Learning Eternal Truths from the Parables

 Luke 16:1-12; 19-31; 17:11-19; 18:1-14 Parables and Accounts that Teach Eternal Truths

There are certain parables that I have studied in my life that really stand out to me. This week I had the privilege to study parables the that were less familiar to me. The principles didn't stand out to me right away so I needed to read the student manual, words of the prophets to gain greater insight and learn what the Lord wanted me to know.

This week the assignment was to study the parables and accounts with the accompanying commentary from the institute student manual and describe what we 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

Calgary Alberta Temple

This parable discusses the importance of preparing for our eternal future. We may put great effort towards the type of life we live here in our mortal life, yet how much do we prepare for our life afterward where we want to live with our Heavenly Father and our families forever? This parable teaches the importance to prepare for eternal life. If we want eternal life, then we need to prepare for eternal life while on earth. The New Testament teacher’s manual states, “If we are wise, we will make provision for our eternal future.”

           “This parable does not encourage us to be dishonest or to cheat others in any way; rather, it                   encourages us to prepare for our eternal future with the same energy and effort as this steward             prepared for his temporal future. If even an unscrupulous steward will prepare for his future, 
             the Saints should be willing to prepare for eternity.” New Testament Teacher Manual

Luke 16:19-31 The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

What do we learn about the Spirit World from this parable?

In the parable “Abraham’s bosom” refers to paradise and “hell” is spirit prison. Before the death of Christ, there was no way for spirits to move from “one place or condition to the other.” New Testament manual

Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Jesus makes it possible for those in spirit prison to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and repent. The Atonement bridges the gap between spirit prison and paradise. Those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and repent may be permitted into paradise. The Savior has atoned for all and removes those trapped in spiritual darkness to receive the fullness of the gospel and live with Him again. “Our circumstances in the next life depend upon how we receive the Lord and His servants in this life.” New Testament Manual

If we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, receive the Lord’s servants, keep God’s commandments and use the Atonement in our life, then we will be able to live with God again.

President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) clarified that before spirits can be released from spirit prison, they must hear the gospel and accept it and the saving ordinances must be performed for them: “In relation to the deliverance of spirits from their prison house, of course, we believe that can only be done after the gospel has been preached to them in the spirit, and they have accepted the same, and the work necessary to their redemption by the living be done for them” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 413–14).

Luke 17:11-19, Parable of the Ten Lepers

Why were the Ten Lepers to show themselves to the Priests? And Were not Ten Cleansed?

The 10 lepers saw the Savior and asked for mercy. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. They did as they were asked to do and were cleansed because of their obedience. However, only one of the lepers that were cleansed returned to the Lord to give thanks and because of the lepers faith and gratitude was made whole. Bishop Batemen comments on the difference between the thankful leper and the unthankful lepers.

“Although all ten lepers in this account were “cleansed,” only the Samaritan man who returned was made “whole” (Luke 17:14, 19). Bishop Merrill J. Bateman, while serving as Presiding Bishop, taught: “In becoming a whole person, the grateful leper was healed inside as well as on the outside. That day nine lepers were healed skin deep, but only one had the faith to be made whole” (“The Power to Heal from Within,” Ensign, May 1995, 14).”

If we are thankful in all things, then the Lord will bless us and we will become whole.

Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Unjust Judge

Why did the Lord give the parable of the unjust judge?

The Lord gives us the parable of the unjust judge to teach us to never stop praying and to “pray and not to faint.”

“The Greek word translated as “to faint” means to become discouraged or weary or to tire of something. In the parable, praying without giving up is represented by a widow who repeatedly appeals to a judge to remedy an injustice. There have been times when I feel tired and I casually forget to say my prayers. The Lord teaches us in this parable to be diligent in our prayers. If we are going through difficult times do not give up praying. Show the Lord you can endure and pray through it.

I found Elder Holland’s  quote below comforting:

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow. … Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father, and you are His child” (“Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 30). Perseverance is rooted in the foundational gospel principles of faith and hope. Perseverance reflects our faith that our actions will bring the Lord’s blessings into our lives.”

Luke 18:9-14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican

Why did the Lord give the parable of the Pharisee and the publican?

The Lord gives this parable to us to show the importance of living in humility. The Pharisee trusted in himself and in his own feeling of himself. The publican felt like a sinner. The Pharisee spoke of himself often. This parable show us to rely upon the Lord and not our own abilities and attitudes. This parable is a warning for us to humble ourselves and watch how we feel about others.

“The Savior stated the moral of the parable in terms of pride and humility: “For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14; see also D&C 52:15).” New Testament Student Manual

“Could there be greater contrast in the prayers of the two men? The Pharisee stood apart because he believed he was better than other men, whom he considered as common. The publican stood apart also, but it was because he felt himself unworthy. The Pharisee thought of no one other than himself and regarded everyone else a sinner, whereas the publican thought of everyone else as righteous as compared with himself, a sinner. The Pharisee asked nothing of God, but relied upon his own self-righteousness. The publican appealed to God for mercy and forgiveness of his sins.

“Continuing the story, Jesus then said: ‘I tell you, this man,’ referring to the publican, the despised tax collector, ‘went down to his house justified, rather than the other.’ (Luke 18:14.) In other words, the Lord said he was absolved, forgiven, or vindicated. …

“Humility is an attribute of godliness possessed by true Saints. It is easy to understand why a proud man fails. He is content to rely upon himself only. … The proud man shuts himself off from God, and when he does he no longer lives in the light. …

“… History bears record that those who have exalted themselves have been abased, but the humble have been exalted. On every busy street there are Pharisees and publicans. It may be that one of them bears our name” (“The Pharisee and the Publican,” Ensign, May 1984, 65–66).

Being a Disciple of Christ

Choice #2

Luke 10:38-42, 11:1-13, 12:13-40, 13:23-24, 14:16-33

Being a Disciple of Christ

Learning to be a Disciple of Christ is a lifelong pursuit. Each day I feel like I can improve and enjoy the process. President Faust describes what discipleship is,

"What is discipleship? It is primarily obedience to the Savior. Discipleship includes many things. It is chastity. It is tithing. It is family home evening. It is keeping all the commandments. It is forsaking anything that is not good for us. Everything in life has a price. Considering the Savior’s great promise for peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come, discipleship is a price worth paying. It is a price we cannot afford not to pay. By measure, the requirements of discipleship are much, much less than the promised blessings.

The disciples of Christ receive a call to not only forsake the pursuit of worldly things but to carry the cross daily. To carry the cross means to follow His commandments and to build up His Church on the earth. It also means self-mastery. ² As Jesus of Nazareth instructed us, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” ³ “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” ⁴

The words of a beloved Primary song resonate with all who follow the Master:

I’m trying to be like Jesus;

I’m following in his ways.

I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say. ⁵ "

I want to be more like the Savior. He is so loving, compassionate and kind to others. This week I learned more about how to be more like Him.

1.    Read Luke 10:38-42, 11:1-13, 12:13-40, 13:23-24, 14:16-33 and the institute student manual commentary for Luke 11:5-13, “The Parable of the Friend at Midnight” (pg 115) Make a list of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and what the Savior taught about counting the costs of following Him.

a.)   Choosing Christ above all else – putting Christ first in our lives.

b.)  Let the Savior teach you – be a humble servant.

c.)   Forgive others.

d.)  Be willing and prepared to serve others at any time.

e.)   Ask for the Lord’s assistance when you need it. He can strengthen us to give us the energy, insight, and power to do all that is required of us.

f.)    Disciples remember who they are, children of a Heavenly Father, who loves them and knows their needs.

g.)   Disciples should not be materialistic and value temporal things. Covet not. Seek not for worldly riches.

h.)  Serve others. Give all to God. Time, energy, thought and life.

i.)    Have an attitude of gratitude. Live with a spirit of gratefulness in any circumstance.

j.)    Have faith that your Heavenly Father will provide for you what you need.

k.)    Prepare for the Savior’s return and be watchful.

l.)    Disciples are baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and follow the Lord’s path.

m.) Be willing to sacrifice your time and all you are and have to God.

n.)  Disciples will do what the Lord commands. Obedience is required.

o.)   Love others.

p.)  Trust in Heavenly Father’s plan.

q.)  Be persistent, faithful and consistent in prayer.

2. Identify one of the teachings from your list that you would like to apply more fully in your life. Write a paragraph about how you could apply that teaching and what difference you believe it would make in your life.

We can always improve in becoming a true disciple of Christ. I would like to work on have a disposition of gratitude. I feel that if I am consciously trying to live with a grateful heart that I will be able to share with others the spirit of gratitude. To me gratitude is a gateway to a deeper joy in life. I am grateful for my blessings but President Uchtdorf shares a statement that teaches me how I can improve:

“As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to “thank the Lord [our] God in all things,”¹ to “sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving,”² and to “let [our] heart be full of thanks unto God. … Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.”

–     “Grateful in Any Circumstance” April 2014

Implementing an attitude of gratitude will increase my level of humility and soften my heart. I see it as being contagious and allowing me to share with others my appreciation for them. I want to be a righteous example for my family and feel this is a good goal to improve.

3.    Read Luke 14:33; Omni 1:26; Mosiah 2:34; Matthew 13:44-46. Explain in writing what is ultimately required to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

We must “forsake all” to be a disciple of Jesus Christ by using our agency to willingly follow the Lord, and be obedient to His commandments. We must “Come unto Him” will full purpose of heart, and accept His Atonement by using the Atonement to repent, make course corrections, and to be strengthened in weakness. We show our dedication to the Savior by having a testimony of His plan, the Plan of Salvation, by fasting and praying, and by enduring to the end.  Disciples of Jesus Christ remember they are “eternally indebted to” Heavenly Father and should follow Him with humility and meekness in spirit. Disciples of Christ are joyful because they have found the truth and feel the indescribable joy that comes from serving, loving and following Jesus Christ.

How to know if its True

Do you struggle to know if something is true? When I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I needed to know if the doctrine I was being taught was true. We are taught in the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:5, "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." Jesus Christ invites each of us to be taught of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and come to know Him by applying His teachings to our life. This week I learned more about the Savior and His invitation to "do his will" to know of His truth.

Choice 5: John 7:10–17. How to Know the Truth of the Savior’s Doctrine

1.    Review John 7:10–17. Then answer the following questions in writing:

What were the different reactions of the people about the Savior?

·      “some said, He is a good man;” (vs 12)

·      others said, “he deceiveth the people” (vs 12)

·      many would not say anything about Him because the feared the Jews (vs 13)

 How do these reactions compare to the way people think of Jesus Christ today?

I think the reaction of the people of not changed too much. Many accept Jesus as the Christ, the Promised Messiah while others think He was a prophet and a good person but not the Promised Messiah, not the Savior. There are many who do not know Him and saying nothing because they have not been taught of who He is and others don’t seem to get involved who say nothing.

What questions did the Jews ask about the Lord?

The Jews “marveled” and said, “How knoweth this man letters having never learned?” To them He was a carpenter’s son how would He know of such doctrine? They questioned his credentials to preach and call himself a Savior.

How do the following verses help explain the difference between where the Jews’ wisdom came from and where Jesus’ wisdom came from: Jacob 4:14; Colossians 2:8; Doctrine and Covenants 93:11–17?

In Jacob 4:14, the Jews “despised the words of plainness… and sought for things they could not understand. They looked beyond the mark.

Colossians 2:8 – Admonishes us not to be deceived from receiving blessings. Be humble to learn and do not allow others to influence us by being “puffed up” with their own wisdom follow God in faith.

Doctrine & Covenants 93:11-17 says that Jesus “..received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness.”

To summarize, it seems the Jews at the time of Christ, relied upon their own wisdom and did not see the Savior for who He was because of the blindness and pride of their mind. The Savior grew “grace to grace” He was taught by His Heavenly Father and through the Holy Ghost. He had a clear understanding of who He was and His mission.

What did the Savior instruct the people to do to gain a personal knowledge of the truthfulness of His teachings?

The Lord, Jesus Christ, invited them “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17

He invites all to gain a personal testimony by choosing to “do” and follow God teachings. This is how to know if the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

1.    Read the institute student manual commentary for John 7:16–17, “What Test Did Jesus Prescribe to Know the Truthfulness of His Doctrine?” (pg. 108). Write a paragraph about a time in your life when you came to know the truth of a gospel principle by living it.

Jesus taught the people to apply what He was teaching them and they would know of its truth.

“As Jesus taught in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, some Jews marveled that He could teach as He did without having studied their theology. Jesus taught these people that His doctrine came from His Father and that those who applied the doctrine would know of its truth (see John 7:14–17). Of this teaching, President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency said: “We acquire a testimony of the principles of the gospel by obediently trying to live them. Said the Savior, ‘If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine’ [John 7:17]. A testimony of the efficacy of prayer comes through humble and sincere prayer. A testimony of tithing comes by paying tithing. … I testify that if you continue in the purposeful process of searching for and accepting spiritual light, truth, and knowledge, it will surely come. By going forward in faith, you will find that your faith will increase” (“Lord, I Believe; Help Thou Mine Unbelief,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 22).” New Testament Institute Manual John 7

I remember a time in my life when I wanted to get closer to the Savior and come to know Him better in my life. I prayed and asked to have a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as my Savior. I read the scriptures and served. I served my family, in my calling and really sought to know who needed to be encouraged. I prayed to know who needed to be uplifted and followed the promptings. I brought treats to people who I felt needed to be remembered. I made phone calls and visits. During this time I felt so uplifted. I also felt a deep love for those whom I was serving. I hoped they would feel the Savior’s love for them through a small act of kindness. My testimony of the Savior grew because I could see He loved us all. He was aware of our struggles and wanted me to help others. I came to know my Savior by serving, as He would have me do.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-003-young-jesus-teaching-in-the-temple?lang=eng