Nearer to God

Review Romans 13:11 and look for what is “nearer.”

 "Our Salvation is nearer than we believed" is what Paul said in Romans 13:11. Which means wevmust do more than just accept Christ into your heart to receive salvation.

Read Ezekiel 3:20; Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; and explain in writing what we must continue doing to work out our salvation.

 In Ezekiel 3:20 it talks about a man who was righteous, but began sinning and turning away from God. It said that this man would die in his sins. Then in D&C it talks about how we need to keep the commandments throughout our life. We need to endure to the end as the scriptures say. We should always follow Christ and keep His commandments even until the day we pass from this earth.

 In Romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. Read each of the following verses and list what Paul taught would help lead to salvation:

        Romans 12:1 "Present your bodies a living sacrifice"

        Romans 12:2 "Be not conformed to this world:" also be changed and do what is good to God

        Romans 12:9 Always look for things are righteous and despise things that are bad.

        Romans 12:13 Give to others as they need. If we have an excess of things we should share what we have with those that aren't.

       Romans 12:16 We should be united as a membership in the church

       Romans 12:21 "overcome evil with good."

       Romans 13:1 We should be humble and realize that all power comes from our Heavenly Father.

       Romans 13:3 Do good things

       Romans 13:8 As I have loved you, love one another

       Romans 13:9 Keep the ten commandments.

  Review Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3. Then write answers to the following questions:

     What cautions did Paul give about judging?

We shouldn't judge others because everyone will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. It really isn't our place to judge anyone at anytime. It is wrong to judge or think things of others. That is God's job so we should leave that to Him.

 People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?

I think the greatest thing to remember is that everyone will be judged according to what is fair to them. God knows the hearts and intents of all people.

 What additional insight comes from reading Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27?

We should treat everyone equally, just because someone isn't a member of the church or doesn't live the teachings of the church doesn't mean we should ignore them. We should treat everyone the way we want to be treated and the way Christ would treat them.

 Review Romans 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15. Write the term Paul frequently used to refer to members of the Church in his day.

He called them Saints.

Baptism

Unit One Choice 3

Review Romans 6:1-13 and answer the following questions:

What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

We must completely abandon sin, we must do away with all transgressions as if we become born again.

What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

His death and his resurrection.

Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

Because baptism by immersion means that our full body must go underwater so that we can be fully cleansed and receive the proper gifts of baptism. Sprinkling doesn’t resemble the resurrection properly. The symbolism involves being completely buried under water just as Christ was completely buried. Christ also said to be baptized like him and that was full immersion.

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

Romans 6:6 puts it perfectly, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” So we should put off sin and continually put forth righteousness.

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

The natural man. Or in other words the sin.

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

We are all given agency in this life. With this agency, we are given a choice. There are two beings we can serve, God or Satan. If we follow Satan we are choosing to be bound by everlasting chains of sorrow and regret with promises that only gratify the flesh. Following God will grant us freedom, peace, and everlasting life. We know if we’re Gods servant if we do what he asks of us. The true source of freedom is put simply in Romans 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Forgivness

Review 2 Corinthians 2:1-11; Matthew 6:14-14 and D&C 64: 9-10 Then respond to the following questions:

What were the people of Corinth commanded to do “if any have caused grief”?

 “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow” They were commanded to be Christ like and forgive and comfort each other.

What Blessings do we see if we forgive?

Forgiveness helps us gain a stronger spirit and a peace of mind. When we forgive someone we also become more like Christ. Forgiveness allows you and the other individual to move on both spiritually and mentally. Forgiveness to me is a sense of cleansing for both individuals involved. We all make mistakes and we will all expect to be forgiven sometime in our life. How can we expect to be forgiven if we can’t forgive ourselves?

What is the danger in failing to forgive?

When it comes to forgiveness Christ is the ultimate example. He forgave even the people who crucified him. In order to receive forgiveness for our sins, we need to forgive others. Forgiving others allows us to overcome feelings of anger, bitterness, or revenge. Forgiveness can heal spiritual wounds and bring the peace and love that only God can give. Failing to forgive causes anger and hate to build up within us, we are also responsible for that person’s inability to move on from the wrong doing when we fail to forgive them.

How did you and what did you do to complete the assignment?

I read the scripture chapters, answered the questions, and then provided the answers to the questions on my blog.

Why did you decide to do the assignment you did?

Because I think forgiveness is such an important topic that doesn’t get recognized enough. I was also interested to learn about why not forgiving someone was such a great sin.

What do you think is the best thing about your assignment, and how do you think it could be improved?

I think I provided deep and well detailed insight on the forgiveness questions, and really pondered why forgiveness was so important.  I could have improved this assignment by maybe expanding a little more thought on the first question. 

Examples

Posted On BlogSpot:

Write what is required of the servants of the Lord according to 1 Corinthians 4:2

“Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” It is required by the servants that they are found faithful unto the Lord.

Read 1 Corinthians 4:9-17 and name the group specifically selected to be examples. How does being a good example apply more than this group? The apostles were specifically selected to be examples of Christ. Being a good example not only affects the people who are putting on the example. Others see how you are acting, and take upon those actions for themselves. It is very similar to a child mimicking their parent’s actions. As humans we have the tendency to follow idols and role models and live by their example. That’s why it is so important that we follow the correct examples in our lives. There truly is no better example to follow than our Savior’s.

Read Alma 39:11-12 and explain why it is not enough to know what is right  

Anybody can know right from wrong. God gave us this ability when Adam fell. He allowed us the ability to decipher right between wrong and gave us the gift of agency, allowing to choose between right or wrong. This is why it’s not enough to just know what is right. The important thing is that we do what is right. This life is a test, and although we are allowed to pick the wrong choices, God expects us to understand why choosing the right path is the better option. This also goes back to setting a good example. Good examples do what is right, and follow the path that God has laid out before us.

Read 3 Nephi 9;1 and describe what additional power comes to those who live what they know.

By living what we know, we are blessed by our Heavenly Father and guided by the Holy Ghost.  The gift of the spirit is a huge advantage to us when we are living within the commandments that God has provided us with. When we sin, and neglect repentance, we make ourselves unworthy to possess the spirit, and we lose that guidance and small voice that helps us so much each day. In result of losing the spirit, we are more likely to keep sinning. This is why it’s so important that we work our hardest to live by what we know.  We are all blessed to have the knowledge of right and wrong. The hard part comes in when we are expected to act on that knowledge. If we do act on that knowledge, and follow our saviors example, then we will gain many eternal blessings and advantages.

How did you and what did you do to complete the assignment?

I read the scripture chapters, answered the questions, and then provided the answers to the questions on my blog.

Why did you decide to do the assignment you did?

I was interested to learn about the examples that the apostles set for the people, and I thought it would also be interesting to learn about why just knowing what is right isn’t enough.

What do you think is the best thing about your assignment, and how do you think it could be improved?

I think my assignment provided well detailed and highly informative answers to the questions asked. I think if I included more scripture references it could make my assignment even better. 

Principles

Unit two Choice 6:1

1 Read 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, 4:1-12, 5: 1-22; Thessalonians 3:1-6, 11. Then compile a list of attributes Paul counseled members to improve.

Love one another

Stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God

walk and to please God

abstain from fornication

possess his vessel in sanctification and honour

no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:

study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands

walk honestly

but let us watch and be sober.

putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ

comfort yourselves together, and edify one another

be patient toward all men.

follow that which is good

Pray without ceasing

give thanks

Quench not the Spirit.

Hold fast that which is good

Abstain from all appearance of evil

2. Select 3 Attributes from your list and write plans of how you want to improve in each area

Walk Honestly: Being honest in our everyday dealings are so important. When we are interviewed by our bishops or church leaders whether it’s to receive a temple recommend or start a new calling its important that we are completely honest. In order for me to improve in this area I am going to remind myself of the perfect example Christ set. Christ was the most honest and humble being that ever walked the earth, and I think that if I try to model my life after his, then I will improve in walking honestly.

Be Patient towards all men: Often it is very hard for us to be patient with others, especially when we get hurt by them in some way. To me, patience goes hand in hand with forgiveness. We have been taught that we are to forgive all of our fellow men, or else there will be consequences toward us. I think that If I remind myself of this principle then I will be able to be more patient towards my fellow men.

Give Thanks: It’s really easy to dwell on the problems that we face in life.  More often than not, I find myself forgetting a lot of the things that I have that I should be so grateful for. All of us are blessed extremely in various ways. It’s the little things that I forget to give thanks for, such as a warm bed, an opportunity to learn, and great friends. All these things are blessing given to us from God. I think that if I remind myself of this while I’m saying my prayers then I’ll be able to give thanks more often. 

The Pentecost

Posted on Blogspot
Choice 3: Acts 2. The Day of the Pentecost
Briefly describe the meaning of the day of Pentecost
The Pentecost was a Jewish celebration held every year fifty days after the Passover. Jesus gave the sacrament to his Apostles at the Last Supper, which happened at the time of the Passover. It was fifty days after the Last Supper that his disciples received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
List two or three of Peter’s teachings on this day

1. Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” God’s presence will return in the last days, and the people will prophesy of his coming.
2. Acts 2: 21 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” If we put our faith in the Lord and follow his commandments and example then we will be saved.  
3. Baptism
4. Repentance

In what ways did Peter fulfill his role as a witness of Jesus Christ?
Peter fulfilled his role as a witness of Jesus Christ by following in the saviors footsteps and teaching others the importance of repentance and the gospel.  He witnessed and received special revelation from the savior, and then passed on the revelation and the importance of baptism to the people.  He testified about the power of repentance and  baptism.
What gifts of the spirit were made manifest on the day of Pentecost?
The apostles began to speak with different tongues (different languages other-than their own known languages) according as the spirit, which they had just received, was giving them the words to speak-out. They had seen tongues as-though of fire and so they knew to speak. They spoke what their spirit was continuing to give them to speak.
Baptism and Repentance were also made manifest on this day.
How did the people respond to what occurred on this day?
Acts 2: 41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”. The people accepted the idea of repentance and baptism  and then were baptized and received the gift of the holy ghost.