Unit 1, Choice 2

Choice 2: 2 Peter 2. Teaching

1.    Read 2 Peter 2:1–19. Record the characteristics of false teachers described by Peter. Explain in writing how your list helps you recognize false teachers today. 

- “privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

- “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

-”covetousness”

• “feigned words” 
• “make merchandise of you”
• “walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness” 
• “despise government” 
• “Presumptuous” 
• “selfwilled” 
• “not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”

- “railing accusation” 

- “speak evil of the things that they understand not”

 - “count it pleasure to riot in the day time” 

- “sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;”

• “ eyes full of adultery” 
• “cannot cease from sin” 
• “beguiling unstable souls”
• “exercised with covetous practices”
• “cursed children”
• “forsaken the right way”
• “gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the ewages of unrighteousness;”
• “speak great swelling words of vanity”
• “callure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness”

-“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the bervants of corruption”

I really didn’t expect a list this long but it all makes sense. I think that the common thread and the things that are most helpful in recognizing false teachers today is that they are prideful, they take the glory for themselves instead of giving it to God. Also, they have not bridled their tongues. The tongue is a powerful tool that false teachers use to entice. The Lord invites while the devil entices. 

2.    Read 2 Peter 2:20–22; Doctrine and Covenants 82:3, 7. In your own words, write a few sentences describing the dangers of returning to the “pollutions of the world.” 

When we have the truth and the light and turn away from it we commit a greater sin then if we had not been given the truth. When we return to the “pollutions of the world” the sins that we repented of before are are returned to us. When we have the truth we are responsible for it. And when we sin against the truth that we have, we “receive the greater condemnation.” 

Unit 1, Choice 1 The Atonement is Greater Than All of the Sacrifices in the Old Testament

Throughout the book of Hebrews, Paul taught the superiority of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Melchizedek Priesthood over the Law of Moses and the Aaronic Priesthood. From your study of Hebrews 8:1-3; 9:22-28; 10:1-4, 10-17; Alma 34:10, 13-14, write a paragraph describing how the Atonement of Jesus Christ fulfilled the law of Moses. Include in your paragraph what these verses say about the following questions:

The law of Moses is the lesser law in which the people made sacrifices. With the Atonement, they no longer needed to make sacrifices. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice that provided away for redemption that no longer included animal sacrifices.

In the book of Hebrews, Paul referred to Jesus Christ as a “high priest” (see Hebrews 9:11). Read hebrews 9:11-28; the institute student manual commentary for Hebrews 9:1-10, “What Do We Know Concerning the Ancient Tabernacles and Its Services?” (pp. 390-391); commentary for Hebrews 9:11-15, 23-28, “The Role of Jesus Christ as High Priest Mediator of the New Testament” (p.391). Write a paragraph that shows how the labors of the high priests in the temple were like what the Savior did for us in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The high priest in the temple made an escape for us for our sins. They offered up sacrifices for the people. Christ gave himself up for a sacrifice. He atoned for our sins and sacrificed himself. The high priest and Christ became the advocates for the people.

Write a paragraph on why the title “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11) is an appropriate title for Jesus Christ.

I think that this is referring to the fact that the high priest’s of ancient times were a prototype of Christ. The high priests offered sacrifices and Christ offered himself as a sacrifice. The high priest’s were good, but Christ was a “good thing to come.” I think that this refers to the people looking forward to the day when Christ would fulfill the law of Moses.

Unit 1, Choice 1, Finding Solutions in the Scriptures to Life's Challenges

Philippians 1-4. Find Solutions in the Scriptures to Life’s Challenges:

For each of the following common challenges, write the counsel from Philippians that you would use to resolve it:

People sometimes argue and complain over petty matter in church meetings or throughout the week (See Philippians 2:1-8, 14-15).

1-“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of bone accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” 

Think of others better than yourself, not yourself better than others

2-“[Christ] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Be humble and serve others.

3-“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Be kind to one another. Stop murmuring and bickering.

Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all the spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12-15 and institute student manual commentary for Philippians 2:12,”Work out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling” [pp.361-62].

We are each individually responsible for working out our salvation. My parents favorite response to our childhood complaints of “he/she made me do it” was, “No one can make you do anything”. They were teaching us from a very young age that we have agency and no one will make us do anything. We can not rely on other people to do things for us and gain salvation for us, that is an individual matter. There is nothing our parents nor anyone else can do save us, that is up to us.

An investigator is considering joining the church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7-16; 4:13).

I am so grateful that I got to read these. I have a friend at home that is going through this exact same situation. 

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”

We have to make sacrifices so that we can obtain truth. This Gospel is true but it is not easy. We will lose things on the way, things that are important to us, but in the end it will be worth it.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

I think this is saying that yes, family is important but the things of God are more important,” The Gospel is the future and we need to look ahead and not behind. I can not even imagine what a rough situation this would be and I love Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” There is nothing we can not do with Christ on our side.d

How is this writing assignment as example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3?

“Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”

There is an answer for all of our questions found in the scriptures. Modern and ancient scripture are vital to our Earthy journey. IN them we can find council and answers to all of our questions!

Unit 1, Choice 3 Baptism Romans 6

Review Romans 6:1-14 and answer the following questions in writing:

What must be done with sin before baptism can occur? Purged from our lives. We must be dead to sin.

What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism? His death and resurrection.

Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling? Being baptized by immersion is symbolic of dying and rising from the dead, there is no symbolism in sprinkling. Christ gave everything when He gave His life for us, a complete sacrifice. Baptism by sprinkling is not a complete baptism. It is only complete when done by immersion.

What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

 In the footnotes it says that “newness of life” also means “walking with God”. In order to walk with God we must keep ourselves clean from sin. We must also be alive in Christ, putting off the natural man and coming unto Him continuously. 

According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

 The natural man. We would become as little children.

Study Romans 6:14-23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are, Them write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We know whose servant by the fruits of our actions. All good things come from God and if we are doing good we are His servant and will reap eternal life if we endure to the end. If we are servants of sin, we will reap death. The true source of freedom comes from righteousness! When we are sinning we are in the hands of satan and subject to him. When we keep the commandments we are blessed with more freedom and blessings that we can even imagine.

I completed this assignment by reading, reviewing, and contemplating the scriptures. I decided to do this assignment because I have been reading a lot of missionary letters about baptism and realized that baptism is always one of the primary answers that we give when we don’t know what else to say but we never really talk about after our own baptism. I loved that this assignment, especially Mosiah 3:19 connected to my other choice assignment about living like the Saints. It was fun to see the Bible and Book of Mormons support each other. I could research more about what baptism by sprinkling means to those who do it and why they think that is the correct way. I think that would be interesting.

The Sacrament

Study 1 Corinthians 10:16-21; 11 20-29 and compare it with 3 Nephi 18:6-11, 28-29 

Then respond in writing to the following items:

Read Luke 22:19 and identify the important word Luke used in describing the sacrament that Nephi also used but Paul did not.

Given. Paul uses the word broken, while Nephi and Luke use the word given. They are referring to the body of Christ. 

What is the difference between what is taught in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 and 3 Nephi 18:28-29 with regard to the counsel about when to not partake if the sacrament?

In 3 Nephi we are taught that we are to look out for our brothers and sisters. In 1 Corinthians we are taught that we are to examine ourselves with regards to worthiness.

What did Paul teach that explains why we don’t want to partake of the sacrament unworthily?

If we partake of the sacrament unworthily we are guilty of the body and blood of Christ. We make a mockery of the Atonement and stop our progression, or in other words, we are damned.

What can you do to make the sacrament a more meaningful experience in your life on Sundays and during the week?

I have always struggled seeing the importance of the Sacrament in my life. It is hard for my to contemplate the sacrifice that Christ made for me and hard for me to understand the all encompassing power of the Atonement. That is one reason I chose to do this assignment. I have been working at trying to understand and get more out of the Sacrament each week. I definitely notice the weeks when I don’t have the opportunity to have the Sacrament (General, stake conference etc.), and I find myself looking forward to it the next week. I still struggle to feel the power of the Atonement during the Sacrament and during the week. One thing I can do, and have been thinking a lot about lately is studying the Atonement and applying it more fully in my life. Forgiving others and forgiving myself.

I read, and reread, and reread again these scriptures, especially looking for the answer to the first question. I have been struggling with the Sacrament and wanted to learn more about it. I think the best thing about this assignment was that it was personal and that I can improve it by acting on my goal to make the Sacrament a more meaningful part of my life.

The Resurrection

Who will “rise first” to meet the Lord?

Those who have died in Christ.

Who, in addition to the righteous dead, will be caught up to meet the Lord?

Those who are alive at His coming.

Where will they be caught up to?

In the clouds/air.

How will the righteous Saints participate in the Second Coming?

They will be the first to be resurrected and will be caught up and meet God in the clouds.

Who will be resurrected at the Second Coming?

Only the righteous.

How do the Joseph Smith Translation changes for 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17 clarify what paul taught about who would be alive when Christ comes again?

In verse 15 the word remain is omitted. This says to me that those who are alive are meant to be there. The word remain makes it sound like some people will just happen to be there.

In verse 17 those who are alive and those who remain are separated and brought back together in the presence of God.

Who will not survive the Second Coming?

The wicked, sons of perdition.

When will they be resurrected?

After the Millennium.

I answered the questions by studying the scriptures.I decided to do this because it mentions the resurrection in my Patriarchal Blessing. I used my scriptures and my brother. I could have added the scripture references where I found the answers, just for future reference.

Intro Week Herod the King vs. Peter the Prophet

Herod, The King

What Motivated him? 

Glory of the people and power. 

v.3 “And because he saw it pleased the jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.”

v.22 “And the people gave a shout saying, It is  the voice of a god, and not of a man.”

How did he deal with others?

If he didn’t like them he got rid of them.

v.1 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.”

v.19 “And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death...”

How did God deal with him?

He smote him.

v.23 “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”

Peter the Prophet

What Motivated him?

Glory of God. Righteousness.

v.11 “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

How did he deal with others?

Love. Patience.

v.5 “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

v.16-17 “But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.”

How did God deal with him?

He protected him. Delivered him.

v.6-10 “And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.”