Protecting Ourselves from False Teachers

2 Peter 2

Protecting Ourselves from False Teachers

Mormon Message

The Voice of the Spirit

James E. Faust

Read 2 Peter 2:1–19. Record the characteristics of false teachers described by Peter. Explain in writing how your list helps you recognize false teachers today.

Peter warns us of false teachers and describes them as being those who:

“bring in damnable heresies” (v.1)

“deny the Lord” (v.1)

get others to “follow in their pernicious ways” (v.2)

are “covetous” (v.3)

use insincere words to flatter (v.3)

speak “evil of the things” that they don’t understand (v.12)

make “sport of deceiving” others while they “feast with you” (v.13)

commit adultery (v.14)

can’t stop sinning (v.14)

“beguile” and trick the vulnerable (v.14)

forsake the “right way” and go astray (v.15)

are  "wells without water” and “clouds that are carried with a tempest” (v.17)

speak vain words (v.18)

use the lusts of the flesh to draw people to them (v.18)

live “wanton” lives (v.18)

promise liberty but are in fact “servants of corruption.” (v. 19)

Sadly, it isn’t difficult or a stretch to see these traits exhibited today by those who want to lead us off of the strait and narrow path. So many people insist that it is naive and ignorant to even believe in God. We are mocked and told we are weak for relying on something we have no proof even exists. But sadly, it’s not just the atheists and those who insist there is no God who are false teachers. We also have to be aware of those who once knew the truth and have chosen to allow the Adversary to deceive them into believing the prophets and apostles are “old white men” who are “out of date” and don’t keep up with the times. We see this in people who advocate for same-sex marriage and who picket and demand that women receive the Priesthood. There are also Christians who do not understand the commandments who eat out and go shopping on Sundays, or drink alcohol, or stop at Starbuck’s every day for a Mocha Frappucino. They tell us these things are “normal” and “okay”. Other people think it is impossible for humans to be celibate or faithful and advocate watching porn, or having affairs, or living together before marriage, or having one night stands because “YOLO” - You only live once.  All of these things “promise us liberty”, make it seem like these things offer true freedom, but will only cause us unhappiness that chains us and takes away our agency.

2.    Read 2 Peter 2:20–22; Doctrine and Covenants 82:3, 7. In your own words, write a few sentences describing the dangers of returning to the “pollutions of the world.”

D&C 82:3 says “For of him unto whom much is given, much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.” When we have “received the greater light” of the Gospel and then choose to turn our backs to it, it will be worse for us than if we never knew about the light of Christ in the first place. (see 2 Peter 2:21) 

As I’ve shared before, I am an adult convert. During my youth and early adulthood, I made many mistakes. But I can honestly say they were made in true and honest ignorance. I was taught that my actions were okay and normal and acceptable and I had no idea that I was doing anything wrong. But when I joined the Church, that all changed and my eyes were opened to the truth. I struggled with feelings of guilt and immense sadness at the mistakes that I made. But I was reassured that all of those past mistakes were washed away when I entered the waters of baptism and were remembered no more by the Lord. The hard part was giving myself permission to also forget and forgive myself. When you know better you do better. But we also have to be careful to not “long for the good old days.” As Jeffrey R. Holland reminds us, we can’t look back like Lot’s wife did. The consequences are deadly. Here’s a link to that talk if you’ve never heard it. It is POWERFUL. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland_remember-lots-wife/

The Trial of Our Faith Is More Precious Than Gold

1 Peter 1-4

Mormon Message: The Refiner's Fire

1 Peter 1:7 - "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 2: 12, 15, 21 - "Having  your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation...For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:...For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps..."

1 Peter 3:14-15 - "But, and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that sketch you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."

1 Peter 4: 12-13 - "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 4:16 - "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

These verses so powerfully teach how we should look at our trials and at the mocking that sometimes comes to us as we strive to live our faith. 

I am reminded of a talk from President Thomas S. Monson called "May You Have Courage" (April 2009):

"My final plea tonight is that you have the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness. Because the trend in society today is away from the values and principles the Lord has given us, you will almost certainly be called upon to defend that which you believe. Unless the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith. When firmly planted, your testimony of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will influence all that you do throughout your life. The adversary would like nothing better than for you to allow derisive comments and criticism of the Church to cause you to question and doubt. Your testimony, when constantly nourished, will keep you safe."

"Recall with me Lehi’s vision of the tree of life. He saw that many who had held to the iron rod and had made their way through the mists of darkness, arriving at last at the tree of life and partaking of the fruit of the tree, did then “cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.”  Lehi wondered as to the cause of their embarrassment. As he looked about, he “beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building. …“And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who … were partaking of the fruit.” The great and spacious building in Lehi’s vision represents those in the world who mock God’s word and who ridicule those who embrace it and who love the Savior and live the commandments. 

My beloved young (people), with the courage of your convictions, may you declare with the Apostle Paul, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.'...“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 

Honestly, I don't think I could say it any better than these verses and words of  loving counsel from our prophet do.

Hebrews 11-12 Examples of Faith

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

In Hebrews 11, Paul mentioned many ancient men and women who demonstrated faith and received blessings for it. I love this list of righteous people who are a wonderful example to me of how I, too, can have more faith in my Savior.

Hebrews 11:4 Abel demonstrated faith by offering a "more excellent sacrifice" than Cain and was blessed with a witness from God that he was righteous.

Hebrews 11:5 Enoch had a testimony a strong testimony that his life was pleasing to God and was blessed by being translated and "not seeing death."

Hebrews 11:7 Noah "moved with fear" and "prepared an ark to the saving of his house" even before the rains started to fall. He was blessed by becoming an "heir of righteousness."

Hebrews 11:8 Abraham "went out, not knowing whither he went" and was blessed to receive the land of inheritance.

Hebrews 11:11 Sara had faith that she would conceive because God had told her she would and was blessed by being "delivered of a child when she was past age."

Hebrews 11:20 Isaac had faith to bless his sons Jacob and Esau and was blessed with a mighty posterity of two nations.

Hebrews 11:21 Jacob was faithful in keeping the commandments and was blessed to receive the land of Abraham and Isaac for his seed.

Hebrews 11:22 Joseph showed his faithfulness by doing the right things for the right reasons and was received "blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that leith under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb..." (Genesis 49:25)

Hebrews 11: Moses demonstrated faith by refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, forsaking Egypt, keeping the passover, passing through the Red Sea and was blessed with delivering his people out of bondage and was translated and never tasted death.

There are also wonderful examples of faith found in the Book of Mormon.

1 Nephi 18 Sariah, wife of Lehi, demonstrated faith by following her husband into the wilderness and raising her family up to the Lord. She was blessed with several faithful sons, including two that she bore in the wilderness.

Alma 19 Abish, Lamanite servant to King Lamoni's wife and convert to the Lord, demonstrated faith by choosing to go and tell others what had happened to King Lamoni, his wife and Ammon hoping it would "cause them to believe in the power of God" and was blessed with the blessings of the Gospel and knowing that her actions pleased God.

Ether 2 The Brother of Jared demonstrated faith by following the Lord's command to "go forth into the wilderness" and "build barges" and he was blessed by seeing and conversing with the Lord.

In Hebrews 12: 1-2 Paul encourages us to: "Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Faith is more than just believing. It requires us to act on our beliefs. I don't think anyone does a better job of differentiating between faith and believing than Elder David A. Bednar did in a talk given at Ricks College in 2000 called "According to Thy Faith":

Frequently, the words "faith" and "belief" are used interchangeably in our everyday conversations. However, the teachings of the Prophet Joseph highlight an essential distinction between these two concepts. Remember, he emphasized that ". . . faith is . . . the principle of action in all intelligent beings" (Lecture 1, p. 31). Belief, on the other hand, is defined in our modern dictionary as the "mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something" (The American Heritage College Dictionary, p. 125, emphasis added). A belief is simply anything we mentally or intellectually accept as true. For example, we believe and accept as true the nature of the Godhead as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith. We believe and accept as true the restoration of the gospel in its fullness in these latter days. And, most importantly, we believe and accept as true the reality of the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer. In summary then, belief is the mental and intellectual acknowledgment, acceptance, and assent that something is true. Belief requires only the mind.
Faith grows out of and builds upon belief and produces action. Faith is not merely a positive mental attitude, or a strong will, or a Pollyanna-like approach to significant personal and public problems. A big "happy face" on our bathroom mirror is not an indictor of great faith. Please consider again the explanation by the Prophet Joseph Smith: ". . . faith is . . . the principle of action in all intelligent beings" (Lecture 1, p. 31).
Faith is evidenced in deeds. And as faith is the principle of action, so the opposite of faith, which we typically refer to as doubt, is the principle of inaction. Thus, if you and I have faith in Christ, we accept and live His teachings and we accept and obey His commandments. If you and I have faith in Christ, we strive to live worthily and seek for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, we repentof our sins, we minister to the poor and needy, we carefully listen to and apply the teachings of the living prophets, and we do the works of righteousness. Faith in prayer is evidenced in part when we kneel down. More importantly, however, faith is reflected when we get up and work diligently to accomplish that for which we have prayed. The true exercise of faith in prayer begins when we say, "amen." Whereas belief requires only the mind, faith ultimately requires all of our mind and all of our heart and all of our might and all of our strength."

Titus 1-3: The Epistle of Obedience

Obedience

Titus 1-3

  1.  Read Titus 1:1–5 and the Bible Dictionary entry for “Titus” (pp. 785–86). Write a paragraph about who Titus was and what responsibility he had toward the Saints living in Crete.

Titus was converted to the Gospel by Paul. He was at the conference about circumcision in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1), probably went with Paul on his third missionary journey and was sent to Corinth to deliver Paul's Epistles to the Corinthians. For 8 years he is not mentioned, but then we know he rejoined Paul at Ephesus and then Crete, where Titus remained to "set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city" as Paul appointed him to do. (Titus 1:5)

One thing I love about Titus is that he was a convert and yet he went on to do great things. He reminds me of my Home Teacher, Bro. B. Let me explain - I'm an adult convert, too and sometimes I look at members whose families crossed the plains and I think "Oh, those are the people who will be General Authorities and hold leadership positions, not me." But Brother B., our faithful Home Teacher, has completely dispelled that underachieving myth for me. Bro. B. is also an adult convert who just happens to have been a Bishop, a Patriarch and the President of the Dallas Temple. Even though he is a "first generation" member, the Lord has not had any problem with using him for great things! In fact, two cool connections with Bro. B - first, he gave me and my husband our Patriarchal blessings after we joined the Church. He also sealed us in the Dallas Temple on October 15, 1994. Just like Titus, he is a wonderful example of obedience and consecrating his life to the Lord.

2.    List the attributes of a bishop found in Titus 1:6–9; 1 Timothy 3:1–7

Bishops should be: blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who are not unruly, be a steward of God, not self willed, sow to anger, a teetotaler, not obsessed with worldly wealth, hospitable, a lover of good me, sober, just, holy, temperate, faithful to the word of God, able to exhort and convince others of the truth through sound doctrine. (Titus 6-9) He should be patient, not covetous, a good and righteous leader in his home, experienced and humble. (1 Tim. 3:1-7)

3.    Read Titus 1:10–16 and the institute student manual commentary for Titus 1:12, “The Nature and Character of the Cretans” (p. 373). Make a list of the problems Paul identified that existed among the Saints in Crete.

The Cretans who taught false teachings into the Church are: vain talkers, deceivers who subvert whole families by teaching things they shouldn't, just for the love of "filthy lucre." Paul said they were "liars, evil beasts, slow bellies (gluttons) (Titus 1:10-12) and that their minds and consciences were "defiled". They say they know God, but their works show they deny him. They are "abominable and disobedient" and generally just "unfit and worthless" according to the footnote for verse 16.

4.    Read Titus 2–3. Then write your answers to the following questions:

o       In Titus 2:1, what did Paul encourage Titus to speak of? Paul encouraged Titus to teach "sound doctrine."

o       What impact did Paul say sound doctrine would have upon the aged? Sound doctrine will help the aged be "sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience, holy, not false accusers, not imbibers and teachers of good things." (Titus 2:1-3)

o       How could that also apply to the young? True doctrine can also help young people gain wisdom and understanding that can help them withstand the tides of immorality and misinformation that is out there. It can strengthen them and help them not be deceived.

o       How can the counsel given in Titus 3:2–5 help us be patient with new members of the Church?

I LOVE THESE VERSES!! What an awesome reminder! Paul teaches us that we need to be gentle and meek towards everyone, especially new members, who are in the process of making huge life changes. We need to not forget that we aren't perfect either. We have sinned and fallen short and have weaknesses, too. At some point, we have all been disobedient. Joining the Church is a HUGE life changing experience and some aspects of the Gospel are harder to live than others, especially when we have years of "practice" doing the wrong things. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ can help us all change for the better, through His grace.

o       What role does the Lord’s grace play in our salvation? Read Titus 3:5–7; 2 Nephi 2:6–8; 10:24; Moroni 6:4; 10:32–33; Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5. Grace is defined as "the enabling power from God that allows us to obtain blessings in this life and gain eternal life and exaltation in the life to come. It can change our sinful nature and turn our weaknesses into strength. This divine help is given through mercy and love of God to those who exercise faith, repent and earnestly strive to keep the Commandment." Through the Lord's grace we are "justified" and "made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 7) We need to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit and when we do, our sins are forgiven us through his grace and truth. (2 Nephi 2:6-8)When we "reconcile ourselves" to the will of God, we are saved through Christ's grace. (2 Nephi 10:24). 

5.    Read Titus 3:9 and the institute student manual commentary for Titus 3:9, “Why ‘Avoid Foolish Questions, and Genealogies, and Contentions, and Strivings About the Law’?” (p. 374). Write a definition for what is meant by foolish questions and genealogies. Write a paragraph about how you could stay grounded in “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1) and “avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law.” When I think of "foolish questions" I think of those questions that we may be curious about but that have  no bearing on our eternal progression. For instance - where is Kolob? or How old is the earth really? Or "did the Big Bang happen?" Interesting to think about - not necessary for exaltation.

When we focus instead on the Basic Doctrines of the Church (which are, in case you're interested:)

1. The Godhead

2. The Plan of Salvation

3. Creation and Fall

4. Atonement of Jesus Christ

5. Dispensation, Apostasy & Restoration

6. Prophets

7. Priesthood

8. First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

9. Ordinances and Covenants

10. Commandments

11. Marriage and Family

(https://seminary.lds.org/bc/content/seminary/materials/english/teacher-resources/seminary-basic-doctrineseng.pdf)

We are going to strengthen our testimonies, deepen our conversion and be protected from every wind of dissent and controversy that people may throw at us.

The important thing to remember about genealogy isn't who our famous ancestors are, or whether we come from a royal line or not, but rather the obligation we have to our ancestors to do the temple work for them so they have the opportunity to accept the Gospel. 

Phillipians 1-4: Find Solutions to Life's Challenges in the Scriptures

The Scriptures: Real Answers for Real Life

For each of the following common challenges, write the counsel from Philippians that you would use to resolve it:

1. People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week (see Philippians 2:1-8, 14-15)

In chapter 2 of Philippians, Paul reminds us "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (v.3) and "Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (v. 14-15)  As soon as I read these verses, President Uchtdorf's famous two word sermon "Stop It!" from his awesome talk  The Merciful Obtain Mercy from General Conference April 2012 came to mind. As brothers and sisters in Christ, there is no room for pettiness in our interactions with each other. None of us are perfect, we all fall short of our fullest potential and we all owe each other the benefit of the doubt. 

2. Many youth feel that their parents' testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12-15 and Institute Student Manual "Work Out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling" pp. 361-62) 

Oh, there have been times when I hoped and wished with all my might that my struggling child could just cling to my own testimony until she reconnected with hers. While much good comes from a child knowing and feeling her parents' testimony, eventually they have to gain their own testimony for themselves. Testimonies are not gained effortlessly or automatically. As Paul says in Philippians 2:12, we must all "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." I think one aspect of "fear and trembling" is humility. We have to humbly want to know for ourselves and be willing to ask for spiritual confirmation. It also requires work - maybe that is what the trembling is referring to - when we physically work out our muscles, sometimes they shake and tremble and feel weak. The same is true when we are exercising our spiritual muscles as. There's a quote in the Institute manual from David O. McKay that says "To work out one's salvation is not to sit idly by dreaming and yearning for God miraculously to thrust bounteous blessings into our laps. It is to perform daily, hourly, momentarily, if necessary, the immediate task or duty at hand and to continue happily in such performance as the years come and go..." (p. 361). No one can do it for us.

3. An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7-16; 4:13)
Well, I'm not sure I would choose to put it quite this way, but Paul says: ""Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Obviously, our families are not "dung", but the point Paul is trying to make is that nothing is more important than Jesus Christ and if we have to give up everything for His sake, so be it. In the end, we will know with a surety that it was the right decision. It comes down to faith. Do we believe Christ? If we do, the things we may sacrifice will be worth it. Personally, I believe that through Christ, miracles can happen, too. So even if the investigator's family stops associating with him after he joins the Church, that doesn't necessarily mean it will always be there. The Lord can work in them and soften their hearts. In my own experience, my family thought we were crazy to join the Church 23 years ago, but now, they see the fruits the Gospel has yielded in our lives and they see how happy we are. My dad, who really thought it was crazy tells me all the time what a wonderful job I did raising our kids, even though at one point when they were little he asked me if I "was ever going to use the brain God gave me?" because in his eyes, I was wasting it by being a stay at home mom. :-)

4. How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3? "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." This writing assignment has been an awesome opportunity to see "in real life" that answers to all of life's problems can be found in the Scriptures and the words of the Prophets. The key and the trick is to get to the point where the scriptures are the FIRST place we turn, with prayer, rather than our last resort when we have tried everything else our limited minds can think of. 

Paul's Example of Courage and Conviction Acts 21-28

Paul's Example of Courage and Conviction

After three successful missionary journeys that took him into many lands, Paul returned to Jerusalem even though he knew it was dangerous to do so. Read Acts 21:10-14, 22-25, and answer the following questions in writing:

o       Who was Agabus? (See also Acts 11:28) Agabus was a prophet.

o       What did Agabus prophesy concerning Paul? He prophesied that Paul would be captured and bound by the Jews in Jerusalem.

o       How did Paul respond? Paul said that he was not only prepared to be bound in Jerusalem, but was ready to die there.

o       What consequences did Paul know would come if he followed the Spirit’s direction to go to Jerusalem? Paul knew that if he listened to the Spirit he would die in Jerusalem. 

o       How did Paul’s friends react to his commitment? Paul’s friends said “The will of the Lord be done.” (v. 14)

o       How did this demonstrate Paul’s commitment to Christ? Paul showed he was totally committed to Christ and doing His will, even if it meant going to his death.

2.    Study Acts 21:26-26:32 and write answers to the following questions:

o       What did Paul do that led to his arrest? In Acts 22, Paul shared his conversion story with the people.

o       What did the Lord say when He appeared to Paul following Paul’s examination by the Sanhedrin? The Lord said "Be of good Cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. How has the Lord helped you “be of good cheer” during difficult times? Oh, there are so many examples of the Lord helping me with this very thing! I clearly remember the night Preston had a heart attack in 2013. As I was following behind the ambulance in my car on the way to the hospital, I heard so clearly a voice that said "no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay." There was such a feeling of peace surrounding that entire nightmare of a night that it is hard to explain. But I know the Lord was with Preston, me and our youngest son who was home because we were calm and at peace.

o       What did Paul say that caused Felix to tremble? Felix trembled when Paul spoke to him "Concerning the faith in Christ" and "reasoned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come." I imagine this thought of "judgment" is probably why Felix trembled, because he was afraid of how he would be judged for his actions.

o       Why didn’t Felix let Paul go? I think Felix didn't let Paul go because he was hoping he could bribe Paul for money in exchange for his release.

o       What happened when Paul “appealed unto Caesar”?  I am having a hard time understanding these verses especially in trying to answer these questions, but I found this quote online from ldsgospeldoctrine.net: “Paul's firm decision to invoke his right as a Roman citizen was probably an unpleasant one to Festus. It was embarrassing enough for a procurator ever to have his decisions

appealed to Caesar, but to have his first administrative decision thus appealed was to prejudice the

imperial government against him. But after conferring with the Council, composed of administrative

legal advisers, Festus decided that Paul's appeal was a valid one. He turned to the Apostle and said,

‘Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.’ (Acts 25:12)” (Sidney B. Sperry, Paul's

Life and Letters [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1955], 221.)) (http://www.ldsgospeldoctrine.net/bwc/bwc-nt-38.pdf)

12 

o       Review Acts 26 and compare the differences in the reactions of Festus (a Roman) and Agrippa (a Jew) to Paul’s testimony. Which of them said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”? Agrippa said "Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian" in Acts 26: 28. What prevents people today from fully accepting the truth when they hear it? I think change is hard and when we accept the gospel as truth, it requires us to make changes in our lives that aren't easy to make. It is easier to stay in our comfort zone. I also think peer and family pressure has something to do with it, too. When we hear truth and it threatens the status quo, other people don't want us to change either. I know this happened right before Preston and I were baptized. My mom did not support the idea at all and did her best to try to convince me that I didn't need to be baptized again because I had been baptized as an infant.

o       In which situation that you read about do you think Paul demonstrated the greatest courage? Why did you choose this example? I think Paul demonstrated courage each time he stood before the leaders and shared his testimony and conversion story with them. But it seems like King Agrippa was less antagonistic towards Paul than Felix or Festus.

o       Who do you know who has the courage to stand up for what he or she believes even in the face of opposition? Read the institute student manual Points to Ponder section, “You Can Prepare to Act with the Same Courage That Paul Exhibited in Presenting the Message of Jesus Christ” (pp.346-47). Write a paragraph explaining what you could do to develop that kind of courage. This semester I am taking FAML 460, a senior level Marriage and Family Studies class on becoming an Advocate for Children and Families. It is teaching each of us how to stand for truth and righteousness and have just the kind of courage that Paul demonstrated as we research various issues that threaten the family in today's society. Many of our beliefs and what we know about the Doctrine of the Family is in direct contrast to the ways of the world, whether we are talking about same sex marriage, pornography, divorce, cohabitation or any of a number of other threats. One of the ways that I am trying to develop courage to speak out on what I know to be true is to plead with the Lord for His spirit to be with me, to help me recognize truth and then to put the words that he would have me speak (or write) into my mind so I can share them with others. The other thing I am trying to do is to really and truly LEARN the doctrine and the research surrounding these threats so they are carried deep into my heart. It requires a lot of study and prayer. The problem is the Adversary's "minions" are all educated and wily in their abilities to confuse and twist words, so as advocates we really have to know what we are talking about it and be truly converted to the truths we are trying to share.

3.    Acts 27-28 recounts how Paul took many opportunities to teach and bless others because of his faith and courage. After reading these chapters, write your answers to the following questions:

o       What happened when the master of the ship rejected Paul’s counsel? When the ship master rejected Paul's counsel, a terrible storm came up and they were "exceedingly tossed with a tempest"  and the boat sustained damage. (Acts 27:18)

o       What motivated the centurion to disregard Paul’s counsel? The centurion believed the master and owner of the ship more than he believed the words that Paul spoke (Acts 27:11)

o       Why do some people occasionally disregard our Church leaders’ counsel? Sometimes people disregard the counsel of our leaders because of peer pressure from their friends who don't want to be obedient. Mostly it is a matter of pride - they think they know better than God and His servants. What have you experienced that has helped you know of the importance of following Church leaders’ counsel? It is hard not to see the terrible, heartbreaking consequences of those who don't follow the teachings of the Prophets. Just in the last few months we have seen two very vocal opponents to the Gospel be excommunicated because of their refusal to humble themselves and repent and stop the work they are doing to destroy other people's testimonies. For me, I am so thankful I have a childlike faith that seems to immediately testify to me the truthfulness of what the Prophets are teaching and I gain a testimony they are speaking the truth. But I see others who are more tempted to doubt and question and contend against their teachings. I worry a lot about them and whether they will get through their questions with their testimonies and covenants intact.

o       How do 2 Nephi 9:20 (O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.)and Amos 3:7(Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.) help explain how Paul could know that all of the passengers would arrive on land safely even though the ship would be destroyed in the storm? Paul said that all night he had an angel of God at his side who told him not to be afraid and that everyone would be with him when he was brought before Caesar. How was this prophecy fulfilled? The ship "ran aground" and part of it was broken apart because of the violence of the waves. And although the soldier said they should kill the prisoners, the centurion chose to believe Paul's words that everyone would survive and they all made it safely to land. How did Paul use his priesthood power while on the island of Melita? Paul was bitten on the hand by a viper and used his Priesthood power to heal himself. He "felt no harm" and although he should have been swollen or even dead, no harm came to him. What does this incident suggest about the purpose of priesthood power? While I don't think healing happens to "show off" God's power, I do think they are able to help people see His power. And, it also shows us that if God has a work for us to do, He will help us find a way to do it. If the viper had killed Paul, his mission would not have been complete.

4.    Review Acts 28:16-31 and the institute student manual commentary for Acts 28:16-31, “What Do We Know Concerning Paul’s Activities While He Was Imprisoned in Rome?” (p. 343). Describe in writing what we know about Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. How did he turn this trial to his advantage? What can we learn from Paul about being a faithful witness of Jesus Christ? Even though Paul was imprisoned he "used his time wisely" to preach the Gospel and to also write four of his Epistles - Phillipians, Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon. Every trial we face is an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord. No matter what we are facing, we have covenanted to "stand as a witness at all times and in all things and in all places". We must always faithfully witness of Christ. 

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Faith, Grace and Works: Romans 2-5

Faith, Grace and Works

Grace: "Divine means of help or strength." "Enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts." - BIBLE DICTIONARY

"There is a difference between the Lord Jesus Christ and the rest of mankind. We have no life in ourselves, for no power has been given unto us, to lay down our lives and take them again. That is beyond our power, and so, being subject to death, and being sinners - for we are all transgressors of the law to some extent, no matter how good we have tried to be - we are therefore unable in and of ourselves to receive redemption from our sins by any act of our own. This is the grace that Paul was teaching. Therefore, it is by the grace of Jesus Christ that we are saved. And had he not come into the world, and laid down his life that he might take it again...we would still be subject to death and be in our sins...So it is easy to understand that we must accept the mission of Jesus Christ. We must believe that it is though his grace that we are saved, that he performed for us that labor which we were unable to perform for ourselves, and did for us those things which were essential to our salvation, which were beyond our power, and also that we are under the commandment and the necessity of performing the labors that are required of us as set forth in the commandments known as the Gospel of Jesus Christ." - President Joseph Fielding Smith

Faith, Grace and Good Works all play a part in our salvation. Romans 2-5 helps us understand this.

FAITH AND GRACE: 

Romans 3:23-24 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Romans 4:24-25  "But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offense, and was raised again for our justification."

Romans 5:1 - "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:6 - "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Romans 5:9 - Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Romans 5:15-17  "...and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many...so is the gift, for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offense unto justification...for if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:21 - "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

GOOD WORKS: 

Romans 2: 6 - "Who will render to every man according to his deeds"

Romans 2:12 - "For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judge by the law."

Romans 2:16 - "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

Romans 3:6 - "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

ROMANS 4:17-25 In these verses, Paul talks about Abraham's faithfulness.  I think the reason Paul chose Abraham as a model of faith is that Abraham did not even have the Law of Moses yet, but he was still an example of faith and living a righteous life.

How does ROMANS 4:19-22 apply to your life? Paul reminds us that although Abraham was old and Sara had not yet conceived, he never lost faith in the promise God made him that he would have a son. There are times when I wonder if things that I have felt spiritual confirmation of will actually come to pass. One example right now is graduate school. I have been accepted into the Master's Program in Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington, to start this fall. I have had more than one message from the Spirit that my education is necessary not just for me, but for other people that will need my help. Right now I am wondering if I can keep up the rigorous pace of two more years of school and also wondering if it is "worth it" to take on student loan debt to get my Master's. But I always have to remind myself of those powerful and meaningful spiritual experiences to help me stay focused and on track. If the Lord needs me to do this, He will follow through on His promises and everything will work out.

Review Romans 5:12-14. In what ways did Adam's Fall affect each of us? How did Paul answer the question of why a Savior is needed for all mankind? Because of the Fall of Adam, we now all experience physical death. We all sin and will also suffer spiritual death without the Savior and His Atonement. Romans 5:21 says "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

How does 2 Nephi 25:23 help us understand the relationship between faith, grace and good works? "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." 

I have always felt so much comfort when I read this verse. I know I will never be "good enough" all by myself to receive Eternal Life, but I know I can do my best and that Christ will help me "after all I can do." This reminds me of something my son sent in his last letter on his mission. He said "Momma, I am not a perfect person, but I can be and do better today than I did yesterday." I'm so grateful this isn't a "one strike and your out" gospel. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is there for us to call on over and over and over again as we go through life, somedays doing great and other days not so much. 

One thought that I've had about good works is that because of my gratitude and love for my Savior and the Grace he offers me, I have a strong desire to become like Him and please Him, which requires me to act like Him. So my "works" need to reflect my love for Him.