The Sacrament

     Throughout the scriptures there are several descriptions of the Sacrament.  One of these accounts is in Luke 22 and another is in 3 Nephi, and another in Corinthians.  When Luke and Nephi they describe the sacrament, they explain that it has been given to the people, but Paul, in his letters to the Corinthians invites them to take the sacrament.  I am not sure why this difference is, but it is interesting to note
       Another difference between Paul's account of the sacrament and Nephi's, is when to not partake of the sacrament.  Paul says that everyone needs to examine themselves to see if they are worthy to take the sacrament.  Nephi says that we should forbid those unworthy to take the sacrament and minister unto them until they are worthy. I think that both of these counsels are important.  Today we have bishops who can help us determine our worthiness, and help us become worthy if we are not.  However, we still have a duty to not take the sacrament if we are not worthy.  Paul warns that when we partake of the sacrament we are drinking damnation to ourselves.

       I was wondering what I could to to make the sacrament more meaningful to me on Sunday and throughout the week.  The biggest thing that I could think of was preparing for the sacrament.  This can be done by coming to church early and listening to the prelude music or reading the scriptures, doing necessary repentance, and pondering how to be better next week.  We can also set goals for the next week.  One thing that I thought would be particularly helpful is to come to sacrament meetings with questions that you have been wondering about.  Sacrament is a great time to receive personal revelation.  Throughout the week, we can remember to keep the Savior in our hearts and try our best to exemplify him.

Paul and Priesthood Ordiances

        When Paul was among the Corinthians he performed the following priesthood ordinances:
1. Baptism by Immersion
2. Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost
3. Administering to the sick and afflicted
4. Casting out evil spirits
5. The Sacrament

        Even though many of the people in Corinth had been baptized by John the Baptist, it was important that they be baptized again now that Christ had come. When they had first been baptized, it was by the authority of John, not Christ.  Paul who had been ordained through the power of Jesus Christ had the authority necessary.  This is important because a baptism needs to be done by the proper authority to be complete.  This is why it is necessary for those who have been baptized in other faiths to be baptized again when they join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

       Today, we still perform the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and baptisms are still done by immersion.  However, one thing that has changed is the day of the Sabbath.  Traditionally, the Sabbath was the last day of the week, Saturday.  As noted in Acts 20, the sacrament was prepared on the first day of the week, Sunday.  This is possibly because the stone was taken away from Jesus' tomb on the first day of the week, and this was also the day that Jesus appeared unto the disciples after his resurrection.

Paul's Visit to Athens

The Importance of Scripture Study

When Paul visited Thessalonica, he entered into a synagogue and taught and conversed those there about Christ and the scriptures for three days.  Many of the ‘devout Greeks’ and ‘chief women’ believed what Paul had to day. However, the Jews that didn’t believe him engaged in lewd and base behavior, caused an uproar in the city.

     Paul and Silas then went to Berea to teach.  Those in Berea searched the scriptures daily to find if what they were being taught was true.  This helped them to be prepared to receive the gospel with readiness of mind. Many Greek men and women believed the message that Paul and Silas taught.   When the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul and Silas were teaching in Berea, they came and engaged in their previous disruptive behavior.

In our own lives, daily scripture study can help us to be prepared for the messages that Heavenly Father sends us each day.  The scriptures are the words or Christ.  As we feast upon them, they become part of who we are and lead us in the directions that we should take, just as they did for the people in Berea. We can always find answers to lives smallest and biggest questions.

“…For the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do….” 2 Nephi 32:3

Ultimately, the disruptive behavior of the unbelieving Jews did not end stop anyone from believing the words of Paul and Silas.  Why not?  The answer can be found in Alma 31:5:

“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.”

The Pen is mightier than the sword.

Putting God First

Athenians were a people very interested in different philosophies.  Paul happened to encounter two popular groups of the time: the Epicureans and the Stoics.

The Epicureans believed that the world happened by chance without purpose and that men should follow practices that brought them the most enduring happiness while on earth. The Stoics believed that the universe was brought about by a ‘Divine Mind’ and that man should accept circumstances as they come to him, instead of trying to change them.

Athenians were aware of the Gods that had been traditionally worshipped in Greek Mythology as well as tangible idols that they worshiped.  They had Zeus but were unaware of the full doctrine of Heavenly Father, as indicated by the altar Paul mentioned with the inscription to the “Unknown God”.  The people of Athens were also very devout to their schools of logic and philosophy.  There is nothing wrong with being a logical person, as indicated in 2 Nephi 9:29, as long as you still hearken unto the counsels of God. Even today, people still decide to worship ‘false gods’.  A false god is anything that leads you to forget or deprioritize God in your own life.  These could even include good things that are not done in moderation such as making a living, getting an education, and leisure activities. I have seen a lot of people stop going to church or lose their testimony just because of what they thought other people would think of them.

The Premortal Existence

In Paul’s teaching there is also an important reference to the premortal existence that is often overlooked. He says “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of bone blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”  What is the “time before appointed” that Paul speaks about? Judging from the context of the phrase it would have to be a time before men came to earth. These bounds of habitation could not be determined if there was nobody to put anywhere.

The Nature of God (And us)

Paul also makes some good points about the nature of God, and in doing so makes some points about the nature of mankind. He says that because we are the offspring of God, God cannot be made of gold or silver or anything else that man has made.  If God is a graven image, then we created God and not the other way around. For God to have offspring, he must also have a body like us.

Since we are God’s children, and not just his creations, then that means that we are capable of developing divine characteristics and we are as capable of being like our father as any child is of being like their father.

The Resurrection

One thing that many of the people of Athens were not receptive to was Paul’s teachings of the Resurrection.  While it was not unheard of at the time for someone to be brought back from the dead, such as Lazarus, it was unheard of for someone to die and then become immortal.  This was because Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected (Acts 26:23).  Job had spoken of this resurrection when he said “And though, after my flesh worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”  The doctrine of resurrection is also taught in 2 Nephi 9:12 and in other verses throughout the Book of Mormon.

Sources: lds.org, New Testament Student Manual, KJV Bible, Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide, The Book of Mormon

The Day of the Pentecost

Hello, I am a student at BYU-Idaho and am taking a class about the New Testament this year.  This blog will be where I will have the chance to record some of my learning and studying experiences.

First Entry

What was the Pentecost?

The Pentecost, meaning "fiftieth", was a celebration by Jews that   fifty days or seven weeks after the feast of the Passover.   This celebration was also referred to as the feast of the harvest and feast of the first fruits and was a time to give thanks and gratitude unto God.  I like to think of it as a Biblical Thanksgiving.
In Acts 2, the Spirit is poured out onto the apostles and others when they had gathered to celebrate the Pentecost.   Several began speaking and preaching in languages previously not known to the speakers.  Everyone was able to be taught in their own language.  Peter used this opportunity to teach about the Resurrection, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. Peter also believed this to be part of the fulfillment of a prophecy found in Joel 2:28:

 28 ¶And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will ^apour out my^bspirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall^cprophesy, your ^dold men shall ^edream dreams, your young men shall see ^fvisions:

After this experience, many became converted and were baptized.

This day of Pentecost demonstrated several gifts of the spirit.  The obvious one being the gift of tongues. 

There was also the gift of believing the testimony of others and the gift of faith, as shown by the many conversions. 

I think that it was interesting that God chose the day of the Pentecost to provide his people with this experience. It might have been the closest thing they had to General Conference at this time. The wide range of people taught also allowed for more witnesses of the Gospel.

Sources:  LDS New Testament Student Manual and King James Bible