The Savior’s Instructions about the Holy Ghost

John 14:15–17, 26–27; 15:26–27; 16:7–8, 13–14

When you are filled with the Holy Ghost, you do feel joy and peace, and your day goes better. It inspires you to be the best that you can be. I am a much better person when I am in tune with the Spirit. I want to always strive to live my life in such a way that I will always be worthy to have the Spirit with me. It is such a precious gift. There have been so many times in my life where I have been prompted by the Holy Ghost. Specifically in my life as a student, I have been prompted to remember things that I have studied or have been taught when I have diligently applied myself and studied. I am grateful for this special gift!

1. Make list of what the Savior taught about what the Holy Ghost does:

• John 14:15–17 (He will abide with you forever)
• John 14:26–27 (He will teach all things, and bring all things to your remembrance)
• John 15:26–27 (He will testify of Christ, and bear witness of Christ)
• John 16:7–8 (He will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement)
• John 16:13–14 (He will guide you into all truth and shew you all things)

2. Make list of what the Savior taught about what disciples must do to receive the Holy Ghost:
• John 14:15–17 (Keep the commandments)
• John 14:26–27 (Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid)

3. Add to your list above as you study the following resources:
• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “The Holy Ghost Brings Man to His Fullest Potential” (pg. 168)

1. “The Holy Ghost quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom to their lawful use.”

2. “It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature.”

3. “It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity.”

4. “It develops beauty of person, form and features.”

5. “It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling.”

6. “It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man.”

7. “It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves.”

8. “It is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.”

• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “As a Messenger of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost Teaches Faithful Members” (pg. 168)

1. “His mission is to instruct and enlighten the minds of those who, through their faithfulness have obeyed the commandments of the Father and the Son.”

2. “He bears witness of the truth, quickens the minds of those who have made covenant and reveals to them the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”

3. “He is a special messenger from the Father and the Son and carries out their will.”

• Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost” (pg. 704)

1. “The third member of the Godhead and, as the name implies, a personage of Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bone.”

2. “The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the power of the Holy Ghost and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon one before baptism, and is the convincing witness that the gospel is true. It gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants upon the earth. The gift can come only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands.

4. Review your list of what the Holy Ghost does. Then write responses to the following tasks:
• Describe how the Holy Ghost helped the Apostles fulfill their missions after the Savior’s death and resurrection.

When an Apostle of the Lord speaks to people, the Holy Ghost will testify to them that what they heard is true. This helps them fulfill their mission. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth and of all things. The Holy Ghost will also enlighten the minds of the Apostles, helping them in their work.

Matthew 25: Three Parables of Preparation

Christ gave us 3 parables to help us prepare for His Second Coming. We cannot procrastinate preparing. We must live our lives today as if he were coming today. We must develop the gifts and talents that he has given us and not hide them. And we must serve our fellow men.

1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Study Matthew 25:1–13 and the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 25:1–13, “What Is the Meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins?” (pgs. 154–155). Then, write responses to the following questions:
• Who does the bridegroom represent? Jesus Christ
• Who did President Harold B. Lee say the virgins represent? Those who were professed believers in Christ
• What does the wedding represent? The Second Coming of Christ
• Why did the bridegroom come at “midnight,” while the wedding guests “slumbered and slept”? “Jewish weddings included the announcement of the bridegroom’s coming to the bride’s house. The weddings usually began in the evening, with the lamps lit at dusk. So midnight was later than the ten virgins would have expected the bridegroom—and the announcement came suddenly.” http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/03/the-parable-of-the-ten-virgins?lang=eng&query=bridegroom
• How does this apply to our waiting for the Savior’s Second Coming? We will not know when the Savior will be coming—he will come “suddenly”, so we need to make sure that we are prepared.
• What did five of the virgins do that was foolish (See Matthew 25:3)? They took their lamps but no extra oil with them.
• How might a Church member today make the same error as the foolish virgins? We may procrastinate the day of our repentance, or not be paying a full tithing, or saying our prayers, or reading our scriptures, or have a strong testimony when He comes.
• What would the consequences be? We would not be ready to meet him when He comes.
• What should we learn from the actions of the five wise virgins? We should be living as if each day is the day He will be coming and doing the things we know we should be doing.
• Keeping in mind that the oil in the parable represents spiritual preparation for the Second Coming, what are some ways we can add “oil” to our “lamps?” “Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil.”
• What does Doctrine and Covenants 45:56–57 teach about ways to add oil to our lamps? It says that those that “have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived”.

2. The Parable of the Talents. After studying Matthew 25:14–30 and the institute student manual, “An Explanation for the Parable of the Entrusted Talents” (pg. 155), write responses to the following questions:
• Although a talent was a sum of money in New Testament times (see talent under “Weights and Measures” in the Bible Dictionary, pg. 789), it can also represent all that the Lord has given us. List the rewards each of the three men received in the parable of the talents and explain why each man received that reward. The servant with the five talents and the servant with the five talents who doubled their talents, both were made rulers over many things and entered into the joy of the lord. The servant with one talent who buried it, was cast into outer darkness.
• What mattered more than the number of talents or gifts each received? What mattered was what the servant did with the talents.
• What reason did the third man give for hiding his talent? He said that he was afraid he would lose it, so he hid it.
• What teachings in 2 Timothy 1:7; Proverbs 3:5–6; Doctrine and Covenants 3:7–8; 6:33–37 can help us overcome our fears and to develop and use the talents given to us from the Lord? He tells us that we should trust in the Lord and that He will give us strength to overcome the fear.
• Outline a plan whereby you can better develop and use two of the gifts the Lord has given to you. I can further develop and share my talent of singing by joining the ward choir, and I can further develop my talent for writing poetry by designating 2 Saturdays a month as writing days.
3. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. After studying Matthew 25:31–46 and Mosiah 2:17, write responses to the following questions:
• What difference does the way we treat others make to the Lord? This sums it up: Matthew 25:40 “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” If we are cruel, mean, judgemental, spiteful, abusive, etc. to our fellow men, it is as if we are doing it unto Christ.
• List the six actions found in Matthew 25:35–36 that permitted “the sheep” to receive their reward at the King’s right hand. They gave him meat, gave him drink, gave him shelter, clothed him, visited him when he was sick, and visited him when he was in prison.
• What are some spiritual or physical needs people have around you that are similar to those listed in the parable? There are those that have some of the same physical and spiritual needs, in addition to being lonely, and depressed.
• How will following the principles of this parable about preparation for the Second Coming help someone prepare for that event? You cannot fully be prepared for the Savior’s Coming without truly loving your neighbor and serving as Christ would have. Living a Christlike life is essential in preparing for His Second Coming.

Preparing for the Savior's Second Coming

Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38; Joseph Smith-Matthew

List at least three things from this chapter that believers could watch for in order to be prepared to meet the Lord.

• · There will be wars and rumors of wars
• · The gospel will be published among all nations
• · The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, and the stars will fall from heaven

Explain in writing additional truths that are taught in the following references about how to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

· D&C 87:8 This is warning us to have a strong testimony of the gospel and be not deceived by the things that will be happening in the last days.

· Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:32 We are supposed to prepare ourselves and also spread the gospel and help prepare those around us for the Second Coming of the Savior.

· Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:37 We should read our scriptures so that we won’t be deceived and we will be ready when the Lord gathers His elect.

· Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:46-50 We need to be living the gospel to the fullest so that we will be ready when He comes again.

· D&C 33:17 We need to be ready with extra oil in our lamps, or be living righteously, and living the gospel. We can do this by daily prayer, scripture study, and frequent temple attendance.

· D&C 45:56-57 We cannot procrastinate preparing for the coming of the Savior. We need to be doing what is right now and living the gospel.

By preparing now for the Second Coming our Jesus Christ, we will not be afraid when we witness the signs that we read about in the scriptures. I am grateful for my testimony of the gospel and for the peace and comfort that it brings into my life. In a world that is increasingly wicked, I find comfort in knowing that if I follow the prophet and do what I know is right, I will be prepared.

Overview of the Last Week of the Savior’s Mortal Ministry

According to the information in the institute student manual (“The Last Days of Jesus’ Mortal Mission” (pgs. 135–37)) this is what occurred during Savior’s final week of mortality.

Day 1: Jesus arrives at Jerusalem. He secured a donkey and a colt, and rode through the city gates into Jerusalem. A “very great multitude” who knew him to be “the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” placed palm branches in his way and greeted him with a hosanna shout: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21:9) He went directly to the temple, and according to Mark, took note of what he saw and retired to Bethany for the night. (Mark 11:11)

Day 2: Early the next morning Jesus went again to the temple and made a decisive thrust calculated to challenge the Jewish religious leadership. He drove from the outer court area of the temple those who were trading and making money exchange from foreign currency. The money exchange was apparently sanctioned by the Jewish leaders; and by preventing the merchandizing, Jesus was in effect challenging their leadership. The issue was clear: Was the temple to be a place of worship of God or of pursuit of gain? As he cleared the temple courts, he said, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13) Again that evening Jesus returned to Bethany.

Day 3: Jesus’ wrath in the temple raised the issue of authority, and the priests were not about to let the incident pass. As Jesus came to the temple the next day, the priests challenged him: “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” (Matthew 21:23) Jesus responded by relating a series of parables that offended the religious leaders of the Jews. The scribes and Pharisees challenged him again; Jesus openly denounced them and condemned them as hypocrites. From this point on, Jesus did not teach the public, but only the Twelve. Perceiving that Jesus had gained the upper hand in their confrontations, the Jewish leaders consulted again how they might bring about Jesus’ death. They would have to move quickly before the Passover to avoid a riot, however, since Jesus had become very popular with the Jewish people. How to bring about an arrest without provoking crowd reaction was the problem. An unexpected turn of events that took place abetted their plot. One of Jesus’ own disciples offered to betray him.

Day 4: Jesus well knew of the plot. The fourth day was spent outside the city, perhaps at Bethany. The record of the gospel writers is silent on the proceedings of this day.

Day 5: Jesus had arranged to commemorate the Passover meal in a home privately reserved for him and the Twelve. Following the Passover meal, Jesus introduced a new ordinance, the sacrament, which presaged his atoning sacrifice. He then prophesied of his death and indicated who would betray him. After some instructions, Jesus offered his great intercessory prayer. Then, with the eleven (Judas had left), Jesus led them outside the walls to a familiar spot—Gethsemane. Then taking Peter, James, and John with him, he went further into the Garden where he then left those three and went off by himself to pray. (See Matthew 26:36-39) There he pled with his Heavenly Father to “let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” ( Matthew 26:39) The cup did not pass and Jesus suffered “the pain of all men” (D&C18:11), an agony so excruciating that it caused him to bleed at every pore (D&C19:18). Some time later he rejoined his apostles and indicated that his betrayer was at hand. While he spoke, an armed band led by Judas approached Jesus to seize him. Without resistance Jesus submitted. Jesus was brought to an illegal trial that night.

Day 6: The Jewish leaders now faced another problem. They were not content that Jesus should be put to death; they also wanted to discredit him before his own people. To do this, the leaders arranged to have Jesus charged with two crimes. The first was blasphemy, a capital offense under Jewish law. He was unanimously convicted of this charge solely on the evidence that he had said that he was the Son of God. (See Matthew 26:57-66) Such a conviction would discredit Jesus before the Jews, but the rulers knew well that they could not carry out the death penalty; only the Roman governor could pronounce this. Therefore, they had to find political indictment against Jesus. The surest means of securing this was the charge of sedition against the state, for he had claimed to be a “king of the Jews.” Though Pilate’s examination found Jesus guiltless of the charge, the Jewish leaders had incited the crowd to “destroy Jesus.” (Matthew 27:20) Fearing a demonstration, Pilate gave in to the clamor to crucify Jesus, and the death sentence was pronounced. And so Jesus was executed by the brutal Roman practice of crucifixion. Later that afternoon he voluntarily gave up his spirit. The next day, which began at sundown, was the Passover, and the Jewish leaders abhorred the idea that a man should remain on a cross on the Sabbath, particularly the paschal Sabbath. Before nightfall, Jesus’ body was removed from the cross and buried in a sealed tomb by two revering disciples.

Day 7: (Sabbath) This was the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus’ body remained in the tomb, but in spirit he ministered in the realm of departed spirits. (See 1 Peter 3:18-20)

Day 8: (Day of Resurrection) Had the gospel ended with Jesus’ burial, there would be no gospel story, no “good news.” The great message of these testators is that Jesus was risen and was seen again by many witnesses. On the first day of the week, the most memorable Sunday in history, Jesus Christ emerged alive from the tomb, and appeared before Mary. The testimony of these witnesses constitutes the gospel story, the “good news.” “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31)

As I read the account of the Savior’s final week of mortality, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion come over me. He willingly did His Father’s will and suffered for our sins, suffering “the pain of all men”. The agony and pain was so bad that he bled from every pore. I have given birth, and that is the worst pain I have experienced and the only pain I can even remotely compare, and his pain was a million times worse than that. And he did it for each one of us so that we could repent of our sins and return to live with our Heavenly Father again. He did that, and then, was crucified by men that mocked and beat him, yes, men that he had just paid the price for. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and am grateful for his atoning sacrifice for me. I am grateful for the chance I had to study about the final week of his mortality and to know that I can live with him again someday.