Teaching and False Teachers

Student Choice Assignment
Unit One Choice Two

2 Peter 2: 1-19
Some characteristics of false teachers are:
1.) they deny the Lord
2.) they speak evil of truth
3.) they use covetousness
4.) they lust for uncleanliness
5.) they despise government
6.) they speak evil of things they do not fully understand
7.) their eyes are full of adultery
8.) they speak words of vanity
9.) they promise liberty but are brought into bondage through their sins.

The easiest way I identify false teachers is whenever I hear anything that denies Christ, I know it is a false teaching. Also, anything that is contrary to what the brethren have taught I recognize as false teaching.

2 Peter 2: 20-22 &  Doctrine and Covenants 82: 3, 7
The danger of returning to the pollutants of the world is the concept that we were once in truth, yet we returned to incorrect way. Because of this, it is a greater sin because once a person knows the truth, they are held to a higher standard than those who never heard the truth. There is no more neutral ground. Sinning against greater light causes us to be condemned under greater condemnation. 

Increase in Attributes of the Divine

Student Choice Assignment
Unit One ChoiceOne
Divine Attributes

2 Peter 1: 1-4
To escape the corruption of the world and partake of divine nature, we need to live in the world but not be of the world. I am reminded of Elder Uchtdorf's talk this General Conference when he said that darkness exists, but we do not need to stay there.

2 Peter 1: 5-7
Doctrine and Covenants 4: 5-7
Faith: I could increase my faith by praying for missionary opportunities while going to school at BYU-Idaho. Just like in General Conference, I can paint missionary work on my heart.
Virtue: I could be more virtuous by being more aware of the words I speak. I can make an effort to speak words of kindness and cease to criticize or diminish others.
Knowledge: I could increase my knowledge in the gospel by seeking the spirit's guidance and direction during my daily scripture study so I can understand the words of the ancient prophets better.
Temperance: I could increase my temperance by treating my body as a temple. I can find balance with my mind, body, and spirit by keeping my activities, school, work, and family life in balance and moderation.
Patience: I could increase my patience by taking an extra second to breathe when I become frustrated. This will be especially important when I have children.
Godliness: I could increase my Godliness by becoming a better disciple of Jesus Christ. I can be more reverent, and I can attend the temple prepared to be taught by the sacred ordinances there.
Kindness: I could increase my kindness by making an extra effort to be friendly to those I don't know and to reach out to those I do know whom I haven't seen or spoken to in a while. I can increase kindness by being proactive about my relationships.
Charity: I could increase my charity by doing more work for the relief society I serve. As the head of the society in my ward, I need to be an example of charity by reaching out to the sisters who have just had babies or who have recently married, especially in the next few weeks as many get married in between semesters.

2 Peter 1: 8-12
Peter said he would not be negligent about keeping us in remembrance about the divine attributes, and he promised that those who developed these attributes will have their calling and election made sure that we may never fall.

John 17:3 & 3 Nephi 27:27
We come to know the Lord and we want to be more like Him, as He has commanded. As we learn more about the Savior, we seek to be more like Him. Thus, when we know more about Christ, we want to be more like Him and we seek out these divine attributes. These attributes are essential for us to attain because by achieving an increase in these things, we become more like Christ.

 2 Peter 1:10, Mosiah 26:20, & Doctrine and Covenants 132: 49
To have our calling and election made sure means the Lord will seal our exaltation for us and prepare a place for us in His kingdom. Peter exhorted us to make our calling and election sure.

2 Peter 1: 20-21
Peter taught that we understand scripture through the influence of the Holy Ghost. To ensure that I understand scripture correctly, I can pray before scripture study to invite the spirit to attend me as I study. Having the spirit with me during study helps me get the spiritual lift I need every day. 

Through Times of Trial

Unit Two Choice Four

To those who say, "Life isn't fair," "Why do I have to have so many trials?" and, " I'm tired of being ridiculed by those who don't keep the commandments," the following scriptures found in 1 Peter will help them better understand how to respond to trials.

1 Peter 1-4

Our trials are like refiners fires. Our trials are like gold, and through the fires is where our gold is refined. Just like the verse in "America, the Beautiful," the phrase, "May God thy gold refine," gives us further insight that through faith in God during times of trial, our gold is refined through fire. In other words, we become refined through trials as gold is refined through fire. When we have faith in times of trial, we will have unspeakable joy, and we will attain our salvation.
It is acceptable before God when we accept our trials patiently. Christ suffered through the ultimate trial; to be more Christ-like, we too need to suffer the trials we have in this life with patience and humility before God. During times of trial we need to turn to Christ because He knows exactly what we're going through because He's been there.
When our trials cause us to feel ridiculed by those who don't keep the commandments, we must remember that if we suffer "for righteous sake" we will be blessed by our Father in Heaven. We need not fear men, but rather fear God and trust that when we suffer for His sake, He will take care of us.
We need to make sure we understand that our trials aren't unlike many others who are suffering. We do not suffer alone. There are plenty of people in this world suffering similar trials, and we need to be humble and realize that there are may who are suffering harder trials than ours. We need to not be ashamed about suffering for Christ's sake. Last of all, we need to make sure our trials are bringing us closer to Christ rather than driving us away from Him. 

Hebrews 13

Unit One Choice Three

For strangers and those "in bonds" we should not be forgetful and we should go out of our way to "entertain" them. To me that means we should take time to see that their needs are met. Do they need a place to stay that night? Do they need a hot meal for dinner? We need to picture ourselves in their situation and treat them as we would like to be treated.

Marriage is looked upon with honor; it is honorable.

The warnings given about covetousness are that we should never speak with coveting in our voices. We need to be content with what The Lord has blessed u with, and be able to say gratefully, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (New Testament, Hebrews, Hebrews 13)."

That which is the same yesterday, today, and forever is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are sanctified through Christ's blood.

To those who rule over us, we should respond by obeying them and submitting to them, for they are watching over us, and should do so with joy.

Paul asked the people to pray for him and the other apostles.

Jesus Christ is Greater than Melchizedek

Student Choice Assignment
Unit Two
Choice Three
Hebrews 6: 1-3

In Hebrews 6: 1-3 Joseph Smith made an important doctrinal correlation when he pointed out that "leaving" means 'having left behind the beginning of the doctrine.' Therefore, it is important that we leave not behind faith, repentance, baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost because that is the beginning of doctrine, and even if we make future covenants after our baptismal covenants, we need to make sure we are keeping all our covenants. We also need to make sure we go through faith, repentance, baptism, and receive the Holy Ghost which we do at age 8 for our church, so we have not left behind this principle.

Solutions to Life's Challenges

Student Choice Assignment
Unit One Choice One

Philippians 1-4

When people argue and complain over petty matter in church meetings or throughout the week, Philippians 2: 31-8, 14, & 15 counsels us to have fellowship in the spirit so we may be of one accord and one mind. Nothing should be done in strife. Instead, we should do all things with lowliness of heart and humility. We should always give each other the benefit of the doubt. We should esteem each other better than we esteem ourselves. We should never murmur, and we should be a light for others to see Christ through us.

When youth feel that the testimonies of their parents is enough to get them through life's challenges, Philippians 2: 12-15 counsels us to work out our own salvation. We should do so with fear and trembling, meaning, meaning we understand the seriousness of keeping the commandments and gaining a testimony. With our own testimonies, we will have the strength to stand against a crooked and perverse nation. We can be a light. The institute manual gives further insight, as it explains that each member of the church has the responsibility to strengthen our personal beliefs through action. This is done by strengthening our testimonies in acts of service and in bearing our testimonies to others.

If there are hesitant investigators to the church who are afraid to join the church because of the consequences from their family (family may disown, discontinue any association, etc.), Philippians 3:7-16 and Philippians 4: 13 counsel us to put things behind us and forget them and reach for hope in the future. It also promises us strength in doing the Lord's will. The Lord will not forsake us, and we can do all things through Him because He strengthens us.

This writing assignment is an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32: 3 because this scripture teaches us that if we seek the Lord and His counsel, he will tell us all things that we should do whether those answers are through scripture study, prayer, or other forms of personal revelation.

This last part of the assignment reminded me of this video. The youth of the church have such strong testimonies. They are such a wonderful example for everyone in the church. Our youth program is amazing.

Student Choice Assigment

Student Choice #2

Unit 2 Choice 1

1.) Romans 13:11

What is nearer is our salvation...it is closer than we think.

Ezekiel 3:20 Doctrine and Covenants 14:7

What we must keep doing to ensure our salvation is we must endure in righteousness. If we fail to endure, even if in our past we did righteous things, those past things will not save us. We have to be faithful to the end.

We must keep the commandments all our lives, never faililng.

2.) Romans 12-13

Paul gives counsel as to how to attain salvation. His counsel includes:

1.) Give acceptable sacrifice to God

2.) Refrain from conforming to the world, but instead prove all truth which comes from God.

3.) Love all, and cleave to that which is good.

4.) Have charity and give to those in need.

5.) Be of one mind and refrain from pride.

6.) Overcome evil with good.

7.) Be subjects unto God.

8.) When in positions of power, act in righteousness and do what God would have you do.

9.) Love one another, and keep the commandments

3.) Romans 14: 1-13; 15: 1-3

Paul cautioned about judging because it's really not in our place to judge. It is up to God to judge us and he will do so with justice and mercy. The most important thing to remember is to be merciful to those around us and let God be the final judge.

Doctrine and Covenants 38: 25-27

D&C encourages us to esteem each other as we would our brother. If we do this, we will be less likely to judge them.

4.) Members of the church in Paul's day were referred to as Saints.

Romans 6: Baptism

Unit One Choice Three: Baptism

o   Sin must be forsaken before baptism can occur. For converts they have to forsake bad habits such as smoking, drinking coffee, and working on Sunday. They have to be worthy.

o   The events from Christ’s life that are symbolized by the baptism are Christ’s death. Christ’s death is symbolized by us totally immersing in the water. Christ’s resurrection is symbolized in baptism when we come up out of the water which symbolizes being raised up from the dead. When we are baptized, our old ways are crucified just as our Savior was, and we raise up renewed and clean having forsaken our old ways ready to continually choose the right.

o   Baptism by sprinkling doesn’t symbolize the death and the resurrection the way baptism by immersion symbolizes Christ’s death and resurrection.

o   There verses teach us to be baptized and have “our old man” crucified so we no longer serve sin. This will help us to maintain the “newness of life.”

o   According to Mosiah 3:19, the natural man in us would ideally die after being baptized because we would want to be as a little child and be submissive to our father, who is in heaven.

o   We know whose servants we are by our actions. If we yield to temptation, we are servants of the devil because we are submitting our will to sin. We are servants to whom we obey. Likewise, if we choose righteousness if we keep the commandments, we are servants of Heavenly Father because we are submitting our will to His and showing Him that we want to obey His word. We show that we are obedient to what He asks us, and thus we become His servants.

o   The true source of freedom is obedience. It keeps us free from sin and temptation, and in our freedom the Lord protects us from the fiery darts of the adversary.

Forgiveness

 Unit Two Choice Two: 2 Corinthians 2: 1-11. Forgiveness

2 Corinthians 2:1-11 – The people of Corinth were commanded to forgive and comfort and confirm our love for the person whom causes us grief. This shows obedience and in turn allows us to be forgiven of our transgressions by Heavenly Father through Christ. It will also prevent Satan from having power over us.

Matthew 6: 14-15 – If we forgive others, Heavenly Father will forgive us, but if we don’t forgive others, Heavenly Father will not forgive our trespasses.

Doctrine and Covenants 64: 9-10 – The danger in failing to forgive others is we have the greater sin compared to the person who we will not forgive. Because of this, we stand condemned before the Lord. It is up to Heavenly Father to decide who not to forgive…it is up to use to “forgive all men.” 

The Impact of Example

Unit One: Topic Choice One: 1 Corinthians 4:2,  9-17; 8 9-13. The Impact of Example

1 Corinthians 4:2 –  It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful

1 Corinthians 4: 9-17 –  The group specifically selected to be examples is the apostles.

They are apostles of the Lord, but we’ve all been asked to be disciples. People see more members of the church every day than they see of the twelve apostles, so we need to be examples of what we believe so that others will want to know more about Christ because they know us.

 Alma 39: 11-12 – It is not enough just to know what is right because our actions speak louder  than our words, and people will not listen to what we say when our actions speak otherwise.

3 Nephi 8:1 – When we live what we know, we are ‘cleansed every whit’ from iniquity, and we are given additional power to work miracles in the name of our Savior.

Ministering with Proper Authority

Student Choice 4: Acts 19-20. Proper Authority and Ministering to the People.

The five priesthood ordinances Paul performed include

1. Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ
2. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
3. The healing of the sick
4. Performing the Sacrament
5. The healing of the afflicted

Paul baptized the people in the name of Jesus Christ and confirmed upon them the gift of the Holy Ghost. Before Paul had come, the Corinthian saints had been baptized in the name of John, but that wasn't the correct way so Paul baptized them in the name of Christ. 

This example answers questions for non-members who have been baptized before and they don't understand why they need to be baptized again. This example can be used to show that just because a person is baptized doesn't mean it was done correctly. Therefore, to be baptized a member it needs to be done with the correct authority and in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Paul bestowed the gift of the Holy Ghost to the Corinthian saints through the laying on of hands. Acts 19: 6 tells us, "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." 

The saints met to break bread on the "first day of the week" (Acts 20:7). In John 20: 1 & 19 we learn that Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week which explains why the Sabbath day was changed.  

Day of Pentacost

Student Choice 3 Acts 2. The Day of Pentecost

• The Day of Pentecost is described to us in Acts chapter two. Pentecost was a celebration that lasted 50 days (seven weeks) after the Passover. We get "Pentecost" from the Greek word Pentekoste which literally means "fiftieth." It is also known as the "feast of weeks" because the Lord poured out his spirit upon the people and they were devouring the experience. The people expressed their deep gratitude to God and in return received a fullness of His spirit. 
• Two of Peter's teachings during this time include teaching of the resurrection and teaching of baptism and confirmation. In verse 32 it states, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." Clearly the people knew Christ was crucified, but here Peter teaches them that our Savior and Lord conquered death. Verse 31 states, "...his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption." He also taught the people about baptism. After he rebuked them for crucifying Christ, the people were  'pricked' in their hearts and wanted to know what they could do. Peter then taught that they needed to repent and be baptized and then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
• Peter fulfilled his role as a special witness of Jesus Christ during Pentecost by testifying of Christ's victory over death and testifying that Christ is the Son of God. He also fulfilled his role as a special witness of Christ by testifying that the day of Pentecost was a flood of the spirit upon the people, which spirit testifies of Christ.
• Gifts of the spirit that were manifested on this day include the gifts of tongues. In verse 17 it tells us that "...your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." Another gift that was manifest is the gift "given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world" (Doctrine and Covenants 46:13) for after the day of Pentecost and Peter's teachings, the people desired to be baptized. 
• The people responded with faith after everything that occurred on this day, and they also responded with gratitude to God for giving them such outpourings of the spirit in such a concentrated way. 

Acts 7: 51-60 & Mosiah 17: 7-20

Hey blog readers. I've created this blog for my New Testament class I'm taking online through Brigham Young University, Idaho. Throughout the next several weeks I will be adding my personal insights to this blog. For this week I'll be answering some questions about Acts 7: The Martyrdom of Stephen (choice four of my topic choices).

Read Acts 6: 6-8 and Acts 7: 51-60

• Summary of Stephen's last words and what impressed me
• What I learned about the godhead

Compare to Mosiah 17: 7-20

• Similarities between Stephen and Abinadi's deaths
• What impact their final testimonies have on me

Acts 7:51-53

In Stephen's last words, he declares to the people their stiffneckedness and their hard hearts ("uncircumcised hearts"). He declares the wicked traditions of their fathers; as the fathers ignored the Holy Ghost, so have these people. He calls them betrayers and murderers as prosecutors of the prophets. He speaks of the people's sin in breaking the laws that have come from the angels. 

I am impressed by the way Stephen speaks with boldness in this passage. He really calls the people out on their wicked behavior such as resisting the Holy Ghost, persecuting the prophets, and breaking the commandments. In this passage it speaks about the godhead. Verse 56 states, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Christ was standing as a separate personage on the right hand of God, our Heavenly Father. They are two separate beings.

Mosiah 17: 7-20

Stephen and Abinadi's deaths are similar because they are both martyrs and both died an awful death. Stephen was stoned to death and Abinadi was burned to death. Their final testimonies are full of boldness. Abinadi was told he was going to be put to death and he still declared the truthfulness of his words. He was not ashamed to declare the truth. Even in the act of being burned Abinadi prophesies of the death that will come to King Noah. "He would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death" (Mosiah 17:20). I am grateful for Abinadi's example and I hope I can be as bold and unashamed as he was when it comes to declaring what I know to be true.