whenever that character exists in its perfection. Rather than being isolated statements, the Beatitudes are interrelated and progressive in their arrangement. A more comprehensive and accurate listing is found in 3 Ne. 12 and JST Matt. 5, where a greater spiritual emphasis is given.
Poor in spirit: Lack of pride. Humility, submission
Mourn: The Lord comforts; so must we
Meek: Meekness is not weakness. Power without arrogance; God-fearing and righteous.
Hunger & thirst after righteousness: How do we turn our appetite from things of the world to things of God/scriptures? You have to acquire a taste for it first.
Merciful: "Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again." Alma 41:14
Pure in heart: "Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am" D&C 93:1 Brother Lin made a comment after citing 1 John 3:2 and Moroni 7:48. He said that perhaps we see God in others.
Peacemakers: Someone who invites the Spirit, removes contention.
Persecuted: is persecution a blessing? Exodus 1:12 "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew."
"I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priestcraft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women--all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty, who will give me dominion over all and every one of them, when their refuge of lies shall fail, and their hiding place shall be destroyed, while these smooth-polished stones with which I come in contact become marred" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 304).
Savor, Light, Salt: Salt=preserver. It is our responsibility to share the light we have. If we don't? Alma to Corianton, "Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words." Alma 39:11 (emphasis added)
Not to destroy, but to fulfill: Don't follow scribes and Pharisees
Anger: If someone is angry with you, then you are not worthy. There are no reasons to be angry. You cannot feel the Spirit and be angry.
Agree with thine adversary: this is another way of saying 'be a peacemaker' We are to resolve disputes.
Adultery: we cannot let the natural man take root in our soul. We can update the scriptures to say "And if a movie (or fill in the blank) offend thee, get thee out of there and far from there: for it is profitable for thee that you lose the $7.00 price of admission and not that thy whole soul should be cast to hell." Matthew 5:29 (modified).
Divorce: Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "Divorce is not part of the gospel plan.... But because men in practice do not always live in harmony with gospel standards, the Lord permits divorce for one reason or another, depending upon the spiritual stability of the people involved.... Under the most perfect conditions there would be no divorce permitted except where sex sin was involved. In this day divorces are permitted in accordance with civil statutes, and the divorced persons are permitted by the Church to marry again without the stain of immorality which under a higher system and in a better civilization would attend such a course." (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:547) (I found this quote here)
<<lack of time to cover rest of less>>
Love thy neighbor: Be ye therefore perfect - strive to be complete.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
GD: Lesson 7 Class Notes
* Light streaming through the window
* Trust in child's eyes, parents' trust
* Room seems dark, Christ bringing girl out of darkness
* Christ in a position to help, girl is making an effort
* Sunrise - new day
* We watch over childre, but ultimately Christ watches over use and the child must learn to depend on the Lord
Mark 5:22-23, 35
"Be not afraid, only believe"
"Tulmult"
What makes our live tulmulteous?
* Fear, stress, unsolved problems, sin/issues
* The many demands of life
* Lack of faith
* Gap between our expectations and the reality
* Lack of control
<<Faith preceded the miracle, not the other way around>>
Mark 8:22
* Led the man out of the town (limited audience - the same as with the daughter of Jarius)
* Personal miracle
Mark 8:27
Whom do men say that I am?
Who do ye say that I am?
Do we answer the same as Peter?
Mark 4:37
Christ can calm the sea. He can also calm the sailor.
Ether 2:23
The winds and waves drove the Jaradites, but the inner light kept them calm!
This is the same as with some of our trials. God may not solve them for us, but he can guide us and help us to endure them well (calm the sailor). Without the winds and waves, the Jaradites would never have been able to cross the sea.
Master the Tempest is Raging
Verse 1
Master, the tempest is raging.
The billows are tossing high.
The sky is o'er shadowed with blackness,
no shelter or help is nigh.
Carest Thou not that we perish?
How canst Thou lie asleep,
when each moment so madly is threatning,
a grave in the angry deep?
Chorus
The winds and the waves
shall obey my will, peace be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
or demons, or men, or whatever it be.
No water can swallow the ship where lies
the Master of ocean and earth and skies;
they shall sweetly obey my will,
peace be still, peace be still.
They all shall sweetly obey my will;
peace, peace be still.
Verse 2
Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
sweep o'er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!
Chorus
Verse 3
Master, the terror is over, the elements sweetly rest.
Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
and heaven's within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
and with joy I shall make the blest harbor
and rest on the blissful shore.
Chorus
Sunday, February 13, 2011
GD: Lesson 6 Class Notes
At Second Coming, all will recognize and confess He is Christ. But at His first coming, not all confessed.
Luke 4:16-21
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord
Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn
Even though the two passages are not identical, the spirit of the message is what is important.
Luke 4:22-27
The people in this passage were not Jewish. The prophets did not heal.
Luke 4:28
The people, after Christ declared He is the Messiah, were not happy. They tried to kill him immediately.
God does not act the way we are preconditioned to believe.
What do we learn from this? How do we keep from looking beyond the mark?
* Focus on the simple, every-day things. For example, it would be a great effort to open the doors of nations now closed to missionaries; yet a simple thing as prayer can accomplish this great thing.
* Believing in Christ versus believing Christ.
* Do we listen to Christ's servants? Do we follow them or discount them?
Calling of the Apostles
Luke 5:4-11
Brother Crockett talked about how this passage is so precious to him. He is a fisherman. He is a thorough fisherman and will "fish a hole dry." One day, his father was talking about a hole and how great it was. Brother Crockett said that it was dry. His father cast in his line and caught a fish immediately!
Disciple vs. Apostle
Disciple is a follower; no authority. An Apostle is "one sent forth" and has authority
Levi was a publican. Brother Pierson read from some Catholic dictionary about what a publican is. I found the wikipedia entry to be very similiar.
Publicans "were public contractors, in which role they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw public building projects. In addition, they served as tax collectors for the Republic (and later the Roman Empire), bidding on contracts (from the Senate in Rome) for the collection of various types of taxes. Importantly, this role as tax collectors was not emphasized until late into the history of the Republic (c. 1st century BC). The publicans were usually of the class of equites."
In the eyes of the Jews, publicans were the scum of the earth.
But Levi responded to the call.
How do we respond to calls?
Brother Pierson also pointed out the Bible Dictionary entry for prophet. The last sentence reads, "in a general sense a prophet is anyone who has a testimony of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost."
Luke 6:12-13
Christ humbled himself before the Father and sought His direction to call the apostles.
How was the Quorum of the 12 reinstituted? Twelve apostles were chosen by the Three Witnesses on February 14, 1835.
Matt 10:40-42; D&C 20:26
Those that receive the Lord's servants receive the Lord.
D&C 124:45
And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my aservants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
Luke 4:16-21
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord
Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn
Even though the two passages are not identical, the spirit of the message is what is important.
Luke 4:22-27
The people in this passage were not Jewish. The prophets did not heal.
Luke 4:28
The people, after Christ declared He is the Messiah, were not happy. They tried to kill him immediately.
God does not act the way we are preconditioned to believe.
What do we learn from this? How do we keep from looking beyond the mark?
* Focus on the simple, every-day things. For example, it would be a great effort to open the doors of nations now closed to missionaries; yet a simple thing as prayer can accomplish this great thing.
* Believing in Christ versus believing Christ.
* Do we listen to Christ's servants? Do we follow them or discount them?
Calling of the Apostles
Luke 5:4-11
Brother Crockett talked about how this passage is so precious to him. He is a fisherman. He is a thorough fisherman and will "fish a hole dry." One day, his father was talking about a hole and how great it was. Brother Crockett said that it was dry. His father cast in his line and caught a fish immediately!
Disciple vs. Apostle
Disciple is a follower; no authority. An Apostle is "one sent forth" and has authority
Levi was a publican. Brother Pierson read from some Catholic dictionary about what a publican is. I found the wikipedia entry to be very similiar.
Publicans "were public contractors, in which role they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw public building projects. In addition, they served as tax collectors for the Republic (and later the Roman Empire), bidding on contracts (from the Senate in Rome) for the collection of various types of taxes. Importantly, this role as tax collectors was not emphasized until late into the history of the Republic (c. 1st century BC). The publicans were usually of the class of equites."
In the eyes of the Jews, publicans were the scum of the earth.
But Levi responded to the call.
How do we respond to calls?
Brother Pierson also pointed out the Bible Dictionary entry for prophet. The last sentence reads, "in a general sense a prophet is anyone who has a testimony of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost."
Luke 6:12-13
Christ humbled himself before the Father and sought His direction to call the apostles.
How was the Quorum of the 12 reinstituted? Twelve apostles were chosen by the Three Witnesses on February 14, 1835.
Matt 10:40-42; D&C 20:26
Those that receive the Lord's servants receive the Lord.
D&C 124:45
And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my aservants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
NT: Mark 6:5-6 Commentary
First off, let me say that reading the NIV is enjoyable. My NT teacher at BYU suggested this to us students. I bought my NIV Bible at the BYU Bookstore. It has been a tremendous help in studying the OT and NT.
Now I'm using it to read through the Gospels. I'm first covering Mark, then I'll read Matthew and Luke together and then John.
So tonight, I came accross Mark 6:5-6 and it stunned me a bit.
It reads: "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
"And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."
Jesus could not heal everyone because of the people's lack of faith. Faith of the healee (if that's a word) is vital.
Dallin H. Oaks said this in his talk “Healing the Sick,” Ensign, May 2010, 47–50
Now I'm using it to read through the Gospels. I'm first covering Mark, then I'll read Matthew and Luke together and then John.
So tonight, I came accross Mark 6:5-6 and it stunned me a bit.
It reads: "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
"And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."
Jesus could not heal everyone because of the people's lack of faith. Faith of the healee (if that's a word) is vital.
Dallin H. Oaks said this in his talk “Healing the Sick,” Ensign, May 2010, 47–50
"Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. The Book of Mormon even teaches that “if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them” ( Ether 12:12). 10 [See also 1 Nephi 7:12; Doctrine and Covenants 35:9] In a notable talk on administering to the sick, President Spencer W. Kimball said: “The need of faith is often underestimated. The ill one and the family often seem to depend wholly on the power of the priesthood and the gift of healing that they hope the administering brethren may have, whereas the greater responsibility is with him who is blessed. … The major element is the faith of the individual when that person is conscious and accountable. ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole’ [ Matthew 9:22] was repeated so often by the Master that it almost became a chorus.” 11 [“President Kimball Speaks Out on Administration to the Sick,” Tambuli, Aug. 1982, 36–37; New Era, Oct. 1981, 47]"Also, as I was reading tonight about this passage as well as the passage where Jesus heals Jairus' daughter, this thought and question popped into my head: I imagined what it would have been like to hear of a man travelling the countryside healing all the sick. Then I wondered what I would ask of this man - Jesus - if I were to cross his paths. After pondering it a few moments, I would think I'd ask for stronger faith.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
GD: Lesson 5 Class Notes
Nicodemus - a Pharisee, member of the Sanhedrin (essentially the Jewish senate)
Christ did not answer Nicodemus' question; He answered the question Nicodumus should have asked.
John 3:5 Baptism by immersion and the gift of the Holy Ghost are required to be 'saved' - not just professing Christ as your savior.
Alma 5:14-16 - Have you been spiritually been born of God?
Can you see your future image - which is the standard to which we compare our 'current' selves?
Being born again is a gradual process. What can we do to continue that process throughout our lives?
* Partake of the sacrament
* Do we cross lines that spur us to change?
* Cling to the Iron Rod - the scriptures
* Let the Spirit testify to us
John 3:16 - God the Father suffered too.
John 3:20 - Why do some never repent? "Lest his deed should be reproved" - afraid of reproval
On the flip side, in verse 21, when we do what is right and we repent, our deeds are made manifest.
What do we need to do with the light we've received?
* Share it with others
Living Water - never thirst again. We are taught to thirst and hunger after righteousness (Matt 5:6) In essence, Jesus is setting up perpetual motion of righteousness.
The Atonement is the Living Water; we can repent our whole lives.
The doctrines of the Gospel are Living Waters
Isaiah 12:2-3 - "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
"Therefore with ajoy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation"
John 4:31-36
* People are ready - to harvest
* Christ is the finisher - we can teach and lead, but Christ finishes the conversion
D&C 18 - one soul, great is our joy; how more great would be our joy if we bring many souls to Christ.
Christ did not answer Nicodemus' question; He answered the question Nicodumus should have asked.
John 3:5 Baptism by immersion and the gift of the Holy Ghost are required to be 'saved' - not just professing Christ as your savior.
Alma 5:14-16 - Have you been spiritually been born of God?
Can you see your future image - which is the standard to which we compare our 'current' selves?
Being born again is a gradual process. What can we do to continue that process throughout our lives?
* Partake of the sacrament
* Do we cross lines that spur us to change?
* Cling to the Iron Rod - the scriptures
* Let the Spirit testify to us
John 3:16 - God the Father suffered too.
John 3:20 - Why do some never repent? "Lest his deed should be reproved" - afraid of reproval
On the flip side, in verse 21, when we do what is right and we repent, our deeds are made manifest.
What do we need to do with the light we've received?
* Share it with others
Living Water - never thirst again. We are taught to thirst and hunger after righteousness (Matt 5:6) In essence, Jesus is setting up perpetual motion of righteousness.
The Atonement is the Living Water; we can repent our whole lives.
The doctrines of the Gospel are Living Waters
Isaiah 12:2-3 - "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
"Therefore with ajoy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation"
John 4:31-36
* People are ready - to harvest
* Christ is the finisher - we can teach and lead, but Christ finishes the conversion
D&C 18 - one soul, great is our joy; how more great would be our joy if we bring many souls to Christ.
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