Sunday, November 15, 2015

Rooted and Grounded


Hebrews 6:  19 Which hope we have as an aanchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Replies to Change in Handbook 1

http://ldsmag.com/sustaining-the-brethren-a-modern-example-of-thoughtful-discipleship/?fb_action_ids=10206862442336408&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=.VlNQr9uRJtD.like


We believe that sex is a good thing -- that between husband and wife. . . .

We believe that chastity is a thing -- that God wants us to avoid premarital and extra marital sex --  and he defines marriage as begin between a man and a woman.

We believe that families are eternal.

We believe that children are a blessing from god, that they are born innocent
We believe that little children are covered under the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as are all those who do not have the means or maturity to consent to baptism  -- That they do not have to be baptized in order to return to the presence of God.

We believe that there is right and wrong, and that men and women have agency and can choose between them.  We are not forced by our weaknesses or our tendencies to act. We choose.

We believe that God loves all of His children.  Nevertheless. ..  .

We do not believe that watering down God's commandments is helpful to his children.

We believe in a merciful God.  We believe in a just God.



http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640156/What-it-feels-like-to-be-a-Mormon-apologist.html?pg=all




Responses to change in handbook #1

http://lds.net/blog/buzz/lds-news/myths-on-new-mormons-and-gays-policy/




http://wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com/2015/11/response-to-new-church-policy-gay-marriage-children-baptism.html?m=1




http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blairvandyke/2015/11/ssm-conservative-mormons-dont-you-dare/




http://middleagedmormonman.com/home/2015/11/church-announcements-two-wolves/




http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2015/11/two-items-relevant-to-the-new-policy-on-children-of-same-sex-couples-and-five-comments.html?ref_widget=popular&ref_blog=blairvandyke&ref_post=ssm-conservative-mormons-dont-you-dare




legal, but not doctrinal

apostasy -- ongoing rebellion --

consent -- grant your consent to be a member of the church

Jesus will cover you.

growing up in an environment of apostasy -- not chance of proper consent
Responses to change in handbook #1
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blairvandyke/2015/11/ssm-policy-employed-exceptional-faith-exercised/

http://thesumofsarcasm.blogspot.com/2015/11/why-lds-churchs-latest-policy-is.html

https://brianmickelson.wordpress.com/2015/11/06/my-experience-with-an-update-in-church-policy/

http://lds.net/blog/buzz/lds-news/myths-on-new-mormons-and-gays-policy/

http://wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com/2015/11/response-to-new-church-policy-gay-marriage-children-baptism.html?m=1

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blairvandyke/2015/11/ssm-conservative-mormons-dont-you-dare/

http://middleagedmormonman.com/home/2015/11/church-announcements-two-wolves/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2015/11/two-items-relevant-to-the-new-policy-on-children-of-same-sex-couples-and-five-comments.html?ref_widget=popular&ref_blog=blairvandyke&ref_post=ssm-conservative-mormons-dont-you-dare

http://gaymormonguy.blogspot.com/2015/11/waiting-on-lord-same-sex-adoption.html

Blair Van Dyke was mentioned in a post.

Dave Samuel Thompson
Dear Everyone Troubled By The Latest Church Announcement:
Hi. I'm Dave. I'm an rm. I'm gay. And I have no problem with this latest development. And here is why you shouldn't either.
The Church, by and large, is an organization which has rigid rules and regulations for membership. Granted, nobody on the earth today can live up to those regulations by any means, but that is beside the point. What they want everyone to do is work their absolute hardest to achieve perfection. If you make a mistake, fix it and work your hardest to never do it again. Simple as that.
The issue that arises here stems from the fact that there are individuals who are different. We are gay. Or, as the church would put it, we experience same gender attraction. The official stance from the church regarding this attraction includes the following statement. "The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals do not choose to have such attractions, they do choose how to respond to them." (See mormonsandgays.org for further detail.) That fact is an absolute. It is a natural occurrence and, as Elder Holland so eloquently taught us in this last conference, we should not expect it to miraculously change, because it won't. According to the church, we all have our own trials, and it is up to us to make decisions regarding them, no matter how difficult those decisions may be.
As stated above, acting on this attraction is a sin. Just as if you were to go and get drunk, or stab someone, or steal something, or take the Lord's name in vain. Thus, if there are two gay individuals who decide to go against the commandments of the church and get married, they are found to be living in sin.
Now, I don't want you to be thinking that I agree with this. I fully support gay marriage and believe that if two individuals truly love each other nobody should stand in their way of joining together. But an organization does not have to support this, regardless of whether or not you wish it would. At the end of the day the church believes it is wrong, and so they can issue religious legislation regarding their belief system as they see fit, regardless of public opinion.
Which brings us to the announcement today. If you are living in a same gender, or homosexual relationship, you are living in direct opposition to the teachings of the church, or to use a religious term, apostasy. Which is why you really shouldn't be surprised by the other announcement by the church. They came out and said apostasy is apostasy. They aren't going to sugar coat the fact that in their eyes you are living in blatant disregard to the laws set forth before the formation of the world by God himself. They aren't okay with that. So you shouldn't be surprised when they say something about it that makes ya feel just a little bit icky. But if you are living that way, you think that they shouldn't be so harsh about it. And more than likely, if you have children, natural or adopted, they will be brought up believing that is not an issue.
However, to the church it is. As a missionary we were cautioned against teaching individuals whose parents were not members of the church because it is often very difficult for them to remain active. There were many amazing individuals who were able to join the church and stay active, but others fell away because of little support. This is issue number one.
The larger problem the church has is children being reared in a household that is in direct opposition to their teachings. They would be taught that having two mommies or two daddies is okay. Which it is, but not to the church. Thus the church would want to wait until they were more mature and able to cognitively and spiritually understand the situation before they make covenants, or promises, binding them to the religion.
And yes, they would want them to denounce their parents relationship as sin. Does that sound awful and terrible? Yes it does, but the organization doesn't bow to the whims of man, it is governed by a more powerful being that makes the rules. Recognizing someone is committing a sin doesn't mean you are condemning that individual. Many people I met on my mission had issues with those mandates set down by the church. We helped them to understand why that is an issue. The church doesn't want these children to damn their parents to hell and never associate with them again, they want them to recognize that their lifestyle is not in the boundaries that they believe the Lord has set.
This doesn't, however, exclude these children from participation in the church. They can still worship, partake of the sacrament, pray in meetings, participate in activities, etc.
Some will say this keeps them from participating in sacred ordinances that many other youth have privilege to take part. My experience shows that if the testimony of that individual is strong enough and their desire great enough to follow in the ways of the church, that time won't matter.
A very similar policy is in place for those individuals coming from an FLDS background. The church wants those children to have developed a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel on their own and wants them to understand why the situation they are coming from is not correct in their eyes.
In summation, sin to the church is sin, and there isn't anything you can do to change that. It isn't a very happy realization, but it was never meant to be. Those who choose to walk the path of true discipleship were never told it would be easy, only that enduring to the end would be worth the effort.
Now I am far from perfect. I know I have done things and made decisions that are against what this organization would have me do, so I cannot ask them to look away while I just do what I want. It isn't right, it isn't just, and that will never change.
So love your neighbors, but please don't shove your religion down their throat. God has a plan for everyone. For some that is in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For others it isn't. Learn to accept that as a reality. Don't condemn someone for leaving. Love them the way you would want them to love you. If an organization seems too harsh for you either change your ways to match its ways or don't, but don't fight against it.
That's all for now because I need to go to bed.



Jason Wesley Buonforte
Hey all you beautiful uninformed people who are making a big deal out of nothing but I love you anyway. READ THIS and then Shut up. ðŸ˜˜
There have been a lot of posts about the recent LDS news regarding children of same sex marriages and also same sex marriages being viewed as apostasy. I'm sorry to add to those posts filling up your newsfeed but as a gay man who does not feel victimized by this decision I feel the need to share my side. I'm confused by a few things. First off, why is everyone so surprised! The church has never pretended to be anything other than exactly what it is. Their stance on same sex marriages has never changed. I also don't understand how this affects about half of the people posting about it. Over half the people posting about it are not members of the church or don't believe in the LDS church to begin with. How does this decision in anyway affect you. If you are a gay couple, were you really going to send your child to an LDS church to begin with? If you are an active LDS member posting, again, why are you so surprised!!! If you truly believe in your church, then you believe that the prophet is a prophet of God who speaks directly to him. If this is you... then have some faith and then be quiet. If you disagree with this view on same sex marriage, then by all means just choose another church. No one is forcing you to stay. I guess being from South Carolina I get confused when people act like the Mormon church is the only religion that exists, or the only religion that does not believe in same sex marriage for that matter. In South Carolina it was just another church, there to seek shelter from the storm if need be. It wasn't a cultural thing. In the LDS church, whether your parents are gay or not, you still have to have permission to be baptized either way. I'm sorry, but I don't disagree with the church when they say that it might not be in the child's best interest to be baptized into a church that does not support their parents marriage, seeing as this could cause issues in the home and could even result in the child being kicked out of the home. This is something that often happens with gay children who come out to straight parents, which is not something the church supports doing by the way. In my opinion, the church is not shunning these children but rather asking them to wait till they are 18 and can move out in hopes to prevent them from having issues at home. I'd also like to pose the question: do these children of same sex marriages really want to join a church that doesn't support their parents marriage? If they do, well then the church is not asking the children wanting to join the church to disown their parents. They just want them to understand that the church does not support same sex marriages and wants to make sure this is something they support as well before being baptized into a church that believes this. AGAIN, not something you HAVE to do! You do not have to join a church you disagree with! I don't feel children of same sex marriages are being outcast. They are still welcome to attend. But it has always been the churches policy that whether your parents are gay or straight, if your parents disagree with the beliefs of the church, you need to wait until you are of legal age to be baptized in an effort to keep the peace at home. Let's all stop victimizing people who are not being victimized.
If you still disagree. That's ok. We will have to agree to disagree. 
😉














Saturday, October 17, 2015

144,000 -- Fulness of the Priesthood


Joseph Smith
            “At this time Joseph Smith was not willing to discuss the temple ordinances of conferral of the fulness of the priesthood, of marriage for time and eternity, or of sealing children to parents; nevertheless, he indicated that the conferral of the fulness of the priesthood was a ‘sealing…on top of the head’, of which the phrase ‘sealed in their foreheads’ was symbolic. Furthermore, Joseph Smith here taught that it was through the ordinance of conferral of the fulness of the priesthood that men could be qualified to be a part of the special missionary force of the last days which would number 144,000 high priests (D&C 77:8-11, 14). When Cornelius P. Lott and his wife received these ordinances on 4 February 1844, the Prophet indicated that ‘the selection of the persons to form that number had already commenced.’ He had already conferred these blessings on at least 17 men” (History of the Church, 6:196 and Wilford Woodruff Diary, under date given) (The Words of Joseph Smith: The Contemporary Accounts of the Nauvoo Discourses of the Prophet Joseph, compiled and edited by Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook, 297).


I Am a Child of God --Modified for Fallen Man


I am a child of God
(Adapted from Paul Sutorius by H. Curtis Wright)

I am a child of God.
That’s only half the view:
If I don’t shed the natural man
I’m sunk, and so are you.

Lead me, guide me, reconcile me,
Chasten me on earth:
Help me overcome the Fall;
Grant me the second birth.

I am a child of God.
That doesn’t clear the slate:
I’m carnal, sensual, devilish in
A lost and fallen state.

Save me, change me, rearrange me,
Gracious God above:
Cleave unto my broken heart;
Bestow redeeming love.

I am a child of God.
Yet I’ve become His child
Through faith in His Beloved Son’s
Redemption undefiled.

Lead me, guide me, justify me,
Cleanse me, make me pure;

Help me love as thou hast loved,
Or I cannot endure.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Institute 2015-2016

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640156/What-it-feels-like-to-be-a-Mormon-apologist.html?pg=all

Religion 212: New Testament
Pauline Epistles
BYU Continuing Education
Brother Van Dyke
2015 Fall Semester





Sept. 1   1 Thessalonians-2 Thessalonians

Sept. 8   1 Corinthians

Sept. 15   2 Corinthians

Sept. 22   Galatians, Romans

Sept. 29   Romans

Oct. 6    Romans

Oct. 13   Philippians, Colossians

Oct. 20   Ephesians

Oct. 27   Ephesians, Phileman

Nov. 3     Hebrews

Nov. 10   Hebrews

Nov. 17   Hebrews (13 chapters) 

Nov. 24   Titus (3 chapters) , 1 Timothy  (6 chapters) 

Dec. 1   1 Timothy

Dec. 8   2 Timothy (4 chapters) 
___________________________________________


Institute  December 15, 2015

No more trusted confidantes for Paul than Timothy and Titus

Mark leaves mission
later Barnabas going to go with Paul and is going to get Mark
break between Paul and Barnabas 
Paul takes Silas

Timothy and Titus have traveled with Paul
deliver epistles for Paul to different congregations 

Pastoral Epistles -- deal with shepherding 
Timothy in Ephesus
Gnosticism the problem in Timothy's world -- Gnosticism = secret knowledge 
Godly figures that are not physical 
no plan of salvation 
salvation comes through secret knowledge 
Druze -- also a secret religion
Messiah will be born of a man -- so wear pants with a sort of bag -- to catch the baby --

Gnosticism -- 

Blair was with a top member of correlation committee today -
watching for doctrinal drift  -- one of their roles
Believe in Christ published -- splash -- had Dan Ludlow read it to make sure it was okay
   deemed acceptable
Betty Edie Embraced By the Light -- lots of it problematic
doctrinal drift an ongoing concern 
so this is contemporarily applicable

people standing during closing hymn 
Elder Ballard speaking in Marriott Center -- gently corrected the congregation 
Another example for now
Santa Claus  -- 
Elder Oaks -- Christ vs. Santa facebook post
[my addition:  http://www.ldsliving.com/What-Prophets-Have-Said-About-Santa-Claus/s/773970

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/elder-oaks-concerned-worldly-gifts-overshadow-religious-aspects-christmas-holiday

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/elder-oaks-christmas-address-byu-management-society

The rules are brought up when there is a real potential to push common sense or faithfulness to the side.
We've turned a corner -- materialism is a problem in the Church.
1 Timothy 9   Knowing this, that the alaw is not made for a brighteousman,
Our leaders need to state the law, make it clear.

1 Timothy 2 -- access to our Lord and Jesus Christ 
in Ephesus, there are risings of alternatives to Jesus Christ -- even in the Church

1 Timothy 2
Joseph Smith changes "she" to "they" in verse 15

 Paul hitting on this, but 
can't wash away all of the patriarchal ideas in the first century
the men run the show

Adam as a type of Christ   
obedient
can't be deceived
first born 
a creator 

set an example
not guilty
father of all 
*NO TRANSGRESSION  -- Adam doesn't have to go with Eve. 
Justice on his side
Chooses to Fall  -- very much a type of Christ -- to maintain his relationship with Eve and have children
wrestle

Eve as a type of Christ
mother of all living
Chooses to Fall 
(Basically everything Adam does, Eve does) 
creator 
(a broad net of individuals got to participate in that) 
wrestle


relationship (those two really love each other)
gut-wrenching wrestle over what to do 
never listen to Satan, he is going to get his trash kicked -- 
   but she is beguiled 
also grappling with first commandment 
Notwithstanding ashe shall be saved in bchildbearing, --She will give birth to Jesus Christ -- therefore saved.
Joseph -- They -- both Adam and Eve will be saved through the birth of Jesus Christ

First prophecy of Jesus Christ -- crush your head 

Joseph Smith brought to the world -- pulling of Adam and Eve out of blame for all that is terrible in the world.

1 Timothy 3
bishops and deacons (both adults at that time)
the characteristics of a really committed Christian -- the baselines

to verse 12 of chapter 4 -- despise not youth 
be though an example of the believers 

Have to be able to get along with people who disagree with you or see the world differently than you do
If you can't, this will eventually turn into some sort of snare
A broad base of being able to interact.

Holding the mystery of the faith in pure aconscience.
Titus 1 
 15 aUnto the pure all things are bpurebut unto them that are cdefiled and 
unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their dmind and econscience is fdefiled.

not handing Satan that ammo to hold over me

1 Timothy 4
 Speaking alies in bhypocrisyhaving their cconscience seared with hot iron;
in cooking seared -- branded, sealed, 
Nephi -- 
3rd degree burns -- lost feeling -- nerve damage

Verse 12 -- 
maintain those things -- then it doesn't matter
doctrine - a saving truth 
Section 46:9  everybody has a gift

14 aNeglect not the bgift that is in thee, which was given thee by cprophecywith the dlaying on of the ehands of thefpresbytery (elders).

What is the most common way for Satan to trip you up in your spiritual trajectory

(7, 8, 9 about translating ancient scripture
D&C
The revelation is a translated version of the record made on parchment by John and hidden up by himself. -- Translating by way of vision -- so does not need the plates in front of him as he translates.

Section 8 about the Spirit of Revelation

Section 9 Oliver Cowdery promised opportunity to translate 
confirmed -- stupor of thought -- translation process 
10 Now, if you had known this you could haveatranslatednevertheless, it is not expedient that youshould translate now.
 11 Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; butyou afearedand the time is past, and it is not expedient now;  (1 Timothy 4: 14)
There was a moment when the Lord would have shared this experience with him -- but Oliver feared -- Fear the biggest advantage the adversary could have over anyone in this room.
We are given the great privilege of helping to lay the foundation.
Honored to work side by side -- unless fear prevents us.

1 Timothy 4:8   Physical sustenance temporary, but  For bodily exercise profiteth alittlebut bgodliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life thatnow is, and of that which is to come.
15 aMeditate upon these things; 
1 Timothy 5 Administering charitable contributions to the poor
looking for physical sustenance
Paul has at times carried huge sums of money
younger widows -- refuse them -- not everybody that asks gets

5:22 -- + avoid knee-jerk decisions about people

Sufficiency 
If you have that and are constantly yearning for something beyond that -- 

1 Tim 6:  Perverse adisputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that bgain is godliness:from such withdraw thyself.
But agodliness with bcontentment is great gain.
verses 5 and 6 help with 7
anything beyond sufficient -- thirst for it can make you discontent 
But agodliness with bcontentment is great gain.

If hit one thing tonight -- Titus 1: 15-16
Be faithful after baptism 

2nd Timothy -- Paul's last epistle
then go back to Acts -- Paul put back into jail -- eventually beheaded
chapter 4:5-6 -7
 have fought good afighthave bfinished my course, Ihave kept the faith:

Preach My Gospel -- emphasizes enduring to the end 
connects the dots between baptism -- temple -- enduring to the end
teaching keeping the faith
enduring to the end tricky

For the time will come when they will not aenduresound bdoctrinebut after their own clusts shall they heapto themselves dteachershaving itching ears;

His first epistle in the 50's -- now into the mid 60's -- witnessing the beginnings of the emergence of the apostasy 

Henceforth there is laid up for me acrown ofbrighteousnesswhich the Lord, the righteous cjudgeshall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all themalso that love his appearing.

give -- not earned, but given 

Remember how angry Paul was with Mark
 11 Only aLuke is with me. Take bMarkand bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.  (Asking Timothy to come and bring Mark) 
Paul starts out as an angry, embittered . . . 
gets after Peter
rejection of Mark -- Acts 15 -- story
softened

another doctrinal shift -- (being watched by correlation committee) 
Where is Heavenly Father in our discourse?  Outsider of prayer, where do we mention Heavenly Father?  
commanded to pray and worship the Father 



___________________________________

Titus, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy

from manual:
The books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are known as the pastoral Epistles because they contain instruction to help leaders regulate the Church. In these epistles Paul described the qualifications of bishops, who are to be examples of practical gospel living. He warned Church leaders of perilous times to come and counseled them to protect the Saints from the destructive influence of false teachings. He taught that the holy scriptures are the source of sound doctrine and instruction. Knowing that his ministry was coming to a close and that his life was nearly over, Paul acknowledged that he had endured to the end and had received the spiritual assurance that he would receive eternal life.
1 Timothy 1
ensure that sound doctrine was taught to edify the Saints
the law corrects sinners 
a pattern of repentance and forgiveness for all who believe in Jesus Christ and His doctrine.

1 Timothy 2
the important role of prayer in worship
Jesus Christ is our Mediator
women to dress modestly and to adorn their lives with good works
women to support authorized Church leaders and not to “usurp authority.”

1 Timothy 3
qualifications for bishops and deacons 
 leadership duties
 lead righteously both at home and in  Church duties
great is the amystery of godliness: bGod was cmanifest in the dfleshejustified in theSpirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, freceived up into glory.

1 Timothy 4
In the latter times, some Church members will depart from the faith because they give heed to false teachings.
 put the Saints in remembrance of those things given of God 
 nourish them with good doctrine
 be an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

1 Timothy 5
 care for the worthy poor.
principles of self-reliance 
specific guidelines to help identify those widows who need special care from the Saints
counseled young women to marry and bear children.

1 Timothy 6
 condemned false teachers
 “the love of money is the root of all evil.” 
 called Timothy a “man of God” and instructed him to flee evil and seek after righteousness. charge the rich not to be high-minded and to recognize that their riches came from God.


2 Timothy 1
Timothy’s faith was nurtured by his mother and grandmother. 
God fills His followers with power and love, which overcome fear. 
Jesus Christ has overcome death. 
Paul described his role as an Apostle and teacher—a role of which he was not ashamed because he believed in Jesus Christ. 
Paul praised Onesiphorus for being kind to him.

2 Timothy 2
what is required to endure faithfully
Paul endured persecution to help the Saints obtain salvation
 counsel to help Timothy  lead the Saints in his area
 exhortations to flee youthful lusts, 
to follow righteousness, 
and to avoid foolish conversations.

2 Timothy 3
 warnings about the last days
 the godly shall suffer persecutions.
 the value and purpose of the holy scriptures:
 provide spiritual safety against the deception of false teachers

2 Timothy 4
some Church members will turn from sound doctrine to false teachers who speak words that are pleasing to the ears. 
Paul announced that he had fought a good fight and had kept the faith.
 He had been assured that he would receive eternal life. 
He asked Timothy to visit him in prison.

Titus 1
 promise of eternal life  given in our premortal life
the qualifications of a bishop
 rebuke false teachers

Titus 2
 speak sound doctrine to the aged, especially to aged women, who will teach it to their children
  be a pattern of good works
 Hope comes from Jesus Christ, who redeemed us so we could be purified and become “a peculiar people.”

Titus 3
 following Jesus Christ’s example of kindness and love.
 Saints are made heirs of eternal life through





____________________________________________
Institute  December 8, 2015
Church Statement on Religious Freedom
Mormonism in transition –
Assuring the whiteness of Mormons in America
Away from nationalism to internationalization  G.A Smith to David O. McKay

Starts out completely universalist


Hebrew 6:13

 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

if you kill a peer -- cities of refuge 
if you kill my brother, then I get to avenge that death
if I can catch you, I can kill you.
Leviticus 20   a right to avenge under the law of Moses 
eye for an eye -- there must be justice 
cities of refuge had an altar -- latch onto horn of altar 
if live there then must protect that guy
cannot let the avenger come in 
window of opportunity of avenger 
still courts 
must flee to the city of refuge 
the city is Jesus, the altar is Jesus, the horn is Jesus
immutability    impossible to die 
an aanchor of the soul

Hebrews 7 
Why bring Melchisedec to the table?
Jesus over all the angels 
7:4, 6, 9 

Christ over all -- a new order over all 
Angels
Melchisedec
Abraham
Moses
Levi
Israelites 


Genesis 14:18-20 + more in JST

Chapter 8 
This is the sum -- boil this down to a legal brief -- get right to the point


7: 22 and 26
26 aFor such an bhigh priest became us, who is holy,harmless, undefiled, cseparate from dsinnersand madeehigher than the fheavens;
28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of 
the aoath (the immutable promise), which was since the law, maketh the bSonwho is cconsecrated for 
evermore.

all in Levitical system -- a shadow, a type
there can be substitutes -- example bishop
Jesus "firm"  consecrated forever to the role of high priest

Law of Moses -- emphasis on Justice 
Through there is mercy -- altars you can grab onto

to verse 11 - 
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
There are types and shadows, but there are real Gospel -- 
no need for charts. . . . 

slave -- I want to forfeit my freedom, serve you because I love you

If the high priest at the temple is not the real (literal) high priest --

9:1,4, 6,   But into the second went the ahigh priest alone bonce every year, not without 
blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
9 a figure
priest -- "saves your hide"
cut a check -- cutting covenants   -- when your life is on the line, that is how serious you have to be to keep the covenant

 11 But Christ being come an ahigh priest of good things tocome, by greater and more perfect btabernaclenot madewith hands, that is to say, not of this building;
(what He is going to do is not fallen, not weakened, not infirm)

Numbers 19 -- red heifer 
things that are symbolic of death and then death itself
death -- tangibly real 
Death -- Ritually Unclean -- Water (washed by priestly figure)
water filtered 
not filtered by anything common
temple 
altar set off to the side 
doors of holy place can open   Gate Beautiful   another set of doors at wall of city -- Golden Gate -- then Mount of Olives 
red heifer  no markings -- no whiteness or grayness  Lev. 19 
must be sacrificed on the mount of olives -- must have visual connection to Mt of Olives to temple -- holy of holies 
burn the animal -- not parted out -- to ashes, nothing but ashes 
that sacrifice doesn't come along often
better grab it while you can 
put into cloth bag 
collect that water in a jar
every village must have water filtered through the ashes of a red heifer 
Numbers 19 -- strongest and most beautiful figure of
goes to the heart of God's personal residence 
Turkish Gate on top of walls built in first century 
to Garden of Gethsemene 
Golden Gate --bricked up -- Muslim cemetery  Jesus essential to Muslims
culture war 

For Christ is not entered into the holy places madewith hands, which are the figures of the atruebut intobheaven itself, now to appear in the cpresence of God 
for us:

has been to a of heaven, but not the ultimate 

Resurrection 
10: 12 But this man, after he had offered one asacrifice for sinsfor ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

atonement not finished until Jesus Christ resurrected 
symbol is the veil of the temple 
veiled 
the garment part of the veil
1 to 1 series of connecting points 
doesn't need to be anymore sacrifice for sins

Hebrews 11 -- Faith
Hebrews 12 --
12:1  hold on thy way
the shekina -- cloud of witnesses
13: 












______________________
December 1, 2015 Class
How did the Hebrews regard angels?  See last week.
Chapter 7  -- Tithes?  Less-better?
brothers and sisters --level of  intimacy -- having lived a lifetime together

2:11 he is not ashamed to call them cbrethren,
veil rent -- Paul -- everybody can now enter into the Holy of Holies
The veil is rent -- brought into the celestial realm
2:10 ccaptain of their salvation -- the chief commanding officer of all salvific things 

12 Saying, I will declare thy aname unto my brethren, in the midst of the church (congregation) will I sing praise unto thee.
In the Old Testament you have Christ's church, the same in the New Testament . . . . and organization/institution that persists through all eternity

compassion -- a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.


empathy -- the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.

Alma 7

Hebrews 3 and 4 -- entering into the Rest of the Lord
Gospel Doctrine --you're not shopping for any other alternatives
settled, comfortable,  --mortal 
eternal -- exaltation (in Book of Mormon referred to as salvation)
all priesthood Melchezidec

Old Testament -- New Testament -- Restoration 

chapter 5 -- explicit discussion of High Priests --

in the heavens there is a real tabernacle
we, as redeemed --- , -- as a congregation --  are the temple of God

Will you enter into the Rest of the Lord?
8 aHarden not your hearts, as in the bprovocation, in theday of temptation in the wilderness:

Moses intending to bring 

Most significant chapter in the Book of Exodus -- Exodus 19
   The Lord says -- You've made it to the mount -- instructions on how to enter into My presence 
they bailed -- that is the day of provocation

D&C 84:24
Acts 7 -- Stephen -- found guilty of blasphemy -- this is the story that gets him into so much trouble -- history of the house of Israel and how they refused to be brought into the presence of the Lord
"so are ye. . . " 
Acts 7:55 -- 

stone for each tribe -- down in Jericho -- contemplate these stories

D&C 64 -- tithes = consecration  = a day when the Savior will come again
119 adjustment of that same law

if not gravitating to the message, you are provoking


2nd Nephi 2:27 You can choose something other than what God has in store for you.

rebellion

faith and faithfulness 

11 Let us alabour therefore to enter into that rest, lest anyman fall after the same example of bunbelief.

Don't be involved in the provocation that will keep you out of the rest of the Lord.

The high priest of good things to come -- it is all right in front of His eyes.

vs. 15   He will have empathy with us 
Alma 7  to Hebrews 3-5   1 Nephi 11 condescension 
Jesus has been tempted in every way -- can be touched by our . . . 

Approaching that component of his personality that has been tempted with --- 
knowing He will understand
15 For we have not an high priest awhich cannot betouched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in allpoints btempted like as we are, yet without csin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of  grace,that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Alma 13 talking about the high priesthood -- book of Mormon all Melchesidec
Hebrews 5

counselor -- seasoned in life

really committed to administering to someone who is out of the way.

It is not ordination that has a corner on these particular markets.

older, more expected 

___________________________________________________________________
November 29, 2015 - prep. reading 
64 AD?
Treat this like a temple preparation class
Hebrews 1:2, Moses 1:33
Hebrews 2:6, Psalm 8
"in a certain place"
9 should taste death for every man
10 the captain of their salvation
3:1 The Apostle and High Priest
Word of God a two edged sword  4:12
Chapters 5-7 Relationship symbolism High Priest Christ
Melchisedec and Christ

the word of the Lord is powerful enough that it can bring destruction of the soul (spiritual death) to those who do not give heed to it (see Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; 2:12, 16). The word of God also has power to pierce the soul as a sword and penetrate to the inmost parts of man (see 3 Nephi 11:3;D&C 85:6). It can cut through error and falsehood with double-edged efficiency.

D&C Student Manual

A double promise from God -- anchor - at the Garden Tomb
an anchor of the soul Hebrews 6:19

Chapter 7  -- Tithes?  Less-better?  
19-21 JST
19 For the law was administered without an oath and made nothing perfect, but was only the bringing in of a better hope; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 Inasmuch as this high priest was not without an oath, by so much was Jesus made the surety of a better testament.
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek;)
----------------
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them ato the uttermost that bcome unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make cintercession for them.

Chapter 9 - Tour of the Tabernacle

11:13
13 These all died in faith, not having received theapromises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were bstrangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Matthew 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those thingswhich ye see, and have not seenthem; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

1 Peter 1:10
10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Hebrews 12:9 The Father of our spirits
___________

_____________________________________________________________________
November 17, 2015

Philemon 
a business partner with Paul 
Leviticus -- awl through ear

Israel -- cannot own another Israelite -- 
Slavery a way of bringing security to a large part of the population
Onesimus = useful -- name changed upon conversion? 
Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon 
(the healing at evening -- Capernaum) 
Matthew 8 --
 16 ¶When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with adevils: and he cast out thebspirits with his word, and chealed all that were sick:
 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, aHimself took our binfirmities, and bare our csicknesses. 

Philemon wealthy --  lives in Colossae
refreshed by thee -- becoming that sort of person
Paul brokering the return of the slave to the owner

to enjoin thee that which is convenient
  smooth over 

Melissa Proctor

Refers to Onesimus and Timothy as "my son."

soft example of unrighteous dominion  -- coercive 
property
interpersonal considerations

Partners in tent making?   17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

 18 If he hath wronged thee (robbed you?) , or oweth thee aought, put that on mine account; 
May have taken valuables when he left.

Redemption in mortality -- a disciple doing what Jesus does

 21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

Hebrews -- the richest of the epistles
argument over whether Paul authored it -- slim
Lectures on Faith -- Sydney Rigdon
Did Paul endorse it as if it were his own? 

Normative -- to help a rising generation to comprehend how the temple was fulfilled in Jesus Christ 
His majesty UNVEILED by understanding the temple
Hebrews 1:9
 Thou hast loved arighteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
all references to oil -- whenever anointed a moment of gladness -- the anointing eases, leaves you closer to peace,

Members of the church praying to a cadre of angels
Tradition of angels -- Jewish --
Pharisees thought that on Mt. Sinai -- besides  written text also received an oral tradition
   they have power over oral tradition   (text Torah)  all else commentary  -- angels assisted
    intensely significant role -- part of the players in dispensing the law --
Sadducees -- TEXT

Who is Jesus?  30 years since Jesus resurrected
apostolic witnesses
witnesses to the bodily resurrection of Christ

Christ -- anointed one

Luke --

horn in the temple  verse 67 -
1: 6And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 
Psalm 18:2
1 Samuel 2:1 

Hebrews  1:12   but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
perfectly trustable

The Christ
the pre-eminent one 
will not fail you or anyone else 

Hebrews Chapter 2
Them that heard him -- disciples
You have been taught by "The Word"

Jerusalem Branch -- James the Brother of Jesus the most prominent religious leader in Jerusalem

Still valuing the temple 
Peter keeps that momentum going
Paul explicates and interprets 

the vicissitudes of mortality can't happen to angels 
Then to Book of Mormon -- condescension 

__________________________________________
November 15, 2015 Prep reading
How did the Hebrews think of angels? 
oil of gladness: Madsen -- In other spiritual contexts oil was the token of forgiveness. And hence Paul speaks of it as “the oil of gladness.” (Heb. 1:9.) 6
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1982/12/the-olive-press?lang=eng

 But we see Jesus, who was made a little alower than thebangels cfor the suffering of ddeathecrowned with glory and honour; that he by the fgrace of God should tastegdeath for every man.
 10 For ait became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all bthings, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the ccaptain of their salvation dperfect through sufferings.
Who is speaking?  Jesus? : 12 Saying, I will declare thy aname unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
 13 And again, I will put my atrust in him. And again, 
? 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
 12 For the aword of God is bquick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged csworddpiercing even to the dividing asunder of esoul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a fdiscerner of the gthoughts and hintents of the heart.

4: 15 For we have not an high priest awhich cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points btempted like as we are, yet without csin.
 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of agrace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of amilk, and not of strong meat.

Hebrews 7:  To whom also Abraham gave a atenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of brighteousness, and after that also King of cSalem, which is, King of peace;
(Timeline and how Melchizedec fits in?)
JST (3  For this Melchizedek was ordained a priest after the order of the Son of God, which order waswithout father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually.)


Nov. 3    Hebrews  -- Colossians

Colossea -- 100 east of
Elder Ballard Friday -- sermon at super stake center -- 9th east
get out and get married
cut hair, shave beard
young women, dress up, lipstick,
at institute in his own comments -- probably should have said that a different way
Mother in Heaven  Those letters are published under the direction of the first pres and quorum of twelve  -- use them, teach with them

Colossian heresy -- praying to a committee of Gods ---
angelic ministers take the message to God (not Catholocism)
Judaizers

Colossians 2:20 (dietary laws)
Word of Wisdom -- You learn how to say no to a lot of things.
"will worship" will power -- vs. thinking you can solve a problem with your own will --don't need others.
Matthew 5 about 25-27
gambling in fantasy football

1:14-15
14 In whom we have aredemption through his blood, eventhe bforgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the aimage of the invisible bGod, the cfirstbornof devery creature:

The Father has delegated the direct ministrations of this world to Jesus Christ --  interaction with Jesus Christ --  millennium will govern, but won't live here.


 21 And you, that were asometime balienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled   (formerly alienated)  
22   See D&C  45:3-5
devotional at Ricks College -- a movie of your life '83
submissive disciples -- meek -- humble followers of Christ
He will take out the rebellious 
Colossians 2:  22 In the body of his flesh through adeathto present youholy and bunblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
to 3:10

2:23  If. . . . 

Grounded and Settled as Disciples 
Holy Ground -- Stand and be not moved 
be not moved away from the dhope of the gospel 

2:Beware lest any man aspoil you through bphilosophy and vain cdeceitafter the dtradition of men, after the rudiments of the eworldand not after Christ.

sabbath -- turn the ship with a rudder - elder ballard on committee -- enlightened, revelatory information 

2:For in him dwelleth all the afulness of the Godhead bodily.  (THEY EACH HAVE ALL OF THOSE POWERS.)

VERSE 20 -- verse 14  -took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  blotted out, no longer detectable.   

3:2-3
4: 3-4 
Elder Ballard mentioned Satan several times 
Satan hates you 
many experience with -- hates apostles 

pray that we will have the opportunity to speak of Christ 
 Withal praying also for us, that God would open untous adoor of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which am also in bonds:


 That may make it manifest, as ought to speak.

 aWalk in bwisdom toward them that are without,redeeming the time.

 Let your aspeech be alway with grace, seasoned withbsaltthat ye may know how ye ought to answer everyman.


Hebrews 3 

5:9 And being made aperfect, he became the bauthor of eternal csalvation unto all them that obey him;
_____________________________
1993 -- Sept 6 -- Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought, Gene England
[tscano]  Maxwell Institute  (Brian Howgland)-- can write whatever you want -- separate entity from BYU
playing the authority card -- beware of being manipulative -- priestcraft --
Ben Park Oxford -- 
http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/
Julie Smith
Ralph Hancock

___________________________________
October 27 
“convenience.” The word chosen by the King James translators, however, has changed from its original meaning. The Greek word is formed from the verb which means “to come up to” and carries with it the idea of measuring up to a certain mark or standard. Paul’s choice of the word gives the delicate hint thatPhilemon’s forgiveness of his runaway slave would be the most fitting or becoming thing a true follower of Christ could do.   https://www.lds.org/manual/the-life-and-teachings-of-jesus-and-his-apostles/section-9-pauls-witness-from-prison/chapter-43-ye-are---fellow-citizens-with-the-saints?lang=eng&query=philemon


Oct. 27   Ephesians, Phileman
Start with Ephesians 2 the middle wall

redefining of the Godhead not from Nicea
Church is one, holy, catholic, apostolic
1100 years later Westminster Confession  -- without body, parts, or passions

How should Mormonism be defended?
featism -- believing without any signs, any evidences
faith
intellectualism
not defended at all?
heated discussions -- especially over the last 12 months (?)
Mormon Chapter of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy
Blair president of
Intrafaith
C.S. Lewis
Nibley
FARMS -- slid off of BYU's plate --
[Sunstone --  [published in -- never hired in any position at BYU
[Dialogue --
Elder Maxwell commissioned the contemporary apologetic movement
after FARMS -- Maxwell Institute
Director was fired -- of FARMS institute -- good guy, vicious apologetic
Meridian -- super conservative

Essays
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/new-church-essays-women-priesthood-mother-in-heaven?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSNewsRoomTop15+%28RSS%3A+LDS+Newsroom%29

Ephesians 2:10 -- born to good works
Temple in Jerusalem -- court of Priests, priests only, could walk up steps, but not enter the court,
court of the women -- Gate Beautiful, Court of the Israelites,  signs on the barrier Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek "If you're not an Israelite and you pass that threshhold, you will be put to death."  Allowed by the Romans.  Temple authorities (primarily Sadducees -- have their own police force).
Greater Court of the Gentiles, 40 acres -- the barrier the marker between Gentiles and Israelites.
How can someone in Court of Gentiles be authorized to pass into Court of Israelites -- Can a Gentile ever be a first class citizen among Israelites.
Paul employs very Jewish ideas to express this.
clean/unclean circumcised/uncircumcised Ephesians 2:11
Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; all part of this world -- God can employ it, and God can remove it.  
2:12 -- talking to the Gentiles  (aliens)  outside God 
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh (can cross the Soreg) by the blood of Christ. (legitimately Israelite)

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (the Soreg just collapsed)  They are in, they are equals, they are not substandard Christians.
The circumcision question is the same question.  

15 Having aabolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in bordinances; for to make in himself of twain one cnew man, so making peace; (Cannot have enmity anymore between Israelites and Gentiles.)

16 And that he might areconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (The cross negates the tensions.)

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (You can get into the straight and narrow path to move toward the Holy of Holies to commune with God.)

All part of a holy building that is God's House.
We collectively constitute a temple.  We are the building blocks that God is using to build his kingdom.

3:7-8
We get to possess, to talk about the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Section 76: 2 -5 -10   aGreat is his wisdom, bmarvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out. . . . 
Through verse 10, then the vision comes.
that preamble -- description of what the Lord has in store for you
If you do not have your own patriarchal blessing available, just read that. 


3:15 15 Of whom the whole afamily in heaven and earth is named,
What do you get if you are part of His family?
riches
strengthened in the inner man
the spirit that feeds and strengthens the inner self -- Word of Wisdom -- helps with the inner man even more than the outer man

faith -- trust in Jesus Christ

Elder Oaks and other talking about this now
Don't use the word Atonement independent of Jesus Christ 
the Atonement is a descriptor
It is Jesus Christ's atonement that cleanses you.
Elder Bednar, too

being arooted and bgrounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehendWhen brought through that barrier between the world and God's chosen people, (by the way you behave, . .. ) part of His family . . . will come to know and love Christ (comprehend)

which passeth knowledge, (Plato can't handle this.)
filled with all the fulness of God ( one of the themes of evidence -- Why do I obey? Because I love my Master and my Master loves to bless me.
Section 58 -- what He gives us will surpass all understanding
He does not need to be bound by anything we can do.

your vocation -- this is what you do 4:1

4: 11-14 tossed to and fro
4:17 You can walk in the light of Jesus Christ or follow the ignorance which is in your heart and walk in the dark
1 Nephi 17:45 (past feeling)
lust, uncleanness, greed,  chapter 4, verse 19
Asked a Bishop what dealing with -- #1 spending his time on -- divorce  -- temple marriages collapsing
"Blair, be nice to your wive, and treat your children well."
if lustful, greedy, unclean. . . . not doing those things 
Paul says, "Watch out."

Verse 26  Can you be angry and not sin?  J.S. 
Sermon on Mount -- don't say racca (empty-head) 
since anger is sinful, do not let the sun go down upon your wrath

You also want to work so you can be generous.  (can be on steroids -- make millions so can serve)

Ephesians 5:22
1st century Christianity, Judaism -- patriarchal
submit, women, to your husband, as to the Lord
23, 24, 
principle point:  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ. . . .

____________________
Oct. 20
Separate yourselves from wicked people.
Romans 16:17  
 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, amark them which causebdivisions and coffences contrary to the ddoctrine which ye have learned; and eavoid them.
Book of Mormon -- Amlicites  -- Red dot on the forehead
toxic influence -- re-proselytizing 
teaching Quorum of Twelve
Alma 3:
Matthew 10: 16 ¶Behold, I send you forth as asheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore bwise as serpents, and charmless as doves.
wise: clever, cunning, savvy, street-smart, not gullible, 
temple recommend -- 

Ephesians
Why do we work in the Kingdom of God?
God knows everything before it happens -- He is omniscient.
Feigning omniscience -- "That dude's texting." 
Words of Mormon -- D&C 31, 38 One eternal present
crossing theological threshholds with other Christians --
He is not the cause of everything -- free will defense
  so you can't indict him of evil
As Creator why not create us totally good
    But purpose of Earth life 
He knows everything, but He is not the cause of everything.
Paul merged -- Augustine -- Luther and Erasmus 
Luther is total depravity
Erasmus is a humanist 
  have the capacity inside of us to do the right 
Paul to Galatians -- not an ounce of goodness in you
Galatia and Rome -- no, not one righteous 
  up to now Paul and Augustine 1000 years before Luther and Erastus  (Catholic thinker -- lean heavily toward  ultra-fallen 
Ephesians -- What capacities to we bring to the table?  Are we as depraved Luther interprets Paul?  The human spirit a noble entity.

Light of Christ throughout the scriptures, but never as clearly as in the Book of Mormon.
Exodus 21: 
slavery part of the ancient world -- an advantage in the ancient world -- resources 
one Israelite cannot own another Israelite -- only way is if servant in question forfeits freedom
Sabbath -- menservants and maidservants allowed to rest 
can own a gentile
Master must provide, and must provide rest.
love your freedom less than you love your wife and children
declare to the judges not interested in his freedom, take an awl --
Christ forfeited his eternal freedoms so we could come along.
is the servant
loves His freedom less than He loves His family

Why do we serve?

Obedience out of love
 all aspiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as he hath achosen us in him bbefore the foundation of the world, that we should be choly and without blame before him in love:
Before we ever got here, He chose us.  
Holy, separated for a sacred purpose.  

People will hate you want 
 Having apredestinated us unto the badoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
predestination:  seeing things on the horizon and preparing to deal with them in advance
Calvinists -- God knows everything, does not accept free will idea 
Richard Mouw 
King Follett Discourse -- free will on steroids
God selects you -- He will change your heart -- your agency won't change the mind and will of God
a partial God 
Joseph Smith -- everybody can be saved -- nobody else accepts that

 Having made known unto us the amystery of his bwill, (not carnal, not fleshy, not limited by time) according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
When we obey Him, when we love Him, he reveals to us things that are not of this world.
belief leads to additional faith in Jesus Christ leads to having more things revealed to you, leads to being sealed
the Lord  happily bound to further my efforts

Predestination --

18 The eyes of your aunderstanding being benlightened;that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and whatthe criches of the glory of his dinheritance in the saints,

obedience opens spiritual visions


earned grace is an oxymoron

2:For by agrace are ye bsaved through cfaithand that notof yourselves: it is the dgift of God:

2:Not of works, lest any man should aboast.
2:10 For we are his aworkmanshipcreated in Christ Jesus unto good bworkswhich God hath before ordained thatwe should cwalk in them.

born into good works -- essential -- (James)  impossible to be born again and not be born unto works


by your fruits ye shall know them -- fruits of being born again 
2 Nephi 25 with Paul and James 

God hath before ordained -- planned ahead

Start with Ephesians 2 the middle wall




____________________________________
Elder Oaks -- 
Rejecting the idea of a wall between church and state, Elder Oaks said a more apt metaphor — reinforced by various decisions of the United States Supreme Court — is a “curtain that defines boundaries but is not a barrier to the passage of light and love and mutual support from one side to another.”
“Parties with different views on the relationship between church and state should advocate and act with civility. ... We all lose when an atmosphere of anger or hostility or contention prevails,” he said. “We all lose when we cannot debate public policies without resorting to boycotts, firings, and intimidation of our adversaries.”
Elder Oaks said that on the “big issues” that divide adversaries, religionists should not seek a veto over all nondiscrimination laws that offend their religion, and the proponents of nondiscrimination should not seek a veto over all assertions of religious freedom.
“Both sides in big controversies like this should seek to understand the other's position and seek practical accommodations that provide fairness for all and total dominance for neither,” he said.
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/lds/elder-oaks-calls-for-balance-in-political-discussion-comments-on/article_c2677af4-a17e-590b-ada8-bb66118931dd.html

_____________________________________________
Oct. 20   Oct. 20   Ephesians
New Testament Institute Manual:  Paul’s main theme in this epistle can perhaps best be summarized as the setting aside of the things of this world in order to grow in spiritual knowledge and partake of the unity and fellowship of the Church. . . .

Written Where? 
Paul stated that he was a prisoner at the time he wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians (see Ephesians 3:14:1;6:20), so Ephesians may have been written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, around A.D. 61 to 63, and perhaps at the same time he wrote the Epistle to Philemon and the Epistle to the Colossians (which bear many similarities to Ephesians). During this time Paul was being held under house arrest, but he had the freedom to receive visitors and teach the gospel (seeActs 28:16–31).
New Testament Institute Manual

To Whom?
Paul may not have written the epistle specifically to the Ephesians but to several congregations of Saints, including those in Ephesus. Ephesus served as Paul’s headquarters during his third missionary journey (see Acts 19:9–1020:31), and he had great affection for these people (see Acts 20:17, 34–38).
Context: Following Peter’s death, John the Revelator became the President of the Church, and when John moved from Jerusalem to Ephesus, the headquarters of the Church also moved to Ephesus. According to Christian tradition, Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent the remaining years of her life at Ephesus under John’s care (see John 19:27). Ephesus was the first of the seven cities that John wrote to in the book of Revelation (see Revelation 2:1–7). 
adopted: Jesus Christ is God’s only rightful heir. Therefore, to receive eternal life, we must be adopted through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ in order to become “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).
 17 And if children, then heirs; aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified 
together.

Paul taught that we are not saved by either faith or works alone, as both are critical to salvation. Faith and works empower us to receive the merciful blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For more information on the subject of grace, see the commentary for Romans 3:23–24 and for Romans 4:4, 16; 5:2, 15–21; 6:1–2, 14–15.


Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
“Salvation in all its forms, kinds, and degrees comes by the grace of God. That is, because of his love, mercy, and condescension, God our Father ordained the plan and system of salvation which would ‘bring to pass theimmortality and eternal life of man.’ (Moses 1:39.) Pursuant to this plan he sent his Only Begotten Son into the world to work out the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice. …

“Men are thus saved by grace alone, in the sense of being resurrected; they are saved by grace coupled with obedience, in the sense of gaining eternal life. The gospel plan is to save men in the celestial kingdom, and hence Paul teaches salvation by grace through faith, through obedience, through accepting Christ, through keeping the commandments. Thus Nephi writes, ‘Be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do’ (2 Ne. 25:23), and Moroni records, ‘Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.’ (Moro. 10:32.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 2:498–99).
Preparation
Ephesians 1 -- 23 verses.
Ephesians 2 -- 22 verses.
Ephesians  3 --21 verses.
Ephesians  4 --32 verses.






_____________________________________________
Institute   Oct. 13   Philippians, Colossians

Origin of New Testament
Q can tell came from original document known as Q
D&C 7
Church Fathers -- People who knew people who knew Jesus
Politically driven process -- putting together

"Q" comes from the German word "quelle" meaning source, and it supposedly contained matters in Matthew and Luke that are not found in Mark.
Elaine Pagels --
Lightfoot
Margaret Barker
Naghamadi   http://gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html
Nag Hammadi Library
David Bokovoy 
Parliament of the Worlds Religions
The Imam of the Mosque at Mecca

Philippians -- no aggravating issue
Acts 16: 12 --

Lydia --
without purse or script
The saints beholden to assist the leaders
Matthew 10 -- get out and bless people

only 2% of the empire had citizenship
penalty for beating Roman citizen without trial -- death
Paul takes a beating for the Saints in this city
there are not going to be any more problems in this community concerning Jews/Citizens
Paul's earliest preaching in Europe

loves that community and they love him

about 62-63 AD -- During Paul's first Roman imprisonment

Philippians 1: 11 -

What kind of life are you living,  and would being around you let people know what it would be like to be around Jesus?
1: 13-
His job to preach before kings -- multiple high leaders of nations
Caesar is aware of Paul


14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are

much more bold to speak theword without afear.

Everybody is preaching Christ, but what does your life teach?

vrs. 20-25

earnestness to follow Christ

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour:yet what I shall choose I awot not. -- The story of the Fall

Choosing between desirable but conflicting 
Paul is tired   -- having desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:


No other apostle than Elder Scott has taught more about how personal revelation is given
killer firesides to young single adults
Section 8
funnel
a question -- according to Elder Scott -- a pressing need
general impressions come swirl around the top of the funnel
"Heavenly Father, I feel that you want me to learn about the impressions I'm getting -- paper and pencil -- write down
The Lord will sent more feelings, then ask questions about those feelings --
confirmations and stupors of thought -- redirections --
pondering, fasting, renewing covenants, . . .
in your mind and in your heart
eventually you will have -- no longer feelings -- words come into your mind
mind seat of word communication
write those down


It doesn't matter who the teacher is -- revelations about his ministry as an Apostle
not what is going on around you, but what are you seeking?
It's your baby -- act instead of being acted upon

vrs. 25 --  26  -- Your life needs to bless other people -- first and foremost -- Elder Holland about mothers 

2:2-7  not attempting to stir things up or to shine the light on themselves.
how far Jesus allowed himself to be abased 

Love each other the way Jesus loved you.

2:14 
President Packer
The playing level, fair 
moral environment 
legal moralism
God ordered the universe, the earth, nature on the earth
positive law -- allows to govern -- has to be a reflection of the moral order in the universe
If cross that moral order will reap chaos

For centuries level -- no longer level -- tilted 
News! 
secular worldliness -- 
You had better teach your children that the generation that rises up has to be a generation with a far clearer understanding of how the atonement works in a personal life. 
not crush your soul and crush your hope

"Our Moral Environment"  Elder Packer
Elder Bednar's commentary on it

not condemn them to hell, commend them to the atonement

Degrees of difficulty -- judgement will take into account

Philippians 3: 7-8
sometimes had to stop and go make a few tents
still in business by Philemon
La

moni's dad -- give up all. . . . .to come to Christ




3:13 I don't get everything, but I am involved in a lot of things

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

Boil all things down to one:

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: butthis one thing I do, forgetting those things which arebehind, and reaching forth unto those things which arebefore,

14 I apress toward the mark for the bprize of the highcalling of God in Christ Jesus.

Christ centered, covenant-centered existence

4:
Polycarp -- Church Father
teaches that Paul was married
possibly verse 4 refers to Paul's wife
Paul consistently teaches that the ideal way to do missionary work is from a single vantage.

4:11   Begin with 10 --11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be acontent.
House arrest but can receive parcels.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be acontent.

12 I know both how to be aabased, and I know how toabound: every where and in all things I am instructed bothto be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to sufferneed.

13 I can do all things through aChrist which bstrengtheneth me.



_________________________________________
Prep:
Philippians 1:
 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, 
Christ is preached; and therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Philippians 3:
 21 Who shall achange our bvile body, cthat it may befashioned like unto his glorious dbodyaccording to theworking whereby he is able even to esubdue all things
unto himself.

Philippians 4:
 aBe bcareful for nothing; but in every thing by cprayerand supplication with dthanksgiving let your requests bemade known unto God.

 And the apeace of God, which passeth allbunderstandingshall ckeep your hearts and mindsthrough Christ Jesus.
 13 can do all things through aChrist whichbstrengtheneth me.


Colossians 1
 22 In the body of his flesh through adeathto present you holy and bunblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

 23 If ye acontinue in the faith bgrounded and settledand be not cmoved away 
from the dhope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to 
every creature which is under heaven; whereof Paul am made minister;

Colossians 2  aRooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith,as ye have been taught, abounding therein with bthanksgiving.

 10 And ye are acomplete in him, which is the head of allbprincipality and power:

 14 aBlotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was 
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Colossians 2
 19 And not holding the aHeadfrom which all the body byjoints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knittogether, increaseth with the increase of God.
Ephesians 4:15
15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the headeven Christ:
16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.





__________________________________
Institute 10-6-15
Ponderize
Chiasm  
Foil - John 3, 4  Nicodemus in darkness,  Woman at the Well  --
apology -- commerce yanked

imputing
Romans 5: 11 -- the only use of the work Atonement

5: 19-20

Moses 6:60

7:4  - 18
14,
15 -- an individual spinning out of control -- only the Atonement can save him/me.
we are not good at being good

sin is inside of us -- the fall and sin is deeply embedded inside of us
the only solution is grace
must be injected from an outside source
You can't generate any grace

19, 22

23 But I see another law in my members, awarring against the law of my mind,

and bringing me into bcaptivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

It's straight in his brain, but appetites (natural man) Mosiah 3:19

8:1 -- Yield to Jesus Christ

8:5 How can you know where you're at? 

carnal not tame-able -10

Is there anything that could take me out of the Church -- only if you are willing to hedge it up. 
vrs. 32   --the generosity of the Father will lead Him to be generous with us.
vrs. 35   --  35 Who shall separate us from the alove of Christ?shall btribulationor distress, or cpersecutionor famine, or nakedness, or peril, 
or sword?

Job 13:15
prove ourselves under pressure 

--37 

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to aseparate us from the blove of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jeremiah 20:9

9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a aburning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not bstay.

Cost of Discipleship  -- book

Chapter 9  Who are Israelites?
Israel -- Hebrew = God will prevail
Israelite -- someone whom God will prevail for
if you are observant, the Atonement will be effective in your life

God will always honor our agency
we can or not yield our will to Him
certain aspects of the Atonement of no effect
you can un-Israelite yourself

Why would you walk away from such a generous God?

Grace -- Robinson -- Believing Christ -- at a cultural level
Dan Ludlow -- over correlation
Robert Matthews
Brethren also had Rough Stone Rolling reviewed
language of innoculation -- same as Bushman 10 years ago.

Young kids listening to Brad Wilcox -- Continuous appointment
Tad Callister was in line

10:2
3 For they being ignorant of God’s arighteousness, and bgoing about to establish their own righteousness, have not csubmitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the aend of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

zeal without knowledge -- lose your direction and double your speed

11: 16 -21-
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity;

He is good because He does not immediately sever us when we deserve to be severed
Jacob 5  -- gives us time and care 

12: 1-
reasonable service (expected) 
girl's camp
motherhood 
earn grace -- oxymoron
the only thing you can bring is your heart, your will --
presenting it on the altar

13: 
English Reformation
6 wives -- Catherine (niece of the Holy Roman Emperor)
dead brother's wife -- not sanctioned by God -- Pope won't 
Henry studying Biblical text -- comes to chapter 13 of Romans

anarchy is not a good thing
13:4 Police power
declares royal supremacy 
excommunicates the pope

Oliver Cowdery's article on government
Articles of Faith

You're here in Rome -- play by the rules 

13:11 high atime to awake out of bsleep:


15: 27 up the fast offering


16:17

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, amark them which cause bdivisions and coffences contrary to the ddoctrine which ye have learned; and eavoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and afair speeches deceive the hearts of the bsimple.
Paul comforts the Saints in explaining how they will come off triumphant.

 Promise
20 And the God of apeace shall bbruise cSatan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Jesus Christ must crush the head of this serpent -- not us.

Where do good works fit? 

__________________________________
Institute 9-29  Romans

Question about Jesuits --  prompted by the Pope's visit, his history as a Jesuit
Are they bad?
Not a bloodier religion than Christianity.
heretics
killing heretics
Augustine, Thomas Aquinas -- 2 intellectual giants
turn the prosecution  of heretics over the the bishops
inquisition-- the Jesuits the moving, shaking arm
enlightenment -- Henry VIII  --

fast forward to John Taylor
  The flood a manifestation of God's grace -- same justification --
   (Doing you a favor killing you, rather than letting you stay in this world and become more sinful)
____________________
By Common Consent -- working on the odds of who will be called to the Quorum of Twelve
___________________
Galatians 6:
sow and reap
verse 8 --
verse 9 -- Be not weary in well-doing. (He relates it with his relationship with Striker.)
If you've planted the seed and it's already growing, don't fight that.  The plant is good.

12-13-14-15
Paul's world revolves around the crucifixion of Christ, not around the law of Moses.
Circumcision does not get you into the Kingdom of God -- Uncircumcision does not make a difference.
It's the orientation that matters.
Law of Moses -- leaning the ladder against the wrong wall
Must rely wholly and completely on Christ -- faith in Christ

New Creature
John 3
Nicodemus -- not alone -- "we know"
1-5, then keep going 
wind -- a marker that you have been born of the Spirit
The wind changes direction -- If you are moved upon by the Spirit -- You are willing to follow, to change, as the Spirit Directs

Galatians 5:22-23
against such there is no law. 
You can't be breaking the law when you are coming genuinely out of that context.

17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
crucified -- 
Caleb -- Honduras -- mosquito bites -- scars -- witnessed murders -- 
Paul is willing to take a beating, be jailed, . . . . 

What if when we went into the temple the color of our clothes reflected the state of our lives?
But --
When you place upon yourselves the robes, you are placing upon yourself the marks of Jesus' crucifixion.

Romans 
4 centuries earlier -- Western thought emerging out of Greece 
power structure shifted from Corinth to Rome 
until 4th century Constantine -- Christianity
Senate -- Rome center of 1st century life 
Paul has citizenship -- only 2% had 
We don't know where the Saints in Rome came from.
Paul has yet to visit them, but is writing to them from Corinth
Problem in Rome -- Judaizers -- Want to keep the Law of Moses
By faith alone -- 

Romans -- one dimensional, but very important dimension of Christianity
most effectively a synthesis of faith, justice, mercy -- in the temple
Romans at Pentacost 

Paul hits them with a dose of grace through faith.
Romans 1:16
not just "under any circumstances, I am willing to stand as a disciple of Christ"

Calendars -- Doesn't have to be a stress.
Christian 2015 A.D.
Jews  5776
Islam -- from 8th century -- mark from there   1436 AH
Common Era calendar -- 

You can be completely unchristian in the name of being Christian.

The fact that you are willing to stand in a Christlike way for Christlike principles -- a marker of those who 

Stand in such a way that "that which may be known of God is manifest in them"

Blair's post -- part of his thinking based on Joseph Young -- Brigham's brother -
Oliver gone for a good decade, but one of the reasons he came back was because Joseph Young maintained the relationship.

Elder Cook wrote a post for Patheos recently.

Verse 20-22
there are unseen principles that you will understand at an intuitive level -- the Light of Christ, Conscience --
Independent of our circumstances, we have the innate ability to grapple with issues
    if unable, we would not be accountable
    everyone can sense those expectations from our Heavenly Father
morally programmed from the get-go

Verse 32
a whole bunch of people are breaking a whole bunch of laws -- see the list in the verses just before that.
Who knowing the judgment of God, -- having the light of Christ

Can I pursue this coarse without becoming a cheerleader for sin?

Chapter 2:1  -- frequently the things we most harshly judge others for are our own weaknesses

verses 21-29
vrs. 24 Your actions are taking other people down
Alma 31:9 Corianton sinning on his mission

You could become unJewed, unMormoned  -- if your conduct doesn't get into the realm of the beliefs -- you would lose credibility

The fact that you're circumcised does not make you a Jew.
It is just an outward marker.

It is an internal matter.

Chapter 3: 1-2,  9-12

Do the Jews have an advantage in converting to Christianity?  Yes. Already know so much
Christian pejorative originally

A really bad example cannot negate the truth of Christianity -- of Christ's law.

a must-read  --  Approaching Zion pages 301-302  -- Nibley  
Nibley a social critic of members of the Christ, but with complete fidelity to the Brethren

There is no such thing as righteous man. The only thing we can bring to the table is a repentant heart.

Verse 20-31
You can't keep all of the commandments. Works won't save you.
By the law you will know what is right and what is wrong -- in addition to the Light of Christ
God supersedes all of those laws.

Chapter 4:4
Explains how grace works
Talking about Abraham -- taking Isaac to Mt. Moriah
obeys -- Abraham the quintessential Jew -- the height of all Judaism
Abraham doesn't keep the law -- but his willingness to do it -- he gets the credit for having done it
Abraham wouldn't get the reward if this were all centered around doing the works.
Belief leads to righteousness.
He got the blessing associated with the sacrifice without making the sacrifice.
D&C 130:20-21
How is it possible for Abraham to get the blessing for something he didn't do?

Judaisers maintain that Abraham was the quintessential Jew --

4 -- do we want to get what we deserve?
Abraham doesn't get what he deserves, but something much grander  -- Celestially grander

You can bring your faith, your belief to the table and it can be accounted for righteousness.
Because of Christ.  You belief is matched by Christ's perfection = righteousness.

impute -- to lay blame falsely
impute (communicates TRANSFER)

You receive a transfer of Christ's righteousness, but you didn't deserve it, so in a sense it is a false blessing.
D&C 45: 3 - 5 -- He is imputing his righteousness to us.

Romans 4:19   Abraham couldn't have children -- not just Sarah's problem

Romans 5: 17-21
One guy breaks a commandment, then death reigns all over the planet.
Through one man comes grace, forgiveness, resurrection. . .

People who were convinces that the fall of Adam was real
but not willing to examine the other end of the stick: Christ will reverse all that.

You can't have the fall in perpetuity and Christ in perpetuity.

where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (even for the most rebellious)
no sin that is not affected by the atonement

We can't claim the righteousness.  What we can claim is the righteousness that Christ imputes to us.

  • He owns us.  We freely are owned by Him.
 


__________________________
Institute  9-22
Galatians, Romans
Vote 
Must we keep the commandments to go to the highest degree of heaven --
25 NO's   17 YES's   5 Abstentions

When Paul writes the epistle to the Romans, has never been there.
Paul has a problem.
Notes on Swingli and Luther and Calvin   1517  10131
67
Luther and Calvin -- depraved
Romans  Jews
descriptors of Grace in Protestant faiths

Almost a wholesale apostasy in Galatia
Galatia a region
Paul -- a regional conference like Elder Ballard's

Judaizers -- must keep all the commandments
can join, but must obey the commandments 100 per cent, completely
613 commandments under Judaism --

Paul teaches about --
(works) go to Ephesians
(grace)   Romans or Galatians --

normative instruction -- how they ought to be -- General Conference
Prophets, Seers, Revelators not taking snapshots of a particular moment -- sees long range
Galatians 1:6

perversions -- maintain the Gospel of Jesus Christ while maintaining the Mosaic Law
no alternative plan   They have embraced an alternative to Christ.

stained glass window in Cathedral of Madeline
    though we, or an aangel from heaven, preach anybother cgospel unto you than that which we have preachedunto you, let him be daccursed.

36% leaving the Church?

achieve balance through the Holy Ghost

Elder Holland -- told about brothers rock climbing in Southern Utah
Galations 2:16
cannot be justified by the Law
Yoke
You can't be yoked to the law and pull a load.
exact obedience 

The visible or the invisible church
err on the side of mercy -- invisible matters of the heart 
D&C 137 -- Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom
(baptism of the heart -- baptized by desires)

can't understand Ephesians until you get Galatians 
Book of Mormon totally perfect when it comes to Grace from Christ
can you repent after you die?
Jesus a 100% Savior
Galatians 5: 1
to verse 16 

some springing out of Jerusalem Conference
Act 15
Paul comes back from doing missionary work -- can someone be baptized into Christianity without going through the law -- No small debate -- Luke records
Timothy -- Paul says don't get circumcised 
Then has him circumcised
Just Come to Christ -- 
will teach you about the works thing later.
Next time Romans.
__________________________
Prepare for 9-22-
Galatians, Romans
Paul did not receive the Gospel from men
saved by faith or by the law?

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/eph?lang=eng


Institute --
9-15-15

knowledge vs. charity

you have knowledge -- that food powerless 
no-brainer to infuse godly power 
big deal!

1 Corinthians 8:7
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their aconscience being weak is defiled.
(in their mind, powerful)

liberty to eat or not eat 
Be responsible with this liberty.
Putting someone else's needs ahead of your own, even when you are otherwise free to  . . . 

9:7- 
 Who goeth a awarfare any time at his own charges? whoplanteth a bvineyard, and ceateth not of the fruit thereof? orwho feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of theflock?  -- got war, gunna have war experiences, etc. 
kind to the ox also
principles in the Torah in your best interest
principles bridged out into our lives -- 

First account of the sacrament in New Testament --
11:23-29
10) remember
2) acknowledge
3) self-examination

1 Corinthians 12: 24-28
 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hathtempered the body together, having given more abundanthonour to that part which lacked:
 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that themembers should have the same acare one for another.
 26 And whether one member asuffer, all the membersbsuffer with it; or one member be honoured, all themembers rejoice with it.
 27 Now ye are the body of aChrist, and bmembers inparticular.
 28 And God hath set some in the church, first aapostles,secondarily bprophets, thirdly cteachers, after that miracles,then gifts of healings, helps, dgovernments, diversities oftongues.
You don't need to be beautiful to be part of the Church of God.

The Church IS. 
Christianity world-wide
Evidence of the divinity of God
all miraculous

12:28-29  importance of teachers

meek and charitable people will inherit the earth
you acknowledging what is in front of you. 

must have all these BECAUSE we  see through a glass darkly  -- And now abideth afaith, bhope, ccharity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

I just applaud --

Chapter 15 -- 
9-11
how long we can regret not coming to the aid of someone in need -- complicit in the murder of saints
But by the agrace of God I am what I am: Sola fila

Isaiah 49 -- I have labored in vain
also in Book of Mormon --  4 servant poems in Isaiah -- quoted in Book of Mormon
(you can't even touch the plow without the grace of God)
We must labor -- 
You're not working to produce something that God didn't already have.

Mosiah 26 -- 

a lynchpin in the Gospel 
Don't stress about things that aren't the lynch pin -- aren't closely connected to that lynch pin


plowing in hope -- will harvest this hope

Feast of Passover  umbrella -- multiple feasts in one week
Feast of leaven -- get all the leaven out of your home
Passover Feast 
     feast ,gird, lamb
Feast of First Fruits 
     Sunday Morning early
Barley best of the crop -- harvest it young -- bring to temple -- first fruit offering -- first day of week early, early in morning -- no barley harvest prior to this


Feast of Weeks?  
 50 days later Pentacost -- grains -- Wheat 
16-22

2nd Corinthians  -- Showing an increase of love 
1: 21-22
 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath aanointed us, is God;
 22 Who hath also asealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
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2nd Corinthians 3:3
Fleshy tables of the heart 
broken and contrite -- same word

15-16
faithfulness lifts veils
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their aheart.
 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
4:7   But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that theexcellency of the apower may be of God, and not of us.
he will be merciful 
we submit to him
never a moment we can glory 
such a precious treasure to be in an earthy body
5:17  a new creature 
born again -- old things have passed away
21  For he hath made him to be asin for us, who knew nobsin; that we might be made the crighteousness of God in him.  Isa. 53:6.  4th servant poem The suffering servant
6:12  corrected within your own self 
-- godly sorrow
you will know right from wrong -- will know you were warned not to do that.
7:12
to appease or to risk offending 
8:11-12
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there wasa readiness to will, so there may be a performance also outof that which ye have.
 12 For if there be first a awilling bmind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
deficiency is booing -- pointing out what you lack
sufficiency model -- what you are doing is sufficient
We are deficient, but God does not define us as deficient.
Do what you can do, given what you have.
God thanks you for what you do.
God says -- Great, just keep working with that.
9:1-2 - love of the Gospel contagious
10:11  11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
Live your life in a way that we don't need to babysit you.  Elder Maxwell -- a high-yield, low-maintanance Saint
11:24-30

12: 15
The more I love you, the less you love me.
Paul as the parent, converts as the childen.
but will continue to serve you 
spend and be spent for you
 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

13:8   For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.   
The truth does not need a cheerleader. fighting against it is futile. 



Institute -- prep for 9-15-2015
 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of amercies, and the God of all bcomfort;

 Who comforteth us in all our atribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by theb comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

9 we had the sentence of death in ourselves,
(we're all going to die anyway)

Chapter 3
 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, awritten not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in btables of stone, but in  cfleshy tables of the dheart.





Institute 9-1-15
Catholicism -- The Friend praying in a cathedral Nov 2014
https://www.lds.org/friend/2014/11/prayers-and-cathedrals?lang=eng

Read Acts on our own
Epistles of Paul 
No one who shapes Christianity more than Paul
1 Thessalonians
  an early epistle -- about 52 AD (The Savior born about 5-6 B.C.)

How do you respond to the Gospel?  How do you live it when you are living under persecution?

Saints in Thessalonica had Second Coming on the Brain.

How do we respond to someone dying?

What is in Paul's wheelhouse as he writes these epistles?
normative approach -- How things ought to be
rather than descriptive approach -- What is

General Conference -- normative  
only Philippians -- doesn't have to fix anything -- descriptive -- just happy news 

an apostolic screwdriver 

were at 32% of eligible young men going -- Is that changing?

1 Thess:1 
Paul and Silas and Timothy
How do you bring somebody to the Gospel?
Verse 5 

Alma 17  

verse 9 -10 the Father resurrects the Son

1 Thess 2: Leaders of the Church like Gentle nurses
King Benjamin but also here 

verse 13 When you expose your minds to the scriptures, to the Words of Christ -- effectually change you
Mosiah 5 

1 Thess verses 19-20  ye are our glory and joy

1 Thess 4: 1-8 Sanctification

Justification -- cleansing (like canning jar)
Sanctification -- in the heart -- holy, set apart for a higher purpose
(filled with fruit) 

washed -- cleansed 

10 increase more and more 

D&C a multiplicity of blessings 

13-16 mourning  -- matters of the heart 
when someone you love dies prematurely
Revelation -- I will wipe away all tears


2nd thes treatment of all thing second coming

When you pick up that Jesus pole, you get what is at the other end.

1 Thess. 5:
What a saint should be like at the second coming.

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9-8-15
Nobody is falling behind just because of where they live.
With the Spirit of God comes POWER.

J.Reuben Clark -- 
Sacrament:  a religious drama that you are in part responsible for creating

Great confidence in God  1Corinth 2: 15

Exegesis - text centered

Eisegesis -- think or feel without any text orientation -- or at least century's away -- 

If not spirit-driven will judge wise things as foolish and visa versa.


Question:  Can you eat meat that has been offered as a sacrifice in a Greek Temple?  Enter that temple?

Paul short - ?   not by the standard of his time.