Elder Gerritt W. Gong - Ministering

 Of ministering, Elder Gong taught - 

"Higher and holier ministering6 comes when we pray for “the pure love of Christ”7 and follow the Spirit..."

"It is said that those who understand the true spirit of ministering do more than before, while those who do not understand do less. Let’s do more, as our Savior would. As our hymn says, it is “a blessing of duty and love.”"

"Jesus Christ ministers. Angels minister.22 Followers of Jesus Christ “minister one to another,”23 “rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep,”24 “watch over [and] … nourish [the people] with things pertaining to righteousness,”25 “remember … the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted,”26 let His name be known through our ministry.27 As we minister as He would, we witness His miracles, His blessings.28 We obtain “a more excellent ministry.”"

John 9

Like many today, we witness how individuals are so enthralled with themselves, their position, their opinions, their power and authority, etc. that they cannot reasonably see goodness and logic was the Savior heals the blindman - 

13 ¶ They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.

29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out."  (John 9:13–34)

John 7

 The Savior made an interesting statement that rings true today - 

"The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil."  (John 7:7)

We are seeing that more and more today with the philosophies of men.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson - The Greatest Easter Story Ever Told

 As Elder Gary E. Stevenson approached greater attention and worship of Easter week, He first says - 

"These words of the Prophet Joseph Smith add additional context to the significance of the events surrounding Easter: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

Adding - 

New Testament scholar N. T. Wright suggested: “We should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts. … This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of Matthew and Luke, nothing else. Take Easter away, and you don’t have a New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity.”

Suggesting that we include the Book of Mormon on our Easter worship - 

"In addition to the important verses about Easter in the New Testament, we as Latter-day Saints are endowed with a most remarkable Easter gift! A gift of unique witness, another testament of the Easter miracle that contains perhaps the most magnificent Easter scriptures in all of Christianity. I am referring of course to the Book of Mormon and, more specifically, to the account of Jesus Christ appearing to inhabitants in the New World in His resurrected glory."

He counsels - 

"​I am holding in my hand a copy of the first edition of the Book of Mormon. Doing so always moves me. For much of my adult life, I have been fascinated, enthralled, and riveted with what young Joseph Smith did to get this sacred book of scripture translated and published. The miracles that had to occur are staggering to contemplate.

​But that is not why this book moves me. It is because this book, more than any other ever published on this earth, bears witness of the life, the ministry, the teachings, the Atonement, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. My dear brothers and sisters, studying regularly from this book about Jesus Christ will change your life. It will open your eyes to new possibilities. It will increase your hope and fill you with charity. Most of all, it will build and strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ and bless you with a sure knowledge that He and our Father know you, love you, and want you to find your way back home, with a capital H."

John 10

 When the Jews accused the Savior of blasphemy, He answered - 

"...Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken..."  (John 10:32–35)

The Savior was referring to - 

"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."  (Psalms 82:6)

I believe God is saying, children of God have potential to be Gods.

Luke 10

 As the Seventy returned - 

"...with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."  (Luke 10:17)

The Savior warns - 

"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."  (Luke 10:20)

I think this is warning of becoming prideful. in the work.  Rejoice in just good works, not personal gratification.

Matthew 18

As the Savior teaches His apostles concerning offenses and forgiveness, I came across the quote this morning on a related topic...tolerance - 

“An erroneous assumption could be made that if a little of something is good, a lot must be better.  Not so!  Overdoses of needed medication can be toxic.  Boundless mercy could oppose justice.  So tolerance without limit could lead to spineless permissiveness.   

The Lord drew boundary lines to define acceptable limits of tolerance.  Danger rises when those divine limits are disobeyed.  Just as parents teach little children not to run and play in the street, the Saviour taught us that we need not tolerate evil” (President Russell M. Nelson, Daily Joy, April 3, 2021).   

Mark 8

When the Savior and His apostles went to Bethsaida - 

"...they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly."  (Mark 8:22–25)

This is one example of one being healed in degrees.  We know that the Savior has mentioned many times in scripture concerning faith to be healed.  The degree of faith a person has obviously can grow in degrees.  I wonder if this story reflects faith growing in degrees.

Sometimes I have thought that one priesthood blessing is sufficient.  Maybe not so as described above.

Mark 7

 As the apostles were challenged for not washing their hand before eating, the Savior responded to the scribes and Pharisees - 

"...Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men..."  (Mark 7:6–8)

The scribes were notorious in defining each mosaic commandment in detail like scriptural judges of what you can and can't do.  Some have done this in The Church.  In my mind, the Savior is teaching that we obey commandments as guided by the Spirit.

Matthew 17

 As we read concerning the events on the mount of Transfiguration, Elder Bruce R McConkie summarizes -

 (1) Jesus singled out Peter, James, and John from the rest of the Twelve; took them upon an unnamed mountain; there He was transfigured before them, and they beheld His glory. Testifying later, John said, “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14); and Peter, speaking of the same event, said they “were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). 

(2) Peter, James, and John, were themselves “transfigured before him” (Teachings, p. 158), even as Moses, the Three Nephites, Joseph Smith, and many prophets of all ages have been transfigured, thus enabling them to entertain angels, see visions and comprehend the things of God (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 725–26). 

(3) Moses and Elijah—two ancient prophets who were translated and taken to heaven without tasting death, so they could return with tangible bodies on this very occasion, an occasion preceding the day of resurrection—appeared on the mountain; and they and Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter, James, and John (Teachings, p. 158). 

(4) John the Baptist, previously beheaded by Herod, apparently was also present. It may well be that other unnamed prophets, either coming as translated beings or as spirits from paradise, were also present. 

(5) Peter, James, and John saw in vision the transfiguration of the earth, that is, they saw it renewed and returned to its paradisiacal state—an event that is to take place at the Second Coming when the millennial era is ushered in (D&C 63:20–21; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 718–19). 

(6) It appears that Peter, James, and John received their own endowments while on the mountain (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, p. 165). Peter says that while there, they “received from God the Father honour and glory,” seemingly bearing out this conclusion. It also appears that it was while on the mount that they received the more sure word of prophecy, it then being revealed to them that they were sealed up unto eternal life (2 Peter 1:16–19; D&C 131:5). 

(7) Apparently Jesus himself was strengthened and encouraged by Moses and Elijah so as to be prepared for the infinite sufferings and agony ahead of him in connection with working out the infinite and eternal atonement. (Jesus the Christ, p. 373.) Similar comfort had been given him by angelic visitants following his forty-day fast and its attendant temptations (Matthew 4:11), and an angel from heaven was yet to strengthen him when he would sweat great drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42–44). 

(8) Certainly the three chosen apostles were taught in plainness “of his death and also his resurrection” (JST Luke 9:31), teachings which would be of inestimable value to them in the trying days ahead. 

(9) It should also have been apparent to them that the old dispensations of the past had faded away, that the law (of which Moses was the symbol) and the prophets (of whom Elijah was the typifying representative) were subject to Him whom they were now commanded to hear. 

(10) Apparently God the Father, overshadowed and hidden by a cloud, was present on the mountain, although our Lord’s three associates, as far as the record stipulates, heard only his voice and did not see his form” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 399).

"And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."  (Matthew 17:9)

Even though Peter, James, and John may have shared this with their associates after the Savior was resurrected, it appears the gospel writers were very careful in sharing all the sacred events that happened there.

Matthew 16

 The Savior warned His apostles - 

"...Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."  (Matthew 16:6)

As they seemed somewhat confused of the meaning, the Savior explained - 

"How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."  (Matthew 16:11–12)

We see this today with the doctrine of men being taught in society and to our children that seem to grow thtoughout all society.

Matthew 15

 I find it interesting that after Jesus had fed the five thousand that again as He met with four thousand that His apostle seem to question how they might fee them when the Savior asked - 

"...How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full."  (Matthew 15:34–37)

I wonder if Matthew did not necessarily give the full story.  I wonder if the apostles may have suggested, will He do it again?