NT Come Follow Me- Individual-Feb 25- Mar 3

February 25–March 3

Matthew 6–7

“He Taught Them as One Having Authority”

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Matthew 6–7

Quick note on Matt compared to Luke account:

The Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain

The very real similarities between the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) and the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49) have led many students of the New Testament to see these two magnificent sermons as variants of one another. And because the Risen Christ repeats the Sermon on the Mount almost verbatim in 3 Nephi 12–14, we tend to prefer this sermon over the Sermon on the Plain when studying the teachings of Jesus. And well we should because the Sermon on the Mount contains a much fuller body of Jesus’ instructions.

This said, I suggest that we consider two possibilities. First, Jesus gave the two sermons on different occasions and, second, Jesus’ rehearsal of the Sermon on the Plain was partially to introduce the Twelve to his growing number of followers.

One main reason for seeing the two sermons as separate events has to do with their settings. According to Matthew, when “seeing the multitudes, [Jesus] went up into a mountain.” In our minds’ eye, we can readily imagine Jesus climbing the broad hillside that rises above the north shore of the Sea of Galilee and, after “he was set, his disciples came unto him” (Matthew 5:1). Luke describes a completely different setting. He relates that, after Jesus chooses the Twelve following all night in prayer on “a mountain” (Luke 6:12), “he came down with them [the Twelve], and stood in the plain” (Luke 6:17). In the hills that ring the Sea of Galilee on the east, north, and west sides, a single area stands out as an extensive level area that matches Luke’s sketch.

Taken from: Based on The Testimony of Luke by S. Kent Brown, an e-volume in the BYU New Testament Commentary Series

James E. Talmage

"The Sermon on the Mount has stood through all the years since its delivery without another to be compared with it. No mortal man has ever since preached a discourse of its kind. The spirit of the address is throughout that of sincerity and action, as opposed to empty profession and neglect...Such doctrines as these astonished the people. For His distinctive teachings the Preacher had cited no authority but His own." (Jesus the Christ, 229-30)

Matthew 6:1–4

My Thoughts.

There is a reason our “offerings” are done privately. Only ourselves, the Bishop and a counselor and clerk know what we give. Now days with the online offerings even the counselors and clerk don’t see what we give.

Alms means more than money, it also means our time and what we do for our callings and service to others.

What others have said:

James E. Talmage

"The tossing of alms to a beggar, the pouring of offerings into the temple treasure chests, to be seen of men, and similar displays of affected liberality, were fashionable among certain classes in the time of Christ; and the same Spirit is manifest today. Some there be now who cause a trumpet to be sounded, through the columns of the press perchance, or by other means of publicity, to call attention to their giving, that they may have glory of men -- to win political favor, to increase their trade or influence, to get what in their estimation is worth more than that from which they part. With logical incisiveness the Master demonstrated that such givers have their reward. They have received what they bid for; what more can such men demand or consistently expect?" (Jesus the Christ, p. 237)

Spencer W. Kimball

"I am grateful that all through this great Church there are many people who live unselfishly, who pray in the quiet of their homes, who are far more interested in paying their tithes of which no one knows except their bishop, than they are to pay large contributions which may be heralded far and wide. I am grateful that there are numerous people in this Church who go quietly week after week to attend their meetings; worship the Lord in their assemblies; bear testimony in their fast meetings; serve faithfully as ward teachers, stake missionaries, or in the auxiliaries or priesthood quorums without glamour, without praise, without public notice.

"God bless us, brothers and sisters, that we may 'seek first the kingdom,' that we may forget all else, and that we may project ourselves out of ourselves into the great world of service to our fellow men, realizing that after all, the two great commandments which the Lord gave to us did this very thing...

"All of this is service to others-love of others, not love of nor service to ourselves. May the Lord bless us that we may be unselfish in this kingdom, give of ourselves generously that we may live by the spirit rather than by the letter..." (Conference Report, October 1951, Afternoon Meeting 90.)

I can draw closer to God through humble, sincere prayer.

My thoughts:

Prayer is a very tangible thing. It can change daily. I know when I pray about items or problems at work they seems to go better. I know I prayed very hard when my wife had cancer and went through chemo etc.

Prayer is the best way to draw closer to God and forget myself, but I need to work on it daily. It is very easy, at least for me, to simple forget or fall into bad habits.

The key word here is sincere. Prayer is a very personal thing even when offering it in public. We have all herd those  prayers that are sincere and strike at our very soul. They are not flowery or language that we remember, but they brought a feeling that touched our spirit. Some of the most spirit filled prayers I have heard come from the most humble of people. We need to make sure our heart is behind what we say. Then God can help use through revelation and we can truly communicate through prayer with the All Mighty.

What others have said:

Gordon B Hinckley

The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries-we place our order and hang up. We need to meditate, contemplate, think of what we are praying about and for and then speak to the Lord as one man speaketh to another. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18) that is the invitation. Believe in the power of prayer-it is real, it is wonderful, it is tremendous. “Stand a Little Taller”

Richard G Scott

You communicate with God through sincere prayer. He answers you through the Spirit by impressions that come to your mind and heart. How can you learn to pray properly? By speaking openly to a trusted Father you love. “Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy.”

Gordon B Hinckley 

We get on our knees and we ask the Lord o help us live in obedience to His commandments. We get on our feet and resolve to be better people than we were when we knelt down. Our beliefs will govern our actions. God help us to be those who are not faithless, but believing. “Stand a Little Taller”

Henry B Eyring 

If you have had trouble getting answers to your prayers, try asking today, “What is there that you would have me do?” That prayer will be answered if you are sincere and if you listen like a little child, with real intent to act. “To Draw Closer To God.”

M Russell Ballard  

Let me offer a further word of caution. I often hear people say, “I told the Lord this” or “I told the Lord that”. Be careful not to “tell” Him; rather, humbly seek and ask your Heavenly Father for guidance and direction…After pouring out our hearts in sincere prayer; we may need to listen for His response more often than we do. Prayer should express yearning and should be filled with gratitude. 

“Yesterday, Today, and Forever”pg 35

Virginia H Pearce 

The miracle of prayer doesn’t reside in the ability to manipulate situations and events, but in the miracle of creating a relationship with God. Think about that carefully, would you? What does it do for you to have an assurance that the Lord is with you?  A Year of Powerful Prayer, 186-187

Jeffery R Holland, 

God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe. “Broken Things to Mend, 85”

Russell M Nelson

Jesus taught us how. We pray to our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is the “true order of prayer,” in contrast to “vain repetitions” or recitations given to “be seen of men.” 

Jesus revealed that we pray to a wise Father who knows what things we have need of, before we ask Him.Mormon taught his son, Moroni, that we should pray “with all the energy of heart.” Nephi exclaimed, “I pray continually for [my people] by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, … and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.”

The sweet power of prayer can be intensified by fasting, on occasion, when appropriate to a particular need.

Prayers can be offered even in silence. One can think a prayer, especially when words would interfere. We often kneel to pray; we may stand or be seated. Physical position is less important than is spiritual submission to God.

We close our prayer “in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” When we hear another’s prayer, we audibly add our “amen,” meaning, “That is my prayer, too.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Brothers and sisters, the special language of prayer is much more than an artifact of the translation of the scriptures into English. Its use serves an important, current purpose. We know this because of modern revelations and because of the teachings and examples of modern prophets. The way we pray is important. The Language of Prayer, Ensign, May 1993,

Dalin H Oaks

We must not only do what is right.. We must act for the right reasons. The modern term is good motive. The scriptures often signify this apporiate mental attitude with the words, full purpose of heart or real intent.

The scriptures make clear that God understands our motive and will judge our actions accordingly. If we do not act for the right reasons, our acts will not be counted for righteousness…Just as it is the spirit that identifies and gives life to the ministry, so it is the motive that gives life and legitimacy to the acts of the believer…

Priestcraft is the sin committed by the combination of a good act-such as preaching or teaching the gospel-and a bad motive. The act may be good and visible, but the sin is in motive. On earth, the wrong motive may be known only to the actor, but in heaven it is always known to God. “Pure in Heart”

What teachings in Matthew 6–7 inspire you to improve how you pray? 

My thoughts:

Be thankful

Be sincere

Think of others

Get up and work at being better

What others have said:

Charles W. Penrose

"Now, prayer is not acceptable for its rhetoric. It is that which comes from the heart, the sincere sentiment, the secret feeling, which ascends to our Father and which He, who sees in secret, will reward openly. It is not a multitude of words and repetitions that is pleasing to the Lord, but the earnest desire of a humble heart. And this will be answered, no matter how broken or ungrammatical the language may be. On the other hand, no matter how flowery the language of the petition may be, if it does not convey the feelings of the heart, it is not true prayer." (Collected Discourses 1886-1898, ed. by Brian Stuy, vol. 2, Charles W. Penrose, March 22, 1891)

Vaugh J. Featherstone

"Now, the Lord taught us to pray in secret. What happens to us when we pray in secret? First, our faith is put to the test. How foolish people would feel who pray alone and really do not believe in God. We can pray in public and people might think we believe, but praying alone takes faith. When we pray alone, there is no one to impress with our command of the language, with our beautiful phrases or eloquence. We simply talk with a loving, interested Father about what is troubling us most. We take problems that no one else, not another living soul, can help us with. We become like little children, feeling a dependence and need for someone wiser and with power and influence. We do not have to worry about embarrassment if our prayers are not answered the way we think they should be, because only we and God know for what we pray. When tears come, there is no embarrassment. We can be totally honest, knowing that we cannot lie to or deceive the Spirit or God. He knows us for our real worth. He knows who and what we really are, not what we seem to be. When we have personal problems or struggles, we can pray and know that these things are kept totally confidential. We can discuss our weaknesses, our sins, our frustrations, our needs, and know that He will listen and respond." (The Incomparable Christ: Our Master and Model, 60 - 61.)

Matthew 6:9

When I pray, I should treat Heavenly Father’s name with reverence.

My thoughts:

I often have said that God is like a friend and should be easier to talk to. I have since decided that is not the case all the time. God the Father is GOD. He is so far above me and I am not even worthy to kneel before Him yet he wants me to.

He is approachable yet I feel He deserves the utmost respect.

This is a hard one at times. I know and trust that Father knows what is best for me but times happen that I hope it will be easy. No one wants to lose a family member or a job or be called to have to endure some trial. But there is a peace that accompanies this action when you are truly converted and in tune. I believe one of the main reasons for counseling with he Lord is to get our ideas and attitude in line with His.

What others have said

Dallin H Oaks

Brothers and sisters, the special language of prayer is much more than an artifact of the translation of the scriptures into English. Its use serves an important, current purpose. We know this because of modern revelations and because of the teachings and examples of modern prophets. The way we pray is important.
Dallin H. Oaks, "The Language of Prayer," Ensign, May 1993, 

This link is great. From a face to face with Elder Holland and Pres Eyring

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/face-to-face/eyring-holland?lang=eng

Matthew 6:10

We can draw closer to God through prayer.

My Thoughts:

You can’t be close to any one if you never talk to them. Even if you think you know them without conversing you are lost.

Prayer is the same thing. I truly believe we really don’t pray to convince God to do something(although there is scripture argument to say we can) but to more get our wants and desires in line with what He has planned for us.

What others have said:

Francis M. Lyman

"What a splendid condition would obtain among the Latter-day Saints today, what an improvement there would be among us, if we were to do the will of our Father as it is in heaven! It is possible for us to do the will of our Father. We know what His will is, and we beseech our Father that we may do His will as His will is done in heaven; and when we pray with faith we will be enabled to live up to that prayer and that petition, and this should be the endeavor of every member of this Church. Our thoughts should be brought to that point upon every occasion when we approach the Lord, that his will in us may be done as it is done in heaven." (Collected Discourses 1886-1898, ed. by Brian Stuy, vol. 2, Francis M. Lyman, Oct. 6, 1895)

David O. McKay

Why pray for the Kingdom of God to come unless you have in your heart a desire and a willingness to aid in its establishment? Praying for His will to be done and then not trying to live it, gives you a negative answer at once. You would not grant something to a child who showed that attitude towards a request he is making of you. If we pray for the success of some cause or enterprise, manifestly we are in sympathy with it. It is the height of disloyalty to pray for God's will to be done, and then fail to conform our lives to that will. (Pathways to Happiness [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1957], 226.)

Gordon B Hinckley

Teach children how to pray concerning their own needs and righteous desires. Let prayer, night and morning, as a family and as individuals, become a practice in which children grow while yet young. There will distill into their hearts a natural inclination in times of distress and extremity to turn to God as their Father and friend.

Gordon B Hinckley “Stand a Little Taller”

Gordon B Hinckley

The marvelous thing about prayer is that it is personal, it’s individual, it’s something that no one else gets into, in terms of your speaking with your Father in Heaven in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be prayerful. Ask the Lord to forgive your sins. Ask the Lord for help. Ask the Lord to bless you. Ask the Lord to help you realize your righteous ambitions…Ask the Lord for all of the important things that mean so much to you in your lives. He stands ready to help. Don’t forget it.

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Teaching of Gordon B. Hinckley”

John Taylor

“Do you have prayers in your family? …

“And when you do, do you go through the operation like the guiding of a piece of machinery, or do you bow in meekness and with a sincere desire to seek the blessing of God upon you and your household? That is the way that we ought to do, and cultivate a spirit of devotion and trust in God, dedicating ourselves to him, and seeking his blessings.” (Journal of Discourses, 21:118.)

Matthew 6:7

What does it mean to use “vain repetitions” in prayer?

My Thoughts:

This is a hard one. I think it all comes down to what your intent and feeling is. For years I always prayed for the missionaries out serving. But when my own son was serving the same words had more meaning. I really meant them deeply.

We are trained from a young age on what to say but it is how we say it in our hearts that matters.

“Use not vain repetitions” is the King James translation of Matthew 6:7. Other translations say, “Do not use meaningless repetition” (NASB), “Do not heap up empty phrases” (ESV), or “Do not keep on babbling” (NIV)Matthew 6:9–13

What others have said:

Ezra Taft Benson

"Our public prayers need not be everlasting to be immortal. We are advised not to multiply many words (3 Nephi 19:24) and to avoid vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7). An invocation should set the spiritual tone of the meeting, and the benediction should leave the people on a high spiritual plane, because they have been present when one has talked with God. It is the feeling rather than the length which determines a good public prayer." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 427.)

Matthew 6:9–13

What others have said:

Bruce R. McConkie

"How glorious it is to address such a holy and exalted person by the greatest of all titles, Father, and to be privileged to have audience with him on our own invitation, anytime we pray in faith with all the strength and energy of our souls!" (The Mortal Messiah, Book 2, p. 151)

James E. Talmage

"The first part of this petition has occasioned comment and question. We are not to understand that God would ever lead a man into temptation except, perhaps, by way of wise permission, to test and prove him, thereby affording him opportunity of overcoming and so of gaining spiritual strength ...The intent of the supplication appears to be that we be preserved from temptation beyond our weak powers to withstand; that we be not abandoned to temptation without the divine support that shall be as full a measure of protection as our exercise of choice will allow.

"How inconsistent then to go, as many do, into the places where the temptations to which we are most susceptible are strongest; for the man beset with a passion for strong drink to so pray and then resort to the dramshop; for the man whose desires are lustful to voice such a prayer and then go where lust is kindled; for the dishonest man, though he say the prayer, to then place himself where he knows the opportunity to steal will be found! Can such souls as these be other than hypocrites in asking God to deliver them from the evils they have sought? Temptation will fall in our way without our seeking, and evil will present itself even when we desire most to do right; for deliverance from such we may pray with righteous expectation and assurance." (Jesus the Christ, p. 225)

Jeffrey R. Holland

"Life is too short to be spent nursing animosities or in keeping a box score of offenses against us...We don't want God to remember our sins, so there is something fundamentally wrong in our relentlessly trying to remember those of others. When we have been hurt, undoubtedly God takes into account what wrongs were done to us and what provocations there are for our resentments, but clearly the more provocation there is and the more excuse we can find for our hurt, all the more reason for us to forgive and be delivered from the destructive hell of such poisonous venom and anger. It is one of those ironies of godhood that in order to find peace, the offended as well as the offender must engage the principle of forgiveness." (Ensign, Nov. 1996, p. 83 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 423)

Gordon B. Hinckley

"If you concentrate on the work of the Lord, if you give it everything you have, your whole body shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you. Gone will be the darkness of sin. Gone will be the darkness of laziness. Gone will be all of these negative things. That's the word of the Lord to you and to me." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, "Missionary Service, Full-time")Matthew 7:1–5

Matthew 7:21–23

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening

Matthew 6:5–13

What can we learn about prayer from the way the Savior prayed?

My Thoughts:

Every-time the Savior has prayed in the scriptures and it has been recorded I am struck by the simpleness of the prayer. He did not use grand, sweeping monologues. He spoke from His heart. We should do the same.

What others have said:

Hugh Nibley

"The Lord's Prayer is more than just a way of getting through life, a code of morals or a pattern of behavior. It is an appeal to a Father we have known before and hope to dwell with hereafter. It asks for help in carrying out the first and greatest commandment. In this very short prayer, God, man as the child of God, and fellowman are all put in their proper relationship, which is the closest possible family association, approaching identity. The Tempter and his methods are introduced without which the statement of the Gospel plan would be incomplete; for the prayer by its very nature is an appeal from those in distress who are supplicating for something much better than what

they have. "What we want is to dwell in the Father's Kingdom under the sole dominion of his divine will by his power and in his glory forever and ever. Jesus proceeds to explain the relationship to those to whom he imparts the prayer: The Father will deal with you exactly as you deal with other humans; he will even withhold his kindness from you if you withhold it from them. But as far as credit for what you do, you are making no deals with men; you are not out to impress them or make points with them. . . . Any consideration of reward is wholly between you and your Heavenly Father; and any credit you are able to get from man, seeking it deliberately by various means, you will lose with him." (Of All Things: Classic Quotations from Hugh Nibley, 2nd ed., edited by Gary P. Gillum [FARMS], 180.) 

How can we use His prayer as a model to improve our personal and family prayers? 

My Thoughts:

Practice practice practice! Children learn best when observing and then doing. 

Great resources at LDS.org

https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-8-praying-to-our-heavenly-father?lang=engMatthew 6:33

What does it mean to “seek … first the kingdom of God”? 

David O. McKay

Why pray for the Kingdom of God to come unless you have in your heart a desire and a willingness to aid in its establishment? Praying for His will to be done and then not trying to live it, gives you a negative answer at once. You would not grant something to a child who showed that attitude towards a request he is making of you. If we pray for the success of some cause or enterprise, manifestly we are in sympathy with it. It is the height of disloyalty to pray for God's will to be done, and then fail to conform our lives to that will. (Pathways to Happiness [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1957], 226.)

Russell M Nelson

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.Conference April 2018

Russell M Nelson

"Praying helps us to face trials in life.  Prayer centers our attitudes precisely.  With that focus, we do not wander to the right or left through land mined with traps of temptation.  Disciples do not flirt with danger at the jagged edge of disaster. Russell M. Nelson, "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods," General Conference April 1996;  Matthew 7:1–5

My Thoughts:

What others have said:

Milton R. Hunter

"Throughout my life...I have observed that as a rule it seems as if human beings like to gossip. We like to hear unsavory things about our neighbors and talk about each other. It seems that ofttimes we get a certain degree of satisfaction or even joy out of saying bad things about other people. We thoughtlessly and sometimes maliciously judge each other. We censure our associates sometimes unjustly, many times unkindly; and most of the time we speak without having the evidence to back up what we are saying. We seem to forget that James, the brother of the Lord, warned that the unbridled tongue is 'full of deadly poison.' (James 3:8.)

"I know that even sometimes people who are faithful in the Church pass judgment and condemnation on those with whom they associate without knowing the facts. Such is displeasing to God." (Conference Report, Oct. 1960, p. 64)

Spencer W. Kimball

"What a monster is prejudice! It means pre-judging. How many of us are guilty of it? Often we think ourselves free of its destructive force, but we need only to test ourselves. Our expressions, our voice tones, our movements, our thoughts betray us." (Conference Report, Apr. 1954, p. 106)

Jeffrey R. Holland

"Remember that whatever you toss out mentally or verbally comes back to you according to God's plan of compensation: 'For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.' (Matthew 7:2.) A critical, petty, or vicious remark is simply an attack on our own self-worth. On the other hand, if our minds are constantly seeing good in others, that, too, will return, and we will truly feel good about ourselves." (On Earth As It Is In Heaven, p. 29)

Spencer W. Kimball

"The promise is made to everyone. There is no discrimination, no favored few, but the Lord has not promised to crash the door. He stands and knocks. If we do not listen, he will not sup with us nor give answer to our prayers. We must learn how to listen, grasp, interpret, understand. The Lord stands knocking. He never retreats. But he will never force himself upon us. If our distance from him increases, it is we who have moved and not the Lord. And should we ever fail to get an answer to our prayers, we must look into our lives for a reason. We have failed to do what we should do, or we have done something we should not have done. We have dulled our hearing or impaired our eyesight." (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 208)

Howard W. Hunter

"Every seeker receives; every seeker finds. Yet not every asker receives what he asks; not every seeker finds what he seeks. As an earthly father gives good gifts to his children, so God gives good things to those that ask him, ­not always what they ask, for they often ask amiss, but something far better than that which they ask for or seek. Those who would obtain exactly what they ask must confine their will to God's and ask for things which they know he is willing to give." (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 37-38)

Matthew 7:24–27

My thoughts:

What others have said:

Joseph B. Wirthlin

"What a magnificent blueprint for life at its best! These commandments and all that they encompass constitute a glorious challenge and an unassailable fortress against evil. They involve the use of time in the best and highest sense and will certainly safeguard our integrity and morality and help us be a good example. This is the kind of life building that is possible for Latter-day Saints...

"If we build our life with and for our Savior, we will build it from the best materials and with the best effort we can give. We won't skimp on study or training or diligence or obedience. We won't misrepresent what we're trying to build...We will wish to build something noble and solid, something worthy of the trust we have been given." (New Era, Mar. 1990, pp. 65-66 as taken from The Mount and the Master, by Robert E. Wells, p. 209)

NT Come Follow Me- Indvidual 2019 February 18-24

February 18–24

Matthew 5; Luke 6

“Blessed Are Ye”

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Matthew 5:1–12; Luke 6:20–26

Lasting happiness comes from living the way Jesus Christ taught.

What do you learn about obtaining lasting happiness from Matthew 5:1–12 and Luke 6:20–26?

 My Thoughts:

I find it interesting that people “came up” to Him to hear what He was going to say as opposed to when Moses received the law and “brought it down” to the people.

The group listening to Jesus was not the masses, these were His select disciples. I look at this as a Leadership training meeting for the 12 and a select few others.

Just as the Law of Moses directed people “How to behave” Christ’s new law teaches us how to think, act and become.

The beatitudes are a path on how to achieve a oneness with the spirit and keep it in our lives.

What Others have said:

Joseph F. Smith

"Read the Sermon on the Mount, and then ask yourselves whether it is beyond and above everything ever taught by man. It confirms me in the belief that Jesus was not merely a man, but that He was God manifest in the flesh. It is the doctrine of eternal life, by which if a man shall live he shall never die; by which if he shall walk he shall walk in pleasant paths; and by which if he shall abide, he shall know the truth, and the truth will make him free." (Collected Discourses 1886-1898, ed. by Brian Stuy, vol. 5, Joseph F. Smith, Oct. 18, 1896

Robert J Mathews

At the beginning of the discourse the King James Version lists nine statements, each beginning with the word blessed…The first four beatitudes and the sixth deal with how a person feels within and about himself…Two of the remaining beatitudes pertain tio the way one reacts to mistreatment by others…Whereas, as noted above, the KJV account had three distinct categories of beatitudes, the JST…introduces another: Man’s relationship to God. This is properly placed at the beginning of the list and consists of those beatitudes dealing with faith in God, repentance, baptism in water, remission of sins, and reception of the Holy Ghost…Furthermore, in JST the word and occurs at the beginning of each of the beatitudes, giving the impression they are in a series rather than simply a collection of separate unrelated statement“Behold the Messiah

Gordon B Hinckley

The meek and the humble are those who are teachable. They are willing to learn. They are willing to listen to the whisperings of the still, small voice for guidance in their lives. They place the wisdom of the Lord above their own wisdom

Stand A Little Taller.

Richard G Scott

I witness that “remission of sins [through the Atonement] bringth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love.” I testify that God, your Eternal Father, loves you. He hears your prayers and will answer them. The Redeemer loves you and will help you do the essential things that bring happiness now and forever. I am a witness of Jesus Christ. I know that He lives.

Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer, Ensign May 1997

Dallin H Oaks

To be pure in heart is to achieve that condition in which motives, desires, and attitudes are acceptable to God and consistent with the eternal progress that is the ultimate destiny of his children…

To become pure in heart-to achieve exaltation- we must alter our attitudes and priorities to a condition of spiritualty, we must control our thoughts, we must reform our motives, and we must perfect our desires…

The eternal significance of action or inaction turns on the state of mind that motivated the act of omission. Acts that seem to be good bring blessings only when they are done with a good motive, with real and righteous intent. Pure in Heart

Gordon B Hinckley

How godlike a quality is mercy. It cannot be legislated. It must come from the heart. It must be stirred up from within. It is part of the endowment each of us receives as a son or daughter of God and partaker of a divine birthright. I plead for an effort among all of us to give greater expression and wider latitude to this instinct which lies within us. I am convinced that there comes a time, possibly many times, within our lives when we might cry out for mercy on the part of others. How can we expect it unless we have been merciful ourselves?... Mercy is of the very essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The degree to which each of us is able to extend it becomes an expression of the reality of our discipleship under Him who is our Lord and Master. Ensign May 1990

Harold B. Lee

"May you make the Beatitudes the constitution of your own lives and thus receive the blessedness promised therein." (Stand Ye In Holy Places, p. 348)

 How is this different from the world’s view of happiness?

My Thoughts:

We are to become born again, to become new people in Christ. We are  no longer just water but fine wine if you will. Here Christ is giving us the simple basic first steps on how to have the spriit in our lives and be directed by it.

What Others have Said:

Robert E. Wells

"To be poor in spirit means to be humble, teachable, contrite, meek, obedient. As the Phillips Modern Translation states, the meek are those who 'know their need for God.' To be poor in spirit is to recognize that we are not self-sufficient spiritually (or materially, for that matter), but rather that we are always in debt to our Heavenly Father, from who all blessings flow. In fact, our posture before our God is as the needy, even as beggars. President Harold B. Lee spoke on this subject in the following way:

"To be poor in spirit is to feel yourselves as the spiritually needy, even dependent upon the Lord for your clothes, your food, the air you breathe...It is indeed a sad thing for one, because of his wealth or learning or worldly position, to think himself independent of this spiritual need. [Poor in spirit] is the opposite of pride or self-conceit. To the worldly rich it is that 'he must possess his wealth as if he possessed it not' and be willing to say without regret, if he were suddenly to meet financial disaster, as did Job, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). (Stand Ye in Holy Places, pp. 343-4)" (Robert E. Wells, The Mount and the Master, pp. 4-5

Jeffrey R. Holland

"...the Book of Mormon sermon added the phrase 'who come unto me...' Obviously in the 3 Nephi rendering, being poor in spirit is not in itself a virtue, but it will be so if such humility brings one to claim the blessings of the kingdom through the waters of baptism, making covenants, and moving toward all the promises given to covenant-making disciples. It is significant that the phrase 'come unto me' is used at least four more times in the twenty or so verses that follow this one." (Christ And The New Covenant, p. 263)

Bruce R. McConkie

"If there is a blessing, there must needs be a cursing. There can be no light without darkness, no good without evil, no blessed heights of glory and honor unless there are also cursed depths of despair and damnation.

"If the pure in heart shall see God, those whose hearts are impure shall be shut out of his presence. If the peacemakers shall be called the children of God, those who foment war shall be the children of Lucifer their father. If those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, those whose appetites are fed on carnal and evil food shall be filled with a worldly spirit that breeds evil deeds. And so on with reference to all of the Beatitudes. All things have their opposites, and there must needs be an opposition in all things." (The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979-1981], 2: 126.)

What questions or impressions come to your mind as you read each verse?

We are to be different. It is very clear that the world today would have us be in direct opposition to this way of being. The world, and thus Satan, teaches us to not think of others, to only think of ourselves and to by no means be close to the spirit or the Master.

What do these verses teach you about being a disciple of Jesus Christ?

My Thoughts:

We are to be different.

What Others have said:

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Discipleship is the pursuit of holiness and happiness. It is the path to our best and happiest self. “Of Regrets and Resolutions “President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Oct 2012

Quentin L. Cook

The Prophet Joseph pointed out that before your baptism, you could be on neutral ground between good and evil. But “when you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can [go] back.” His counsel was that we must never forsake the Master.    October 2012 General Conference

Robert E. Wells

"How many people strive for higher spiritual levels as though they truly hungered and thirsted after them? To hunger and thirst for something involves strife, struggles, work, sacrifice, and a host of other efforts...Perhaps you have heard the story of the philosopher who held a young disciple's head under water until the latter gasped for air. The philosopher then told the disciple, 'When you want knowledge as much as you wanted air while you were under water, you are ready to study with me.'

"The highest blessings of the gospel are not for the faint-hearted, coolly rational, theoretical philosopher, nor for the person who is merely intellectually curious. Those great blessings are reserved for stouthearted souls who hunger and thirst for greater personal righteousness and who are willing to pay the price to achieve it.

"...The blessings promised are immeasurable. Remember the woman of Samaria at the well? The Savior told her (and this applies to all of us), 'Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life...He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.' (Jn 4:14; 6:35)" (The Mount and the Master, pp. 42-3)

Bruce R. McConkie

"Filled with the Holy Ghost! As starving men crave a crust of bread, as choking men thirst for water, so do the righteous yearn for the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a Revelator: he is a Sanctifier; he reveals truth, and he cleanses human souls. He is the Spirit of Truth, and his baptism is one of fire; he burns dross and evil out of repentant souls as though by fire. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest of all the gifts of God, as pertaining to this life; and those who enjoy that gift here and now, will inherit eternal life hereafter, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God in eternity." (The Mortal Messiah, Book 2, p. 122)

Dallin H. Oaks

"The issue is not what we have done but what we have become. And what we have become is the result of more than our actions. It is also the result of our attitudes, our motives, and our desires. Each of these is an ingredient of the pure heart...To become pure in heart--to achieve exaltation--we must alter our attitudes and priorities to a condition of spirituality, we must control our thoughts, we must reform our motives, and we must perfect our desires." (Pure in Heart, pp. 39-40 as taken from The Mount and the Master, by Robert E. Wells, p. 79)

Harold B. Lee

"To be persecuted for righteousness' sake in a great cause where truth and virtue and honor are at stake is God-like. Always there have been martyrs to every great cause. The great harm that may come from persecution is not from the persecution itself but from the possible effect it may have upon the persecuted who may thereby be deterred in their zeal for the righteousness of their cause. Much of that persecution comes from lack of understanding, for men are prone to oppose that which they do not comprehend. Some of it comes from men intent upon evil. But from whatever cause, persecution seems to be so universal against those engaged in a righteous cause that the Master warns us, 'Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.' (Luke 6:26.)

"May youth everywhere remember that warning when you are hissed and scoffed at because you refuse to compromise your standards of abstinence, honesty, and morality in order to win the applause of the crowd. If you stand firmly for the right, despite the jeers of the crowd or even physical violence, you shall be crowned with the blessedness of eternal joy. Who knows but that again in our day some of the saints or even apostles, as in former days, may be required to give their lives in defense of the truth. If that time should come, God grant they will not fail." (Stand Ye In Holy Places, p. 348) 

Neal A. Maxwell

"The straight and narrow is the path of perspiration and is too arduous to be free from adversity. There are many ways in which the disciple can suffer as a Christian, and for righteousness' sake. Practical, perceptive Peter said, 'For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.' (1 Peter 2:20. Italics added.)

"...those who have suffered most, and for the right reasons, will have stretched their capacity for joy and happiness.

"Peter says, 'If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, . . . but let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief. . . .' (1 Peter 4:14) To 'suffer as a Christian' or for 'righteousness' sake' is a consequence to be considered as separate and apart from the self-inflicted misery that too often grows out of our failures to be Christian." (A Time To Choose, p. 43

What do you feel inspired to do to develop the qualities described in these verses?

My Thoughts:

Matthew 5:13

Why did the Savior compare His disciples to salt?

My Thoughts:

Salt is a basic part of life. It is part of each of us. It is needed to live but also is need o improve things.

As salt take on whatever it is applied to and enhances that item so to should we be able to enhance and make better whatever we apply ourselves to and help those around us.

What Others have said:

James E. Talmage

"Salt is the great preservative; as such it has had practical use since very ancient times. Salt was prescribed as an essential addition to every meat offering under the Mosaic law. Long before the time of Christ, the use of salt had been accorded a symbolism of fidelity, hospitality, and covenant. To be of use salt must be pure; to be of any saving virtue as salt, it must be salt indeed, and not the product of chemical alteration or of earthy admixture, whereby its saltiness or 'savor' would be lost; and, as worthless stuff, it would be fit only to be thrown away. Against such change of faith, against such admixture with the sophistries, so-called philosophies, and heresies of the times, the disciples were especially warned." (Jesus the Christ, p. 232)

Carlos E. Asay

"How many times have we read, or heard others read, this scripture? Yet, do we understand fully the 'salt of the earth' message? Are we conversant with the analogy? Are we responding properly to its implications?

"...When the Lord used the expression 'savor of men,' he was speaking of those who represent him. He was referring to those who have repented, who have been washed clean in the waters of baptism, and who have covenanted to take upon them his name and his cause. Moreover, he was speaking of those who would share by covenant his priesthood power. He was speaking of you and me.

"A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not lose its savor with age. Savor is lost through mixture and contamination. Similarly, priesthood power does not dissipate with age; it, too, is lost through mixture and contamination. When a young man or older man mixes his thoughts with graphic literature, he suffers a loss of savor. When a priesthood bearer mixes his speech with lies or profanity, he suffers a loss of savor. When one of us follows the crowd and becomes involved in immoral acts and the use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and other injurious substances, he loses savor.

"...I pray that all of us will appreciate more perfectly the words of the Savior: 'Ye are the salt of the earth.' I pray that we will carry this designation faithfully and honorably." (Conference Report, Apr. 1980)

Delbert Stapley

"One of the best compliments an individual can say of another is that he or she is the 'salt of the earth.' It is most meaningful and suggests unquestioned Christlike character and conduct, uprightness, honesty, spirituality, sincerity of purpose, dignity, and other noble character virtues and qualities patterned after the divine nature of our Heavenly Father." (Conference Report, Oct. 1964, p. 65)

Matthew 5:17–48; Luke 6:27–35

The law of Christ supersedes the law of Moses.

For example, what did Jesus teach in Matthew 5:27–28 about our responsibility over our thoughts?

My Thoughts:

We are in control of our thoughts or we are not. If we are not in control then who is? S

What Others have said:

Spencer W Kimball

Every sin is preceded by a sinful thought which is preceded by a sinful desire. Desires, then, become the defining characteristic of one's spiritual integrity. However, concerning some sins, the Law of Moses restricted one's action but said nothing of one's thoughts or desires. The higher law teaches that evil thoughts and desires are just as destructive. Therefore the anger which encourages the premeditation which prompts the murder must be proscribed. The lust which encourages the sensual thought which prompts the adulterous act must be avoided. It's no longer a law of "Thou shalt not do this, but you can think whatever you want!" The new law warned against evil thoughts and desires. Alma was ahead of his time when he counseled, yea, let thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever (Alma 37:37). James Allen said

"A man does not come to the almshouse or the jail by the tyranny of fate or circumstance, but by the pathway of groveling thoughts and base desires. Nor does a pure-minded man fall suddenly into crime by stress of mere external force; the criminal thought had long been secretly fostered in the heart, and the hour of opportunity revealed its gathered power. Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself." (As a Man Thinketh as taken from The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 105)

Neal A. Maxwell

"Further, the presence of the Holy Ghost in one's life, insofar as it reshapes our desires and our appetites, can move us from a position in which, at first, we wisely avoid temptations, to a point finally from which the things alien to the Spirit of God are diminished in their attractiveness. Just as what is at first a duty can later become a delight, so the dangerous things for which we may now hunger can be replaced by desires for things that are not only harmless, but that will also help us." (That My Family Should Partake, p. 83 - 84) 

David O. McKay

"The greatest battles in life are fought within the silent chambers of the soul." (Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 415)

Spencer W. Kimball

"Each person must keep himself clean and free from lusts...He must shun ugly, polluted thoughts and acts as he would an enemy. Pornographic and erotic stories and pictures are worse than polluted food. Shun them. The body has power to rid itself of sickening food. The person who entertains filthy stories or pornographic pictures and literature records them in his marvelous human computer, the brain, which can't forget such filth. Once recorded, it will always remain there, subject to recall." (Ensign, July 1978, pp. 3-7 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 335)

How can you gain more control over the thoughts that come into your mind and heart? (see D&C 121:45).

What your eye lingers on is what comes into your soul. What your ears listen to becomes part of you. Constant attention needs to be given to what we do when there is nothing else to do. The music, the shows the company we keep all can help or hinder the spirit.

Matthew 5:48

Does Heavenly Father really expect me to be perfect?

My Thoughts:

Simply put…Yes He does expect us to become perfect. The key word is become. It is a process.

What Others have said:

Jeffrey R. Holland

Have you noticed that every now and then a passage will appear that reminds us we are falling a little short? For example, the Sermon on the Mount begins with soothing, gentle beatitudes, but in the verses that follow, we are told—among other things—not only not to kill but also not even to be angry. We are told not only not to commit adultery but also not even to have impure thoughts. To those who ask for it, we are to give our coat and then give our cloak also. We are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to them who hate us.

If that is your morning scripture study, and after reading just that far you are pretty certain you are not going to get good marks on your gospel report card, then the final commandment in the chain is sure to finish the job: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father … in heaven is perfect.” With that concluding imperative, we want to go back to bed and pull the covers over our head. Such celestial goals seem beyond our reach. Yet surely the Lord would never give us a commandment He knew we could not keep. Let’s see where this quandary takes us. (2017-10 Be ye therefore perfect eventually)

Bruce R. McConkie

"Finite perfection may be gained by the righteous saints in this life. It consists in living a godfearing life of devotion to the truth, of walking in complete submission to the will of the Lord, and of putting first in one's life the things of the kingdom of God. Infinite perfection is reserved for those who overcome all things and inherit the fullness of the Father in the mansions hereafter. It consists in gaining eternal life, the kind of life which God has in the highest heaven within the celestial world." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 567)

Jeffrey R. Holland

Around the Church I hear many who struggle with this issue: “I am just not good enough.” “I fall so far short.” “I will never measure up.” I hear this from teenagers. I hear it from missionaries. I hear it from new converts. I hear it from lifelong members. One insightful Latter-day Saint, Sister Darla Isackson, has observed that Satan has somehow managed to make covenants and commandments seem like curses and condemnations. For some he has turned the ideals and inspiration of the gospel into self-loathing and misery-making.

What I now say in no way denies or diminishes any commandment God has ever given us. I believe in His perfection, and I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that, as children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become.

So I believe that Jesus did not intend His sermon on this subject to be a verbal hammer for battering us about our shortcomings. No, I believe He intended it to be a tribute to who and what God the Eternal Father is and what we can achieve with Him in eternity. In any case, I am grateful to know that in spite of my imperfections, at least God is perfect

Brothers and sisters, every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, the truthfulness of the Church, our hope for our future, or the possibility of godliness. If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament meaning of perfection. (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/be-ye-therefore-perfect-eventually?lang=eng)

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening

Matthew 5:1–9

Which principles taught in Matthew 5:1–9 could help your home be a happier place

What goals can you set? How will you follow up?

Matthew 5:14–16

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Ye are the light of the world”? (Matthew 5:14).

My Thoughts:

What Others have said:

Bruce R McConkie

If the Saints lose their seasoning power and no longer set examples of good works, they are thenceforth as other worldly people to whom salvation is denied. The saints are as a city set on a hill that is open to the view of all. Their good works lead others to the truth and to glorify their Creator, their Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit who testifies of all things

The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary

Gordon B. Hinckley

"I wish to say that none of us ever need hesitate to speak up for this Church, for its doctrine, for its people, for its divine organization and divinely given responsibility. It is true. It is the work of God. The only things that can ever embarrass this work are acts of disobedience to its doctrine and standards by those of its membership. That places upon each of us a tremendous responsibility. This work will be judged by what the world sees of our behavior. God give us the will to walk with faith, the discipline to do what is right at all times and in all circumstances, the resolution to make of our lives a declaration of this cause before all who see us. (Ensign, November 1996, p. 51.)

Franklin D. Richards

"Our light should not be hid under the bed or under a bushel, but it ought to be lit up here in these mountains, and it has got to shine so that this whole nation shall see it. And all nations must see and have a chance of accepting or rejecting the Gospel. We must fraternize with them, as far as is right and proper, so that we may show them the excellency there is in the knowledge of God...

"Now, then, we ought to understand that our labors and our conduct individually and collectively are open before the world, our conduct and attitude as a people before the nation, should be according to the dignity of our position, that the nations of the earth may see and know we are true to our God, to our professions of faith, and that we are honestly pushing forward the kingdom of God. This should be the spirit of the whole people. We should be ready to make any sacrifice, and discharge every obligation necessary for the advancement of His kingdom." (Collected Discourses, Vol.1, Franklin D. Richards, April 8, 1888)

Eldred G. Smith

"Today, my brothers and sisters, that command is directed to us. We have received a light and knowledge that was given to the disciples of old. It is our responsibility to let our light so shine until it really reaches the ends of the earth.

"If each individual member of this entire Church would sincerely strive to do his or her best, just think what might be accomplished. We can spread gloom around us, we can spread good cheer, or we can be such an example of righteousness that others will want to follow the pattern of our lives. A chain reaction goes on that is endless in its effects. When a knowledge of the divinity of the gospel is given to you, you can pass it on to others. If you are living the gospel, they will hear your testimony. Remember the saying: 'How can I hear what you are saying, when what you are is ringing so loudly in my ears?'" (Conference Report, Oct. 1951, p. 81)

Who has been like a light for our family? How can we be a light to others? (see D&C 103:9–10).

Matthew 5:43–44

Why does the Lord want us to pray for those who have been unkind to us?

My Thoughts:

If we truly care about those we pray for then our attitudes changes and I believe theirs does as well.

We need to be the “bigger person” and not let contention or anger cloud our souls. We truly do not know the whys of every person and what makes them act like they do. But we can control what I makes us do.

What Others have said:

George Q. Cannon

"To conquer by kindness is the greatest victory to be had. We should right all wrongs by kindness, and show those with whom we are associated that our love is broad enough to forgive them and that we have charity for their weaknesses. We ought to attain to this. We cannot go to God till we do." (Collected Discourses 1886-1898, ed. by Brian Stuy, vol. 2, George Q. Cannon, Feb. 1, 1891)

Joseph Smith

"Those who cannot endure persecution, and stand in the day of affliction, cannot stand in the day when the Son of God shall burst the veil, and appear in all the glory of His Father, with all the holy angels." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 42)

Gordon B. Hinckley

"There is much of another category of sickness among us. I speak of conflicts, quarrels, arguments which are a debilitating disease particularly afflicting families. If there be such problems in the homes of any within the sound of my voice, I encourage you to invite the healing power of Christ. To those to whom He spoke on the Mount, Jesus said:

'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

'But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ...

'And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.' (Matt. 5:38-41.)

"The application of this principle, difficult to live but wondrous in its curative powers, would have a miraculous effect on our troubled homes. It is selfishness which is the cause of most of our misery. It is as a cankering disease. The healing power of Christ, found in the doctrine of going the second mile, would do wonders to still argument and accusation, fault-finding and evil speaking." (Conference Report, Oct. 1988)

Spencer W. Kimball

"Why does the Lord ask you to love your enemies and to return good for evil? That you might have the benefit of it. It does not injure the one you hate so much when you hate a person...but the hate and the bitterness canker your unforgiving heart." (Faith Precedes The Miracle, p. 191)

Ezra Taft Benson

"Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ liberated man from the world, by the pure gospel of love. He demonstrated that man, through a love of God, and through kindness and charity to his fellows, could achieve his highest potential...His charge to return good for evil is still the greatest challenge to the mind of man. At the same time it is man's greatest weapon."(So Shall Ye Reap, p. 6)

Howard W. Hunter

"Think what this admonition alone would do in your neighborhood and mine, in the communities in which you and your children live, in the nations which make up our great global family. I realize this doctrine poses a significant challenge, but surely it is a more agreeable challenge than the terrible tasks posed for us by the war and poverty and pain the world continues to face.

"How are we supposed to act when we are offended, misunderstood, unfairly or unkindly treated, or sinned against? What are we supposed to do if we are hurt by those we love, or are passed over for promotion, or are falsely accused, or have our motives unfairly assailed?

"Do we fight back? Do we send in an ever-larger battalion? Do we revert to an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, or, as Tevye says in Fiddler on the Roof, do we come to the realization that this finally leaves us blind and toothless?" (Conference Report, Oct. 1992)

Gordon B. Hinckley

"It is not always easy to live by these doctrines when our very natures impel us to fight back...Most of us have not reached that stage of compassion and love and forgiveness. It is not easy. It requires a self-discipline almost greater than we are capable of. But as we try, we come to know that there is a resource of healing, that there is a mighty power of healing in Christ, and that if we are to be his true servants, we must not only exercise that healing power in behalf of others, but, perhaps more important, inwardly.

"I would that the healing power of Christ might spread over the earth and be diffused through our society and into our homes, that it might cure men's hearts of the evil and adverse elements of greed and hate and conflict. I believe it could happen. I believe it must happen. If the lamb is to lie down with the lion, then peace must overcome conflict; healing must mend injury." (Faith, The Essence of True Religion, p. 35)