Sunday, February 27, 2011

GD: Lesson 8 Class Notes

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.

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