Week 6

Choice 1

1. There is a lot of beautiful counsel in these verses to the seventy. One of the most troubling is when he tells them they are going forth "as lambs among wolves". He advises them to bring nothing along and multiple times refers to trusting in the spirit and making decisions based on what they perceive and feel is correct. There are many words of counsel advising them to help heal the sick and eat what is placed before them. It seems that he is advising them to be grateful for the goodness that is placed before them and quickly turn away from those acts of feelings that are bad. He blesses them with the "power to tread on serpents".

2. These scriptures show that just as we do today, the Lord established more than just the 12 apostles, but established a quorum of 70 men, who held some sort of priesthood power or were at least baptized because they were able to "heal the sick" and be inspired by the spirit. The Lord also sent out missionaries two by two and had them work, eat, and live alongside the people they were teaching. He had them leave their lives behind and sacrifice their time, and in some instances I'm sure even their lives in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. The most obvious example of proving the Lord had a quorum of the Seventy is in Luke 10:1 when he says that he called the 70. 

Week 5

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

1. Matthew 18:3–4 and Doctrine and Covenants 78:17–18. 

We are like little children in these ways:

-we do not fully understand how great the blessings that our Heavenly Father has given us and those he is still preparing us for

-we cannot bear all things

-stay happy and trust in the Lord

-become humble as a little child

In these verses, how does the Lord ​say He will help us?

-The Lord has promised to help us along and guide us and unveil more blessings throughout our lives as we follow Him

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

Submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which our Father seeth fit to inflict upon him

Week 4

Student Choice Assignment Week Three: Choice 3
Matthew 14:22-33
1. The first reaction of the apostles when they saw Christ walking on water was fear, because they did not know it was the savior, but thought it was a spirit.

2. Peter's response was interesting to me. In my opinion by asking the Lord to "bid me come unto the water" he was verifying the Lord's response. Part of me thinks this is wrong because Christ's "right hand man" should be able to identify him, however if it was night time, on the ocean during a storm, it may have been incredibly difficult for him to make out his physical appearance. So by asking him this, he know that if he did bid him to walk on the water he knew it was really Christ.

3. Peter began to sink because he looked away from Christ and allowed his fear of the waves overcome his faith in Christ's power.

4. Peter called out for Christ to save him (because he knew that he could) and it says that "immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand"

5. In D&C 88:67 the line that stood out to me was "your eye be single to my glory". In Peter's story of walking on water, it is easy to learn how quickly we can fall if we do not stay focused on Christ. As soon as Peter looked away he began to fall. That being said, it is also amazing how quickly the Lord can save us when we ask for his help. As soon as Peter called out to Him he was there to lift him up. In my own life, trials are usually much longer than just a few moments, but the principle is the same. If we stay focused of Christ we will not fall, however if we do, as soon as we call out for His help he will be there.

Week 3

Week 3 Student Choice Assignment 2

1. Parables- A story told to veil a deeper gospel-related meaning using every day examples that is dependent upon the faith of the listener to uncover the true message or meaning behind it.

2. What describes the future growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? - Parable of the mustard seed and of the leaven

    Why does the church send out so many missionaries? -Parable of the gospel net
   
    How do you explain the remarkable growth of the church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier? -Parables of the mustard seed and of the leaven
 
    Why are some members of the church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the church? -Parable of the treasure and of the pearl of great price

    Why do some church member choose to leave the church?  -Parable of the tares

3. It is easy to sit here and say I am willing to give everything for the church, and I am sure I would when the time comes. But if I was being honest I would also say that if that time ever does come, I know it will be much harder than it sounds. Two of my best friends choose to join the church in high school and both were kicked out of their homes. one was allowed to come home a while later but struggled with living with an un-supportive family. However the other friend was never allowed home, and is no longer talking to his family since he chose to serve a mission. It is extremely hard for him at times, and he has (at this point) lost many of the people he loves. But I have talked to him about it multiple times and I know he has absolutely no regrets because he knows this temporary state of pain and heartache on earth and he can see the eternal effects of making the choice to both join and live the gospel.

I believe the net represents missionaries when they are out in the field finding new investigators. I believe to be gathered into the net means those people who are being taught the gospel by the missionaries. The action of gathering the good into the vessels and casting out that bad is when the missionaries have to make the decision to continue to teach only those who are really interested in the gospel. It may not be easy, but there are times when you have to choose who is really serious about the gospel and focus on them only.