Saturday, May 14, 2011

Parables, Gospel, and Good Vessels!

Hey Everyone! So this week in New Testament class we learned able the parables. It was really interesting to read these stories. The reading assignment was Matthew 11, 13, Mark 4-5, and Luke 7-8.

My favorite verses and principle for this week come from Luke 8:46. It is the story of the woman that touched His garments to become clean again. This verse made me think of just how virtuous the Savior was. He could tell that someone had touched Him, because he said, he could tell that virtue had gone out of Him. I think it is very important for us to remember how important virtue is and always remember to hang around people that will lift us up and not tear us down.

The student Choise Assigment for the week is as follows: Choice #2
- In your own words, define Parable.
* I think the word parable means to use materialistic things to explain a spiritual concept.
-What describes the future growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
*Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:24-30)
-Why does the church send out so many missionaries?
*Parable of the Gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50)
-How do you explain the remarkable growth of the church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier?
* Parable of the Mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
- Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrafice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the church?
*Parables of the Treaure and the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:44-46)
-Why do some members choose to leave the Church?
* Parable of the Tares( Matthew 13:24-30)
-Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (see Matthew 13:44-46)what sacrafices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrafices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?
*I think we are so blessed to live when we do. We are not required to give up very much to live the gospel and do what is right. We are challenged more to keep ourselves spiritually worthy, than actually having to sacrifice something physical. Knowing the comfort the Gospel gives us, I think that I would be willing to sacrafice alot. I know that I want to spend eternity with my family and I will do what is asked of me in order to be with them. I know personally the comfort that we can receive from the Atonement and I will sacrafice what I need to in order to have those blessings.

-What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? (see Matthew 13:47) What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away? (see Matthew 13:48-50).
* In verse 47 it says that the net is like the Kingdom of heaven. I think the visual of a net being thrown into the sea is cool. It is like our church. We are asked to be in the world, but not of the world. So, throughout our lifetime we are in this net in the sea. When it is time, Heavenly Father will draw in His net and we will all have to account for what we have done on this earth. The good will be seperated from the bad.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Week #2 of New Testament

This week we studied Matthew 5-10, and Chapter 12, Mark 2-3, and Luke 5-6

There were so many good verses to choose from. During the first part of the week we are asked to pick our favorite and most powerful principles from the lesson. I am shocked at how many different principles there are in the scriptures. And it is so weird to me that depending on the day and what I need the spirit directs me to a different footnote or scripture that I need and I find new principles everytime I read. This week one principle that stood out to me most is found in Matthew 5:14-16. The principle to be learned is that we are the Light of the World. It talks about how we would not put a candle under a bushel and waste it, but rather we would put it out in the open so that it can light the darkness and help us accomplish our tasks. I compared that to us. We are so lucky to know the things we do and have the comfort of knowing the Plan of Salvation. For me, often times it is not the fact that I am "doing something wrong" but rather I am just not doing the BEST things possible. I have two little brothers and a lot of friends that I look up to a lot. I hope that I can be a good example to them. It is so easy to get caught up in our our activites and lives and forget about the needs of others. We each have great opportunities to teach the people around us, whether it be at home, work, school or other places. I have been working really hard this year to write in my Journal. I have started a new challenge this week and encourage you all to join in. So... Here's the Challenge! Do one thing kind for someone else throught your day, then write about it! Somedays it has been really easy and other days not so much. It can be something as simple as a genuine conversation with someone. I promise you it will help. It will make us all think about the things we do and say to others and will help us to be more in tune with the Spirit. I notice such a difference in my personal happiness when I am helping others. I know that by doing kind things to others we will stand out as a Light to the World and we will encourage others to come to know the truth for themselves.
I am excited for this personal challenge to Blog about what I am learning. It is out of my comfort zone, I have never done something like this before. I am excited to strengthen my own testimony and hope that I can share something that will help you out to! :) And this is some other stuff I learned!!! <3
I could not get the chart to work on my blog so this is how it goes....
Reference, Miracles of the Lord, Who Demonstrated Faith
Matthew 8:1-4, He cleansed a leper, The Leper had to show great faith because he came unto the lord.
Matthew 8:5-13,He healed the mans servant that was home sick with palsy, The Leper needed to have faith that he could heal his servant
Matthew 8: 14-15,Healed Peter’s wife,Peter and his wife both had to have faith
Matthew 8:16, He cast out the devils and healed the sick, The sick and those with devils had to have faith
Matthew 8:23-34, He cast out devils, Those who were overcome with the devils
Mark 5:25-34, He made the diseased woman whole, The woman showed amazing faith Matthew 9:27-31, He healed the blind men so they could see, The blind men
Mark 2:1-12, He healed the sick of palsy, The friends/family of the sick

New Challenge, and Where has the Time Gone?!

Hey Everyone!! So I know it's been a while! I am so aweful at updating my blog.Life is crazy and seems to be flying out from under my feet. I have been going a million miles an hour as always! :) I finished another semester of school in the fall (barely) and survived the winter (nasty!) I think there are signs of spring in Eastern Idaho.... and I have broke out the Capris and Shorts even if its not warm enough! :) I started a new sememster of school 2 weeks ago! 12 Credits online and still working 45ish hours a week! Life is crazy! One of our weekly assignments in our religion class is to post on our blogs about what we learn.... so GUESS WHAT?! For the next 10ish weeks you will get to learn what I learned in my New Testament Class! So.... Here goes! :)