Week 6

Choice 2: John 14:15–17, 26–27; 15:26–27; 16:7–8, 13–14. The Savior’s Instructions about the Holy Ghost

1. As you study the following verses, make a list of what the Savior taught about (1) what the Holy Ghost does and (2) what disciples must do to receive the Holy Ghost:
• John 14:15–17 Comfort, abide with you, witness truth
• John 14:26–27 Comfort, teach all things, bring all things to remembrance, peace
• John 15:26–27 Comfort, witness truth, testify of Christ, witness of Christ
• John 16:7–8 Comfort, reprove the world of sin
• John 16:13–14 witness truth, guide us in truth, show things to come, glorify Christ, and teach.
• Purify
• Sanctify
• Carries a conviction of truth to the heart
• Quickens intellect
• Increases, enlarges, expands natural passions and affections
• Adapts through wisdom
• Inspires, develops, cultivates and matures sympathies, joys, tastes, and affection.
• Inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity.
• Develops beauty of person, form and features
• Tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling.
• Invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man
• Strengthens and gives tone to the nerves.
• Marrow to the bone,
• Joy to the heart
• Light to the eyes
• Music to the ears
• Life to the whole being
• Instructor

2. Add to your list above as you study the following resources:
• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “The Holy Ghost Brings Man to His Fullest Potential” (p. 168)

“The gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.

“In the presence of such persons, one feels to enjoy the light of their countenances, as the genial rays of a sunbeam. Their very atmosphere diffuses a thrill, a warm glow of pure gladness and sympathy, to the heart and nerves of others who have kindred feelings, or sympathy of spirit.”

• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “As a Messenger of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost Teaches Faithful Members” (p. 168)

“The Holy Ghost is a Personage of Spirit, in the likeness of God the Father, in other words a likeness of the Father and the Son. His mission is to instruct and enlighten the minds of those who, through their faithfulness have obeyed the commandments of the Father and the Son. He bears witness of the truth, quickens the minds of those who have made covenant and reveals to them the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He is a special messenger from the Father and the Son and carries out their will. …” (Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:134.)

• Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost” (p. 704)

3. Review your list of what the Holy Ghost does. Then write responses to the following tasks:
• Describe how the Holy Ghost helped the Apostles fulfill their missions after the Savior’s death and resurrection.

The Holy Ghost help the Apostles fulfill their missions by strengthening their understanding once the savior left their presence.  They were able to discern truth and make decisions based on the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  

• Write a paragraph about a time when the Holy Ghost blessed you in one of the ways you listed above. Give an example of how the Holy Ghost has inspired you.

For me one of the most powerful experiences when I have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost is while we were deciding to add to our family.  My husband and I both felt, and knew we were to have another child.  This daughter would eventually be adopted from China.  We were inspired as our thoughts developed toward adoption.  Heavenly Father cultivated a love and understanding through friends and good examples.  Then the Holy Ghost helped us to experience affection and joy towards our daughter, with the gift of the Holy Ghost, our understanding of family and love was expanded.  She has been a great miracle and blessing to us.   I cannot imagine what our lives would be like had we not listened to the promptings of the Spirit.   

New Testement Week 5

Choice 1: Joseph Smith—Matthew. The Savior Taught About Future Events
*Note: Joseph Smith—Matthew is found in the Pearl of Great Price.

1. Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:4 contains questions that the Savior’s disciples asked Him. Verses 5–20 contain the answer the Savior gave to their first question regarding the destruction of the temple, and verses 21–55 contain His answer to their other questions concerning His Second Coming and the destruction of the wicked. Read Joseph Smith—Matthew. Then fill in the following chart. After each item you list, write the verse number where you found that item.

	Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (JS-M 1:5-20)	The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (JS-M 1:21-55)
Events to Occur	False Christ vs 6 Kill apostles vs 7 Iniquity vs 10 Destruction of Jerusalem vs 12 Great tribulation of Jews vs 18 Shortened days vs 20	False prophets vs 21,22 False Christ vs 22 Elect Deceived vs 22 Wars and Rumors of wars vs 23,28,29 Elect Gathered vs 27 Iniquity abound vs 30 Gospel to all the world vs 31 Sky dark vs 33 Son of man come from the clouds vs 36
Promises to the Righteous	Shall be saved vs 11	Shall not be deceived vs 37,39 Shall be ruler over all his goods vs 50

2. Study 1 Nephi 22:16–22; Doctrine and Covenants 97:22, 25. Then write a statement that would give hope to a person who worries about the Second Coming.

The righteous are promised that the wicked shall not destroy them, the Lord promises to preserve the righteous by his power.  The Lord will destroy only his enemies.  The righteous need not fear.  The Lord promises to prepare a way for his people.  As long as we keep the commandments we will escape the destruction of the second coming.

New Testament Week 4

Choice 1: Matthew 19:16–30; 20:1–16. Earthly and Heavenly Rewards

1. Review Matthew 19:16–30 and write responses to the following questions and tasks:
• What indications can you find that suggest why the young man decided not to follow the Savior? How does Matthew 6:19–24 help explain his choice?

I love this parable, obeying the commandments for the young man came easy, except he could not put God 1^st.  He valued his riches more than being perfect in Christ.  When Christ told him to “sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.”  I also love the Savior’s explanation to his disciples.  He says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. “  This visual makes me laugh, and I think we get to see a little of Christ’s personality here. 

• What blessings did the Savior promise to those who make sacrifices to follow Him?  

Treasure in heaven.

• Based on the Savior’s response to Peter, write a paragraph that could help you put the Lord first in your life (see also the additional details in Mark 10:17–31).

                Jesus teaches that the last will be first and the first will be last.  The Savior understood that following him and being a Christian would bring persecution.  He also understood the great blessings that accompany faith.  Reading the teachings of the Savior are a great reminder that we need to pray daily for the Holy Ghost to assist us in making decisions.  I want to make sure I am putting God first in my life, and I know that if I pray for guidance, I will be prompted and inspired in my daily actions. 

2. Review the parable in Matthew 20:1–16 and consider what rewards come to those who serve in the Lord’s kingdom. Complete the chart below, filling in the blanks with information you find in Matthew 20:

The hour the laborers were hired	How much the man agreed to pay	Hours worked	How much they were actually paid
Early in the morning	A penny a day	12	What they agreed upon
Third hour	A penny	9	What they agreed
Sixth hour	A penny	6	What was agreed
Ninth hour	A penny	3	What was agreed
Eleventh hour	A penny	1	What was agreed

3. Respond in writing to each of the following questions:

• What do we learn from this parable about serving in the Lord’s kingdom?

        Heavenly Father is grateful to have us all in his kingdom, those that have just found the gospel will have the same blessings as those who have been in the gospel for a long amount of time. 

• What message of comfort can this parable have for converts to the Church?

It shows that we all have the same value in the sight of God.

• What would you tell someone who feels it is unfair for each of the laborers to be paid equally?

I would say that the laborer who worked the full day was able to enjoy the knowledge that he was providing for his family, he enjoyed the blessings of having a job.  There is a comfort in being a member of the church, and being included in this blessing of comfort longer should be looked upon in a positive way.

Week 3

Week 3 Student Choice Assignment

·      How did you and what did you do to complete the assignment?

·      Why did you decide to do the assignment you did?

·      What do you think is the best thing about your assignment, and how do you think it could it be improved?

 

Unit One

Topic Choices (Choose One)

Choice 1: Matthew 14:14–21; 15:32–38. The Feeding of the Multitudes

1.    The Savior provided two similar miracles. As a summary of what took place, complete the following chart:

	Matthew 14:14-21	Matthew 15:32-38
How many people were present?	5000 men besides women and children	4000 men besides women and children
What did they need?	food	food
What were they able to offer in an effort to meet that need?	5 loaves and two fishes	7 loaves and a few fishes
What words or phrases describe the Savior's feeling toward the multitudes in their time of need?	compassion	compassion
What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for the multitudes?	The all ate and were filled	They did all eat and were filled

2.    In each story, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome. Read Romans 3:23 and ​explain in writing another way human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God. According to Ether 12:27, how does the Lord help us overcome this insufficiency?

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, this means we cannot return to our Father in Heaven without the help of the Savior. 

In Ether 12:27 I believe the Lord helps us by first helping us to be humble and see our own weaknesses.  If we have faith he will help us overcome our weaknesses and make them strengths. 

Unit Two

I chose Choice 2 because I liked the focus on spiritual traits we are required to have to receive blessings.  Many other denominations teach that simple faith is all that is required.  This teaches that we have more responsibility in our relationship with God.  I posted my answers on a blog. 

The best part of this assignment was the simple truths that are taught.  I don’t see a need for improvement. 

Choice 2: Matthew 17:14–21. The Savior Healed a Young Man 

1. Review Matthew 17:14–21, and list three things the Savior said were needed for the disciples to heal the man.

·         Faith

·         Prayer

·         Fasting

2. Read each of the following references. Next to the reference, write what it teaches about what is needed for miracles to happen.
• 3 Nephi 18:20 Ask in faith, must be a righteous desire, must be believing
• Doctrine and Covenants 50:29 Purified and clean through the atonement
• Doctrine and Covenants 42:48 Have faith to be healed