Post # 119 – Come, Follow
Me – Week 21 -- “The
Son of Man Shall Come”
May 27–June 2: Joseph Smith—Matthew 1; Matthew 25; Mark 12–13; Luke 21
Dear Family and Friends
We are back to our Sunday School lessons – Come,
Follow Me. We are at week 21, and yes, I know that I am still way behind. I am
sorry for my slowness, but I will still get the lessons out there for you as
soon as I can😊 If you are
ahead of me, good for you. Just keep going, but if not, then you can study
along with me😊 Remember, it
is not how fast we go – it is that we continue to go – to persistently study
the scriptures.
In today’s post we will be covering one of my favorite
scripture stories – that of the Ten Virgins. Five were wise and were very
prepared, the other five were a bit slothful and were not prepared at all. this
left them hunting more oil as the Bridegroom called for His friends to come to
the wedding feast. When they finally made it to the place where the wedding
feast was being held, they were not recognized and therefore were not allowed
to come in.
These are the physical signs of the parable but what
is the deeper meaning in this parable? Do you think the five wise virgins were teaching
us something more than just being prepared with physical things? What might
these wise virgins be teaching us about our spiritual preparedness, about our testimonies
– you know that we cannot live on a borrowed testimony for too long, you must
work on your own. Our faith and our strong
testimony will lead us to true conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ😊
Each one of us need to develop our own testimony of
the truths of the gospel and other things.
I have learned that we must nourish our testimonies to be strong and
continuously nourish it so that it will remain strong!!! Better yet we must
share our testimony with others – our testimony grows stronger when we share it
with others. We can have a testimony of many things😊 it doesn’t have
to be a testimony of only one principle of the gospel, but of many😊 As our testimony of
the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ our own personal conversion to
that same gospel will be strengthened as well. As we are obedient to each of
those gospel principles we are adding drops of oil to our lamps😊
I hope you have all been staying in where it is cool. It
has been very hot here, so I stay inside most of the time. The heat gives me an
instant migraine which is definitely no fun at all☹ When I get a
migraine it can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, can you believe
that it is almost time for the kiddos to head back to school? The summer has
simply flown right by. Of course, the older I get the faster it seems that the year
goes by😊
My students and I have been going on two field trips
just about every week this summer. We have gone to many museums, to the zoo,
the police station, the airport, and our last field trip we went tot the Dalton
Gang’s Hideout in Meade. I went to the city with my youngest daughter and her
family and we went to the Exploration Place—the kids had so much fun. My granddaughter
loves to build with the blocks out there. Last year she built a man that was
taller that herself. It was amazing!!! So, what has your summer looked like?
For this week’s lesson we will be covering -- Joseph Smith—Matthew 1; Matthew 25; Mark 12–13; and Luke 21. Here
are only a few of the parables that the Savior taught that we will find in
these chapters of scripture. the fig tree, the good man and the thief, the faithful and evil
servants, the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats. Some of
these parables I was not familiar with until I studied this lesson. Others I have
taught to my students many times. What truths have you learned from these
parables that can help you prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord. What are you
doing to apply these truths to your lives?
Here
are parts directly from the Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families that
will help with our understanding if this lesson:
Jesus’s
disciples must have found His prophecy startling: the mighty temple of
Jerusalem, the spiritual and cultural center of the Jewish people, would be
destroyed so utterly that “there [would] not be left … one stone upon another.”
Naturally the disciples wanted to know more. “When shall these things be?” they
asked. “And what is the sign of thy coming?” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:2–4). The Savior’s answers revealed that the great destruction
coming to Jerusalem—a prophecy fulfilled in AD 70—would be relatively small compared to the signs of
His coming in the last days. Things that seem even more stable than the temple
in Jerusalem will prove to be temporary—the sun, the moon, the stars, the nations, and the
sea. Even “the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:33). If we are spiritually aware, this commotion can teach us
to put our trust in something truly permanent. As Jesus promised, “Heaven and
earth shall pass away; yet my words shall not pass away. … And whoso treasureth
up my word, shall not be deceived” (Joseph
Smith—Matthew 1:35, 37).
Joseph
Smith—Matthew
What is Joseph Smith—Matthew?
Joseph Smith—Matthew,
located in the Pearl of Great Price, is an excerpt from the Joseph Smith
Translation of the Bible. It contains revisions to the last verse of Matthew 23 and
all of Matthew 24 (see
Bible Dictionary, “Joseph Smith Translation”). Joseph Smith’s inspired
revisions restore precious truths that had been lost. Verses 12–21 of Joseph Smith—Matthew refer to the
destruction of Jerusalem anciently; verses 21–55 contain prophecies about the last
days.
Prophecies about the Savior’s Second Coming
can help us face the future with faith.
Signs of the Savior’s Second Coming may
be difficult for some of us to understand. It might be helpful if we read
together and try to identify the signs we find in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:21–37. It
might also be helpful to better understand the importance of these signs if we
were to compare them to road signs. Just think of how crazy driving would be without
any road signs☹
Joseph
Smith—Matthew 1:21–37 Pearl
of Great Price
21 Behold, these things I have spoken unto you concerning
the Jews; and again, after the tribulation of those days which shall
come upon Jerusalem, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or
there, believe him not;
22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if
possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according
to the covenant.
23 Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect’s sake;
and you also shall hear of wars, and rumors of
wars; see that ye be not troubled, for
all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet.
24 Behold, I have told you before;
25 Wherefore, if they shall say unto you: Behold, he is in
the desert; go not forth: Behold, he is in
the secret chambers; believe it not;
26 For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth
even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of
the Son of Man be.
27 And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever
the carcass is, there
will the eagles be gathered together;
so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth.
28 And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars.
29 Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation
shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall
be famines, and pestilences,
and earthquakes, in divers places.
30 And again, because iniquity shall abound, the
love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be
saved.
31 And again, this Gospel of
the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto
all nations, and then
shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked;
32 And again shall the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.
33 And immediately after the tribulation of those
days, the sun shall be darkened, and the
moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from
heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
34 Verily, I say unto you, this generation, in which
these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told
you shall be fulfilled.
35 Although, the days will come, that heaven and earth
shall pass away; yet my words shall not
pass away, but all shall be fulfilled.
36 And, as I said before, after the tribulation of
those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear
the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the
earth mourn; and they
shall see the Son of Man coming in the
clouds of heaven, with power and great glory;
37 And whoso treasureth up
my word, shall not be deceived, for
the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before
him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder
of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Why are road signs important? What does
this suggest about the signs of the Second Coming? Let’s get out some pieces of
paper and make them into the shape of road signs and let’s write on each paper
road sign -- a sign that will precede the Second Coming. It has always been very helpful for me to have
a visual – not only when I am teaching but also when I am learning. It may be
helpful for each of you as well?
What kind of evidence of these signs do
you see in our world today?
Here is more for you to read and ponder right from the manual:
It can be unsettling to read about the events leading up to the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ. But when Jesus prophesied of these events, He
told His disciples to “be not troubled” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:23).
How can you “be not troubled” as you hear about earthquakes, wars, deceptions,
and famines? Think about this question as you read these verses. Mark or note
any reassuring counsel you find.
See also Doctrine and Covenants 29:14–21; 38:30; 45:16–52; 88:86–94; “Second Coming of Jesus
Christ,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org.
In this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals
and Families, we were invited to find counsel in these verses
about how we can “be not troubled” during the events leading up to the Second
Coming We also read the statement by
President Thomas S. Monson.
Fear not.
President Thomas S. Monson said:
“Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour
down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and
our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us
and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the
commandments. …
“My beloved brothers and
sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The
future is as bright as your faith” (“Be of Good Cheer,” Ensign or Liahona, May
2009, 92). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2009/04/be-of-good-cheer?lang=eng
Why do you think that it is a blessing to
know about the events leading to the Savior’s Second Coming? For me, I am thinking
that it would be a blessing to know about the events leading to the Savior’s
Second Coming would be because in knowing about it, we can be prepared for it😊
We can celebrate His coming and look forward to it rather than be in constant
fear of His coming! If we know the signs we can watch for them and be prepared
for His coming.
We must always be ready for the Savior’s
Second Coming.
Even though the Savior
has asked us to always be ready for His Second Coming, it’s easy to become
involved in daily life and not think much about it. These parables in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:26–27, 38–55 and Matthew 25:1–13 can help each of us to
recognize the importance of our need of being prepared for the Second Coming. My
challenge to you is for each of you to find these parables and comparisons and
share what they teach about being prepared for the Second Coming with your
partner, family, roommate, friend, or other people you know!
The parable of the ten virgins can help each one of us to
reflect on their spiritual preparation that we need to meet the Savior. Let’s
take a look at one interpretation Elder David A. Bednar gave of the
parable that could help us:
The oil of conversion.
Elder
David A. Bednar suggested this possible interpretation of the parable of
the ten virgins:
4 But
the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
6 And
at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then
all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And
the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But
the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for
us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
“Were the five wise virgins selfish and unwilling to share, or
were they indicating correctly that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed? Can
the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the
commandments be given to another person? Can the knowledge obtained through
diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in
need? Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be
transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge? The
clear answer to each of these questions is no.
“As the wise virgins
emphasized properly, each of us must ‘buy for ourselves.’ These inspired women
were not describing a business transaction; rather, they were emphasizing our
individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain
an ample supply of the oil of conversion. This precious oil is acquired one
drop at a time—‘line
upon line [and] precept upon precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30), patiently and
persistently” (“Converted unto the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2012, 109). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2012/11/sunday-afternoon-session/converted-unto-the-lord?lang=eng
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the
children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken
unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for
unto him that receiveth I
will give more; and
from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even
that which they have.
What do you think we can do in our daily lives to become fully
converted to the gospel. Why must we -- each of us experience conversion for
ourselves?
Here is more for you to read and ponder right from the manual:
I must always be ready for the
Savior’s Second Coming.
God has not revealed
“the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13). But He does not want that day to come
upon us “unawares” (Luke 21:34), so He has given us counsel about how to
prepare.
As you read these verses, identify the parables and other
comparisons the Savior used to teach us to always be prepared for His Second
Coming. What do you learn from them? What are you inspired to do?
56 And
at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning
the ten virgins.
57 For
they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they
shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.
You might sing
together hymns about the Second Coming and discuss the messages they teach.
Hymns about the Second
Coming.
Here is more for you to read and ponder right from the manual:
At the Final Judgment, we will give the Lord
an account of our lives.
The parable of the
talents and the parable of the sheep and goats can inspire us to think about
the account of our lives we will give to the Lord at the Final Judgment. You might read the
parables together with your families, friends and neighbors and invite each family
member, friend, or spouse to share one question the Savior might ask when we
give an account of our lives. I challenge each one of you to plan ways you will
act on impressions you have received during this study session.
Christ used sheep
and goats to teach about the Final Judgment (see Matthew 25:31–33). 31 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:
32 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:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
It may be good for you to review with your partner, family members
or friends the definition of the Final Judgment found in Guide to the
Scriptures, “Judgment, The Last,” scriptures.lds.org.
The Final Judgment that will occur after the
Resurrection. God, through Jesus Christ, will judge each person to determine
the eternal glory he will receive. This judgment will be based on each person’s
obedience to God’s commands, including his acceptance of the atoning sacrifice
of Jesus Christ.
You can find more information here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/judgment-the-last?lang=eng
Then you could ask your partner, family members or friends to
review some scriptures about what the Final Judgment will be like, such as Alma 5:17–25. What do these
scriptures inspire us to do to prepare for that day?
To help your partner, family members or friends find personal
meaning in the parable of the talents (see Matthew 25:14–30),
New Testament
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as
a man travelling into a far country, who called his own
servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man
according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and
traded with the same, and made them other five
talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two,
he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the
earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh,
and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and
brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained
beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou 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.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said,
Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other
talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, 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.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and
said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hardman, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where
thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:
lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the
exchangers, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which
hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even
that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
share some ideas or use an activity from “The Parable of the Talents,” by Elder Ronald A.
Rasband (Ensign, Aug. 2003, 32–35). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2003/08/parables-of-jesus-the-parable-of-the-talents?lang=eng
Here is more for you to read and ponder right from the manual:
Heavenly Father expects me to use His
gifts wisely.
In the Savior’s time, a “talent” referred to money. But the Lord’s
parable of the talents can teach us about how He wants us to use any of the
blessings He has given us. The Lord expects us to improve on what He has given
us. As you read this parable, make a list of some of the blessings and
opportunities that Heavenly Father has given to you. What does He expect you to
do with these blessings? How can you use these gifts more wisely? How have your
talents been magnified as you have served the Lord?
To inspire a discussion about Matthew 25:34–40, you
could your partner, family members or friends to share examples of people who
demonstrate the compassion described in these verses. You might ask them to
think about and ponder who might need their service. You may even consider
doing a family or group service project together😊 What are some practical ways we can feed
the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick?
Here is more for you to read and ponder right from the manual:
When I serve others, I am serving
God.
If you have ever wondered how the Lord will judge your life, read
the parable of the sheep and the goats. What will matter most when you stand
before Christ?
See also Mosiah 2:17.
Will marriages continue after the
Resurrection?
We learn from modern
revelation that Jesus’s statement “When they shall rise from the dead, they
neither marry, nor are given in marriage” refers to those who have not entered
into the covenant of celestial marriage (see D&C 132:15–16).
A celestial marriage, in which “a man [marries] a wife … by the new and
everlasting covenant,” will last “through all eternity” if the husband and wife
are true to their covenants (D&C 132:19).
I wanted to include the following right from the manual:
Ideas
for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help
you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of
your family. Here are some suggestions:
To help your family explore this chapter, invite them to look for
the Savior’s teachings about how we can prepare for His Second Coming (see, for
example, verses 22–23, 29–30, 37,
46–48). What can your family do to follow this counsel?
What does it mean to
treasure up the word of God? How can we do this as a family? How will doing so
help us avoid being deceived?
You could use the picture of the ten virgins that accompanies this
outline to discuss Matthew 25:1–13.
What details do family members see in the picture that are described in these
verses?
Would family members
enjoy hunting around the house for paper drops of oil that you have hidden? You
could attach drops to objects that represent things family members can do to
strengthen their testimonies and be prepared for the Second Coming, such as the
scriptures, church clothes, or a picture of the temple.
What can your family
members learn from the widow’s example? What did the Savior teach His disciples
about offerings? Show a tithing donation slip, and discuss your family’s
offerings to the Lord and how these offerings help build God’s kingdom. Are
there offerings your family is making that can’t be recorded on a tithing slip?
For next week of would be good if you and your family members, roommate,
partner were to read John 13–17 together during the next week. You might
think about yourselves – if you have children of this age or you can ask them
to think about what they would say to a son or daughter just before he or she
leaves on a mission. We will be reading
the final instructions that the Savior gave to His disciples before His Crucifixion.
Well, my dear Family and Friends, here we
are at the end of this lesson and my post. I hope and pray that all is well
with you and those you love. As always, remember who you are and who you can
become, keep studying your scriptures and learning about Jesus Christ, be sure
to say your prayers each day. I have heard it said that we should talk with the
Lord about our goals for the day in our morning prayers and then in our evening
prayers we should give an accounting to the Lord of our day! Until my next
post, please make it a great week!! 😊
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