Lesson 5 Choice #2: The Savior Heals a Boy.

Matthew 17:14-21

1. List three things the Savior says is required for miracles to happen. 

In versus 20 and 21 Jesus rebukes his disciples for their unbelief and for not being able to heal the young man, telling them that with "faith as a grain of mustard seed...nothing shall be impossible unto you." Along with faith Jesus shares that prayer and fasting is also necessary for miracles to happen. 

2. By the following references write what is taught about what is needed for miracles to happen. 

• 3 Nephi 18:20 - "And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

In this verse we are taught to call upon the Father in the name of the Son with faith in order for miracles to happen. We also need to understand the phrase, "which is right". To me this phrase means that God may not grant unto us all things we ask with faith but, only those things he deems necessary. 

• Doctrine and Covenants 50:29 - "And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done."

Another important step needed to complete miracles is to be cleansed from sin. This is obviously something very few of us are able to attain because of the state of the natural man, and honestly I believe Satan would do anything in our power to tempt us and keep us from being able to perform miracles that would fortify the faith of ourselves and others. 

• Doctrine and Covenants 42:48 - "And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed."

I find this to be an interesting verse. With faith in him we can be healed, unless it is our time to die. God has a plan for each one of us and will only grant miracles he deems right. Elder Spencer W. Kimball said, “I am positive in my mind that the Lord has planned our destiny. We can shorten our lives but I think we cannot lengthen them very much. Sometime we’ll understand fully, and when we see back from the vantage point of the future we shall be satisfied with many of the happenings of this life which seemed so difficult for us to comprehend.” (Tragedy or Destiny, pp. 9, 11.)

Lesson 4 Choice #3: Walking on the Sea

1. Matt. 14:22-33 - The Apostles Reaction to Christ Walking on the Water.

At first the Apostles were unsettled; they knew not what was coming towards them on the water and they feared it was a spirit. The scriptures say they cried out in fear, that's how afraid they were.

2. What did Peter's Response Indicate about Him?

After the apostles initial reaction of fear Christ calls out to them and discloses his identity. After hearing Christ's voice Peter calls to him, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Peter had such great faith that he believed Christ could  make him walk on the water. This indicates many things about Peter, but foremost his faith.

3. Matt 14:30. Why did Peter Begin to Sink?

Peter became afraid. He was distracted from his faith in Christ by the tumultuous sea and wind. When we allow ourselves to be distracted by the things of the world it is easy for us to begin sinking.

4. What Words in the Versus Describe How Christ Reacted?

The scriptures use the word "immediately". As soon as Peter cried out to Christ, he immediately stretched out his hand to save him. Even those with the greatest of faith experience doubt, but as soon as we call on the name of Christ he will be there to save us. 

5. Doctrine and Covenants 88:67

This verse and the story of Peter walking on the water share many parallels. I think the moral of both versus is the importance of having eyes, " single to [His] glory". As seen in the story, when we get distracted we sink and fall, but when we have eyes single to the glory of God we will be blessed with strength whenever we need it.

Week 3: Choice #1 - John the Baptist

This week I have chosen to study about John the Baptist.

The readings for this activity are from Matt. 11:1-19, Luke: 7:18-35, and from the Institute Manual.

1. When the disciples of John come to Jesus they ask him saying, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" They came to find if Christ truly was the Messiah John prophesied of.
If I was one of those two disciples I would return to John and tell him that Jesus really is the prophesied Messiah, that he has healed the sick, the blind, and the lepers, and that he praises John as being the greatest of all born of women.

2. While reading in the Institute Manual the question is raised about why John would send his people to see if Jesus really was who he claimed to be. While some might think that John was unsure of the truthfulness of Jesus' claims the manual quoting Robert J. Matthews says, "The question they were were to put to Jesus was for their edification, that for his own.". John sent his follower so that they could learn for themselves that all John taught was true and that they now needed to become followers of Christ.

3. When the disciples of John asks about Christ he takes the opportunity to testify to them of John and his faithful work. Christ says he is the greatest of all men born to women. The prophet Joseph Smith named three reasons why John is one of the greatest prophets; first, John had the greatest task given to any man other than Jesus, he has given the responsibility to prepare the way for Christ's coming. Secondly, he was also the one to baptize Jesus, and thirdly he held important keys of the kingdom of heaven on the earth.

4. In John 3:30 is says, "He must increase, but I must decrease."
I believe John was the most humble of Christ's servants ever to walk the earth. He was able to see when his work was complete, when his followers needed to become followers of Christ.

Choice #3: Calling the Twelve Apolstles

1.  Research into three of the twelve original apostles.

Simon Peter: The very first word listed with his name in the Bible Dictionary is "Rock" in reference to Matt. 16:13-19 where we find the foundation of the papal claims. (Catholic claim to papal infallibility).

Judas Iscariot: Potter's Field was bought with the money returned by Judas to the chief priests in Matt. 27:3-10.

Philip: Practiced baptism by immersion just like John the Baptist which symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection.

2. Definition of an apostle.

Acts 4:33 - Witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants 107:23 - "special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world"
Bible Dictionary, Apostles - Special witness of Christ, especially of His divinity and resurrection. Title usually applies to those specifically called to hold the office but in the New Testament others are referred to by this title.

Apostles are called of God and hold a very high and important office. They are special witness's of Jesus Christ. The BD defines the words as meaning, "one sent forth". These men are "sent forth" throughout all the world to stand as witnesses of Christ's holy calling. The word witness means someone who has seen something. In my Book of Mormon class in another semester my teacher defined an apostle as being someone who has had a personal experience with Jesus Christ, whether that means they saw, or heard Him, these men are "special witnesses". They have experienced things most people cannot even begin to comprehend.

3. Matt. 10:4-53

In these versus Jesus gives council and charge to the Twelve Apostles. They are commanded to go into the world and specifically to the gentiles. the Twelve were not called to teach the Jews and Christians, just as Christ, the physician, was not come to heal the healthy. They were commanded to go into the world taking no thought for their own preservation but to rely wholly on the mercies of God. In verse 8 Christ says he is sending them out like sheep to the wolves, and that they need to be cunning as the serpent and harmless as the dove. I have never heard this comparison before and I think it has a lot of practical application. They are also warned that they will be hated and persecuted but given the promise that if the endure to the end they will be saved.

4. Luke 5:1-11

In these versus Jesus instructs the apostles to lower their nets. Even though they had worked hard all night with no luck the men followed his council and were blessed. Simon Peter then falls to his knees and worships Jesus and calling himself a sinner. Now, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome can either be a sign of insanity or, faith in what you're doing when it is following the commandments of God.  

Choice 3: John 2. Water to wine and Cleansing the Temple.

John 2

Water to Wine and Cleansing the Temple

Reading John 2 we get to read of The Master's very first miracle. According to the Institute manual we also learn that Jesus was no social outcast or recluse at this point in life, he and his family were involved in the social scene of his day. By looking at the Joseph Smith translation we also get insight into the respect Jesus had for his mother when he asks her, "Woman, what wilt though have me do for thee? That will I do."  Because of this exchange I think we can also see that Mary was impressed that it was the time for Him to begin His mortal ministry. I honestly don't think she was that concerned about the lack of wine at the wedding, but she was blessed with understanding that then was the moment Jesus was to begin His work as the Christ. 

Now, in John 2:4 Jesus address His mother Mary as "woman." To the modern reader this sounds disrespectful but according to both Greek linguistics and the Joseph Smith translation the word woman used in this context would be equivalent to  Jesus caller her Lady. Suddenly this disrespectful sounding line becomes a term of endearment and respect.

Later on in the chapter we read of Jesus cleansing the temple. He called the people not to make his Father's house a house of merchandise. I think this can be applied to each of us in modern times. We should not attempt to make fiscal gain by exploiting the desires of the people around us in their search for understanding of the higher power.