March 18, 2014 First Peter By Morrissa Rich

Audio March 18, 2014 1 Peter by Morissa Rich

1 Peter

“The most literary composition in the New Testament.”

“Peter penned the most sublime language of any of the apostles” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Examples of “sublime language” in the first two chapters:
• 1 Peter 1:3 “God…hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ….”
• 1 Peter 1:8 “Jesus Christ, whom having seen not, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory…”
• 1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind…”
• 1 Peter 1:24-25 “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.”
• 1 Peter 2:2,3 “…desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be, ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious…”
• 1 Peter 2:4,5 “[Christ is] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house….”
• 1 Peter 2:8 [Christ is] a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, to them which stumble at the word….”

1 Peter tells us what Christ has done.
• 1 Peter 2:24 Christ “his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripe ye were healed.”
• 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”
• 1 Peter 1:3 We are “…begotten …unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
• 1 Peter 1:19 We are redeemed “…with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
• 1 Peter 2:9 Christ “…hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”

1 Peter tells us who we are
• 1 Peter 1:2 You are “…elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.”
• 1 Peter 1:10 Regarding you, “…prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you….”
• 1 Peter 13, 15 You “… are partakers of Christ’s sufferings…. If [you] suffer as a Christian,…be not ashamed; but …glorify God on this behalf.”
• 1 Peter 2:9 You… “are a chosen generation, (partakers in) a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (purchased) people…”

1 Peter tells us what to do.
• 1 Peter 4:7“…watch unto prayer….”
• 1 Peter 2:2 “…as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word.…”
• 1 Peter 3:4 Adorn yourselves with…“the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit….”
• 1 Peter 5:2-3 “Feed the flock of God…willingly of a ready mind…being ensamples to the flock.”
• 1 Peter 3:8 “…be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful (tenderhearted), be courteous…”
• 1 Peter 4:7-9 “…have fervent charity among yourselves….Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”
• 1 Peter 2:9 “…show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
• 1 Peter 3:15 “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…”

1 Peter tells us how to deal with adversity.
• 1 Peter 2:21 “…Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
• 1 Peter 2:2 “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not…”
• 1 Peter 3: “…not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing…”
• 1 Peter 2:12 “… they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God….”
• 1 Peter 2:15 “… with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
• 1 Peter 1:6-7 “…now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (trials, afflictions): The trial of your faith, [is] more precious than gold….”
• As You Like It, act 2 “Sweet are the uses of adversity, which like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head…”
• 1Peter 5:10-11 “…the God of all grace…, after that ye have suffered a while…, [will] strengthen, [and] settle you.”
• Alma 7:12 “And… he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
• 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast…all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Elder Russell M. Ballard
“My message to you today, my brothers and sisters, is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis.
His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful to not overreact…, but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!”

March 11, 2014 James By Diane Adair

 Audio March 11, 2014 James by Diane Adair

James

Quotes

“Patience is always involved in the spiritual chemistry of the soul, not only when we try to turn the trials and tribulations, the carbon dioxide, as it were, into joy and growth but also when we use it for growth to build upon the seemingly ordinary experiences to bring about happy spiritual outcomes.  Patience is therefore clearly not fatalistic, shoulder-shrugging resignation.  It is acceptance of a divine rhythm  to life.  It is obedience prolonged.  Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing.  Patience is never condescending or exclusive.  Patience is never glad when others are left out.  Patience never preens itself.  It prefers in keeping the window of the soul open.”
Neal Maxwell, talk “Patience,” 1975.

“To Jesus, every one of us has a sleeping hero in his soul.  Jesus believed that man could make a response even if it required His own death to make that response possible…Jesus believes in us with complete confidence.” The Mind of Jesus by William Barclay

“Relief Society is made up of a variety of women.  There are those of you who are single, perhaps in school, perhaps working, yet forging a full and rich life.  Some of you are mothers of young children, still others of you have lost your husbands because of divorce of death.  Without the help of a husband and father, you feel alone.  Many of you have raised your children but find that their need for your help is ongoing.  There are many of you who have aging parents who require the love only you can give.  Wherever we are in life, there are times when all of us have challenges and struggles.  There will be times when you will walk a path strewn with thorns and marked by struggles.  There are many times when you will feel detached, even isolated from God, the giver of every good gift.  You worry that you walk alone.  Fear replaces faith.  When you find yourself in such circumstances, I plead with you to remember prayer.  All through my life the council to depend on prayer has been prized almost above any other advice I have received.  It has become an integral part of me, an anchor, a constant source of strength and my basis of my knowledge of things divine.  Though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance, for God will speak peace to the soul.  That peace, that spirit of serenity is life’s greatest blessing.

We were not placed on this earth to walk alone.  What an amazing source of power, strength, and of comfort is available to each of you.  He who knows us better than we know ourselves.  He who sees the larger picture and knows the end from the beginning has assured that He will be there to provide us help if we but ask.  As our prayers ascend heavenward, let us not forget the words taught to us by the Savior when he faced the excruciating agony of Gethsemane and the cross. . .”
President Thomas S. Monson, “We Never Walk Alone,” November Ensign, 2013, Pg. 121.

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,”  by Bailey, accompanied by her father, Spence.

“The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism.  That thought ought to inspire and motivate all of us because I feel that friendship is a fundamental need of our world.  Now he is not just talking about us being friends to God, but being friends with each other, being in it with each other.  I think in all of us there is a profound longing for friendship, a deep yearning for the satisfaction that close, lasting relationships can give.  Perhaps one reason the scriptures give no specific mention of the principle of friendship is that it should be manifest quite naturally as we live the gospel.  In fact, if the consummate Christian attribute of Charity has a first cousin, it is friendship.”
Marlin K. Jensen

“I am a lover of the cause of Christ.” The Prophet Joseph Smith

“Come heed the call of the gentle Christ.”President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Quoting Jesus, “I will not fail thee and I will not forsake thee.” President Thomas S. Monson

“God be thanked for the matchless gift of his divine son.”