Parables and Accounts That Teach Eternal Truths

Describe in writing what you feel is the major principle the Lord wants us to understand from each of the parables.

1. Luke 16:1-12, The Parable of the Unjust Steward

Our relationships in this life are more important than earthly things.

2. Luke 16:19-31, The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

The gospel will be preached in all parts of the spirit world and repentance is granted to those who seek it, vicarious ordinances are administered in earthly temples, and there is a hope of salvation for the spirits of those men who would have received the gospel with all their hearts in this life had the opportunity come to them.

3. Luke 17:11-19, The Ten Lepers

If we truly have faith, we can be physically and spiritually healed.

4. Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Unjust Judge

God, who is just and merciful will hear and answer our prayers.

5. Luke 18:1-14, The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican

We should not be self-righteous as an assurance of justification before the Lord.

The Quorum of the Seventy

Elder Ronald A Rasband, Senior President of the Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy

I really didn’t know what the role of The Quorum of the Seventy was until I studied this. I am truly grateful for the sacrifices that these men make to spread the gospel throughout the world. They are true disciples of Christ and I am sure have touched thousands by sharing their witness of Jesus Christ.

In Luke 10: 1-24, the Lord sends forth the Seventy to preach the gospel because there were many that had not heard the gospel and not many to preach the gospel. He told them that the work would be difficult and to travel light (“carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes”) and go from house to house. He told them to heal the sick and preach repentance unto the people.

Articles of Faith 1:6 states, “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church.”
The organization of the church as it stands today is just as it was in the days of Christ. The prophet has 12 apostles, and there is a Quorum of the Seventy. Just as in Christ’s time, missionary work is performed door to door by “traveling ministers”. They are representatives of Jesus Christ, just as the Seventy were that Christ called.

The calling of a Seventy in the Priesthood is described throughout the scriptures.

· In Luke 1:10 it talks about how they were appointed to go two by two unto every city that Jesus himself would go.

· In D&C 107:25-26 it says that they are called to “preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. And they form a quorum, equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named.”

· In D&C 107:34 it says that they “are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews.”

· D&C 107: 93-97 it says that if the missionary work requires it, they may choose other seventy, even seven times seventy, if the labor requires it.

· D&C 124:138-139 it says that “The quorum of seventies is instituted for traveling elders to bear record of my name in all the world.”

Here is a really good article about The Quorums of the Seventy that describes more in detail their duties.

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2005/08/the-quorums-of-the-seventy?lang=eng&query=quorums+seventy

The Savior Heals

Matthew 14:17-21 “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

In these verses, the Savior identified three things needed to heal the man: faith, fasting, and knew that they were his disciples still had doubts about their own abilities. They were human just as we are. Every one of us struggles with self doubt. I love that Christ reminds us that if we “have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” But how many of us really believe that deep down inside of us? Satan would have us believe that we could never accomplish anything, and I fear that many times he succeeds with his whisperings. We are children of God and we should never forget that. There is a quote that I love and I read often to help remind me of my divine nature.

It is by Marianne Williamson-“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

3 Nephi 18:20 “And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” We must ask The Father in the name of Christ for righteous things, with faith, and then we will receive.

D&C 50:29 “And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall cask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done.” We must repent of our sins, and be cleansed, and then whatever we ask in the name of Christ will be done.

D&C 42:48 “And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed.” If we have faith in Christ to be healed, if it is God’s will that we shall be healed, we will be healed.

I am grateful for my faith in Christ and for the knowledge of the gospel. It is a blessing in my life daily and I don't know where I would be without it. I pray that my faith will continue to grow and that I will be able to share it with others and encourage others on their journey in this life.

Feeding the Multitudes

The Savior provided two similar miracles.

In Matthew 14:14-21, Christ first went forth, healing the sick of the multitude. Then, his disciples seeing that it was evening told him to send them away to go and buy food. And he had compassion on them. He said, “they need not depart; give ye them to eat. “ But they only had five loaves of bread and two fishes. And he said, “bring them hither to me.” He could have easily sent them away, knowing that there were over 5000 people and they didn’t have enough food for all of them, but he did not. He told the multitude to sit on the grass and he took the bread and the fishes and he blessed t hem and brake and then his disciples gave them to the multitudes. All 5000 men, women, and children ate until they were full, and they had 12 full baskets remaining.

In Matthew 15: 32-38, Christ went forth again, healing the sick of the multitude. And he had compassion on them because they were with him for 3 days without anything to eat and would not send them away fasting. And his disciples asked him how they would get so much bread to feed such a great multitude. And Jesus asked how many loaves they had, and they answered seven and a few fishes. Then Jesus told the multitude to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves of bread and the fishes and he gave thanks and he brake them and then he gave them to his disciples and the disciples gave them to the multitude. And the 4000 men, women, and children did eat until they were filled and there were 7 full baskets remaining.

In Romans 3:23 it says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Just like they didn’t have enough food for the multitude, we as humans can never reach the glory of God without the help of Christ. He must make up the difference for us, which is what he did when he atoned for our sins. He bridged that gap for us and made it possible for us to return and live with our Heavenly Father. He saw that we would be lacking, and had compassion on us, just as he did for the multitude.

In Ether 12:27 it says, “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” The Lord gives us weakness so that we will humble ourselves and come to him and ask for his help. We have to realize that there is a great power than ourselves and that we cannot do it alone. With God’s help, we can accomplish great things. When we do not humble ourselves, we become prideful and think that our success is because of our own doing, which is not correct. All that we have is because of the blessings from the Lord. Our weaknesses can become strengths when we humble ourselves, ask the Lord for this help, and work on these weaknesses. The Lord will then help us make them into strengths.

I have seen this in my life. I have been overweight for many years. I have had a desire to become healthy and lose weight. Exercising has always been a weakness for me and has never been a habit. I made a commitment that I would exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, no matter what. I humbled myself, took it to the Lord and asked him to help me overcome this weakness so that I could become healthier and live a long life so that I could take care of my daughter. For the past 3 months I have been able to accomplish this goal. Within 2 weeks, I didn’t dread exercising anymore. I actually starting looked forward to it. It has been over 3 months now and I have created a habit of exercise in my life and I have lost 20 pounds. The Lord has helped make one of my weaknesses into a strength, and I am so grateful for this blessing!