1 John 1-3. That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God.

1. Read John 1:1-4. Describe in writing John’s desire for those he wrote to.

John desired for those he wrote to, to have a fellowship with the Father and His son, Jesus Christ, that our joy may be full.

Study the following scripture references and then list what these verses teach about how we can come to know God better and have greater joy and fellowship with God:

1 John 1:8-10:

We make the Lord a liar and deceive ourselves when we say that we have no sins.

If we confess our sins, the Lord, who is faithful and just, will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:3-6:

Those that say they know the Lord but do not keep His commandments are a liar and have no truth.

Those who keep the word of God can be perfected in His love and can walk in the light of Christ.

1 John 2:9-11

Those that say they are in the light but hate their brother (fellowman) walk in darkness and know not where they go because the darkness has blinded them.

Those that love their brother abide in the light and will not stumble.

1 John 3:11-19

We should love one another. We must not be surprised when we realize the world hates us, we passed from death to life because we loved our fellowman. Those that do not love his brother are murderers and have no eternal life.

The Lord laid down His life for us and so we should lay down our lives for our brethren.

The love of God cannot dwell in the hearts of those that do not have compassion towards his fellowman in need.

The Lord says that we should not love by word, but in deed and truth.

1 John 2:15-17

Those that love the vain things of this world cannot have the love of the Lord in their hearts, for the lusts of the world passes away but the love of the Lord abides forever.

1 John 2:20-21

The Lord can help us understand the truth of all things. No lie is the truth.

1 John 2:27

The Lord abides within each one of us and He can teach us all things, which is truth and not lies, and through these teachings we can abide in Him.

1 John 3:4-6

Sin is a transgression of the law, yet the Lord has manifested to take away our sins because there is no sin in the Lord. Those who abide in the Lord will not sin, but those who do sin do not know the Lord.

2. Choose one of the ways to greater joy and fellowship with God as you described it above and write a paragraph explaining how you can better implement those principles in your life.

As I was reading through all these verses, I realized that a lot of emphasis was placed on the principle of serving our brethren. Not only does serving and loving one another bring us closer to our fellowman, but also it is the one act that brings us closer to Jesus Christ than anything else. The love of the Lord can only dwell in the hearts of those that serve and have compassion towards their brethren. 1 John 3:19 say those who do not have compassion towards their fellowman are murderers and have no eternal life. I can have a better fellowship with Christ by looking for opportunities to serve my brothers and sisters. This can be difficult because it requires us to step out of our comfort zone and look for those opportunities, as most of the time they don’t just fall into our hands. Yet there are opportunities all around. I can give a comforting hug, or provide a listening ear. I can share what I have with others, even though it may not be much. I can check up or send a letter or gift to an old friend or someone who needs to know they are being thought of. I can look for opportunities to serve in my church. I can reach out and be a friend to someone who needs a friend. Sometimes when I think of service, I think of something big, like taking the day off to go do some service project, even though those are nice to do once in a while, I realize that it is small acts of service everyday that makes all the difference.

James 1: "Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only"

1. What words or phrases encourage you to look for direction from God?

James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom we should ask of God that giveth to all men liberally.

2. How did James further define the phrase to “ask in faith”?

James says that we need to come unto the Lord and ask in faith, not wavering.

3. How do Matthew 6:24, 1 Kings 18:21, add to your understanding of James 1:8?

James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways”.

Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve to masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”.

Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him”.

What I have learned from these verses is that we cannot serve two Gods. We cannot worship the Lord and other idols, such as worldly possessions. We cannot serve two masters. We need to be loyal to our Heavenly Father who has given us life, who has died for our sins so that we may return to Him, who has comforted us during our afflictions. We need to set aside the things of this world and only follow our Heavenly Father.

4. From James 1:13-15, 19-27, make an outline of how you can better live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

James 1:13-15 explains that when we are tempted, we cannot blame the Lord, because the Lord is not the one who tempts, but rather we are drawn away by temptation because of our own lust. This lust brings about sin, which can lead to spiritual death.

James 19:27 explains that we need to be slow to speak and slow to anger, for the wrath of man works no righteousness before God. We need to lay aside our filthiness, superfluity of naughtiness and with meekness we need to receive the word of Christ, which is able to save our souls. We need to live what we know is true, not just speak it, we need to be doers of the word otherwise our religion is in vain. We need to show our love for our fellowman by being of service to those that stand in need of it, such as spending time with the fatherless, visiting widows during their afflictions and keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.

5. Give a few modern examples of how you have recently seen individuals exemplify James 1:22.

This verse explains that we need to not only be hearers of the gospel, but we need to live the gospel, otherwise we deceive ourselves.

This verse often makes me think of followers of Christ. It makes me think of all the saints of the gospel who would gladly put their life on the line to defend the gospel of Jesus Christ, in particular, the Prophet Joseph Smith, who gave everything he had to serve others and help build up the kingdom of God in this day and age, so that all of us may have the opportunity to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also think of all the pioneers, who suffered great persecution and torment because of their beliefs and yet endured with faith during all their suffering.

6. Read the Institute Student Manual commentary for James 1:5-6, “If Any of You Lack Wisdom”. Make a list of reasons why Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said these verses have “had a greater impact…upon mankind than any other” scripture.

At some point in life, every investigator of revealed truth stands in the same place where Joseph Smith stood, and that is asking the Lord, in faith, if the gospel is true, and it if it is what should we do about it. The simple phrase, “if any of you lack wisdom, ask of God who giveth to all men liberally” has led to the opening of the heavens in modern times, with the Lord appearing to Joseph Smith and establishing the gospel of Jesus Christ on this earth today. Had Joseph Smith not read that scripture or had chosen to ignore it, then the gospel may not even be on the earth at this very moment. This scripture had a great impact on a young boy and now each one of us has the opportunity to hear and receive the gospel because of it. This scripture also shows us that there is such a thing as modern revelation and that each one of us can ask the Lord and receive an answer for ourselves if the gospel is true.

Hebrews 13; Works of Righteousness

Paul concluded his epistle to the Hebrews with some brief teachings and statements of counsel. Read Hebrews 13 and find statements about the following questions:

How should we treat strangers and those “in bonds”?

Paul said that we should not be forgetful to entertain strangers and that we should remember those that are in bonds.

How is marriage looked upon?

Paul said that marriage is honorable in all.

What warnings are given about covetousness?

Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with the things that you have, for the Lord has said He will never leave us nor forsake us.

What is the same yesterday, today and forever?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

How are we sanctified?

By the blood and suffering (the Atonement) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How do we respond to those who rule over us?

Paul teaches that we need to obey, salute and submit ourselves to those who rule over us.

Who did Paul ask the people to pray for?

Paul asked that we pray for the prophets of the Lord.

Hebrews 1-2: Jesus Christ Is Greater than Angels

1. In the Bible Dictionary under the book of Hebrews explanation, it explains numerous reasons for the things Jesus are superior to angels and prophets. These include first, that Jesus is in the express image of the Father and is the heir and creator. Second, that He is greater than angels, by having a more excellent name, inheritance, and calling. Third, if an angels words, who speak the words of Jesus, are important, how much more important are the words of Jesus spoken himself! Fourth, if Moses and the law given through Moses is important, how much more important is it to abide by the law of God through Jesus, who is greater than Moses. Fifth, if Jesus as a holder of the high priesthood is greater than the Aaronic priesthood, then the gospel he revealed is greater than the law of Moses.

2. Three truths Paul taught about the Savior are first, that He purged our sins and now sits on the right hand of God in majesty. Second, that He is much greater than any angel, by having obtained a more excellent name than they. And third, He is the creator of the heavens and the earth, and while they and the angels may change, Jesus will not fail or change as years go by.

3. In Hebrews 2: 7-18 it reads that the Savior came to earth that he might draw all men unto himself, and that He might descend below all things, that He would rise above, and subject Death’s power to himself, and save the seed of Abraham. In Hebrews 4:13-16 it reads that by suffering infirmities, He could empathize with our own sufferings, and understand our temptations having been tempted Himself. Alma 7:11 – 15 tells us that He came to mortality to subject Death, and also to better know according to the flesh how to succor and build His people. Lastly in D & C 122: 8 it reads that Jesus had to descend below all things, and that none have suffered as much as He.

For overcoming petty murmurings in small matters, or at church meetings, I feel that the advice in Phillipians 2 is very telling. Each of us has things that bother us. In an imperfect world, there are tons of issues everywhere, both great and small, but look how Joseph Smith handled each issue. When a problem came along, he took it in stride, even enduring tar and feathering without murmuring, but abiding by the gospel. Is it so hard for us to do that? We can each pass over the little things without murmuring, and even great affairs can be dealt with in a loving and understanding fashion. It is the classis difference between acting, and reacting.

Many youth feel their parents testimony is sufficient. I do not. It is not hardly enough to rely on the strength of another person. Aren’t we all living individual lives? Do people think God will let them coast along, so at the end of their lives they could say, it wasn’t my own work that saved me, but mother’s or father’s? No, I think that as the scriptures say, we must work out our own salvation as stated in Phillipians 2:12. How many have fallen because their testimony was questioned? If it was based on their father’s testimony, then ask yourself this question: would your father have fallen under pressure? If not, then why did you, if you were confident his testimony was enough for you?

In Phillipians 4:13 it states that all things may be accomplished in Christ. For those who are frightened to give up family fellowship for the gospel, we have to look at what we give, to get. We give up some of our dearest fellowship, maybe all the fellowship we have ever known. In exchange, we receive the grace and forgiveness of God, and He in turn gives us all things. One day, we will receive our families again, even those who turned away from us, if we are faithful. So why not be faithful? In Phillipians 3:7-16 we see that nothing in this life has lasting value, for to God, this world’s values are valueless. What you fear to lose, is far less than what you stand to gain.

The words in 2 Nephi 32:3 essentially state that the writings and words of Jesus Christ are a roadmap to what we should do in life. If that is so, then this writing assignment discusses methods of answering difficult life issues by going to the words of Christ and feasting upon them, searching for those answers in the writings of the scriptures. By searching the scriptures for answers, we know we are led along the right path, just as listening to the prophets counsel is the same as feasting on the word of God.

Romans 12-16. Live As Saints Should Live

1. In Romans 13:11 the thing that is “nearer” is our salvation, through ministering to our fellow men. In order to continue working out our salvation we must speak up and share the gospel, and not be afraid to be a support to our fellow saints and beings, so that the blood of this generation will not be required of us.
2. The things we need to do to achieve salvation according to Paul include: offering our whole bodies unto God as a sacrifice, or an offering, becoming spiritually reborn, and loving others with real love, eschewing evil and valuing good. We must also have charity, avoid pride and vanity, do not give in to wicked desires, have no other God but one, use our given powers for the good of all, avoid all debt save the love of our fellow being, and lastly keep all the commandments and show love to our neighbor.
3. Paul cautioned that how we judge is easily prone to error, and especially when judging other men, we should avoid it, for we are all God’s children, and only God can really judge, for everything we judge is already judged of God. Why risk being terribly wrong? Oftentimes, we have different insights and opinions that lead to disagreements and even estrangement. When this happens we need to remember that most importantly, at the end of the day, only God’s opinions and views will matter. Whatever we make of it, it has no value unless it shares its view with God. In Doctrine and Covenants 38 it reads that we should esteem our brothers as equals with us, and that we should all be one. This seems to preclude judging each other, except as we would judge ourselves.
4. In the chapters of Romans 14 and 15 it shows that Paul is discussing charity to the saints at Jerusalem, and throughout this writing he often referred to the church members as saints, and that we ought to succor one another as good saints should. A saint is also a member of Zion, meaning one in heart, and the saints should also be one in heart.

Romans 1: The Gospel of Christ is The Power of God Unto Salvation

For this assignment, I draw upon some past observations to help answer this question. First, when speaking of Jesus Christ as the heir to the throne of David, he was rightfully so through his mother’s lineage being descended directly through King David’s line. Joseph’s lineage would only reinforce this thought, and if anyone disputed it through the male line it would have been equally relevant to still say he was the rightful King. But even further, as the son of the eternal God, Israel is God’s people, and God is truly their king beyond the line of earthly kings (after all, they only had judges early on, and God was seen as the true King). In that sense, Jesus is more truly King of Israel being both the earthly king, and the King by being God also and thus establishing multiple lines of legitimacy. John 10:17-18 points out that being immortal, only Christ had truly the power to resurrect, and initiate that resurrection for the rest of mankind.

Paul felt that the gospel of Christ was a blessing, and something not to be ashamed of, a blessing unto salvation. He felt it was for all people, but clarified that it was for the Jew first, and the Greek second distinguishing that there was a difference in when it would be receieved. In reviewing Pauls words, I think we too can be unashamed of the Gospel of Christ by being willing to discuss it no matter where we are. Paul felt it was for all people, and what is more important in each daily life than the Gospel? So many say it’s not politically correct to talk about those things, but really that’s an excuse to avoid talking about a difficult subject that many try every day without true success to block out.

The sins mentioned of Paul that people who are reprobate include: fornication/adultery, envy, murder, debate?, deceit, vengeful, boasters/prideful people, disobedient to parents, ignorant, without natural affection, covenant breakers, and the stubborn. Of all these sins, every one is present in our society today! I found debate to be interesting: why should a person who debates all the time be wicked? Perhaps it refers to constantly challenging the system, like how Congress may get stuck over trying to change laws for the worse all the time, or trying to force your own views on others? The people came to be this way according to the scriptures because they chose to accept lies as truths desiring it to be so, and further, and since they refused to remember God, the Lord allowed them to forget Him, so they could become what they desired. Also, they were highly vain, and allowed their pride to continue this way.

I believe where it says they worshipped the creature more than God, they are referring to how they emphasized the love of the flesh over the spirit itself, or spiritual things. I think they failed to consider spirituality as important, and placing emphasis on personal and physical freedom deluded themselves into thinking an abhorrent lifestyle was acceptable to live.

God Comforts Us in Tribulation

2 Corinthians 1:4; 11-12

1. How were Paul and Timothy able to avoid despair despite being troubled, perplexed, persecuted and cast down?

The Lord comforts us during our times of tribulation, so that we may be able to comfort others during their times of tribulation also. When we comfort others during their times of tribulation, we too are comforted. All things that happen to us are for our sakes and for this cause we shall not faint, though our outward many may perish, our souls are renewed day by day.

2. How can the teachings in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 help during our own tribulations?

(See also D+C 121:7-8).

Our affliction is only for a moment but worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

We should look at the things which are not seen rather than the things which are seen. For the things that are seen are temporal and the things which are not seen are eternal.

3. Similarities between the life of Paul and the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

Paul had spiritual weakness of which he was constantly troubled, as well as some physical weakness such as malaria, serious beatings, epilepsy and a serious eye infection. Paul referred to himself as “having been given a thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). This meant that Paul was constantly troubled about his spiritual well-being. Joseph Smith also suffered physical pain from persecution and also, at times, worried about his spiritual wellbeing. Joseph Smith said, “I feel, like Paul, to glory in my tribulation”. Despite all their hardships, Paul and Joseph Smith believed that the Lord would help them prevail and triumph over all their enemies and they did.

4. What role does grace play in helping us to overcome our tribulations?

The grace of the Lord can make our strength perfect during times of weakness. Through the power of the Lord, we can be exalted during times of trial and tribulation. The Lord shows us our weaknesses, that we may know that it is by His grace that we have the power to overcome our weaknesses and trials. The Lord gives us trials so that he is able to show us our weaknesses. The Lord gives us weakness so that we may learn to be humble. The Lords grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before the Lord and if we humble ourselves before the Lord and have faith, then the Lord will make weak things become strong before Him.

5. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

How did the Lord answer Paul’s prayer?

The Lord answered Paul’s prayer during his time of tribulation by comforting him. The Lord reassured Paul that His grace was with Paul and that during Paul’s trials, he will be perfected and made strong. Paul said that he will now start to take pleasure in his infirmities and persecutions because he knows that the Lord will make him strong enough to bare them. We should all be like Paul and bare our trials and tribulations as something that will benefit us in the long run, instead of begrudging them. As in Mosiah, the voice of the Lord came to the people of Alma during their times of affliction saying, “lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage”. The Lord promises us that if we keep the covenants that we have made with Him, the He will make our burdens light, that we won’t even be able to feel them upon our backs. The Lord does this so that we can stand as a witness of Him, that he does visit and comfort His children during their afflictions. The people of Alma did submit cheerfully to their afflictions and did carry them with patience. We learn, by example, from Paul and the people of Alma how to endure our trials well.

The Impact of Example

1 Corinthians 4:2.

What is required of the servants of the Lord according to 1 Corinthians 4:2?

It is required of stewards for a man to be faithful. A steward is a person who administers anything as the agent of another. Each one of us is a steward and all the children of the world will one day be stewards. It is required of each one of us to be faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:9-17

Name the group specifically selected to be examples.

The Lord has sent forth His Apostles to be examples to us and to show us the way of truth and light. The Lord sent us His Apostles to help us come unto Christ and to teach us to be followers of Christ.

How does being an example apply to more than this group?

Apostles aren’t the only ones who need to be examples. Each one of us needs to be examples, especially us as followers of Christ. The world is constantly watching us, and everything we do and it is our responsibility to bring souls unto Christ through the example that we lead. It is not enough to share with others what we know, but we need to live our lives in accordance with our beliefs.

Alma 39:11-12

Why is it not enough to just know what is right?

We need to live what is right and refrain from our iniquities. In Alma 39:11-12, Alma speaks of how our conduct can lead away the hearts of men to do wicked things. This is apparent all around us; such as drugs, pornography and families in crisis. We not only need to know what is right, but we need to live what is right and encourage and help others to live a worthy life as well.

3 Nephi 8:1

What additional power comes to those who live what they know?

Those who are cleansed from iniquity and who are followers of Christ, have the power to work miracles. Through the Lord, anything is possible, if we our lives in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ and strive to help others along this journey, we can witness many miracles brought by the hand of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4. The Resurrection

The Lord will raise first those who have slept in the Lord, the righteous.

Those who are alive and righteous at the time of his coming will also be called up to meet Him.

3. We shall be caught up with the Lord and the spirits of the righteous in the air in the clouds.

4. The righteous saints will be there at the time of His coming right at the start, and those who were good but not members and saints will come afterwards.

5. At the Second Coming the righteous saints, prophets, church members who were faithful will be resurrected, and then those who were righteous but did not have the gospel will be resurrected afterwards.

6. It teaches that specifically, first the righteous dead would live again and be caught up, and then those who remain alive would also be caught up to meet with Him.

7. The heathen nations will be redeemed with the righteous, and they WILL survive the second coming. The rebellious and truly wicked, those who rejected the gospel and those found under great condemnation would not be redeemed or survive.

8. The aforementioned wicked dead would not be redeemed until after the end of the Earth itself.

Acts 13-14 Paul's First Mission

1. In Paul’s first first journey he started in the city of Seleucia and from there traveled to Salamis, Paphos, Attalia, and Perga.
2. Some advice I would give a struggling missionary is look at Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:1-5. They after prayer and fasting were called to preach the gospel in a far-off land. They fasted and prayed, and were suddenly called spontaneously to go on a mission, when things were going well where they were at. Furthermore, they had to travel on old world ships, which were incredibly dangerous by today’s standards.
3. Barnabas means son of consolation. He was a man of great spiritual nature. Regarded as an apostle, though not of the twelve, he was informed of the spirit of Saul’s conversion and convinced the apostles that Paul was a sincere individual and his conversion was real. He suffered with Paul on many journeys, and was a strong missionary partner to Paul. Some great blessings in sending missionaries out by two’s is it makes their testimony difficult to dispute, and further, the companion cares for the others needs and they support each other.
4. Paul and Barnabas were teaching in Lycaonia when the people beholding miracles treated them like Gods and tried to offer sacrifices. Horrified, they spoke to the people and told them they were mortal men and such a thing should not ever be, and they barely stopped the people.
5. For Acts 14: 8-13 and 19-22 the situations were amazingly different and shows how vastly different the gospel response may be. In the first case, the healing of the lame man who wished to be healed brought such a positive response that the people went overboard and tried to offer sacrifices unto Paul and Barnabas believing them to be beyond mortal. In the case of the men from Antioch and Iconium it was blunt disbelief to the point they brutally stoned Paul without the city. Paul later taught the people of those cities again and taught them that through faith and suffering through tribulations would we enter the kingdom of God. Both of these experiences are examples of enduring through tribulation in different ways. Observing the overzealousness and willingness to commit to sacrifices shows the extreme human response the gospel or any other principle can have when taken to excess. The disciples suffered watching them try and twist the gospel to their old lifestyle. In the other case outright rejection in Antioch brought about the stoning of Paul, who likely nearly died. Yet Paul endured and was blessed with disciples in those cities and showed through his suffering that enduring to the end always brings reward and salvation in the kingdom of God.

Acts. 1 Special Witnesses of the Resurrected Savior

In Ether 12:39; Moroni declares that he has seen Jesus and that he would commend all men everywhere to seek Him out. In 1 Cor. 15:6; The Savior was seen and witnessed by 500 of the brethren. In D & C 6:37; the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the wounds he received during His Crucifiction and commanded them to be faithful and keep His commandments. In each of these accounts the Lord revealed Himself only to the believing, never to the wicked, and each of these witnesses received His holy spirit and testimony, and were commanded to witness of the Lord and keep His commandments.

The author of the gospel of Acts is Luke the Evangelist, based on the fact that the book of Luke was written for Theophilus, which is also stated that Acts was written to Theophilus (deductive reasoning). It was written to record and certify to those who had witnessed the events, and also for those who were not privileged to know of them at the time they occurred and that the membership might be certain in their knowledge of the gospel.

The doctrine of the resurrection was central to the preaching of the gospel of Christ because without the doctrine the faith of all believers was vain. One of the centerpieces of the life of the Savior was his death and resurrection and without both it profited no one to exercise faith in the Lord.

The relationship between Christ’s death and resurrection is central to the judgment of humanity. A central part of the gospel is that these events happened, so mankind could return and be judged, according to the gospel, and without the two, the salvation of man fails, without the cross there is no return, and with it we may be judged fairly and return to heaven.

The Savior promised his followers that He would send them the Comforter or Holy Spirit prior to his Ascencion.

We can be modern witnesses of Christ through bearing our own testimony of Him, and also through following His example. An apostle was chosen first from those who were constant and steadfast, someone who was true to the gospel, and they then beseeched the Lord in prayer to know which individual it should be. The Apostles then voted on the one they felt was the right choice and majority vote chose. The Bible Dictionary gives additional information that an apostle should be part of a council of twelve, and be a special witness of Jesus Christ before the whole world.