Student Choice 3 Matthew 18:3-4 Explain in writing the ways we are like little children, in this verse, how does the Lord say He will help us?

Read Mosiah 3:19 and list the ways in which we are to become as little children.

When I think of little children I think of their innocence, their willingness to be taught, and their humility.  Children are innocent.  They have yet to be exposed to many of the evils of the world and are very receptive to goodness.  I currently serve in primary, and I love to see the goodness that each child possesses. They are so easy to love, even the more challenging ones, because they are receptive to the spirit of goodness.  They look for ways to be kind to one another and most by nature are pleasers.  Children are also very teachable.  Once a month I prepare a sharing time lesson and it is so fun to see the children soak up the information.  Last week our lesson was on repentance and when the lesson was over one of our three year old sunbeams went to his mom and said “mommy, I need to tell you something. I watched Star Wars with daddy and I don’t think I was supposed to.  I need to tell you that I’m sorry and ask what I can do to make it better.”  Isn’t that the cutest!!  Kids are like sponges that absorb information.  They submit themselves to being taught which makes them very teachable. 

Lastly, children are humble. One of the definitions of humility on lds.org states “Humility includes recognizing our dependence upon God and desiring to submit to his will.” Children recognize their dependence upon parents, family, teachers and friends.  They are also willing to (in most cases) do what they are asked to do.  This applies to following the Savior.  It takes very little coercing to get them to live the commandments and to try to be like Jesus. Sister Jean A. Stevens of the Primary General Presidency gave a talk entitled “Become as a little child.”  In it she shared a story about a ward in Hong Kong that had been struggling financially. They were having difficulty providing for their own needs.  A General Authority visited the ward and felt impressed to advise the bishop to tell his ward members to pay their tithing. The bishop had his concerns because of the economic hardships that the members were experiencing however he decided “he would approach some of the most faith-filled members of his ward and ask them to pay their tithing. The next Sunday he went to the Primary. He taught the children about the Lord’s law of tithing and asked if they would be willing to pay tithing on the money they earned. The children said they would. And they did” (Stevens, 2011). Six months later the bishop went to the adults in the ward and explained to them that their faithful children had been paying their tithing. “He asked them if they would be willing to follow the example of these children and do the same. The people were so touched by the sacrifices the children were willing to make that they did what was necessary to pay their tithing. And the windows of heaven were opened. With the example of these faithful children, a ward grew in obedience and in testimony” (Stevens, 2011). I thought this was such an amazing example of children being humble and obedient.

So what would things be like if we were “as little children”? We can become more humble and submit ourselves to the Lord more readily and with greater ease.  We can also become more teachable and allow ourselves to learn from others while putting away our personal pride.  We can also become more innocent with goodness and stay far away from the evils of the world that will pull us away from righteous living.  The Savior promised that if we will become as little children we will be worthy to enter into his kingdom. In Mosiah 3:19 we are instructed on how we should become like little children.  It reads that we are to be “submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” Some of these qualities may be difficult for us to possess but in Doctrine and Covenants 78: 18 the Lord promises that for each person he will “lead you along.” He also promises that “the kingdom is yours, and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.”

This week I chose to focus on the Savior's miracle of feeding the multitudes.

Choice 1: Matthew 14:14–21; 15:32–38. The Feeding of the Multitudes

1. The Savior provided two similar miracles. As a summary of what took place, complete the following chart:

	Matthew 14:14-21	Matthew 15:32-38
How many people were present?	In verse 14 it talks about there being a "great multitude" and later it says there were 5,000 men beside women and children.	4,000 men beside women and children.
What did they need?	In Mark it talks about how the people needed a shepard because they were like sheep without guidance.	It seems that the people wanted to be with the Savior.  They followed him and were healed.  They wanted to hear his teachings and learn from him.
What were they able to offer in an effort to meet that need?	This account states there were five loaves of bread and two fish.	There were seven loaves of bread and a few fish.
What words or phrases describe the Savior’s feeling toward the multitudes in their time of need?	The Savior was "moved with compassion toward them".  He also commanded that the food be brought before him and told the multitude to sit. He taught that we would provide for the people and take care of them.	In this account we read that again the Savior has compassion but he also shows concern that they are hungry because they have been with him for 3 days. He states that he doesn't want them to fast any longer.
What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for the multitudes?	He blessed and broke the food and they were filled.	They all ate and were full, they took up the broken meat,

1. In each story, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome. Read Romans 3:23 and explain in writing another way human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God. According to Ether 12:27, how does the Lord help us overcome this insufficiency?  

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"

Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

We will all fall short without the help of the Savior.  Without his atoning sacrifice, no one would be able to return to the father unspotted.  The Savior makes up the difference for us. He is the bridge that allows us to cross over to be with our father.  He takes our shortcomings, and sins and makes them enough just as he made the bread and the fish be enough.  

We all  have weakness.  If it wasn't for weaknesses we would have no reason to progress and become better.  The Savior is the one that can help up overcome this. Usually weakness requires that we be forgiven at one time or another.  It also can lead to sin.  The Savior affords us his grace and mercy.  If we reach out to him, in humility, he will take upon him our sins.  He will also make our weaknesses strengths, and provide ways for us to become strong. Again he makes the shortcomings enough.  He fills in the gaps and can perform miracles in our life.

Week 3

John The Baptist

While John was imprisoned by Herod, he sent two of his disciples to find Christ.  When the disciples came to Christ they asked "Art thou he that should come" and "or look we for another"? Some might take this as meaning that John didn't know who the Savior was and so he sent his disciples to question him however, this is not the case.  John sent his disciples because he had a testimony of Christ.  He knew that he was the Savior of the world. He had been teaching this and testifying of this truth but he wanted his disciples to see for themselves.  These men were then healed of many infirmities by the Savior.  What a blessing that John afforded these men. They were able to seek out the Savior and see for themselves his heavenly powers. The Savior knew what John was doing and affirmed what a special man that he was by saying in verse 28 of Luke 7 "For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist". If I were those men I would have told the Savior that I know that he lives, I know that he was sent to Earth to fulfill a divine mission, and that he was a selfless and kind healer and friend to all.

Jospeh Smith gave three reasons why John the Baptist was the greatest prophet.  Here are his reasons:

1. John had been given the mission to prepare the way for the arrival of the Savior. In my opinion that wouldn't be the easiest task, but would be a very rewarding one.  You would have to be a special and righteous person to be given that mission.

2. John was required to baptize the Savior.  What a humbling and possibly intimidating task.  The Savior was perfect and did not require to be baptized but he lived this law to set an example for us. John assisted in this by baptizing a man that was more perfect than he.

3. John at the time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power.

In John 3: 30 this verse is a good summary of how John the Baptist felt about the Savior and his earthly mission "He (the Messiah) must increase, but I must decrease". John knew that his life was not about him; it was about making a way for the Savior and proclaiming his name.  I can take this same attitude into my life. The Savior must come first.  I should be proclaiming the name of the Savior and teaching others about him.  Before I can do this, I must know for  myself that he is the Lord and the Savior.  I can say that I know this to be true.  I know that he lived on the Earth and that he lives today.  I know that his atonement made it possible for me to be forgiven, I know that if I follow his example then my life will be fulfilled.  He lives!

                                                                  

 The Beatitudes

The word blessed didn't mean what I thought that it meant.  When I think of blessings, I usually think of a monetary or physical increase of some sort.  For example, I think of being blessed with good health, a comfortable job, or a strong testimony. Each of these examples represent a thing, but in reality a blessing, or being blessed, means to have happiness or to enjoy happiness. Having a comfortable job, or good health can bring happiness but the definition of being blessed is more of a state of mind than a physical thing.

With this definition in mind, it makes the Beatitudes spoken by Christ a little more understandable.  Each of these "blessed are" statements are a state of mind, a feeling in the heart, or a call to action that will merit a feeling of happiness.  This is turn is what a true blessing is.

"Blessed Are They Which Do Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness”

I remember feeling this way when I first began to understand the gospel.  I was converted to the gospel during my youth.  I had been raised with very little knowledge of God or Jesus Christ. My mother had taught me to be a good person, and had taught me about the importance of being this value but I was missing the example that is provided by Jesus Christ as well as the knowledge of the gospel.  When I started to attend church, I remember that I could not get enough.  I had such a deep desire to know more and more, and my focus of wanting to become a good person gave me a more narrowed focus.  I wanted to be a good person because I knew that I was being obedient to Heavenly Father's plan.  I felt this same desire to thirst after righteousness when I took the Book of Mormon class through BYU-I.  I had read the Book of Mormon several times, but the depth and the study material were so great!  I found myself thirsting after the principles and the knowledge that was contained in the book.  That class really blessed my life because it opened my eyes to the joy and happiness that studying the scriptures can bring.

 “Blessed Are the Meek”

This is a character trait that I am striving for.  I know that the blessing of being meek can bless my life tremendously.  In the world around us, meekness can sometimes be viewed as being weak. In a world that can be so rough and cold the characteristic of being gentle and kind can often be overlooked as a trait that one should possess.  Those that are truly meek are easy to teach.  Being easy to teach is an important because the spirit is allowed to teach and mold.  There is a man in my ward that I've known for several years.  He is filled with knowledge of the gospel.  I often think that if I had a quarter of his knowledge, I'd feel like I was doing pretty well.  Not only is he knowledgeable, he is the most humble and meek man that I've ever known.  He doesn't use his knowledge to by showy in any way.  He uses it to help others, and has a continued desire to know more. Because of this, his knowledge is able to grow.  He is willing to let others, as well as the spirit teach him.  When we talk of being forever learners, I believe this is what the Lord had in mind.  We can sometimes be our own enemy when we think that we know all that there is to know.  We hinder the Lord's teachings.

 “Blessed Are the Merciful”

When I reflect on being merciful to others, I think about how the Lord is going to treat me.  I know that he is merciful, and he has forgiven and will continue to forgive me in my shortcomings.  Because of this, why would I know do the same to others.  I know that when I forgive the negative feelings that can consume me are replaced with feelings of peace and contentment.  In the past, I've had to forgive others for the wrongs that they have inflicted upon me. When my parents divorced, my mother remarried a not so great guy.  He really wreaked havoc on my family, and caused a lot of grief and pain.  For years I held onto this anger that I felt for him.  I didn't feel that he deserved mercy in any way.  I can honestly say that I hated him.  Over time, I realized that this was not my weight to carry.  My job was to show mercy and let the Lord deal with the justice part. As I let go of the feelings of anger, hate, and sadness the blessing of peace, love, and well-being came into my heart.  My life was blessed because I was able to let go, and be merciful. 

After studying the Beatitudes this week, I can see how these traits are the blessings in our life.  When we thirst and hunger after righteousness, become meek, and are merciful to others our lives are blessed with happiness. It is the kind of happiness that is not momentary but a happiness that this everlasting and pure.  It can provide and overwhelming feeling of well-being and delight.

       

    

  Post #2

1.According to the Bible dictionary, the Samaritan people worshipped Jesus and believed that they had a “share in the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem” (Bible Dictionary, p. 768). The Jews did not allow the Samaritan’s to share in building the temple, so they started a rival temple. This caused bitter feelings between the groups of people. The Samaritan woman at the well was surprised that the Savior, because he was a Jew, was speaking to her. Jesus explained to her that he was the Messiah and “customarily rabbis did not talk to single women.”

2.       The Samaritan people were not a respected class of people. They were looked down upon, but the Savior made a point to not only visit these people, but to also make friends with and teach them. In Colossians 3:25 it says that “he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hast done.”  In the JST the sentence should read as “he that doeth injustice shall receive for the wrong which he hast done.”  The Lord is just and will judge according to the wrong doing however in 2 Nephi 26:33 we learn that the Lord won’t judge one person more harshly that another.  He looks at each person as an equal that is “alike unto God”.  This scripture makes it clear that the Jew and the Gentile will be judged the same.  With this understanding it makes perfect sense why the Lord visited the Samaritan woman.  He viewed her no different than any of his other brothers and sisters.

3.       As the Savior was conversing with the Samaritan woman, his disciples came upon them talking.  They were surprised to find him speaking with her.  Although they did not question what he was doing, the scriptures make it seem as if they were a bit surprised to find a Jew speaking with a Samaritan.  In Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 the scriptures state that the disciples had a mission to preach the word to all nations and people. That would include the Samaritan people.  Without the Savior’s example the disciples may have not known that it was not okay to judge other races and that the requirement would be for them to hear the gospel.

4.       As the Samaritan woman and the Savior conversed, a change could be seen in how she felt about the Savior.  By the end of their conversation the woman believed and could testify that the man before her was the true Messiah.  The change can be seen through the names that she refers to the Savior as.  She starts out in verse 9 by referring to him as “a Jew” in verse 11 and 15 she calls him “sir”, verse 19 “a prophet” and in verse 29 the woman refers to him as “the Christ”. I can relate with the woman’s feelings because as I have grown to know Christ my testimony and feelings have deepened for him.  As I recognize more fully what his sacrifice means for me and my life, I feel forever indebted to him. 

5.       In John 4:14 the Savior teach of the living water.  Elder Wirthlin gave an excellent example of partaking of the living water.  He said “The abundant life is a spiritual life. Too many sit at the banquet table of the gospel of Jesus Christ and merely nibble at the feast placed before them. They go through the motions—attending their meetings perhaps, glancing at scriptures, repeating familiar prayers—but their hearts are far away. If they are honest, they would admit to being more interested in the latest neighborhood rumors, stock market trends, and their favorite TV show than they are in the supernal wonders and sweet ministering of the Holy Spirit.” What a blessing it is to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  Do I take the gospel for granted and merely “nibble” at all great feast that is before me.  I know that there are areas in my life that I can more fully partake of Christ’s living water.  Scripture study is an area of weakness for me. I have these wonderful books before me, just full of gospel knowledge, yet there are times that I fail to pick them up and study them regularly.  Reflecting upon Christ’s living water has given me a chance to think about how I can better my life.