Purpose
To encourage us to strengthen our testimonies of Jesus Christ by studying the New Testament.
Scriptures
Additional Reading
- John 8:12
- 1 Corinthians 15:20–22
- Moroni 7:15–18, 41
- D&C 88:6–14
- Bible Dictionary, “Light of Christ,” 725
Lesson Resources
Additional Talks
- “The Very Root of Christian Doctrine,” Thomas B. Griffith (March 14, 2006, BYU Devotional)
- To Look, Reach, and Come unto Christ, Anne C. Pingree (October Conference, 2006)
- The Purifying Power of Gethsemane, Bruce R. McConkie (April Conference, 1985)
- The Three Pillars of Eternity, Bruce R. McConkie (February 17, 1981, BYU Devotional)
13 comments:
While I work, I listen to audio books. Today for my scripture study I listened to an AMAZING talk that has supplemented Sunday's lesson for me so much. Here is a link to READ it:
http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=10979
OR, here is a link to LISTEN to it:
(click to listen, right-click to save it to your computer and listen that way - better for slow connections or those of you who want to load it on your MP3 player)
http://byubmp3.byu.edu/devos/devo031406.mp3
It is incredibly good!!
Thanks for the link to the talk. It was excellent. One of the best Christmas presents I ever recieved was a few books of the BYU devotional talks. I loved them. Anyway, I also appreciated this talk as we are preparing to teach the new theme in Primary. I am very excited for the theme this year, and being able to focus the whole year on Jesus Christ and our testimony of Him. I love the idea of using every lesson, and talk and testimony and sharing time, to bring things back to the atonement, and remembering (My theme for the year...REMEMBER....;)....His suffering because He loves us, because that is the greatest message for all of us. I am so excited to teach that to the kids. Can you imagine the power they will have if they 'get it' while they are in primary! thanks again.
-Verily
I just finished listening to Brother Griffith's talk and I have been edified, happified, and humblified. Wow! What a powerful talk. I am printing it off so that I can share it with others. Thank you so much for all the information that you share with us. I have had a wonderful experience this evening because you took the time to share.
lorig
LoriG - I am SO glad that you enjoyed the talk as much as I did. I got so much out of it!!
I also really like this quote from the lesson:
“We need not visit the Holy Land to feel him close to us. We need not walk by the shores of Galilee or among the Judean hills to walk where Jesus walked.
“In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked when, with his words on our lips, his spirit in our hearts, and his teachings in our lives, we journey through mortality” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1974, 70; or Ensign, May 1974, 48).
It reminded me of an experience I had in the Logan temple. I had been thinking about going to the Holy Land - my parents are planning a trip and I was wishing I, too, could go. As I was walking in the Logan Temple, the song, "I walked today where Jesus Walked" came into my head and I knew it was true. But I love the thought of walking where He walked by walking in his figurative footsteps.
Okay - I think we need a question to get this group going for the rest of the week.. or maybe two or three questions.
1) What do you plan to do this year to be better guided by the Spirit in your studies?
2) What does it mean to believe Jesus is the Christ?
3) What have you personally gained this week while studying these scriptures and this topic?
I look forward to your answers!!
Oh, VERILY - I really didn't forget you... I just forgot your part of the post. I am glad that you also enjoyed the talk - but mostly... Don't you LOVE Primary???? I have been in Primary for years and I hope I'm there for years to come!! YES, I love the idea of remembering the atonement. There are some great helps for teaching children about the atonement in past issues of the Friend and also the New Testament Primary Manual.
Verily - also on your REMEMBER theme... I have been thinking about your question as to what to put after it and there are SO many things... Just the scriptural references alone about remember are HUGE.
I think I mentioned on this board that one of the things I've been praying for a lot lately is the spirit of remembrance. We are taught to remember our covenants and the words of God and to be wise and "it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men" and then "the Sabbath day to keep it holy" and on and on it goes. So much to remember. But, I really think if we remember HIM - all of the others can be remembered through Him. I loved that part of the talk "always remember Him." Beautiful.
I read the article by Thomas Griffith last night but I was so tired and distracted when I read it that I didn't feel I got what I could have out of it. But then this morning I was laying in bed when much of what I read came to my mind. I stayed in bed contemplating many things and renewing my commitment with myself to really study the New Testament and to study specifically the atonement and all its implications. I realized as a RS teacher I really need to strive to make sure I not only follow the curriculum but also that I am focused on the atonement while I teach. I hope this will help me become a better teacher this year. I felt really great and started my morning with a much better attitude than I normally do. I guess, even though I was tired and distracted, more sank in than I thought. Thanks for posting the article, who knows if I would have ever found it otherwise!
bennetsister
I actually got tears in my eyes this morning reading through your comments. A couple of weeks ago I had been thinking to myself that I'd LOVE a gospel study discussion group. And here you are!!!
Well, I re-listened to Sister Pingree's talk, "To Look, Reach, and Come unto Christ." Here is the link to READ it:
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,285-1-54-22,00.html
Here is the link to LISTEN to it (click to listen or right-click to download):
http://broadcast.lds.org/genrs/2006/sep/23/mp3/grsm_2006oct_63_pingreeac_26991_eng.mp3
Such a sweet talk. I have loved this week's study. I look forward to continuing with you all - whether you lurk or comment frequently, I'm glad you're here for me! I feel like I have found an oasis! :O)
I'm going to LOVE participating in this thread. I started reading the New Testament again a few weeks ago and am finding it so meaningful. I've been moved to tears by so much I've read, including things like when Jesus asked His few close dear ones if they could not just watch with Him for one hour, and when Peter wept bitterly, and just the whole process of suffering, death, and resurrection (I just finished Matthew this morning). I'll be joining you in discussions, but they might be sporadic (MIGHT BE???). Thank you, thank you, for inviting us to think and share together. OCD or whatever you are, you're MAGNIFICENT. I feel WHITALIZED!
Love, MEE
I have loved studying with all of you this week. My most significant experience came as I listened and read the talk by Brother Griffith. I have appreciated all of your thoughts and insights. This morning I have pondered the scripture in John 20:31 and I have thought about the 3 questions that Whit asked us. In having the desire to be like Jesus I strive to apply the Atonement in my life and to repent of my sins. I am trying to leave "Babylon" behind. I am finding that I am able to be guided by the Spirit more in my life as I try to be a true follower of Christ. I love to learn of Him and my prayers are becoming more personal. I feel "life through my Savior". Problems come but I am better able to deal with them. I want my actions to show that I know Jesus Christ lives and I know that He atoned for my sins. I want to open my mouth and testify of my Savior. I look forward to His return and want to do my part to prepare for that day.I love this thread and I look forward to the weeks ahead.
lorig
I just finished reading the article by Br. Griffith. I feel so awed I don't know where to start. I have been a lifelong member of the church, but often times feel like I don't really "get" the atonement. This talk really helped me to understand it better. I substituted for the 11 yo boys in Primary on Christmas eve and as we were reading the prophecies from the Old Testament and how they were fulfilled in the New Testament I was inspired to tell the boys that the most important thing that any prophet has ever prophesied of is the life of the Savior. The reason his birth was such a joyous occasion was because it was the beginning of his gift to us--to live, to teach and then to atone for all of us.
I love Isaiah 61:3--"that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord". I have thought about what that symbolism might mean. It of course makes me think of Jacob 5 and the parable of the olive trees. I think to be a tree of righteousness I must be planted in his vineyard (baptized) and then make sure my roots are deep and are fully partaking of the nourishment of that soil (understanding the atonement and making it part of my daily life) and the Lord, and others, will know if I am doing this by the fruit that is on my branches. If I bring forth good fruit then "he might be glorified".
I haven't been to Sunday School for the past year due to a disruptive pre-nursery child. I have not read any of the lessons in that time, so I definitely need this. I want to feel closer to the Lord and I think this is definitely how I do that. I was just sustained as Education counselor in the RS pres. today, so I really appreciate the talk. I will make it my goal that all our lessons relate back to the atonement. Thanks so much Whitney. I think this will bless not only my life and the other sisters here but all the women of my ward as well.
azmomof5
Please let me know if you read any additional talks that supplement this lesson and I'll add them to the list. :)
Love the verbage in Isaiah here: "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." What Christ does for us....
And - the reason we have the scriptures, "But 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."
I also like the reminder that "testament" means "covenant."
I was fascinated with the 3 pillars of eternity (creation, fall, atonement) in conjunction with the 3 "gardens of god." I had to go pull up Elder McConkie's talks and add them to the list! Here is his quote about the gardens, "We must search the scriptures, accepting them as the mind and will and voice of the Lord and the very power of God unto salvation.
As we read, ponder, and pray, there will come into our minds a view of the three gardens of God—the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden of the Empty Tomb where Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene."
That's all for today. I look forward to reading your comments. :)
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