Thursday, October 27, 2016

Luke 2:47 -Astonished at his understanding and answers

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught the following about Jesus Christ’s youth:

“When still a boy He had all the intelligence necessary to enable Him to rule and govern the kingdom of the Jews, and could reason with the wisest and most profound doctors of law and divinity, and make their theories and practice to appear like folly compared with the wisdom He possessed; but He was a boy only, and lacked physical strength even to defend His own person; and was subject to cold, to hunger and to death” (History of the Church, 6:608).

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Mary Magdalene and the Resurrection-Mark 16:9


Elder Bruce R. McConkieElder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
"How much there is incident to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord which ennobles and exalts faithful women. They wept at the cross, sought to care for his wounded and lifeless body, and came to his tomb to weep and worship for their friend and Master. And so it is not strange that we find a woman, Mary of Magdala, chosen and singled out from all the disciples, even including the apostles, to be the first mortal to see and bow in the presence of a resurrected being. Mary, who had been healed of much and who loved much, saw the risen Christ!"





"What is resurrection? It is not returning from death to life as did Lazarus; it is not ascending to heaven without tasting death as did Elijah; it is not continuing to live on earth for thousands of years as do John and the three Nephites. Lazarus lived again as a mortal man, to die at some future time; Elijah was translated, and so remained until he was "with Christ in his resurrection" (D. & C. 133:55); and John and the three Nephites will yet be changed "from mortality to immortality." (3 Ne. 28:8.)"
"Resurrection is to rise from mortality to immortality, from corruption to incorruption, to change a natural body for a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:42-58; D. & C. 88:27-32.) It is to have. body and spirit reunite with an inseparable connection so that never again can they be torn apart. Resurrected beings live forever and have powers not available to mortals. Their bodies are made of flesh and bones so organized as to be eternal in nature. See Luke 24:13-35."
"Jesus, the first fruits of the resurrection, who appeared first unto Mary Magdalene, is the great Exemplar. As he came forth from the grave so shall all men. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:22.)" (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, page 748-749).

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Temple Veil Was Rent-Matthew 27:50-51

During the time of Jesus, the temple had two rooms: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies represented the presence of God. These two rooms were separated by a veil, or curtain. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest passed from the Holy Place through the veil of the temple and entered into the Holy of Holies, where he sprinkled the blood of a sin offering to atone for the sins of all the congregation of Israel (see Leviticus 16). When the veil of the temple was torn in two at the death of Jesus Christ, it was a dramatic symbol that Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, had passed through the veil of death and would shortly enter into the presence of God the Father.

 Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“The Holy of Holies is now open to all, and all, through the atoning blood of the Lamb, can now enter into the highest and holiest of all places, that kingdom where eternal life is found. … The ordinances performed through the veil of the ancient temple were in similitude of what Christ was to do, which he now having done, all men become eligible to pass through the veil into the presence of the Lord to inherit full exaltation” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:830).

Friday, October 7, 2016

The Ten Virgins-Matthew 25:1-13

President Spencer W. Kimball:
President Spencer W. Kimball
“This was not selfishness or unkindness. The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable. How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of knowledge? How can one share faith or testimony? How can one share attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission? How can one share temple privileges? Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself. …
“In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. … Each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 255–56).

Talents-Matthew 25:14-30

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
Elder Quentin L. Cook
“The growth in our own talents is the best measure of personal progress. … Comparing blessings is almost certain to drive out joy. We cannot be grateful and envious at the same time. If we truly want to have the Spirit of the Lord and experience joy and happiness, we should rejoice in our blessings and be grateful” (“Rejoice!” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 29, 30).

Elder Sterling W. Sill of the Seventy:
Elder Sterling W. Sill
“[The third servant’s] loss was not because he did anything wrong, but rather because his fear had prevented him [from] doing anything at all. Yet this is the process by which most of our blessings are lost. …
“… When one fails to use the muscles of his arm he loses his strength. … When we don’t develop our abilities, we lose our abilities. When the people in past ages have not honored the Priesthood, it has been taken from them. … Neither spiritual, mental nor physical talents develop while they are buried in the earth” (The Law of the Harvest [1963], 375).