What am I doing to prepare for the Savior's second coming?

Mark 13 is filled with warnings such as "take heed" and "watch".  I love the warnings that have been left for us in the scriptures.  We know that in the final days, things will become difficult.  If we aren't close to the Lord then it is very possible that we'll become lost. Some of the warnings that are given in Mark are to watch for false christ's that seek to decieve, after tribulations the sun will darken and the moon will be without light, and we must take heed and watch and pray because we don't know the time when the Savior will come again, only he knows. 

How can I prepare to for the second coming? From the assigned scriptures I found that I must stand in holy places.  To me this means to be temple worthy at all times. I must be able to stand in the Lord's house at any time and that means I must be living my covenants. Next, I must live in a way that I can have the holy ghost as a guide and the last thing that I want to list is to be faithful, prayerful and prepared just as the virgins with oil in their lamps were. Five of the virgins represented what is required in order to be prepared to meet the Savior.  The five wise virgins were: " christ like, repentant and forgiving, partook of ordinances and temple work, filled with truth, light and knowledge, and possessed charity and a willingness to serve.  

I love in Mark 13:37 the heed to "Watch"! I know that as I live worthy to my covenants, am humble, charitable, and seek after being christ like I will be able to "watch" and see the signs of the last days. I pray that I can live worthy enough to be reunited with my Savior one day.  I look forward to that joyous reunion and the opportunity that I'll have to thank him for this love and sacrifice. 

I love this picture of the Savior. It reminds me of peace as well as the fact that he is always a watchful keeper of his brothers and sisters.  It is especially comforting to think of the Savior in this light in contrast to his final days of his life. Although we know that his earthly death was part of his mission, it is still difficult to study the cruel manner in which he was treated as well as the betrayal he experienced and the pain that he suffered. As I studied the final days of the Savior, my eyes were welled with tears.  I thought about how I would feel if I knew that it was the final week of my life, as well as knowing the cruel and evil manner that I was to die.  I thought about what I would want to say to my loved ones as well as how I'd want to spend my final days.  The Savior accomplished so much and continued his mission regardless of the doom of death that was looming near.  He continued to teach, serve, and love.  He spent time with those closest to him and didn't miss an opportunity to teach them what he wanted them to know.  Not only were the teaching shared so that his apostles could continue his ministry, but I also saw them as loving advice for their own personal happiness.  

I also reflected on how the Savior reached out for comfort.  He was human.  He experienced the same feelings that I have.  He felt hurt, betrayal, grief, heartache yet he continued on.  He cried out in prayer three times while in the Garden of Gethsemane and an angel was sent to comfort him.  He also prayed for the men that he loved. Studying about the Savior's final days was humbling.  It gives perspective to my life and how I should be living. In reality, the Savior didn't live much differently during the final week then he did over his years on the earth.  I know that I too need to live each day in service, teaching, and loving my brothers and sisters.  I should be working toward overcoming my short comings constantly, so that I can live a higher calling in life. I know my Savior lives!  I know that he fulfilled his mission while here on earth and that he continues to fulfill his purpose in heaven.  I know that as I mold my life after his, I can reach greater heights, will be used to build his kingdom and will have a deeper level of happiness. 

Here is an overview of the Savior's final days:

7^th Day-Sabbath

6^th Day Mary anoints the Savior’s feet; and the Chief priests conspire to kill Jesus and Lazarus

5^th Day-Jesus teaches at the temple, enters into Jerusalem on a donkey, Weeps of Jerusalem, and casts money changers out of the temple for a second time.

4^th- He curses the fig tree. At the mount of Olives he teaches his disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem as well as the signs of his second coming, enemies try to trap Jesus in his words. He answers their questions about Roman taxes, marriage and the resurrection and at the temple he notices a widow donating a mite, warns of hypocrisy, gives the parable of the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats.

3^rd-Tells his disciples he would be crucified in two day, priests again conspire to kill him, he visits the house of Simon the leper, a woman anoints Jesus in preparation for his death, Judas arranges to betray Jesus to the chief priests.

2^nd day (First day of unleavened bread) The disciples prepare an upper room for the Passover meal, after sundown Jesus has his last supper with his twelve apostles, he announces that one of his disciples will betray him. Judas leaves the room.  Jesus instituted the sacrament

At 9:00 pm Jesus washes the feet of the Apostles and the disciples pledge their loyalty to him.  Teaches his disciples to love one another, testifies of his divinity and teaches of the comforter, teaches his disciples of true vine, love, opposition, and his imminent death, and offers a prayer praying to the father for his apostles and all who believe in him through them. Jesus and his disciples leave for the Mount of Olives then he and his disciples arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane.

At Midnight: Jesus took Peter, James and John into the garden, Jesus prays and an angel comforts him. Jesus found the three asleep and prays for a second time. He bleeds from every pore; the three continue to sleep; he prayed a third time and wakes his disciples. Judas betrays Jesus.

3am-Peter tries to stop the arrest of Jesus. Jesus heals the ear of the high priest’s servant. He is arrested and the disciples flee.

6am-Caiaphas questions Jesus; an officer strikes Jesus in the face.

Members of the ruling council question him, mock, spit and beat Jesus.

Three times Peter denies knowing Jesus

At sunrise Jesus is questioned by the whole ruling council.

9am:

Judas hangs himself, Jesus declares that he is the Son of God and is condemned to death. Jesus is led to the Roman hall of judgment, Pilate questions Jesus and finds no fault in him, and Pilate sends Jesus to King Herod Antipas, Herod questions and mocks Jesus and is sent back to Pilate. Pilate offers to release Jesus but the people say to crucify him. Jesus was whipped, had a crown of thorns placed on his head, was clothed in a purple robe, and was beaten by Roman soldiers. Pilate sought again to release Jesus, but the people wanted him crucified. Jesus was led to Golgotha and was nailed to the cross. Soldiers cast lots for his clothes.

Noon- Jesus was mocked as he hung on the cross.

3:00pm Darkness covers the land for three hours, Jesus is offered vinegar to drink, Jesus speaks his last words and dies. There’s an earthquake and the veil of the temple was torn in half.

6:00pm- A roman soldier pierces Jesus’s side with a spear. Great storms and earthquakes cause destruction in America.

Jewish Sabbath-Chief priests and Pharisees seal the tomb and assign guards to watch it. While his body lay in the tomb, Jesus visits the righteous in the spirit world.

First day of resurrection:

At Jesus’s resurrection the earth shakes and the angels unseal the tomb. Righteous saints in the spirit world are resurrected. Some women including Mary Magdalen find the tomb open, saw the angels, and run to tell the disciples. Peter and John run to the tomb and find it empty. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene at the tomb. Jesus appears to Peter.  Jesus appeared to other women. They testify to the disciples of his resurrection. Jesus appears to tow disciples on the road to Emmaus. At Jerusalem Jesus appears to a group of disciples; Thomas is not one of them. Eight days later Jesus appears to Thomas and the other Apostles. At the Sea of Galilee Jesus appeared to seven of his disciples. He said to Peter feed my sheep. In Galilee Jesus appears to all 11 disciples. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascends into heaven from the Mount of Olives. Two angels promise that Jesus would return in a like manner. Jesus then visits and teaches the people in America. Jesus visits other lost sheep in the house of Israel.

I got the majority of this information here: https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/09236_eng.pdf?lang=eng This is an excellent, excellent resource!

Matthew 19:16-30

1.       What indications can you find that suggest why the young man decided not to follow the Savior? How does Matthew 6:19-24 help explain his choice? What blessings did the Savior promise to those who make sacrifices to follow him?

The young man felt that he had been faithful and true.  He had kept the commandments for the duration of his life and wanted to know what more he needed to do.  The lord asked him to give up his possessions by selling them and giving the money to the poor.  This young man had many worldly treasures and he didn’t want to let them go in order to follow the Savior. The scriptures say that the boy was sorrowful, and he had obviously been tested where it meant the most.  His weakness was not in trying to keep the commandments; his weakness lied in being too attached to monetary things, and coveting what he had. The Lord makes the statement that it will be difficult for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God. The Savior promised that those that are willing to sacrifice their worldly goods in order to follow him will be given “an hundredfold” and will “inherit everlasting life.”

Based on the Savior’s response to Peter, write a paragraph that could help you put the Lord first in your life.

I think what holds me back from putting the Lord and his work more front and center in my life is time.  I have a hard time giving up my time because I feel like it’s so limited.  I stay very busy with school, home life, kids, calling, and work. By the end of the day I’m tired and when I do have free time I usually want to spend it how I would like to spend it.  That “I” is what can get a person in trouble.  It is when we start thinking about ourselves more than the Lord.  My time is the Lord’s time. He has afforded me this time on the Earth as well as my daily breath.  I should be sure that I’m using the time that he has given me to fulfill his purposes.  Not only is this what the Lord asks, but he also asks it of us because he knows that sacrificing on his behalf is what will bring us the most spiritual growth as well as joy in our life.  I know that I can dedicate more of my time to the Lord’s work and purposes and when I do, I will gain a stronger testimony of knowing that sacrificing can bring a deeper happiness.

2.       Review the parable in Matthew 20: 1-16 and consider what rewards come to those who serve in the Lord’s kingdom. Complete the chart below, filling in the blanks with information you find in Matthew 20

The Hours the laborers were hired: 1 group are the ones that were hired for the day. 2^nd group 6^th hour. 3^rd group 9^th hour. And 4^th group the 11^th hour

How much the man agreed to pay: He agreed to pay one penny for the day

Hours worked: First group all day, the other groups only a portion of the day

How much they were actually paid: They were each paid a penny regardless of the hours they worked.

3.       What do we learn from this parable about serving in the Lord’s kingdom? I take from this parable that we are each on our own levels.  It doesn’t matter if a person joins the church later in life.  He will still have the same opportunity to enter into the kingdom of God. I also think that it shows that no matter what capacity that we serve in the church, it is counted the same. I am able to see this first hand.  Being the primary president, we wouldn’t be able to efficiently run primary without all of the teachers, nursery workers, scouts and achievement day leaders, music people ect.  My job just because I’m the president, is not any more important than the nursery leader.  I would tell someone that felt that it was unfair for each of the laborers to be paid equally that there is a good chance that at one time or another they have fallen behind but that the Lord will be merciful on them. I would also tell them to think about how they would feel if the missed out on an opportunity to serve but were later offered to serve but for a shorter amount of time.  They too would want the same opportunities afforded to the others. Elder Holland gave an amazing talk on this very subject.  He said “Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.” I know that it is not our place to judge or become envious of another because of what they have been given. Elder Holland gives three lessons that we can learn from this parable:

Lesson 1: “So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.”

Lesson 2” Don’t dwell on old issues or grievances—not toward yourself nor your neighbor nor even, I might add, toward this true and living Church. The majesty of your life, of your neighbor’s life, and of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be made manifest at the last day, even if such majesty is not always recognized by everyone in the early going. So don’t hyperventilate about something that happened at 9:00 in the morning when the grace of God is trying to reward you at 6:00 in the evening—whatever your labor arrangements have been through the day.”

Lesson 3 “This parable—like all parables—is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.”

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?  I had to go and look up the definition of disciple just to make sure that I was completely clear on what being a disciple is. The first definition that popped us was "a personal follower of Jesus Christ."  How amazing it is that there is a word that is dedicated to express following the Savior. During Christ's ministry on the Earth, there was a price to pay to be a follower of him.  Each one of his disciples suffered a terrible death while continuing Christ's ministry after his death. Although we have the blessing today of being able to worship how we chose, oftentimes we can be ridiculed and shamed for being disciples of Christ.  The price that we pay however, does not overshadow the great blessing that it is to be following in Christ's footsteps, and to be doing all that we can to be more like him. 

According to the list of scriptures that I read (Luke 10:38-42, 11:1-13: 12:13-14: 13:23-24; 14:16-33; 11:5-13) this is my list of what is required to be a disciple of Christ:

One must be able to discern and take part in activites that are MOST important in life. Some things are better than good and these are the things that should get highest attention.  This also plays into the thought that consistent growth and betterment should always be in mind.

Persistent and heartfelt prayers should be administered. Prayer is most effective when you have "a consciousness of real need for prayer and a real trust in God."-James E. Talmage

A follower must beware of being covetous. Preparing spiritually for the future and not after temporal riches should be the goal.  The riches that we should be seeking after are the ones that we can posse eternally.

A disciple must be willing to sacrifice and must have deep humility.

Not being concerned with material things.

Avoids excuses that will hold us back from making changes.

A willingness to serve and build up the kingdom of God in any way possible.

We must meet the requirement of discipleship in order to enter into the strait gate to God's kingdom.  The comparison of the strait and narrow gate against the wide gate can be used to explain that the course one must take to the kingdom of God is a direct and planned path.  There are certain requirements that must be met in order to receive his kingdom.

Something that I would like to make more of a strength in my life is avoiding excuses. There are times when I know that I'm not doing something that I should be, and I use an excuse to rationalize my choice. For example, my scripture study isn't always on point.  I have high and low points where I'll do really great in my studies and other times where I won't think about it for weeks.  When I realize that it's been forever since I've last opened the scriptures, I will use excuses to make myself feel better. "I've been really busy", "I just don't have the time" "I'm up early taking kids to seminary and just can't fit it in."  These are a few of my go to excuses. To better commit myself to being a follower of Christ, I know that I need to cut out the excuses that hold me back from becoming more committed.  

(Luke 14:33; Omni 1:26; Mosiah 2:34 and Matthew 13:44-46) What does it ultimately required to be a disciple of Christ? To be a true disciple of Christ we must be doing everything that the Savior did while here on the Earth.  Just as Elder Holland's quote says, we must be easily recognized by the Savior when he comes again.  The only way that this will be possible is if we are doing his work.  We must be sacrificing our time, talents, resources and any other strength that we have in dedication to his ministry. I love the Savior and his great example of discipleship.  I know that as I tailor my life to become more like his, not only will I have greater joy in my life, I will also be worthy to enter the strait gate to the Lord's kingdom.

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!