That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God

Unit 1

1 John 1–3. That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God

1.    Read 1 John 1:1–4. Describe in writing John’s desire for those he wrote.

John wanted the saints to have fellowship with him and other apostles. He wanted to experience by his words, their experience when they saw, heard, and touched the resurrected Christ. He desired for them to share a common testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Study the following scripture references and then list what these verses teach about how we can come to know God better and have greater joy and fellowship with God:

·            1 John 1:8–10 Accept that we have committed sin, then repent from them so He can forgive us and cleanse our live making us righteous.

·            1 John 2:3–6 Keep His commandments and give testimony of Him by living upon His word, and being His witness.

·            1 John 2:9–11; 3:11–19 He showed His love by dying for us, and He asks to love one another as He loves us.

·            1 John 2:15–17 Do not love the world and the things in it, but do the will of God and abide forever with Him.

·            1 John 2:20–21, 27 We receive revelation and truth by the Holy Ghost.

·            1 John 3:4–6 If we do not sin, we cn abide with Him.

2.    Choose one of the ways to have greater joy and fellowship with God as you described it above, and write a paragraph explaining how you can better implement those principles in your life.

I love when I hear a child share their testimony; they are so pure and honest because they are free of sin. In 1 John 2:3-6, John teaches us that we need to keep His commandments and give testimony of Him. In order to testify of Him, I need to analyze my life, and repent for anything that I am doing wrong, or for not doing what I supposed to do. If I testify of Him, I need to live my testimony and not only repeat what other say, or something I do not feel or live. 

Unit 2

Revelation 2–3. “To Him That Overcometh”

1. The Lord’s counsel to each of the seven branches of the Church in Asia follows a pattern: 

             §  He told the members of the branch what they were doing that pleased Him.

             §  He told them in what ways they needed to repent.

             §  He told them of the blessings that would come if they were faithful.

• Fill in the chart below with information you find in Revelation 2–3:

City	What They Did That Pleased the Lord	How They Needed to Repent	Promised Blessings
Ephesus (2:1-7)	They did good works, labored for His sake, had patience, and could not bear evil.	They needed to remember past sins and repent from them.	To eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Smyrna (2:8-11)	Did good works, and suffered tribulation, poverty, and blasphemy.	By being faithful unto Him even to death.	Crown of life not suffering the second death.
​Pergamos (2:12-17)	They hold fast to His name, did not denied their faith.	Repent from bearing those who follow the doctrine of Balaam.	Eat of the hidden manna, meaning Christ as hidden from the wicked.
Thyatira (2:18-29)	They had charity, service, faith, patience, and works.	Repent from tolerating Jezebel, a false prophetess who caused many to fornicate, and keep His works unto the end.	Put no other burden upon them, power over nations,
Sardis (3:1-6)	Their works	Be watchful, strength the things that remained, and perfect their works.	They will be clothed in white dresses, their names will stay in the book of life, and confessed to the Father and His angles.
Philadelphia (3:7-13)	They kept His word and did not deny His name.	Stay stronger to resist temptation.	Keep them from the hour of temptation, and dwell in His kingdom.
Laodicea (3:14-22)		Be diligent and repent	He will come unto them, and have a place for them in His throne.

2. Write a paragraph about what counsel given to the seven branches of the Church in Asia applies to you today. Which of the promises the Lord gave to the seven Churches most inspires you to seek eternal life? 

The counsel given to the branch in Ephesus is something I need to apply to my life. I tend to be give myself a hard time by punishing my heart and memories by bringing back sins from the past. I need to learn that if He has forgiven and forgotten my sins, so should I.

The promise of dwelling in His kingdom is one that inspired me the most. I need to stay be stronger and resist temptations, as he asked the saints in the Philadelphia branch. The idea of being in His presence gives me the desire to endure to the end.

3. How does Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, 63:20 give meaning to the phrase "to him that overcometh?"

It means enduring to the end. It means obeying His commandments every day with faith, and accepting His will. By doing this, we are working on a place with Him in His eternal and celestial kingdom. 

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and Living Our Religion

Unit 1 

Choice Two: Hebrews 11–12. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

1.    In Hebrews 11, Paul recounted the faith of many ancient men and women. Read Hebrews 11. Fill in the chart below listing eight other people, and how each person demonstrated his or her faith, and what blessings the Lord gave each of them.

Name	Verse	How They Demonstrated Faith	Blessings They Received
Abel	4	Offered a “more excellent sacrifice”	A witness from God that he was righteous
Enoch ​	5	Had a testimony and pleased God	He was translated with our seeing death
Noah	7	Obeyed by building an ark to save his house	Was saved and became heir of the righteousness
Abraham	8-10	Obeyed and went out looking for a land to live	Inherited and lived in the land of promise which foundations were made by God.
Sara	11	Had faith in the promise of God	Conceived a child in her old age.
Isaac	20	Blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come	His sons became fathers of many
Jacob	21	Blessed the sons of Joseph (patriarchal blessing)	The promise that they will received everything prepared for them
Joseph	22	Mentioned the departure of the children of Israel and asked them to take his body	The children of Israel received freedom
Moses 23	26-30	Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt,	Was called to be a prophet and lead the Israelites out of Egypt

2.    Give at least three examples of other individuals found in scriptures, or whom you, know who could be included in this chapter.

      a) Ananias – Acts 9:10-17

                  He showed faith by obeying God’s commandment to find and help Saul (Paul). Ananias knew Paul was a powerful man who persecuted and imprisoned the saints. By faith, Ananias performed a miracle on Saul and this one recovered his sight. Ananias baptized Saul.

      b) Eve – Moses 5:11

                  Eve’s faith helped her recognized that the fall was necessary to obey the commandment of God to multiply and replenish the earth, know good from evil, and to endure to gain eternal life. She became the mother of all living, which is the meaning of her name.

      c) Mary, the mother of Jesus. By faith, Mary accepted the will of the Lord as she was chosen to become the mother of the Savior. She was also a brave woman, as she witnessed the death of her son.

3.    Read Hebrews 12:1–2 and write what Paul encouraged the Saints to do to show their faith.

      Putting the examples of faithful persons he listed in chapter 11, he encouraged the saints to live a righteous life free of sin. He told them to have faith in Christ as the “finisher of our faith,” or in other words, “the Leader and perfecter of our faith.”

4.    Read the institute student manual Points to Ponder sections, “Developing Faith Is Active Belief, Which Is More than Just Belief” (p. 400) and “Fully Developed Faith Is Power” (pp. 400–401). Describe in writing how faith is different than belief.

      Even when faith and belief are related, one is different from the other. Faith is active, while belief is passive. Belief implies knowing that something is true; faith is the conviction of it. A person cannot have faith without believing, but she can belief without faith.

I have posted the answers to the blog I created. I chose this because I liked the list of faithful servants of the Lord Paul included in this chapter. It was a great reminder of what He expects from us and that it is doable because others have done it, they had faith in Him.  

Unit 2

Choice 3: James 3–4. Living Our Religion

1.       Read James 1:19; 3:1–13; 4:11; and the institute student manual commentary for James 3:8, “The Importance of Taming the Tongue” (p. 410). Using these resources, make two lists:

Things We Say That Are Offensive to God	Things We Say That Are Pleasing to God
Anger Inappropriate and profane language Arrogance Envy Speak evil of others Being judgmental Uncontrollable temper	Swift to hear    Slow to speak    Meekness    Speaking with care    Clean vocabulary    Kindness    Love out neighbor    Self-control

2.    Referring to the following chart, read James 4:1–4 and identify four symptoms of people who are friends of the world. Read James 4:7–12 and write a prescription that would help people overcome the “world.” Write your responses in the appropriate column:

Symptoms of Being in the World (James 4:1-4)	Prescription for Being out of the World (James 4:7-12
Lust Murder Envy Ask amiss to consume it upon lust	Submit To God Resist the devil Draw nigh to God Clean hand and purify heart (repent) Humble in the sight of the Lord Do not judge others .

Life Challenges and Obidience

For week 4 in my religion class of the New Testament, I decided again to make my post in a questions and answers format.

Unit One:

Choice 1: Philippians 1–4. Find Solutions in the Scriptures to Life’s Challenges

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

The true gospel of Christ brings happiness to our lives. It is more enjoyable when we, as members, especially members of the same ward, are as Paul said to the Philippians, “likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2). If instead of focusing in our differences, we see each other as children of God, then we can obey the commandment of loving our neighbor, and esteem others better than ourselves. It can brings us closer together, or as one even with Christ. We can learn from each other instead of argue about matters we not agree. At the end we’ll see things in a different perspective and instead of trying to find guilty, we can focus on a better way to serve.

·      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 commentary for Philippians 2:12, “Work out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling” [pp. 361–62]).

The same way young people look forward to be independent from their parents by moving out to their own place, finding a job and taking their own decision; the same applies to obtain their own testimony. We know families can be together forever, but each member in the family need to seek its own salvation, as it is individual. Paul advices us, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12). The same energy and enthusiasm they put into independent in other aspects should be the same to receive spiritual strength. President David O. McKay, put it in these words, “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, leaving the fruits of such labors either for self or for others to be bestowed as a just and beneficent Father may determine.”

·      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).

Telling an investigator to leave everything they love to follow Christ is difficult, however, many of us have done it, and we can assure them it can be done and at the end, the reward is worth it. Sure, it is a difficult task, but we can testify them that this scripture is true, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) Many times the separation is just temporary, because when our love one see that the gospel has made of us a different person, they change their heart. However, if the lost is permanent, we can “… press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

  

·      How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3?

The scriptures contain answers and solutions to many; actually, I will dare to say, to all life challenges. I am sure many of us have been asked by a family member or friend for an advice on certain situation they are going through. We can always turn to the word of God, which are the standard work, which include the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. We can also use the word of the modern revelation found in the talks given by the general authorities. Nephi gives us the same advice, “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3)

Choice 4: Titus 1–3. Epistle of Obedience

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 a member of the church, and apparently a convert of Paul. According to the words of Paul, Titus was truly converted and with a strong faith. He presided over the branch in Crete. Titus was giving the responsibility to ordain in different cities faithful brethren to Elders to serve as bishops.

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

- Blameless as the steward of God

- Not self-willed

- Slow to anger

- Keeper of the word of wisdom

- Peacemaker

- Honest

- Hospitable

- Loving

- Calm

- Just

- Santo

- Temperate

- Faithful

- Teachable

- Encourager

- Plain spoken

- Vigilant

-  Patient

- Generous

- Good example

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.

- Dishonesty

- Idleness

- False teachings

- Filthy lucre

- Priestcraft

- Disobedience

- False testimonies

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

·       In Titus 2:1, what did Paul encourage Titus to speak of?

Paul encouraged Titus to speak only pure doctrine

·       What impact did Paul say sound doctrine would have upon the aged?

The pure doctrine would influence the aged, men, and women, to be sober, faithful, patient, charitable, whole, good teachers, discrete, obedient, love their spouses. After the aged had been impacted by the doctrine, they could teach the young people to do the same.

·       How could that also apply to the young?

The attributes obtained by learning the pure doctrine of Christ are the same for ages and young people. They can also follow the same pattern stablished by the older members.

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

These scriptures remind us that we are not different from the new members, because we were all new or we do not comprehend everything in the gospel. It also tells us that we need to show them meekness, and patience, and love them. All, new members, and members born in the covenant, have to be baptized.

·       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.

We have been asked to endure to the end, and do everything in our power to do good and keep the commandments, however, we could never gain eternal glory by ourselves. We need help, and fortunate for us, we have received a Savior. Grace is the help or strength given through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Definition found in lds.org) Living worthily makes us worthy of His divine help and His grace can strengthened us to keep obeying to the end. Only by His grace, we can be perfected in God.   

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.”

Foolish questions and genealogies are arguments and conditions unnecessary to understand and live the word of God, and be saved.

The scriptures we have available, the words of the living prophets, and all the material authorized by the church, contain truths about the gospel. The church works vigorously to make materials available for all members of the church so we can study and learn. When we go outside the church looking for answers and material, most likely, we are going to find things that are against the true gospel of Christ and doubts will start growing in our mind and heart. We need to stay away from publications that teach things contrary to the true. Another way to avoid foolish question, and specifically, striving about the law, is analyzed which commandment is more difficult for us to keep, because if we do not take care of it, we can start thinking that we are not doing anything bad and that God and His law are not fair.  

Baptism and Salvation

Unit I
Choice 3: Romans 6. Baptism

1.    Review Romans 6:1–13 and answer the following questions in writing:

o       What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

Before entering the waters of baptism, it is necessary to repent of our sins. It is true that we are cleansed during baptism, and symbolically, those sins stay in the water, however, it is important to present ourselves cleaned by repentance.

o       What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

Baptism by immersion is the way Christ taught to be the correct way to do it. In it, we find different symbolisms that represent different events from Christ’s life: His death, burial, and resurrection.

o       Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by

sprinkling?

When we are baptized, we are complete immersion in water symbolizing His death and burial. Sprinkling water on the head does not reflect in any way what He taught us with His example.

o       What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

As it is true that the baptism cleanse us from sin, it is also true that we are going to make mistakes and sin again. To keep ourselves clean, we have to repent from any sin so we can partake of the sacraments and renew the covenants we made with Him when we were baptized.

o       According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

Ideally, the natural man in us would die at baptism letting a true follower of Christ take place. 

2.    Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We can know whose servants we are by analyzing the things we do daily. If instead of turning the TV or cell phone first thing in the morning, we say our prayer, we then are servants to righteousness. If no televised game on Sunday, for import it has been announced, keep us from going to church to renew our baptism covenant, we then are servants to righteousness. Doing the contrary to the two examples above will tell us that we are, sadly, servants to sin.

Freedom comes from being able to obey the commandments and living the gospel and its principles. 


Unit II

Choice 1: Romans 12-16. Live as Saints Should Live

1.    Review Romans 13:11 and look for what is “nearer.” Read Ezekiel 3:20; Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; and explain in writing what we must continue doing to work

out our salvation.

We have to learn how to die well by obeying God’s commandments and keeping our covenants. Enduring to the end is a phrase we hear many times. It means to have a continuous desire to follow Christs and His teachings. Joseph B. Wirthlin taught the following, “The gospel of Jesus Christ includes enduring to the end as one of its bedrock doctrines. Jesus taught, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” And, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”” General Conference, October 2004. Enduring to the end has the greatest reward of all, eternal life.

2.    In Romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. Read each of the following verses and list what Paul taught would help lead to salvation:

·            Romans 12:1 -Live a life of service, and becoming holy by obeying His commandments and becoming His disciples.  

·            Romans 12:2 -Not be adapted to the world, but converted to do the right.

·            Romans 12:9 -Love without pretense and avoid the evil.

·            Romans 12:13 -Help and serve others.

·            Romans 12:16 -Treat others with equality. Not judge. Not to feel more important than others.

·            Romans 12:21 -Turn away from evil. Overcome evil with good.

·            Romans 13:1 -Recognize that there is aw to obey.

·            Romans 13:3 -Obey the law to stay away from trouble.

·            Romans 13:8 –Stay away from debt.

·            Romans 13:9 –Obey the commandments. Love one another.

3.    Review Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3. Then write answers to the following questions:

·            What cautions did Paul give about judging?

Paul teaches that is not for us to judge others, but only God. If we do it, instead of helping them we become a stumbling block for them.

·            People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?

It is important to remember that everyone is different and the way one person serves the Lord in not necessary the only way or correct way to do it. At the end, the only one who can judge us is God, and we are here to serve our neighbor and seeks for their wellness.

·            What additional insight comes from reading Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27?

When we see others, our brothers and sisters, with love, we become one and it is what the Lord wants to be, one with Him.

4.    Review Romans 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15. Write the term Paul frequently used to refer to members of the Church in his day.

In his day, Paul referred to the members of the church as Saints. We are also called Saint, but to differentiate us from the, we are Latter-Day Saints.  

The Sacrament, and the Importance of Forgiveness

Lesson 2

Unit 1 – Choice 6 - The Sacrament

1 Corinthians 10:16-21; 11:20-29; 3 Nephi 18:6-11. 28-29

In these scriptures, three personages are talking about the administration of the sacrament, Paul, Luke, and Nephi. The three prophets mention that the bread and cup represent His body and blood respectably. We also learn that when we partake of them, we do it to remember Him. It is interesting that Luke and Nephi used the word “give.” This word present us a better understanding about that moment and its importance. He did not only teach them about what the bread and cup meant, He also serve them by giving and serving them the Sacrament. In a way, He was also teaching them that when the time come, they will need to minister the members of the church, by giving them the opportunity to participate of this sacred covenant.

When partaking of the sacrament, one has to be worthy of doing it. Elder Robert D. Hales said, “For the Sacrament to be a spiritually cleansing experience each week, we need to prepare ourselves before coming to the sacrament meeting.” Paul teaches us that the members need to examine themselves to see if they are worthy of partaking. Nephi, on the other hand, teaches, “Ye shall forbid him.” In the church, nobody has the authority to forbid others to partake of the sacrament, only the bishop can do it, however, only when the person has confessed a transgression that requires time to repent. Now, when we know someone is not doing well, we can, if the circumstances are appropriate, give them advice and counsel them. We need to invite them to go to their bishop, he and other leaders have the help they need to repent and come back to Christ with a clean life.

If a member partake of the sacrament unworthily, he or she might think that the bishop or nobody will ever know. However, Paul teaches that in doing so; they can bring damnation to them. Besides, it also prevents us from coming together with Christ and fulfilling our part of the covenant.

If there is nothing we need to confess to the correspondent leaders, there are many things that we can do to participate every week of the sacrament, and make it the most meaningful reunion of our week. Prayer and scripture reading is always on top of the list. We also can also avoid any distraction, like putting away any electronic device. Paying close attention to the sacrament prayers and ponder their meaning. We can also say a silent prayer. However, and this is my personal thing to do, we can also auto analyze ourselves. It is a good time to see how well or bad we are doing in keeping the commandments and our covenants with God. It is very important to have a weekly goal: coming to church on Sunday, ready and worthy of partaking of the bread and water that represent or Savior. 

Unit 2 – Choice 2

2 Corinthians 2: 1-11; Matthew 6:14-15; D&C 64: 9-10

Forgiveness

Paul commanded the Corinthians to be forgive one another. He goes even further, telling them that they need to comfort those who caused them grief, and reaffirm their love to them.

However, what do we gain by following Pauls’ counsel? The Lord has told us, that as we forgive others, He will forgive us as well. How could we ask for forgiveness when in our heart we have feeling of resentment against others? By disobeying this commandment, we bring condemnation to ourselves. We remain in sin, and as I mentioned before, the Lord will not forgive us.

“I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.” D&C 64:10