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.