Luke 10:1-24; The Lord Appointed Other Seventy Also

The Lord gave counsel to the seventy to help them to understand what their responsibilities are. I really like what Luke 10:3 said, "I will send you forth as lambs among wolves." I think this explains the role of the seventy pretty well, they are spread throughout the world to represent the church, and they are among the wolves which to me represents the world and the worldliness of the people. The seventy were also given instructions that they are to heal the sick, preach the gospel, and crush the enemies of the church.
The Sixth Article of Faith says "We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church." The instructions given to the seventy during the time of Christ are still responsibilities that our seventy of today follow and try to follow. To me this is very important because I can see that the church is still following the guidelines that were given during the time of Christ.
The scriptures show this important group of the priesthood throughout, Christ institutes the seventy and then they are talked about more in the scriptures and in revelations that Joseph Smith received. I know that the seventy are called of God and are a very important part of the structure of the church.

Matthew 18:1-14; "Become as Little Children"

In Matthew 18:3-4 and Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-18 they talk a lot about how were are like little children an how we are to become as little children. In Matthew 18:3 it says, "Except ye be converted, and become as like little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." I think that this shows how important it is that we become like little children because it is absolutely necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven. In the next verse it talks about how if we humble ourselves like a child then we will be able to become the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. In the Doctrine and Covenants verses it talks about how we do not understand the greatness of the blessings that the Father has in store for us. I especially love verse 18, which says, "be of good cheer for I will lead you along" this is an amazing promise that we will have help as we navigate through life, but the verse continues to say, "the kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours." If we are willing to become as little children then we will receive all these blessings and greatness. (Picture- Christ teaches that we should become as little children, with a child sitting by him.)
Mosiah 3:19 talks about how we can put off the natural man by becoming as a little child, and included in this we find a lot a great ways to become like a little child. Some of the things that the verse tells us to do include, becoming "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, [and] willing to submit to all the things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict" while this is a lot of things that we should do it really does help us to become better people who are more able to submit to and follow the will of the Lord.

Matthew 14:22-33; Walking on the Sea

When the Apostles first saw Christ walking towards them walking on the water they were afraid, in Matthew 14:26 it says, "they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear." I thought this was interesting, because I would think that they would recognize their leader. Then Christ told them who He was and Peter had an incredible response, I love what he said to Christ, in verse 28 he said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." To me this indicates that Peter had incredible faith in Christ, the feat of walking on water is impossible but he know that His Savior could help him to be able to do it.
But in verse 30 Peter began to sink because he saw the wind and he was afraid. In his moment of fear he began to sink because fear is the opposite of faith. When he began to sink he cried out "Lord, save me." I love what it says in verse 30, "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him" I really like the immediacy that Christ had in saving Peter. It shows me that when I ask Christ will be right there to help me.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 talks about how there will be no darkness in the bodies and that they will be filled with light. I think that this can be connected to the story of Christ and Peter walking on water, because if we are filling our souls with light then there can be no darkness. I think that this connects with fear and faith, because if we are filled with faith then there can be no room for fear in our lives. I love that idea, that if I make sure my life is full of faith then I won't need to fear about things because I have that trust in my Savior and my Heavenly Father, just like how when Peter was full of faith he was bale to walk on the water.

Matthew 13:44-50; Understanding Parables

In Matthew 13:44-46 it talks about a treasure that is a pearl of great price, Christ liked these two things to the kingdom of Heaven. In these parables the two men that find these treasures go and sell them for what they think is better. I think that from this parable it is important that we learn, when we find these pearls or treasures that we hold onto them. I have made sacrifices to keep the gospel in my life and I have definitely known others that have made bigger sacrifices for the gospel. I have some friends who's family disowned them because they joined the church, and while it was hard for them they knew the importance and the preciousness of the gospel and were willing to give up anything for it.
In Matthew 13:47-50 it goes a little differently it talks about the net cast into the sea which represents the kingdom of Heaven and a gathering and then the fish are sorted into the good and the bad. The sorting talks about what will happen at the end of the world when the wicked will be burned. When talking about the gathering there is a footnote that leads to Matthew 22:10 which talks about how they gathered people both good and bad to be guests, I think that the gathering of the net is something like this, that when the net is cast out they are not very particular about who they pick because the bad will be cast out. (Photo- Jesus teaches about the kingdom of Heaven)
While these parables are not very happy or exciting parables I still think that it is very important that we learn from them and take all that we can from them so that we can increase our understanding about the plan and what we are to do.

Matthew 5:1-12; The Beatitudes

I did a little bit of research on the word blessed, my favorite synonym for the word blessed was consecrated. I really like this word because in the beatitudes it says things like "blessed are the meek" and I like seeing it in different ways and seeing it as consecrated are the meek, to me this brings a whole different meaning to the beatitudes.
I especially love Matthew 5:4 which says, "blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted." I have definitely seen this beatitude in my life, I have been through hard times like everyone I know but my Savior has helped me to feel comforted during those hard times. I know that my Savior can help me in the hard times of my life, and I know that He has and will continue to help me throughout all the times of my life.
I also really like verse 6 which says, "blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." I also really like this one because I know that it can be hard to find and be full of righteousness. I like the promise that if we desire to to be righteous then we will be able to find that righteousness and we will be full of the righteousness that we desire. I hope that I will be able to find all the righteousness that I want in my life, I want to be filled with righteousness that the scriptures promise us.
I also love verse 8, which says, "blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." I think that this is an absolutely incredible blessing that we can receive. I personally have never seen God but I love the promise that one day I will be able to. This is one thing that makes me want to do everything that I can to do what I should and be as righteous as I can so that I can see God and even eventually live with Him and eternal happiness.
While I only mentioned a few beatitudes I really do love all of them and the things that are promised if I keep the commandments and do these seemingly small things that will lead to great results and happiness in my life. I am so grateful for the blessings that my Heavenly Father gives to me, one being that I know of the gospel and am able to follow it.

Matthew 3:13-17; The Baptism of Jesus Christ

In this small section we are taught many things about Christ and his example to us and we are also taught about the nature of the Godhead and how they are three separate beings.
John was quite hesitant to baptize Jesus, in Matthew 3:14 it says "But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" John was hesitant because he felt that Christ was greater than him and he felt that Christ should have baptized him. I feel that this is an amazing example of John's humility as well as Christ's humility to give us an example to follow even though he was perfect.
We are taught a lot about the Holy Ghost in this passage, we learn that the Holy Ghost is a separate being and that he is a personage the Prophet Joseph Smith said, "It does not confine itself to the form of a dove, but in sign of a dove" I think that this is very interesting, earlier in the quote it said that the devil cannot take the for or make a sign of the dove. This to me shows that by doing this Christ was doing exactly what he should have because the sign of the dove appeared. This leads into how Christ was fulfilling all righteousness by being baptized. 
Christ did not technically need to be baptized because he had lived a perfect life, but he did for a few reasons, to me the first and most important is to give us an example of what we are to do and how we can best follow him. Another reason that Christ did it was to fulfill all righteousness, and obey the commandments that His Father has given. To me another reason that Christ was baptized was simply because He loved us and wanted us to be able to come to understand how much that He loved us by doing this seemingly small act.
With a careful reading of Matthew 3:13-17 it becomes clear that the Godhead is three separate beings. This is because, Jesus Christ was in the water being actually baptized, the Holy Ghost "desecen[ed] like a dove, and lighting upon him" and a Heavenly Father spoke saying, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." To me this shows that that the Godhead is three separate beings because they all had a part on Christ's baptism doing different things.
 

Luke 1:5-80; The Birth of John the Baptist

This week I decided that I wanted to spend some time focusing on John the Baptist, with the discussion board I got to look a little bit more into his life, because of this I picked this topic so that I could learn even more about him and his life.
The passage that I read focuses on the birth of John the Baptist, I love what it says in the Bible dictionary about his purpose and birth it says "[he was] designated to prepare the way for the Messiah and make ready a people to receive him." Before I read this I had never understood the importance of John the Baptist and how much he helped to prepare the way for Christ.
The story of the birth of John is amazing, his mother Elisabeth was barren and she was also old. Elisabeth and Zacharias (John's father) really wanted a child, they were praying and fasting for a child. Zacharias had a incredible experience where an angel of the Lord appeared and told him that Elisabeth would bear a son and call him John. After this experience one of my favorite scriptures is written, Luke 1:37 which says "for with God nothing shall be impossible" I love this scripture and I especially love it in context. I love how God is able to do something that wasn't physically possible.
I love how the amazing circumstances surrounding his birth correspond to his amazing mission. I had never understood the amazingly important role that John had and now I more fully understand why the circumstances around his birth were so incredible.
Many people would rejoice over the birth of John the Baptist for these two reasons in addition to many incredible attributes such as he was unwavering and true, he bore a magnificent testimony of Jesus Christ, and he was a vigorous preacher. His influence even continued on as he ordained Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood. John had an amazing influence during his mortal life and beyond.