JC - Chapter 36

The writings of Peter concerning the preaching to the spirits of the dead says -

"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:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water."  (New Testament | 1 Peter 3:18 - 20)

Elder Talmage writes this footnote -

"The Scripture Relating to Christ Among the Spirits in Prison.—The revised version of 1 Pet. 3:18–20 reads: “Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the spirit; in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved through water.” This is regarded by scholars as a closer approach to accuracy in translation than the common version. Certain important differences between the two versions will appear to the studious reader. The common version of the latter part of verse 18 and the whole of verse 19 reads: “being put to death in the flesh, but quickened, by the spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” The revised text expresses the true thought that Christ was quickened, that is to say, was active, in His own spirit state, although His body was inert and in reality dead at the time; and that in that disembodied state He went and preached to the disobedient spirits. The later reading fixes the time of our Lord’s ministry among the departed as the interval between His death and Resurrection."

This revised version makes more sense to me.

JC - Chapter 35

We are all familiar when after the Savior had fasted for forty days, probably at the weakest state so far in His mortal ministry, He was approached by Satan where He tempted the Savior with three "if" questions.

And then, as the sufferings of Gethsemane returned as He was nailed to the cross, in satanic language those around Him mocked -

"...Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross."  (New Testament | Matthew 27:40)

"...He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."  (New Testament | Matthew 27:42 - 43)

What great restraint and love had the Savior.  There is no question He could have used His superpower or better said, divine power to avenge His unjust punishment.  But He had come thus far and was near to accomplishing His divine mission and atonement.  In humility and obedience to the Father, He did nothing to avert but fulfilled that mission.

JC - Chapter 35

As Elder Talmage describes the actions at Golgotha, I was touched by the prayer of the Savior -

"...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  (New Testament | Luke 23:34)

We know the Savior instructed -

"...I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 64:10)

And in this particular case, the Savior did not say..."I forgive you".  What he did is prayed that the Father would forgive.

I've thought about this for a while and have come to the conclusion, that allowing this event to happen must have been very hard on the Father.  We know the Father is perfect being omnipotent.  Yet the Savior, not thinking of himself, but of the Father, pled that the Father would forgive these individuals and not punish or destroy them.

This was just my thoughts...

JC - Chapter 34

After condemning the Savior of blasphemy, I find it interesting of their comments and justifications in presenting the Savior before Pilate and their plea to Pilate in having Him killed -

"...If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee."  (New Testament | John 18:30)

Obviously, they said nothing concerning blasphemy.

"...It is not lawful for us to put any man to death..."  (New Testament | John 18:31)

According to Jewish law, He would have been stoned...not as prophesied.

"...We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King."  (New Testament | Luke 23:2)

As Pilate found Him not guilty, they exclaimed -

"...He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place."  (New Testament | Luke 23:5)

Which lead to Jesus being presented to Herod Antipas.  Later in answer to Pilate -

"...Let him be crucified."...Let him be crucified."  (New Testament | Matthew 27:22 - 23)

And then the Jews cried -

"...His blood be on us, and on our children."  (New Testament | Matthew 27:25)

It is then they confess that blasphemy was their cause -

"...We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."  (New Testament | John 19:7)

And then finally, their true colors to murder the Savior as these self-professed leaders of the
Jews exclaimed -

"...The chief priest answered, We have no king but Cæsar."  (New Testament | John 19:15)

All these statements to their condemnation.

JC - Chapter 34

We are all familiar with the Savior's prophecy that Peter would deny Him thrice.  I am not sure exactly how this transpired, but as the cock crowed when Peter denied Him the third time -

"...the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."  (New Testament | Luke 22:61 - 62)

It is those words that the Savior turned and looked at Peter that really touched me.  Elder Talmage explained -

"...As the last profane falsehood left his lips, the clear notes of a crowing cock broke upon his ears, and the remembrance of his Lord’s prediction welled up in his mind. Trembling in wretched realization of his perfidious cowardice, he turned from the crowd and met the gaze of the suffering Christ, who from the midst of the insolent mob looked into the face of His boastful, yet loving but weak apostle. Hastening from the palace, Peter went out into the night, weeping bitterly. As his later life attests, his tears were those of real contrition and true repentance."

I can't imagine a more painful experience in being unfaithful, prideful, and weak and then having the suffering Christ look into my face.

JC - Chapter 34

As the Savior would not respond in defense of himself before Caiaphas with all the false testimonies being born,  Caiaphas, contrary to Jewish law to testify concerning one self, exclaimed -

"...Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?"  (New Testament | Matthew 26:62)

And losing his patience asked -

"I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God."  (New Testament | Matthew 26:63)

To which the Savior testified -

"...Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."  (New Testament | Matthew 26:64)

As John also testified that -

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him..."  (New Testament | Revelation 1:7)

Even though Caiaphas declared this as blasphemy, the day will come that all, even the dead will see his second coming.

JC - Chapter 33

Of the Savior's experience in Gethsemane, Luke recorded -

"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."   (New Testament | Luke 22:44)

Elder Talmage wrote -

"Christ’s agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. The thought that He suffered through fear of death is untenable. Death to Him was preliminary to resurrection and triumphal return to the Father from whom He had come, and to a state of glory even beyond what He had before possessed; and, moreover, it was within His power to lay down His life voluntarily. He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. 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. No other man, however great his powers of physical or mental endurance, could have suffered so; for his human organism would have succumbed, and syncope would have produced unconsciousness and welcome oblivion. In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, “the prince of this world” could inflict. The frightful struggle incident to the temptations immediately following the Lord’s baptism was surpassed and overshadowed by this supreme contest with the powers of evil.

In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world. Modern revelation assists us to a partial understanding of the awful experience. In March 1830, the glorified Lord, Jesus Christ, thus spake: “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent, but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit: and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink—nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”

From the terrible conflict in Gethsemane, Christ emerged a victor. Though in the dark tribulation of that fearful hour He had pleaded that the bitter cup be removed from His lips, the request, however oft repeated, was always conditional; the accomplishment of the Father’s will was never lost sight of as the object of the Son’s supreme desire. The further tragedy of the night, and the cruel inflictions that awaited Him on the morrow, to culminate in the frightful tortures of the cross, could not exceed the bitter anguish through which He had successfully passed."

JC - Chapter 33

With His final teachings and instructions to His beloved apostles, the Savior taught them to pray in His name, keep His commandments, and that He would not leave the comfortless, Judah (not Iscariot) asked the Savior -

"...Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"  (New Testament | John 14:22)

The Savior answers -

"...If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   (New Testament | John 14:23 - 27)

In my mind He is saying, if you are worthy by keeping His commandments, you will have the Holy Ghost as a companion to teach you.  It will only be to those that are worthy thus the Holy Ghost or the Savior is manifest to the world.

Elder Talmage commented -

"The Holy Ghost was promised to the apostles; He would be sent through Christ’s intercession, to be to them “another Comforter,” or as rendered in later translations, “another Advocate” or “Helper,” even the Spirit of Truth, who, though the world would reject Him as they had rejected the Christ, should dwell with the disciples, and in them even as Christ then dwelt in them and the Father in Him. “I will not leave you comfortless,” Jesus assured the brethren, “I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”ii This was followed by the assurance that Christ though unknown by the world would manifest Himself to those who loved Him and kept His commandments."

JC - Chapter 33

As the Savior introduced the ordinance of washing as He washed His apostle's feet, Peter protested -

"...Lord, dost thou wash my feet?..."  (New Testament | John 13:6)

The Savior taught -

"...What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."  (New Testament | John 13:7)

Even -

"...If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."  (New Testament | John 13:8)

I personally interpret that to mean that in order to become part of Him or be linked or sealed to the family of Israel throughout eternity, besides baptism we must receive the ordinance of washing.

In modern day, the ordinance of washing was introduced to members of the school of the Prophets where -

"...ye shall not receive any among you into this school save he is clean from the blood of this generation;
139 And he shall be received by the ordinance of the washing of feet, for unto this end was the ordinance of the washing of feet instituted.
140 And again, the ordinance of washing feet is to be administered by the president, or presiding elder of the church."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:138 - 140)

Obviously, the purpose of washing is to be "clean from the blood of this generation".  Of washings we were later instructed -

"...verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?
38 For, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before the world was.
39 Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 124:37 - 39)

The ordinance of washings then in our day are to be administered in holy temples.

JC - Chapter 32

As there are similarities in the parable of the pounds and that of the talents, the latter was clearly taught to the Savior's apostles.  I believe what the Savior was trying to teach was -

"For of him unto whom much is given much is required..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 82:3)

From the parable I note that the talents were distributed to the servants -

"...to every man according to his several ability..."  (New Testament | Matthew 25:15)

Yet those that were faithful even with differing abilities, the Master rewarded  -

"Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."  (New Testament | Matthew 25:23)

The third servant who did nothing, seemed to blame his unfaithfulness on the Master.  Even we supposed less ability, he chose to do nothing.  Consequently...not reward.

Elder Talmage commented -

"The Lord had uttered His last parable. In words of plainness, though suffused with the beauty of effective simile, He impressed upon the listening disciples the certainty of judgment by which the world shall be visited in the day of His appearing. Then shall the wheat be segregated from the tares, and the sheep divided from the goats. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” Unto those on His right hand the King shall give commendation and blessing, bestowing a rich recompense for their good works, as attested by the hungry they had fed, the thirsty to whom they had given drink, the stranger they had lodged, the naked they had clothed, the sick to whom they had ministered, the prisoners they had visited and encouraged, all of which mercies are accredited to them as having been rendered to their Lord in person. The blessed company, overwhelmed by the plenitude of the King’s bounty, of which they regard themselves as undeserving, will fain disclaim the merit attributed to them; “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” [Matt. 13:24–30. ]

Unto them who wait on the left in terrified expectancy, the King shall recount their several deficiencies, in that they had given Him neither food nor drink, shelter nor clothing despite His need; neither had they visited Him though ill, nor ministered unto His wants when He lay in a prison cell. In the desperation of anguish these shall ask when and where they had had such opportunity of comforting Him, and He shall answer, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” The righteous shall be welcomed with “Come ye blessed of my Father”; the wicked shall hear the awful sentence, “Depart from me ye cursed.” Eternal life is the inestimable reward; everlasting punishment the unfathomable doom."

JC - Chapter 32

After His apostles had asked -

"...Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"  (New Testament | Matthew 24:3)

One of the things the Savior responded with was -

"For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together."  (New Testament | Matthew 24:28)

Those words sound somewhat gruesome, but in reality a great example.  I believe the Savior is prophesying that the day will come, where the restored Church is, all of faithful Israel will gather.  One of our firm beliefs is -

"We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes..."  (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:10)

This is one the signs or prophesied events that will transpire before the second coming.

JC - Chapter 31

In His final visit to the temple, the Savior lamented -

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."  (New Testament | Matthew 23:37 - 39)

Killing the prophets, became even more meaningful that in a few days, they would kill the Son of God.

I noticed that the Savior now declares the temple ..."your house".  And a short time afterwards would prophecy -

"...here shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."  (New Testament | Matthew 24:2)

This was fulfilled in 70 AD.  But what touched me were these final words at the temple -

"He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."  (New Testament | John 12:44 - 50)

JC - Chapter 31

Knowing that the time was now here when He would fulfill all things, the Savior made it perfectly clear that the Jewish leaders were corrupt and hypocrites...which was true.  Thus He accused -

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."  (New Testament | Matthew 23:13 - 15)

"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!"  (New Testament | Matthew 23:16)

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."  (New Testament | Matthew 23:23)

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."  (New Testament | Matthew 23:27 - 28)

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets."  (New Testament | Matthew 23:29 - 31)

Obviously, these were wicked men presenting themselves as righteous leaders.  These are they that desired to kill the Son of God.

JC - Chapter 30

One of the characteristics the Savior continually denounced was hypocrisy.  As He approached Jerusalem in His final mortal week -

"...he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away."  (New Testament | Matthew 21:19)

It seem the next morning, Peter noted -

"...Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away."  (New Testament | Mark 11:21)

I see in this event two lessons.  The first being that the Savior not only had the power to heal, but also power to deny or destroy.  Much is the scriptures speak of judgement and the following damnation.

The second again is hypocrisy.  The tree had the appearance that fruit would be plentiful.  But it brought forth no fruit.  The Savior taught -

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away..."  (New Testament | John 15:2)

One of the tests of this life is to bring forth fruit.

JC - Chapter 29

Even though the gospel writers suggest that the apostles did not quite understand the Savior's message that he would suffer death and come forth the on the third day, my thoughts are that Mary and Martha did for as he visited them on His last Sabbath -

"There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat."  (New Testament | Matthew 26:7)

After a small dispute concerning the value of the precious ointment, the Savior rebuked -

"...Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial."  (New Testament | Matthew 26:10 - 12)

Elder Talmage commented -

"We are left without certain information as to whether Mary knew that within a few days her beloved Lord would be in the tomb. She may have been so informed in view of the hallowed intimacy between Jesus and the family; or she may have gathered from the remarks of Christ to the apostles that the sacrifice of His life was impending; or perhaps by inspired intuition she was impelled to render the loving tribute by which her memory has been enshrined in the hearts of all who know and love the Christ."

JC - Chapter 29

As the Savior journeyed to Jerusalem for the last time, He said to His apostles -

"...Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again."  (New Testament | Luke 18:31 - 33)

Knowing many of the prophecies of ancient prophets, these words seem very clear to most of us, but Luke notes of Hs apostles -

"...they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken."  (New Testament | Luke 18:34)

It seems strange that these things seem to be "hid" from these apostles, but the Savior knew exactly what was coming up.  These days must have been very solemn and somewhat sad to the Savior.

JC - Chapter 28

As the Savior was again at the temple in the winter before His cruxificion, He was again asked -

"...If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly."  (New Testament | John 10:24)

The Savior had many times before testified of His divinity and that He was the promised Messiah.  In addition he had demonstrated many great miracles.  I would suspect that what the Jews had somehow come to understand that the Christ and the Messiah would save them from temporal captivity.  Instead of just answering "yes" because that would validate their understanding, He again testified -

 "...I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one."  (New Testament | John 10:25 - 30)

It is clear that His salvation is only for those that beilieve and "hear my voice" or in my mind, "keeps the commandments".

JC - Chapter 27

In parable the Savior spake to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous -

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."  (New Testament | Luke 18:10 - 13)

Of these two, the publican -

"...went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  (New Testament | Luke 18:14)

...or in my mind, justified by grace and the atonement of the Savior.

Elder Talmage made one little commend that made me think -

"The Pharisee thanked God that he was so much better than other men; he was true to his class, a separatist who looked with disdain upon all who were not like him. That he was not like “this publican” was made a point of special thanksgiving. His boast, that he fasted twice a week and gave tithes of all that he possessed, was a specification of worthiness above what was required by the law as then administered; he thus implied that God was his debtor."

My thoughts were...how often do we suggest or remind the Lord the things we have done to receive his blessings.  In doing so, do we imply that He is our debtor?  Interesting.

JC - Chapter 27

After the apostles had requested of the Savior -

"...Increase our faith."  (New Testament | Luke 17:5)

...the Lord taught this parable -

"...which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."  (New Testament | Luke 17:7 - 10)

Elder Talmage comments -

"The servant might well feel that after a day’s work in the field he is entitled to rest; but on reaching the house he finds other demands made upon him. The master has a right to the servant’s time and attention; such was among the conditions under which the servant had been engaged; and while his employer might thank him or give some substantial reward, the servant cannot demand such recompense. So the apostles, who had given themselves entirely up to their Master’s service, were not to hesitate nor demur, whatever the effort or sacrifice required. The best they could do would be no more than their duty required; and, without regard to the Master’s estimate of their worth, they were to account themselves as unprofitable servants."

Obviously, our duty is whatever is asked of us.  Mosiah taught -

"...if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:21)

 

JC - Chapter 27

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, I believe the most thought provoking of the parable is the elder brother for as he learned his brothers return and the grand celebration -

"...he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."  (New Testament | Luke 15:28 - 31)

I even note that the brother did not suggest that his own brother had come but said "thy son was come" almost sounding like he felt no claim that this was his brother.  Should not the brother have been just a joyous with the return of his brother as that of the father?

I believe that this parable is more of a chastisement to the Pharisees and to all of us that claim to be His disciples.  We should be joyous when any of God's children repent and return to Him.

JC - Chapter 26

In our stake, we have those that range from very affluent to many that are far less affluent.  This morning I was touched by two teachings of the Savior.  First, to those less affluent, as one inquired of the Savior -

"...Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me."  (New Testament | Luke 12:13)

To which the Savior responded -

"...Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."  (New Testament | Luke 12:15)

In my mind covetousness is one of the greater causes of unhappiness.

And then to the affluent, the Savior taught -

"...a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  (New Testament | Luke 12:16 - 21)

The test in this life is what we do with or without riches.  The prophet, Jacob taught his people -

"...before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 2:18 - 19)