Assignment Number Five

This class is coming to end! It is unbelievable how fast everything is coming and going. It kind of reminds me of how fast this life comes and goes. We get so caught up in life and in the joys of day-to-day things that in the blink of an eye everything is over. Everything is done. It makes me realize how short of a time I have left to do everything that I want to do. Not only that but also to do everything that I need to do. The Lord has always said that time here is short. We never know when life will be taken away from us. Just the other night my best friend lost her dad. He was young. He had his whole life in front of him. A whole life that he thought he could use for changing or for fixing his mistakes. But now he is up in heaven realizing he has no time left. His life is flashing before his eyes and he is probably thinking and wishing he had done things differently. I don’t want to be like that. I want to end my life with no regrets. With nothing unfinished. With nothing undone. And the Lord has shown us so many ways that we can become who we want to be and do what we needs to do while we are on the earth and everything is written in the books that I have right in front of me.

         For this assignment I decided to do choice 1 for Unit two because it talks a lot of the parables and the meanings and lessons behind the parables that the Lord taught to the people.

Choice 1: Joseph Smith—Matthew. The Savior Taught About Future Events

 

1. Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:4 contains questions that the Savior’s disciples asked Him. Verses 5–20 contain the answer the Savior gave to their first question regarding the destruction of the temple, and verses 21–55 contain His answer to their other questions concerning His Second Coming and the destruction of the wicked. Read Joseph Smith—Matthew. Then fill in the following chart. After each item you list, write the verse number where you found that item.

	Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (JS-M 1:5-20)	The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (JS-M 1:21-55)
Events to Occur	There will be many deception and false sayings (verse 6) betrayal and hatred and confusion (verse 7-10) destruction will take place (verse 12)	many will try to teach falsehoods and many will fall away (verse 22) wars and rumors of war (verse 23) Famines, pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places (verse 29) hatred and anger (verse 30) The gospel shall be preached to all nations (verse 31) The powers of heaven shall cover the sun and the skies (verse 33) The Lord will come down in all his glory (verse 36)
Promises to the Righteous	those who remain steadfast will make it through(verse 11) Those who flee without turning back will be safe as long as they pray for help (verse 17) Those who are the elect shall have shorter days of tribulation (verse 20)	those who over come this hatred shall be saved (verse 30) those who treasure the gospel shall be taken up by angels as His elect (verse 37) when they see the signs they will know and be ready (verse 39) If we watch we will be ready for the Lord and will be blessed for it(verse 46-48)

2. Study 1 Nephi 22:16–22; Doctrine and Covenants 97:22, 25. Then write a statement that would give hope to a person who worries about the Second Coming.

         The last days should not be a time for worrying or panicking if we are doing what is right. Those who are wicked will suffer in the end because they are not doing what the Lord has asked them to do. But if we make a valiant effort to be one of the many that are doing the Lord’s will, then the last days should not be looked at with fear, but with excitement. Because the faster the end comes, the faster we can leave this world of evil and hatred and pain, and enter with the elect into the kingdom of heaven. The Lord has to end this test somehow. We are all going to have to end up in the place where we deserve to be. The lord has told us what we need to do, he has given us the signs that we should watch for and he has given us the tools to achieve the blessings of the elect if we only listen and do what he asks. Its just like if our parents go away for the weekend and they say they will be back sometimes on Monday. If you are doing everything right, then whenever they come home, it will be nice to see them and the greeting will be pleasant and you can talk about how much you missed them and how much you wanted to see them and it will be a great reunion. However, if you have messed up the house or if you are doing something you shouldn’t be doing when they come home, the reunion isn’t going to be very pleasant and you are going to look back on the weekend and wish you had done things differently.

Life is just like that. we have to do what our father in heaven asks and then when the savior comes, it will be a joyous and wonderful occasion where we finally get to see our brother again.

I cant wait for that time. I know that there is so much that I need to work on and I have realized that now is the time to do what I need to do to be ready for the second coming. Our world is all about living now and asking for forgiveness later. So much is about living it up in our youth and becoming better in our adulthood. But this lesson has made me think about the fact that I might not have the chance to fix things in the future. I need to start now. right now. before its too late. 

Assignment Number Four

So this week was pretty eventful. All my friends are leaving for school and I just feel so much pressure to make every second count because I knew that the end was coming. And I think that’s how I should feel all the time with the gospel. Ya know? Like making every second count because I know that these are the last days and the judgment day is coming. I need to study the scriptures, pray more and be a better person because that is how I want to end my test here on the earth. So I went into this week’s assignments ready to be edified and to learn whatever it was that the Lord wanted me to know.

 

Choice 2: Luke 16:1–12, 19–31; 17:11–19; 18:1–14. Parables and Accounts That Teach Eternal Truths

1. Study the following parables and accounts along with the accompanying commentary from the institute student manual. Describe in writing what you feel is the major principle the Lord wants us to understand from each of the parables:
• Luke 16:1–12, the parable of the unjust steward. “The Children of This World Are in Their Generation Wiser Than the Children of Light” (p. 124).

I think that the Lord is saying that you cant be good and do bad things at the same time. You are either good or you are bad. You are either on the Lord’s side or not. you cant think that if you only do a little bad, that it is ok because you are doing some good. You have to be one hundred percent committed to the Lord if you want to receive the blessings that follow.

• Luke 16:19–31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. “What Do We Learn About the Spirit World from the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus?” (pp. 124–25).

The Lord is trying to say that just because we have good things in this life does not mean that we will automatically get the perfect after life. We have to try to try to have the good things in life like service or giving to others or being a good person. Those things will follow us in the after life. But He also says that even though we might not be the people we should be in the life, we will have the opportunity to change in the afterlife if we accept our problems and chose the Lord.

• Luke 17:11–19, the ten lepers. “Why Were the Ten Lepers to Show Themselves to the Priests?” and “Were There Not Ten Cleansed?” (p. 130). See also the Bible Dictionary, “Leprosy” (p. 724).

We have to give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done for us. He died for us and gave his life so that we can be cleansed of our sins and return to life a perfect life for the eternities. We can be resurrected into a perfect state because of the perfect plan and sacrifices of our Lord and heavenly father. I think that sometimes we forget to be thankful or show our thanks by praying more, or by following his commandments to show our gratitude.

• Luke 18:1–8, the parable of the unjust judge. “Why Did the Lord Give the Parable of the Unjust Judge?” (p. 131).

The Lord wanted to show us that he will always help us if we pray to him as often as we can and if we ask him for something, or we need something from him, he will help us if we show our diligence and show our hard work or our willingness to do our part so that the Lord can do His. I think that he wants us to have the faith to pray to him with the understanding that he can help us with any problems that we have if we just ask him.

• Luke 18:9–14, the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. “Why Did the Lord Give the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican?” (p. 131).

The Lord asks us to humble ourselves before the Lord and realize our flaws and our imperfections. We are natural man and we are so below the Lord and His greatness that we must remember that as we turn to him and pray to him or ask him for things. We may have nice things like the man and we may go through the actions of being good, but just because we have nice things or just because we do what we are suppose to, it doesn’t mean that we should become boastful and think that we are better then we are. 

Assignment Number Three

In this weeks assignment we learned all about the miracles the Lord performed while he was on this earth. The scriptures talked about When the Lord fed thousands of people with only a few loaves of bread. It also talked about the Lord calming the seas and healing more people. This section of the scriptures just made me appreciate more the life of our savior and makes me want to be a better person for Him and so all of His work does not go to waste.

I decided to do choice 3 of Unit 2 because i am in love with children and i just think they are the greatest things in the whole world and i have always loved when they come up in the scriptures or when the Lord tells us to be more like the little children because i couldnt agree more and i can 100% relate to the loving tenderness He has for them.

Choice 3: Matthew 18:1–14. “Become as Little Children” 

1. Review Matthew 18:3–4 and Doctrine and Covenants 78:17–18. Explain in writing the ways we are like little children. In these verses, how does the Lord say He will help us?

      Children are not perfect, however they have certain qualities that we must have in order to make it to the kingdom of heaven. They are more perfect then us because they have yet to be tainted by the world around them. There are many things about children that we can have if we make the effort. We can be like little children if we obtain the characteristics of children, humble, willingness to learn, meekness, ability to believe. We are just like these little children because we are suppose to learn from those around us. From the leaders of the church, from our parents or friends, from the presidency. We soak up all we can about the gospel and apply it to our lives just like a child would when learning the ways of life. We are also like little children because when we repent we are in a sense starting our lives over again, we are at the stage of childhood where we are creating ourselves. we are turning ourselves into the people we will be for the rest of our lives. 

      The Lord will help us be as little children because He will never leave anyone behind. He says that He will save that which was lost. He will not leave us on our own and although it may be hard for us to be like little children and to start over. believe me i have tried many times to change little things about myself and to become more humble and more christ like and it is really hard! But whenever i get on my hands and knees and ask Him to help me, i feel a little bit of the burden lifted off my shoulders. He is aware of our struggles. And He promises to never leave us behind. He will care for the one that is struggling just like a shepherd would save one lost sheep. He is always there for us. And i can testify that he is looking to guide us in the right direction if we just try our hardest. 

2.  Read Mosiah 3:19 and list the ways in which we are to become as little children

We must become like children by becoming

submissive

meek

humble

patient

full of love

we must be willing to do what the Lord asks us to do just like we would listen to our parents when we were young

We must face the punishments of our actions

We must let go of the natural man and be like we were before the world tainted our views and our pure qualities. 

All of these things will help us become more like little children. The verse says that we must let go of the natural man because it is an enemy of God. Everything that we as adults think we need can be contrary to what the Lord knows we need. We need to trust in him and His guidance just like if we were children trusting in our parents and their wisdom.

I think that there is nothing on this earth more pure than a little child and i pray everyday that i can become more like them and draw myself closer to the savior as each day passes. I know that i have a lot of work to do. but i also know that the Lord will never give up on me or leave me behind. it is comforting to know that i am never alone and while i am on this journey to find myself, the Lord is also looking for me to show me who i am.