WELCOME

The best advice I can give is from a talk by Elder Oaks: ”Last year a church member sent me a suggestion that someone prepare a book containing all General Authority interpretations of all verses in the scriptures. I replied that I thought this was not a good idea…. What we are seeking to accomplish… is not to magnify the standing of the prophets but to elevate the spirituality of our rank and file members. Like Moses, we declare, ‘would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!’ (Numbers 11:29). We encourage everyone to study the scriptures prayerfully and seek personal revelation to know the meaning for themselves.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Scripture Reading and Revelation”, BYU Studies Academy Meeting, January 29, 1993)

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

NT Come Follow Me-Individual 2019 Febuary 11-17


February 11–17


“Ye Must Be Born Again”

 John 2:1–11

The power of Jesus Christ can change me.
As you read about the Savior changing water into wine in John 2:1–11, what insights do you gain about the power of Christ to change you?

My Thoughts:

That’s a lot of wine! 150+ gallons!

If you think about it, this is a perfect introduction to His future ministry and the Atonement in general. Water and wine are the same basic form, a liquid. He was able to take one for, very simple and basic, yet improve on it and make it better, even, “the good wine”

 I find it interesting that even though “it wasn’t His time yet” he helped his mother. I’ve been there. I haven’t wanted to do something or thought it not the best but because Mom asked I did it.

He was able to do this miracle without having to touch anything. He simple thought it, or said it and it occurred.

Since Mary seemed to be in charge somewhat, Bible scholars have thought that the wedding could have been for one of her children. In that case Jesus is not only helping His mother but also a sibling.

As for changing me, if Christ can simply have water into wine with a thought what might He be able to do with me if I am willing to let it happen?

What others have said:

Bruce R. McConkie

Scholars generally feel that some member of the Holy Family was being married and that Mary was supervising and guiding what went on. (Mortal Messiah)

 
James E Talmage

“The noun of address, "Woman," as applied by a son to his mother may sound to our ears somewhat harsh, if not disrespectful; but its use was really an expression of opposite import.[332] To every son, the mother ought to be preeminently the woman of women; she is the one woman in the world to whom the son owes his earthly existence; and though the title "Mother" belongs to every woman who has earned the honors of maternity, yet to no child is there more than one woman whom by natural right he can address by that title of respectful acknowledgment. When, in the last dread scenes of His mortal experience, Christ hung in dying agony upon the cross, He looked, down upon the weeping Mary, His mother, and commended her to the care of the beloved apostle John, with the words: "Woman, behold thy son!"[333] Can it be thought that in this supreme moment, our Lord's concern for the mother from whom He was about to be separated by death was associated with any emotion other than that of honor, tenderness and love?[334]

 “Nevertheless, His words to Mary at the marriage feast may have conveyed a gentle reminder of her position as the mother of a Being superior to herself; even as on that earlier occasion when she had found her Boy, Jesus, in the temple, He had brought home to her the fact that her jurisdiction over Him was not supreme. The manner in which she told Him of the insufficiency of wine probably suggested an intimation that He use His more than human power, and by such means supply the need. It was not her function to direct or even to suggest the exercize of the power inherent in Him as the Son of God; such had not been inherited from her. "What have I to do with thee?" He asked; and added: "Mine hour is not yet come." Here we find no disclaimer of the ability to do what she apparently wanted Him to do, but the plain implication that He would act only when the time was right for the purpose, and that He, not she, must decide when that time had come.” Excerpt From: James E. Talmage. “Jesus the Christ.”

Sterling W. Sill
"One of the most inspiring lines in all of the scripture was spoken by the mother of Jesus at the marriage feast at Cana. She said to the servants, 'Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.' (John 2:5.) What an inspiring motto that would make for our individual lives!" (Conference Report, October 1959, Third Day-Morning Meeting 105.)

 
Bruce R. McConkie    
"[One firkin equals] about nine gallons. Thus each of the six waterpots contained between twelve and eighteen gallons of water, with the result that Jesus then created some one hundred and fifty gallons of wine-a miracle showing the wedding celebration was one of no small size." (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 1: 136.)


You may gain additional insights by considering the perspectives of the different people who were there, such as:

Mary, She must have known He could do something or she would not have asked. She did not question on the how or whys but simply told the servants to do whatever Christ said to do. She knew He qwould help her and it would get done.

The disciples, This is the first recorded miracle. They hearing the exchange must have wondered what in the world was being asked. So far He had simply been teaching doctrine (we think). As they watch the servants follow His direction and then to hear the host state it was the best wine, how fast do you think they went over and tried it themselves? Miracles help start and build testimony and this was a physical start for them I think.

Others, Same as above. What thoughts went through their minds. Think of the servants, they knew the jars had water in them and then all of a sudden it is wine! Think of the servant that drew forth and took it to the host. They must have been cringing a bit as they presented the sample. How many of these simple servants started to believe on Him due to this? Same with those guests that knew what happened.

 

How might these people have experienced the miracle?
See above 

John 3:1–21

I must be born again to enter the kingdom of God.
Some thoughts on Nicodemus:

(From Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament- Holzapfel, Huntsman, Wayment)

Nicodemus a Pharisee who as “a ruler of Jews” seems to have been a member of the Sanhedrin, appears three times in the Gospel of John. In the first and most famous incident, soon after the cleansing of the temple, Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, presumably to avoid detection by others of the Jewish leadership but perhaps on an official visit as a Pharisaic delegate of the Sanhedrin to assess Jesus’ intentions and character. Their meeting provided the setting for Jesus’ discourse on the new birth., in which Jesus affirms the need for each person to be “born from above” (John 3:3)by being born of both water and spirit.

Although Nicodemus initially seemed confused, perhaps revealing that his previous opinions of Jesus were being reshaped, Jesus stressed the source of this new life by describing himself as the example of one who “came down from heaven,” whom God sent because he “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believers in him should not perish but have everlasting life”.

Nicodemus is mentioned again when the Pharisees and chief priests seek to arrest Jesus while he is attending the Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem (John 7:45-53). Recalling that he was the same man “who came to Jesus by night” (John 7:50), John notes that Nicodemus was rebuked when he reminded the gathering that the law condemned no man without a fair trail.

Nicodemus is sometimes seen as a secret disciple of Jesus or as one who represents those who lacked sufficient faith to support him openly. However, in this third appearance in the Gospel of John at the burial of Jesus (John 19:38-42), Nicodemus who earlier had come to Jesus when it was dark, came out into the light, bringing a kingly amount of spices to assist Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body to be placed in the tomb and making his discipleship open. Significantly, this event occurred after Jesus had been lifted up on the cross, allowing Nicodemus to see the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jesus that he would be lifted up “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness” (John 3:14)

Sanhedrin
The Jewish senate and the highest native court in both civil and ecclesiastical matters. Under the presidency of the high priest it regulated the whole internal affairs of the Jewish nation. It is first definitely mentioned in the days of Antiochus the Great (223–187 B.C.), but it may date from a somewhat earlier period. No historical connection can be established between it and Moses’ council of 70 elders. It consisted of 71 members and had an aristocratic character, being drawn from the three classes of chief priests, scribes, and elders. In the time of the Lord the Pharisees had the predominating influence upon it (Acts 5:34, 40), but there were Sadducean elements (chief priests, Acts 5:17; scribes, 23:6, 9). The powers of the Sanhedrin were extensive, for the Greek and Roman masters of the Jews granted them a considerable amount of self-government. From the New Testament we gather that it was the supreme court of justice in all cases, and that it had officers of its own who arrested accused persons and carried out its sentences and decrees. Questions involving life and death were removed from its cognizance 40 years before the destruction of Jerusalem (John 18:31; the stoning of Stephen cannot be regarded as a formal execution), and the Roman authorities could remove a prisoner from its jurisdiction (as Paul was in Acts 23).

 

The extent of the legal jurisdiction of the Sanhedrin varied at different times. Herod, when he was governor of Galilee (47 B.C.), was summoned before it. At the time of the Lord its jurisdiction was restricted to Judea proper. In Galilee Christ was beyond its power (John 7:1). Its decisions were nevertheless regarded as morally binding all over the Jewish world. Thus we find it issuing letters to the synagogue of Damascus, ordering the arrest and removal to Jerusalem of the Christians of that place. Besides the supreme national Sanhedrin of Jerusalem, there were inferior local courts in all the Jewish cities. To these the name Sanhedrin (council) was given (Matt. 10:17). LDS Bible Dictionary--
 

What teachings do you find in John 3:1–21 that might have inspired Nicodemus to follow Jesus and be born again?

My Thoughts:
Jesus made sense. The spirit was telling Nicodemus that this truly was the Christ. Not only did Christ tell him the physical thing that had to happen, being baptized, which he probably understood following the letter of the law, He also taught him that His gospel was so much more.

Jesus also was able to help him understand that items of the spirit cannily be understood with the spirit. Perhaps Nicodemus had been thinking the  same things and had discussed with his fellows that the God of Israel requires more than just checking off things on the must do or not do list.

What Others have said:

Jesus' answer seems to have been given in response to an unrecorded question. We may wonder if Nicodemus first asked, "Rabbi, what must a man do in order to see the kingdom of God?" Christ responded that he must be born again, but there are two equally correct interpretations of Christ's response. The first is that one must be baptized in order to enter the celestial kingdom. The second is that one must be born again in order to recognize the kingdom of God on earth. Christ preached, 'the kingdom of God is at hand' (Mark 1:15), but there were few who saw it. "Some have a certain spiritual awakening which makes it possible for them to 'see' the kingdom of God-that is, recognize that the gospel has been restored and the true Church has been reestablished on the earth. Then, if they are 'born of the water and of the Spirit,' they are able to enter the Church; and, if they endure to the end, they can enter into their rest in God's kingdom." (Glenn L. Pearson and Reid E. Bankhead, Building Faith with the Book of Mormon [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1986], 107.)

 
Joseph Smith

"It is one thing to see the kingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We must have a change of heart to see the kingdom of God, and subscribe the articles of adoption to enter therein." (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols. 6:58)

Joseph F. Smith
"The Savior said to Nicodemus, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,' and that is true today. A man must be born from ignorance into truth, today, before he can expect to see any difference between a Latter-day Saint and another not of the faith. If he is not so born, he is more blind than the one whom Christ healed, for having eyes he sees not, and having ears, hears not.

 "Is there any difference between the baptized and the unbaptized man? All the difference in the world, I tell you, but it is only discernible through the Spirit. It is a vast difference too great for one not in possession of the Spirit to comprehend. Take two men, they may be equals in point of goodness, they may be equally moral, charitable, honest and just, but one is baptized and the other is not. There is a mighty difference between them, for one is the son of God redeemed by compliance with his laws, and the other remains in darkness." (Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith, compiled by John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939], 97.)

 Abraham O. Woodruff
"Notwithstanding the kingdom of God was established by the Redeemer Himself, His enemies could not see it because they had not been 'born again.' It was right among them, yet they were not able to perceive it. The same may be said in regard to the work which the Lord has established in this day. Notwithstanding the Church and kingdom of God is among the people, they see it not, they comprehend it not, because they have not been 'born again.' According to the words of the Savior, they cannot see the kingdom of God unless they are born again; consequently they do not recognize the fact that the Church of Christ is upon the earth, and the kingdom of God is here in embryo, because they will not receive the light which has come into the world, for they love the darkness of the world better than the light of the Lord." (Conference Report, April 1904, Overflow Meeting 97.)

Joseph Smith
"This eternal truth settles the question of all men's religion. A man may be saved, after the judgment, in the terrestrial kingdom, or in the telestial kingdom, but he can never see the celestial kingdom of God, without being born of water and the Spirit. He may receive a glory like unto the moon, (i.e. of which the light of the moon is typical), or a star, (i.e. of which the light of the stars is typical), but he can never come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, unless he becomes as a little child, and is taught by the Spirit of God." (History of the Church 1:283.)

 Brigham Young
"A man must be born again before he can see the kingdom of God; and must be born of water and of the Spirit, before he can enter therein.

"It may be asked whether any person can be saved, except those who are baptized. Yes, all the inhabitants of the earth will be saved, except those that sin against the Holy Ghost. Will they come into the presence of the Father and the Son? Not unless they are baptized for the remission of sins, and live faithfully in the observance of the words of life, all the rest of their days." (Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886], 9: 315.)

Joseph Smith
"You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half-that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 314)

Spencer W. Kimball
"He who has a testimony does not know exactly of what it is made, or where it came from. He cannot measure it. He cannot weigh it. He cannot count it. He can only feel it. That is the testimony, and it is like a breeze or the dew. We were in Upper Galilee the other day...It is a warm day. You stand perspiring in the warmth and all at once there is a little cooling wind or breeze. You feel it, a pleasant cooling sensation. You do not know from where it comes, but all at once you are cooled and refreshed and that is like the Spirit when a man is born again. 'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.' (John 3:8.) " (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982], 67.)

 
What role did your baptism (being “born of water” [John 3:5]) and confirmation (being born “of the Spirit” [John 3:5]) play in being born again?
 It was the start. Even though I don’t remember the Spirit or a mighty change, I do know because of it I was able to have that feeling and change later in my life.

I remember being interviewed by the Bishop, I remember it was a huge snow storm so all the family from down south did not get there until the next day for my confirmation.

I remember I was only 7 years old, but that was ok since I was confirmed only 8th birthday the next day. (According to the Bishop)

 What are you doing to continue this process of change?

Study, daily reflection, making the sacrament a part of my life.

John 3:16–17
Heavenly Father shows His love for me through Jesus Christ.
How have you felt the love of God through the gift of His Son?

My Thoughts:
Every day, if I truly think about it, I feel His love for me through His Son. All that I have in my life is due to Him. Any Joy I have ever felt can be traced back to Him.

What Others have said:

Jeffrey R. Holland
"I am a father, inadequate to be sure, but I cannot comprehend the burden it must have been for God in His heaven to witness the deep suffering and Crucifixion of His Beloved Son in such a manner. His every impulse and instinct must have been to stop it, to send angels to intervene-but He did not intervene. He endured what He saw because it was the only way that a saving, vicarious payment could be made for the sins of all His other children from Adam and Eve to the end of the world. I am eternally grateful for a perfect Father and His perfect Son, neither of whom shrank from the bitter cup nor forsook the rest of us who are imperfect, who fall short and stumble, who too often miss the mark." ("The Hands of the Fathers," Ensign, May 1999, 14-15)

Melvin J. Ballard
"I love to contemplate what it cost our Father in heaven to give us the gift of his Beloved Son, that worthy Son of our Father...I think as I read the story of Abraham's sacrifices of his son Isaac that our Father is trying to tell us what it cost him to give his Son as a gift to the world. You remember the story of how Abraham's son came after long years of waiting and was looked upon by his worthy sire, Abraham, as more precious than all his other possessions; yet, in the midst of his rejoicing, Abraham was told to take this only son and offer him as a sacrifice to the Lord. He responded. Can you feel what was in the heart of Abraham on that occasion? You love your son just as Abraham did; perhaps not quite so much, because of the peculiar circumstances, but what do you think was in his heart when he started away from Mother Sarah, and they bade her goodbye? What do you think was in his heart when he saw Isaac bidding farewell to his mother to take that three days' journey to the appointed place where the sacrifice was to be made? I imagine it was about all Father Abraham could do to keep from showing his great grief and sorrow at that parting, but he and his son trudged along three days toward the appointed place...They ascended the mountain, gathered the stones together, and placed the fagots upon them. Then Isaac was bound, hand and foot, kneeling upon the altar. I presume Abraham, like a true father, must have given his son his farewell kiss, his blessing, his love, and his soul must have been drawn out in that hour of agony toward his son who was to die by the hand of his own father. Every step proceeded until the cold steel was drawn, and the hand raised that was to strike the blow to let out the life's blood when the angel of the Lord said: 'It is enough.'

"Our Father in heaven went through all that and more, for in his case the hand was not stayed. He loved his Son, Jesus Christ, better than Abraham ever loved Isaac, for our Father had with him his Son, our Redeemer, in the eternal worlds, faithful and true for ages, standing in a place of trust and honor, and the Father loved him dearly, and yet he allowed this well-beloved Son to descend from his place of glory and honor, where millions did him homage, down to the earth, a condescension that is not within the power of man to conceive. He came to receive the insult, the abuse, and the crown of thorns. God heard the cry of his Son in that moment of great grief and agony, in the garden when, it is said, the pores of his body opened and drops of blood stood upon him, and he cried out: 'Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.'

"I ask you, what father and mother could stand by and listen to the cry of their children in distress, in this world, and not render aid and assistance? I have heard of mothers throwing themselves into raging streams when they could not swim a stroke to save their drowning children, rushing into burning buildings, to rescue those whom they loved.

"We cannot stand by and listen to those cries without its touching our hearts. The Lord has not given us the power to save our own. He has given us faith, and we submit to the inevitable, but he had the power to save, and he loved his Son, and he could have saved him. He might have rescued him from the insult of the crowds. He might have rescued him when the crown of thorns was placed upon his head. He might have rescued him when the Son, hanging between the two thieves, was mocked with, 'Save thyself, and come down from the cross. He saved others; himself he cannot save.' He listened to all this. He saw that Son condemned; he saw him drag the cross through the streets of Jerusalem and faint under its load. He saw that Son finally upon Calvary; he saw his body stretched out upon the wooden cross; he saw the cruel nails driven through hands and feet, and the blows that broke the skin, tore the flesh, and let out the life's blood of his Son. He looked upon that.

"In the case of our Father, the knife was not stayed, but it fell, and the life's blood of his Beloved Son went out. His Father looked on with great grief and agony over his Beloved Son, until there seems to have come a moment when even our Savior cried out in despair: 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'

"In that hour I think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying struggles until even he could not endure it any longer; and, like the mother who bids farewell to her dying child, has to be taken out of the room, so as not to look upon the last struggles, so he bowed his head, and hid in some part of his universe, his great heart almost breaking for the love that he had for his Son. Oh, in that moment when he might have saved his Son. I thank him and praise him that he did not fail us, for he had not only the love of his Son in mind, but he also had love for us. I rejoice that he did not interfere, and that his love for us made it possible for him to endure to look upon the sufferings of his Son and give him finally to us, our Savior and our Redeemer. Without him, without his sacrifice, we would have remained, and we would never have come glorified into his presence. And so this is what it cost, in part, for our Father in Heaven to give the gift of his Son unto men." (Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1949], 151-155.)

 

What hymns help you feel this love?

I know that my Redeemer lives, I am a Child of God, Most of the Sacrament songs, Let me in by the Osmonds (it is really about repenting not a old girlfriend, according to a fireside I heard.)

What could you do to make the sacrament more meaningful?

My Thoughts:
The sacrament is my one on one time with the Spirit. I need to start thinking about it way before I am sitting in Church singing the hymn.

It should be part of my daily review when I pray in the morning and report back each night.
What Others have said:

The sacrament and the partaking of these emblems is the very heart of our Sabbath worship. It includes a renewal of covenants with God. It carries with it a promise of His Holy Spirit to be with us. As we partake of the sacrament we can all stand on a level plane before the Lord in that magnificent and beautiful and simple ordinance of the gospel which carries with it such tremendous meaning.
Gordon B Hinckley “Stand a Little Taller

 
No man goes away from this Church and becomes an apostate in a week, nor in a month. It is a slow process. The one thing that would make for the safety of every man and woman would be to appear at the sacrament table every Sabbath day. We would not get very far away in one week—not so far that, by the process of self-investigation, we could not rectify the wrongs we may have done. If we should refrain from partaking of the sacrament, condemned by ourselves as unworthy to receive these emblems, we could not endure that long, and we would soon, I am sure, have the spirit of repentance. The road to the sacrament table is the path of safety for the Latter- Day Saint.
 Melvin J Ballard Improvement Era Oct 1919

 

It is at the sacrament meeting, when you see the emblems of the broken body and the spilled blood being prepared, that is the time for every man and woman to go into secret conference with himself of herself and discover, whether or not they are in sin and transgression, whether they have yielded to the tempter, whether there are things they need to repent of, and if so, to cleanse themselves and purify their souls
Melvin J. Ballard Yesterday, Today, and Forever pg 48

 
“If we are to be His disciples and to be committed members of His Church, we must remember and reverence the sacrament. It allows each of us to express with broken hearts and contrite spirits our willingness to follow the Savior, to repent, and to become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook  “We Follow Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2010, 84

 
The sacrament and the partaking of these emblems is the very heart of our Sabbath worship. It includes a renewal of covenants with God. It carries with it a promise of His Holy Spirit to be with us. As we partake of the sacrament we can all stand on a level plane before the Lord in that magnificent and beautiful and simple ordinance of the gospel which carries with it such tremendous meaning.
Gordon B Hinckley “Stand a Little Taller”

Since the administration of President Heber J. Grant, the First Presidency has emphasized the precaution through the General Handbook of Instructions to avoid and set form, or uniformity in procedures. These instructions apply to the dress of Aaronic Priesthood youth who pass the sacrament. Boys should be neat and clean, but they are not required to all dress alike. It also refers to any practice, such as Aaronic Priesthood young men walking with one arm behind their back, or standing with arms folded, or priests raising their arm to the square when blessing the sacrament.
(David B. Haight, "Understanding the Lord’s Sacrament," Tambuli, Mar. 1989, 9)

"It was instituted by the Savior in the place of the law of sacrifice which was given to Adam, and which continued with his children down to the days of Christ, but which was fulfilled in his death, he being the great sacrifice for sin, of which the sacrifices enjoined in the law given to Adam were a similitude" (Joseph F. Smith Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 202).

With the partaking of the sacrament, we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and obligate ourselves to keep his commandments by covenant. This makes the partaking of the sacrament a renewal of the covenants we made at the time of baptism into the Church. Thus, by the sacrament, we declare repeatedly, ordinarily weekly, our allegiance to the plan of salvation and its obligations and blessings. (L. Tom Perry, "Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper," Ensign, May 1996, 53)

"Its observance is as necessary to our salvation as any other of the ordinances and commandments that have been instituted in order that … people may be sanctified" (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 171).

My brethren and sisters, do we always stop to think, on that sacred Sabbath day when we meet together to partake of the sacrament, that we witness, promise, obligate ourselves, in the presence of one another, and in the presence of God, that we will do certain things? Note them.
"The first: We are willing to take upon ourselves the name of the Son. In so doing we choose him as our leader and our ideal; and he is the one perfect character in all the world.
"Second: That we will always remember him. Not just on Sunday, but on Monday [and the other days of the week], in our daily acts, in our self-control. …
"The third: We promise to ‘… keep his commandments which he has given …’—tithing, fast offerings, the Word of Wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, love. The obligation of a member of the Church of Jesus Christ is great, but it is as glorious as it is great, because obedience to these principles gives life, eternal life. …
"Order, reverence, attention to divine promises—the promise to enter into the fold of Christ, to cherish virtues mentioned in the gospel of Christ, to keep them ever in mind, to love the Lord wholeheartedly, and to labor, even at the sacrifice of self, for the brotherhood of man—these and all kindred virtues are associated with the partaking of the sacrament. It is good to meet together and especially to renew our covenants with God in that holy sacrament" (David O McKay Gospel Ideals [1954], 146-47).


John 4:24

Is God a spirit?

My Thoughts:

 

 

What Others have said:

Gordon B. Hinckley

"I remember the occasion of more than 50 years ago when, as a missionary, I was speaking in an open-air meeting in Hyde Park, London. As I was presenting my message, a heckler interrupted to say, 'Why don't you stay with the doctrine of the Bible which says in John [4:24], God is a Spirit?'

"I opened my Bible to the verse he had quoted and read to him the entire verse: 'God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.'

"I said, 'Of course God is a spirit, and so are you, in the combination of spirit and body that makes of you a living being, and so am I.'

"Each of us is a dual being of spiritual entity and physical entity. All know of the reality of death when the body dies, and each of us also knows that the spirit lives on as an individual entity and that at some time, under the divine plan made possible by the sacrifice of the Son of God, there will be a reunion of spirit and body. Jesus' declaration that God is a spirit no more denies that he has a body than does the statement that I am a spirit while also having a body.

"I do not equate my body with His in its refinement, in its capacity, in its beauty and radiance. His is eternal. Mine is mortal. But that only increases my reverence for Him. I worship Him 'in spirit and in truth.' I look to Him as my strength. I pray to Him for wisdom beyond my own. I seek to love Him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. His wisdom is greater than the wisdom of all men. His power is greater than the power of nature, for He is the Creator Omnipotent. His love is greater than the love of any other, for His love encompasses all of His children, and it is His work and His glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His sons and daughters of all generations (see Moses 1:39)." ("The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," Ensign, Mar. 1998, 4)

 

Eldred G. Smith

"'The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's, the Son also.' (D&C 130:22.)

"Now John says, 'God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' (John 4:24.)

"Man is also a spirit clothed with flesh and bones, so, too, is God. Again the Lord has said in modern revelation 'For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fullness of joy.' (D&C 93:33.) Birth is the uniting of this spirit and elements of physical bodies. Death is the separation. The resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit and the physical body, which the Lord says, 'inseparably connected, receive a fullness of joy.' (Conference Report, October 1961, Afternoon Meeting 27.)

 

John 4:7–26

Christ offers me His living water.

What might Jesus have meant when He told the Samaritan woman that whoever drinks the water He offers will never thirst?

My Thoughts:

Water is everything to everybody. We cannot survive without it. Once we have the spirit truly inour lives and it is a part of us, we are never the same. We never need to wonder or worry about how our life will go since we have trust and faith in the one who guides us.

What Others have said

Spencer J. Condie
"When Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, the Savior said that if she knew who He was, she would have asked a drink of Him who would be able to give her living water which would be 'a well of water springing up into everlasting life' (John 4:5-14).
"In his vision of the Lord's second coming Zechariah foresaw that the Savior shall stand upon the Mount of Olives and 'living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea' (Zech. 14:8). Of this same event, Ezekiel prophesied that these living waters would 'go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters [of the Dead Sea] shall be healed. ... And every thing shall live whither the river cometh.' (Ezek. 47:8-9.)

"These dual prophecies are profound not only in their geographical and geological implications but also because of their metaphorical promise. Of all the places on earth, the Dead Sea is one of the most inhospitable to life. Even burning deserts of sand provide a home for hardy insects and reptiles and for certain plants with extremely deep roots. Concrete sidewalks and asphalt tennis courts sometimes crack, allowing a brave weed or two to survive above the surface. But the Dead Sea, because of its extreme salinity, harbors no life of any kind.
"Thus, using the example of the Dead Sea, the Lord's prophets have chosen the worst possible case to illustrate the power of the living waters to heal that which is dead. The living waters of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His atonement can heal dead marriages, dead relationships between parents and children, dead friendships between business partners and neighbors, and spiritual death from years of alienation from the Church. His promise is sure: 'Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me' (D&C 19:23D&C 19:23)." (Your Agency, Handle with Care [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], 102-103.)

D. Kelly Ogden
"Just as he intimated at the foot of Mount Hermon that he was the Rock of Salvation, and at Capernaum where mills were produced that he was the Bread of Life, so now at Jacob's Well he described himself as the Living Water, a source from which any person could draw spiritual water and quench spiritual thirst: 'The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.' (John 4:14.)" (D. Kelly Ogden, Where Jesus Walked: The Land and Culture of New Testament Times [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991], 29.)

Bruce R. McConkie
"How graphically Jesus uses the simple truths of everyday life to teach the eternal spiritual realities of his gospel! For the thirsty and choking traveler in a desert wilderness to find water, is to find life, to find an escape from agonizing death; similarly, the weary pilgrim traveling through the wilderness of mortality saves himself eternally by drinking from the wells of living water found in the gospel.

"Living water is the words of eternal life, the message of salvation, the truths about God and his kingdom; it is the doctrines of the gospel. Those who thirst are invited to come unto Christ and drink. Where there are prophets of God, there will be found rivers of living water, wells filled with eternal truths, springs bubbling forth their life-giving draughts that save from spiritual death." (Commentary 1:151-52.)
The scriptures teach us what the living water represents (see 1 Ne. 11:25, Jn. 7:37-39, and DC 63:23). They teach that because of God's great love for his obedient and faithful children, he has given them the Spirit whereby they may know 'the mysteries of the kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life' (DC 63:23). Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness can only be filled by the Spirit and the truths taught by the Spirit (3 Ne. 12:6).
"We need not thirst, He tells us. In this world of disappointment and pain, where even our best hopes fail us and our mouths are dry and our tongues are swollen, He tells us that He has a gift for us-freely given without price. It is a spring of water that will never run dry. It is His love and protection that is constant. It is His promise of an abundant life...That same promise is given to all of us-to those of us who wander in the desert with parched souls of sin, sorrow, disappointment, and despair-thirsting after truth and peace and hope. His gift to us is the promise of everlasting water-His love, His gift, His forgiveness, His spirit. That is a wonderful promise to all of us in this life who travel so often in the desert." (Lloyd D. Newell, May Peace Be with You [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1994], 100.)

 

How is the gospel like living water?

My Thoughts:

 

 

What Others have said:

 Kathleen H. Hughes

As I have met with many women this last year—and their priesthood leaders—I have heard numerous accounts of Christ’s healing power. There is so much suffering in mortality, so many causes for pain. I know people who have sent loved ones into harm’s way and who daily pray for their safety in battle. I talk to parents who are frightened for their children, aware of the temptations they face. I have dear friends who are suffering from the ravaging effects of chemotherapy. I know single parents, abandoned by spouses, who are rearing children alone. I have dealt myself with the debilitating effects of depression. But I have learned from my own experience, and I learn from those I meet, that we are never left to our own resources. We are never abandoned. A wellspring of goodness, of strength and confidence is within us, and when we listen with a feeling of trust, we are raised up. We are healed. We not only survive, but we love life. We laugh; we enjoy; we go forward with faith.
The living water also nourishes. I testify to you that just as He promises, Christ comes to all who are heavy laden; He gives us rest (see Matt. 11:28). He sustains us when we are weary. A wellspring is a flowing well, offering continual refreshment—if we drink of it. Pride can destroy its effects, as can mere inattention. But those who drink deeply not only become whole themselves, but they become a fountain to others, as one spirit nurtures and feeds another. (Blessed by Living Water-Kathleen H. Hughes
First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency April Conference 2003)

 

Joseph B. Wirthlin
"These latter days are a time of great spiritual thirst. Many in the world are searching, often intensely, for a source of refreshment that will quench their yearning for meaning and direction in their lives. They crave a cool, satisfying drink of insight and knowledge that will soothe their parched souls. Their spirits cry out for life-sustaining experiences of peace and calm to nourish and enliven their withering hearts.

"Indeed, 'there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.' (DC 123:12) Let us work with all our heart, might, mind, and strength to show our thirsty brothers and sisters where they may find the living water of the gospel, that they may come to drink of the water that springs 'up unto everlasting life.'

"The Lord provides the living water that can quench the burning thirst of those whose lives are parched by a drought of truth. He expects us to supply to them the fulness of the gospel by giving them the scriptures and the words of the prophets and to bear personal testimony as to the truth of the restored gospel to alleviate their thirst. When they drink from the cup of gospel knowledge, their thirst is satisfied as they come to understand our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness."

As at Jacob’s well, so today the Lord Jesus Christ is the only source of living water. It will quench the thirst of those suffering from the drought of divine truth that so afflicts the world. The words of the Lord to ancient Israel spoken by the prophet Jeremiah describe the condition of many of God’s children in our own day: “My people … have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out … broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”15 Too many of our Heavenly Father’s children spend their precious lives carving out broken cisterns of worldly gain that cannot hold the living water that satisfies fully their natural thirst for everlasting truth. (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Living Water to Quench Spiritual Thirst," Ensign, May 1995, 19)

James E. Faust
"May I suggest five beginning, essential measures that will greatly clear the channel for a daily flow of 'living water' from the very source of the spring (see John 4:7-15).

"First, a daily communion involving prayer. A fervent, sincere prayer is a two-way communication that will do much to bring the Spirit flowing like healing water to help with the trials, hardships, aches, and pains we all face. What is the quality of our secret prayers? As we pray, we should think of our Heavenly Father as being close by; full of knowledge, understanding, love, and compassion; the essence of power; and having great expectations of each of us.

"Second, a daily selfless service to another. The followers of the divine Christ have to be weighed on the scales of what their actions are rather than on solemn professions of belief. The true measure is found in Matthew: 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these...ye have done it unto me' (Matt. 25:40). A wise man observed, 'The man who lives by himself and for himself is apt to be corrupted by the company he keeps' (Charles Henry Parkhurst, quoted in The International Dictionary of Thoughts [1969], 659).

"Third, a daily striving for an increased obedience and perfection in our lives. 'What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am,' said the Savior (3 Ne. 27:27). Because of the perfect Atonement of Jesus, we may be made perfect (see D&C 76:69).

 

"Fourth, a daily acknowledgment of His divinity. To have a daily, personal relationship with the Master, we must be His disciples. 'For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?' (Mosiah 5:13).

"Fifth, a daily study of the scriptures. President Spencer W. Kimball said: 'I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns' (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 135)." ("That We Might Know Thee," Ensign, Jan. 1999, 3-4)

 

Christ’s gospel is the living water that nourishes our soul.

What are you doing to “worship the Father in spirit and in truth”?
 Changing who I am and what I think. Try to live up to what is expected of me by Father and as a father.

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening


What items in your home can you use to teach spiritual truths?
Everyday items seem to help make things real. Jesus used stories and things that His listeners could relate to and understand easily. Same goes for us as we teach


What does your family need to keep out of your home so it will be a sacred place?
So much eveil is accepted in the world. We and our children are surrounded by it wherever we go.
School, work, even Church. The home is to be a place of safety, peace and refuge. We need to make sure evil has no place or way into our homes.

 What will you do to keep those things out?
What we watch on TV, what we listen to, what we discuss and talk about, what we view in private and as a family affects our home and the spirit there. In turn in effect everyone who comes into our home.

We must be ever watchful and diligent in guarding our home.
John 3:1–6

Why is rebirth a good metaphor for the change required of us before we can enter the kingdom of God? How have we experienced the process of spiritual rebirth?
We need to change. Like water becoming wine. We need to improve our basic self into something grand and better.

 

How has Christ helped us feel God’s love in our lives?
John 4:5–15

What was the Savior teaching us when He compared His gospel to living water?
Water is vital for all life. Every culture understands this example. We need it for more than just drinking, without water nothing will survive.

 

Why do we need to drink water every day?
It is a simple piece of life. Just as the spirit and having it in our lives is a simple basic piece for spiritual saftey

 
Why might Jesus Christ have compared His gospel to “a well of water springing up into everlasting life”?
Just like our bodies can not function very long or well without Water, our spirits cannot survive or work to their full potential without the spirit.

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