New Testament Class, Week 11, Student Choice Assignment

Choice 1: Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1-2. The Savior’s Suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane

1. Review Matthew 26:36-46; ; Luke 22:39-46, making a list of words and phrases that describe the Savior’s suffering. Include in your list clarifications provided in the footnotes. Sorrowful, very heavy, distressed, very troubled, exceeding sorrow, deeply grieved, pain, agony, sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 
2. Write additional insights about the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane found in the following resources:

• Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11-13; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19 Suffered even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death. Took upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance. Christ trembled because of pain, bled at every pore, and suffered both body and spirit. .
• The institute student manual commentary, “To What Extent Was the Atonement Completed in the Garden of Gethsemane?” (pg. 173) Christ was alone. the Father withdrew support of His immediate Presence.
• The institute student manual commentary for Luke 22:44, “And Being in an Agony, He Prayed More Earnestly” (pgs.173-74) Christ bore the sins of all. He took upon himself the "weight and agony of ages and generations, the indescribable agony consequent upon this great sacrificial atonement".
• The institute student manual commentary for Luke 22:44, “And His Sweat Was As It Were Great Drops of Blood Falling Down to the Ground” (pg. 174) "It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing."

1. Read Matthew 26:36 and the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 26:36, “Then Cometh Jesus … unto a Place Called Gethsemane” (pgs. 172-73). Write a paragraph about how the meaning of Gethsemane adds insight to what the Savior experienced there. Gethsemane means "oil press". In order to extract oil from an olive, the olive has to be under a lot of pressure. The garden was a place Jesus went to often when he wanted to pray or speak with the disciples privately. 
2. Write response to each of the following questions, looking for lessons you can apply to your own life from the example of the Savior in Gethsemane:

• What were the Savior’s disciples doing while He was praying? What had the Lord taught the Apostles in Matthew 26:41? What does His example teach about how to be obedient even when “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”? How does Doctrine and Covenants 10:5 apply to this verse? His disciples fell asleep. The Lord taught them to watch and pray so they would not enter into temptation. In D&C 10:5 the Lord instructs us to pray always so we may escape the temptations of Satan. Because we are not perfect, we need to pray for strength so we do not fall into one of Satan's "pits".
• Read Mosiah 15:7; 3 Nephi 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 19:19. Write the phrases from these verses that describe what motivated the Savior to “drink the bitter cup.” Christ's motivation was to bring glory to the Father.
• Write your thoughts about the Savior’s use of the word “nevertheless” in Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42. In each of these accounts, what did the Savior initially ask for? What did He say next, using the word “nevertheless?” What does it require to submit one’s will to the Father in this way, no matter how painful or difficult the outcome might be? When have you followed the “nevertheless” pattern the Savior exemplified in these verses by submitting to Heavenly Father’s will even though it was very difficult? The use of the word "nevertheless" meant that Christ was asking if there was another way, but if there wasn't, he would submit His will to the Father's will. We need to have faith that whatever the will of our Father is for us, we need to follow it. He knows what is best for us and we need to have faith in that.
• According to Luke 22:44, as the Savior’s agony became more intense, how did His prayer change? Do you feel more like praying or less like praying when you are suffering? When has it made a difference in your suffering to have turned to the Lord with more earnest prayer? Christ's prayer became more "earnest". When I am going through a trial, I pray more often, almost on a constant basis. When I pray like this, I feel comfort from the Holy Ghost, telling me that everything will work out the way it should.
• Reflect on what you have learned about the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane. Write a paragraph about lessons you can apply to your own life from the example of the Savior in Gethsemane. When I think about the garden of Gethsemane and the atonement my Savior suffered there, I feel a greater desire within myself to become a better person, to replace my bad habits and sins with good habits and righteous living. I owe a great debt of gratitude to my Savior for all he has done for me, and my loved ones so that we can become pure again and live with our Father in heaven again.

All dressed up

We have some pretty cute kids. Period.

Shiloh's 2nd birthday

Shiloh turned 2 on the 17th of this month. We had a few family members over for cake and ice cream.

Meet Connorita, Julia and Bill's daughter. :)

Shiloh got some new rain/snow boots for her birthday. She LOVES them and wears them all the time, even with her pj's.

I feel so blessed to have Shiloh in our family. At one time in my life I was terrified of having a girl. Shiloh has changed my opinion of that 10 fold. (Hopefully, she will not change my opinion back when she becomes a teenager). Shiloh is helpful, funny, sweet, caring, and much much more. We love you Shiloh!

November randomness

I *think* these first two pictures were taken in November, possibly late October. My sister and brother-in-law are tearing out their backyard and re-doing it. They were able to borrow this backhoe from their neighbor (lucky!). Mason and Cooper had a great time watching Jeff and Bill tear things up with it. I also *think* Jeff let them drive it with him.

Shiloh, Cooper, and Mason played doctor on each other one night. I would totally trust my doctor if she came in the exam room with three fingers in her mouth, wouldn't you?

Little miss Kinley. Love her. That's all.

One day while walking home from the bus, Mason kissed the sidewalk. He had some really great war wounds to prove it.

We had a few days of snow. Shiloh LOVED getting all dressed up to go play outside with her brothers.

One day I was sitting on the couch nursing Kinley. Shiloh sat next to me with "cat", pulled up her shirt, stuck cat's mouth on her nipple, and said, "cat eating". 

New Testament Class, Week 10, Student Choice Assignment

Choice 1: Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20. The Institution of the Sacrament

1. The Savior instituted the Sacrament the night before He was crucified, near the time of the Passover celebration. Many centuries earlier, the feast of the Passover had been instituted to help the children of Israel remember when the destroying angel “passed over” their houses and delivered them from Egyptian bondage (see Exodus 12:21-28; 13:14-15). The blood of the unblemished Passover lamb that saved ancient Israel was a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who redeemed all mankind. Review Matthew 26:26-29 and Luke 22:14-20. Then read the institute student manual introduction to chapter 23 (pg. 160) and the commentary for “What Is the Relationship Between the Sacrament and the Atonement?” (pgs. 161-62). Write responses to the following questions:
   • What was the relationship between the Passover and the Atonement of Jesus Christ? The Passover gave the Jews hope that the Lord would be merciful to them. The Atonement gives us hope that our sins will be washed away. The lamb was slain in the Passover to symbolize Christ as the lamb of God being slain for the sins of the world.
   • What is the relationship between the Sacrament and the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Each week as we partake of the Sacrament, we can repent of our sins and be cleansed. Through the Atonement, we can be cleaned from our sins and live with our Father in heaven again.
   • How does John 4:13-14; 6:48-53 add to an understanding of the symbolism of bread and water? The bread represents Christ's body and the water represents Christ's blood. Christ is the bread of life and the living water. We cannot be saved without Christ. As we partake of the bread and water each week, we symbolically take a part of Christ into us.
   • Considering the Savior’s instructions in Luke 22:19 and 3 Nephi 18:7, why do you think we are commanded to partake of the Sacrament weekly? How does Mosiah 5:13 apply to this idea? We partake of the sacrament as a testimony to the Father that we do remember Christ. We are commanded to partake of the Sacrament weekly so we constantly remember Christ. Mosiah 5:13 talks about not being able to serve a master who we do not know. If we do not constantly remember Christ, we cannot serve him.
2. Carefully look at the additions and corrections in the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 26:26, 28 (see Matthew 26:26 footnote b, and Matthew 26:28 footnote a). Write responses to the following questions and tasks:
   • What important truths do we gain from these verses of the Joseph Smith Translation? As we partake of the sacrament we need to remember that Christ's body was given as a ransom for us and our sins.
   • What does ransom mean? How does properly participating in the ordinance of the Sacrament ransom us? (See JST, Matthew 26:26) Christ, through his atonement, has done more for us than we will ever be able to do for him. There is nothing we can ever to to fully repay him for what he has done for us. By partaking of the sacrament weekly, it is a small gesture to Christ of our desire to repay him for what he has done for us. 
   • Make a list of what you want to remember about the Savior the next time you partake of the Sacrament. What his sacrifice means to me, what the bread and water fully represent, what sins I need to repent of, and what I need to do better at to be more like Christ.

New Testament Class, Week 9, Student Choice Assignment

Choice 2: Mark 13; Luke 21:5–38; Joseph Smith—Matthew. Preparing for the Savior’s Second Coming

1. Review Mark 13:5, 9, 23, 33, 35, 37 and identify the words take heed and watch in each verse. List at least three things from this chapter that believers could watch for in order to be prepared to meet the Lord.

       1. False prophets, claiming to be Christ. Do not be deceived by them. (verse 5)

       2. The events Christ has foretold. Wars, natural disasters. (verse 23)

       3. Pray always, for we do not know when Christ will come again. (verse 33)

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

• Doctrine and Covenants 87:8 We need to stand in holy places, whether it be our homes, churches, temples, etc.
• Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:32 The abomination of desolation foretold by Daniel will be fulfilled. 
• Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37  Treasure up the word of the Lord and you will not be deceived. 
• Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:46–50 Prepare for the Second Coming now. Always watch and be ready, for it will happen when you least expect it to.
• Doctrine and Covenants 33:17 Have faith, pray always, strengthen your testimony and conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Doctrine and Covenants 45:56–57 Receive the truth and allow the Holy Ghost to be your guide.

Halloween 2012

I am starting to see and feel the effects of being a mom of four. Case and point right here. It's over two weeks after Halloween, and I am just now getting around to finish my post about the dang holiday! Don't get me started on the lack of pictures of everything we did. I now know why there are no pictures of me (child #6) as a baby or toddler. My parents didn't have time to take pictures, or the mind set to remember to do so. We didn't get a single picture of Kinley. Oh well. On Halloween she wore an orange onsie that said, "Auntie keeps the candy coming", a pair of jeans, and a bow in her hair so she wouldn't look like a boy. No fancy costume for her, they are more of a pain at this age then it is worth.

We started out or festivities by carving pumpkins the Saturday before Halloween.

Then the Saturday before Halloween our ward had a Halloween party. Jeff and I went as firefighters, Mason and Cooper were Army men, Shiloh was a monkey, and Kinley was her cute little self. 

Halloween night we had both my sisters and their families over for dinner as well as my parents. Then all the kids went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood while Debbie, Kinley, and I stayed home to pass out candy. After a little bit we were joined by Shiloh and my dad.

 Shiloh with Hannah

New Testament Class, Week 8, Student Choice Assignment

Choice 1: Overview of the Last Week of the Savior’s Mortal Ministry

Read the information in the institute student manual about “The Last Days of Jesus’ Mortal Mission” (pgs. 135–37). Then fill in the following chart with key events that took place during the Savior’s final week of mortality:

Day 1: Jesus rode a donkey through 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.” He went directly to the temple, and took note of what he saw and retired to Bethany for the night. 
Day 2: Jesus went again to the temple and 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. 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.” That evening Jesus returned to Bethany.

Day 3: Jesus came to the temple. The priests challenged him. 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. The Jewish leaders consulted together how they might bring about Jesus’ death. One of Jesus’ own disciples offered to betray him.

Day 4: Jesus knew of the plot. He spent the day outside the city, perhaps at Bethany. 

Day 5: Jesus held the Passover meal in a home privately reserved for him and the Twelve. Following the Passover meal, Jesus introduced the sacrament, which presaged his atoning sacrifice. He then prophesied of his death and indicated who would betray him (Judas). Jesus offered his great intercessory prayer. Then, with the eleven (Judas had left), Jesus led them outside the walls to Gethsemane. Then he took 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. Jesus suffered “the pain of all men”, he bleed from every pore. He rejoined his apostles. An armed band led by Judas approached Jesus to seize him. Jesus was brought to an illegal trial that night.

Day 6: The Jewish leaders were not content that Jesus should be put to death; they also wanted to discredit him before his own people. 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 because he said he was the Son of God. The second charge was of sedition against the state, because he 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.” Fearing a demonstration, Pilate gave in to the clamor to crucify Jesus, and the death sentence was pronounced. Jesus was executed by the brutal Roman practice of crucifixion. Later that afternoon he voluntarily gave up his spirit. Since the next day was the Passover, before nightfall, Jesus’ body was removed from the cross and buried in a sealed tomb by two revering disciples.

Day 7 (Sabbath):  Jesus’ body remained in the tomb, but in spirit he ministered in the realm of departed spirits.

Day of the Resurrection: Jesus was risen and was seen again by many witnesses. The testimony of these witnesses constitutes the gospel story, the “good news.” Had the gospel ended with Jesus’ burial, there would be no gospel story, no “good news.”

New Testament Class, Week 7, Student Choice Assignment

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

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” (pg. 124).  We are responsible for preparing for our eternal future and we would be wise be begin preparing now. I really like what Elder Talmage said in the student manual, "Be diligent; for the day in which you can use your earthly riches will soon pass. Take a lesson from even the dishonest and the evil; if they are so prudent as to provide for the only future they think of, how much more should you, who believe in an eternal future, provide therefor!"
• 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?” (pgs. 124–25). There is life after this life. We either go to paradise, or hell, depending on the kind of person we were in this life. Before Christ visited the spirit world there was a gulf separating paradise and hell. When Christ's body laid in the tomb after his crucifixion, his spirit visited the spirit world. While there, he bridged the gulf that separated paradise from hell. Now that the gulf has been bridged, authorized ministers in paradise can teach the gospel to those in hell. Those who are taught have the opportunity to accept or reject the gospel.
• Luke 17:11–19, the ten lepers. “Why Were the Ten Lepers to Show Themselves to the Priests?” and “Were There Not Ten Cleansed?” (pg. 130). See also the Bible Dictionary, “Leprosy” (pg. 724). We need to have unshakable faith in the Lord. We should be willing to do whatever it is he asks of us. Also, when he blesses us for being obedient, we need to always remember to immediately show our gratitude to him.
• Luke 18:1–8, the parable of the unjust judge. “Why Did the Lord Give the Parable of the Unjust Judge?” (pg. 131). Just because the wicked judge would not grant the widows plea for justice, does not mean God does not hear our pleas. We need to always pray to him, for he always hears us. In the student manual, Elder Talmage said, "The Lord’s purpose in giving the parable is specifically stated; it was ‘to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
• Luke 18:9–14, the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. “Why Did the Lord Give the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican?” (pg. 131). The pharisee  had the attitude that he was better than the publican and felt he had the right to judge the publican because he was obedient to the Lord commandments. He lacked a very important attribute, humility. In the student manual, Elder Talmage said, "We are expressly told that this parable was given for the benefit of certain ones who trusted in their selfrighteousness as an assurance of justification before God." We need to be careful not to be like this pharisee and strive to be more like the publican, humble before the Lord, willing to confess our sins to Him.