The Savior Anointed

While dining with His disciples, the Savior is anointed by a woman with a very precious oil. This briefly becomes a point of disagreement with some of them who feel that she has wasted something that is valuable, and could have been used for a better purpose.  In His response, the Savior implies that the woman understood what was coming, and that she was there to anoint Him, prior to his death and burial.  What she did was so selfless and considerate.  Who knows what this small gift must have cost her, or what sacrifices might have been made that enabled her to serve the Savior at the end of His ministry. I often wonder what I could give.  I realize that I really don’t have much to give that would be of any value to the Savior….certainly nothing material would be of much worth.  All I really have to give is my heart, my will, my time, my pride.  I can give more love and effort in my calling, striving harder to understand the youth I teach in Sunday School, and love them a little more.  I could be a better visiting teacher, and a much better neighbor.  The best thing I can give Him is to follow Him and keep my covenants.

Preparing for the Second Coming

Watch!  In Mark 13, the Savior admonishes us to watch for the day of his coming.   He says to watch that we be not deceived, pray for we don't know when he will come, and to watch for those who challenge our testimonies. We are further taught to 'stand in Holy places' and wait for the Lord to come. If we want to be ready for the Lord, we must seek after truth and hold tightly to our testimonies and live the truths that we know.

The Widow's Mite

A certain woman came to the temple to give her offering.  She put in two mites.  Others around her gave great riches, but she gave all that she had.  The beautiful part of this story is how she gave everything in a spirit of sacrifice and love of God.  We, like this woman, can give of ourselves in the same spirit of consecration.  One of the things we can give is our time.  It seems that it is easy for most to give of themselves financially,  but it is more difficult to find time.  When we seek to serve others in a sprit of love and sacrifice the time that is needed, we truly consecrate what we have to the Lord.

Christ and the Rich Young Ruler

Commentary on Matthew 19:16-30

The Savior is approached by what we understand to be a good and righteous young man.  He desires to have the promise of eternal life, and asks the Master what he needs to do.  The response that is given is that he needs to keep the commandments.  The young man’s response is “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” Jesus answers that he needs to sell all that he has, give the money to the poor, and follow the Savior.  He goes away, sorrowful, thus choosing to keep his possessions rather than do as the Savior bid him to.  Earlier in His ministry, the Savior taught that we ought to lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven, and that our heart will belong to that which we treasure.  It is a hard thing to give up worldly wealth and possessions for something that is intangible, such as eternal life, if we do not love God more than we love our things.  As was the case for the rich young ruler, so it is with us.  We all have something we can give up to fully follow the Savior.  We know what those things are, and it is not always the physical things that are required.  We can sacrifice our whole hearts, give up our little sins and transgressions which keep up from following the Savior to the extent that we should.  When we put the Lord at the front and center of our day, every day, we are blessed the have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  He can touch our hearts and inspire us to know what changes we need to make, and give us the courage to give up the worldly treasures that our hearts are set upon.

True Discipleship (Choice 2, Unit 1)

A true disciple of Christ:

Seeks for truth

Focuses on Heavenly treasures, not earthly treasures

Serves his fellowmen

Strives to keep the commandments

Loves the Savior above all else

 

One of these, in particular, is key to all the others.  When we love the Savior first, the rest of our life falls into its proper place.  It isn’t that lie suddenly becomes easier, but our ability to follow Christ and be changed by Him increases as our love for Him grows.  I find that my love for others, my desire to learn truth, to seek after Heavenly treasures, to serve, and to be obedient also increases.  True disciples of Jesus Christ try to keep their life in harmony with the teachings of the gospel. Discipleship results in good choices which are driven by a deep love and devotion to Jesus Christ. It really requires all that we are able to give of ourselves, and then some. 

Unit 2: Become as Little Children

Children are so precious in the sight of our Savior.  They are meek and submissive, humble and easily instructed.  We are all children of our Heavenly Father, and He desires to have us and love us like children.  He wants us to return to Him and He desires to pour out blessings upon us.  We can be like little children by submitting to the will of the Father.  We can lean on the Savior, Jesus Christ, for our support and rely on His perfect Atonement to compensate for our inadequacies.  Small children are sinless, and though we are not sinless, we can be made perfect in Christ.

The Faith to Walk on Water (Unit 1, Choice 3)

On a particular afternoon, Jesus sent His disciples out to sea while he remained behind to pray.  After a while, He joins them at sea.  He walked to them on the water, astonishing all of them.  Peter is permitted to join the Savior and miraculously also walks on the water.  He had tremendous faith.  However, Peter sank when he started to pay attention to the storm that was bustling around him and he became afraid.  He cries out to the Lord who immediately reaches for him.  I love the lesson in this story.  We must exercise great faith in Jesus Christ, and when we do great miracles happen for us.  I can’t help but feel that the greatest miracle happens when we cry out to the Lord and He immediately reaches to save us.  When I experience trials or difficulties, I, like Peter, can call out to the Savior with pure faith and trust, and He will be there for me.