Post # 121 – Come, Follow Me -- Week # 22 -- “Continue Ye in My Love”
Dear Family and Friends
Amid my students, the older kids during the week-
days. And then the baby and my grandsons at night … I will try to get this post
written today. It has been a crazy week. The baby is five months old and of course
she wants to touch everything… especially my computer😊 she was
trying to reach it with her tiny toes!! Have you noticed how much smarter and
able babies are these days???
They can hold their heads up sooner, sitting up sooner, crawling sooner… and so much more… so much earlier than my own children and even older grandchildren did… amazing!!! The Lord said that He would be saving the best and the brightest for last because we would be needing their strength, so we must teach them to be spiritually strong!!! I have found that this is something that we can do best if we are spiritually strong ourselves😊
They can hold their heads up sooner, sitting up sooner, crawling sooner… and so much more… so much earlier than my own children and even older grandchildren did… amazing!!! The Lord said that He would be saving the best and the brightest for last because we would be needing their strength, so we must teach them to be spiritually strong!!! I have found that this is something that we can do best if we are spiritually strong ourselves😊
The children of the world will one day become the
leaders of this world. What kind of leaders do we need? Not what kind of leaders do we want – but what
kind of leaders do we truly need??? We – each one of us are here to help the
children – it doesn’t matter if they belong to us or not, we can still have an
influence in their lives😊 You know, I
am here to help each one of you to do that through our scripture study together and through the
talks that I share with you😊
Don’t forget to begin your daily scripture study
with a prayer so that you will have the Holy Ghost with you as you study. He is
always the ‘helper’ that you need😊 I can share with you all of the information, but
the Holy Ghost is the real teacher!! The Holy Ghost will testify to you of the
truth of all things! We cannot rely on our own understanding, because as humans
our understanding is limited. It’s time to dive into our lesson. We will be
covering John 15 – 17😊 this first part comes right from the manual:
Today
we call it the “Last Supper,” but we don’t know if Jesus’s disciples fully
realized, when they gathered for the annual Passover feast, that this would be
their last meal with their Master before His death. Jesus, however, “knew that
his hour was come” (John 13:1). He would soon face the suffering of Gethsemane, the
betrayal and denial of His closest friends, and the agonizing death on the
cross. Yet even with all of this looming before Him, Jesus’s focus was not on
Himself but on ministering to His disciples. He humbly washed their feet. He
taught them about love. And He reassured them that, in one sense, He would
never leave them and they need never leave Him. Disciples then and now find
solace in His promises: “I will not leave you comfortless” (John 14:18). “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love” (John 15:10).
This was an activity we did in class out
instructor wrote the numbers 13 through 17 on the
board, representing the chapters in John that we read during the week. Then he
invited a few of us to come up to write, next to each chapter number, the
reference to a verse that we had found meaningful and would like to discuss as
a class. It is always interesting to hear what other people find in the same
verses that you have studied – different perspectives and needs of each
individual at the time they read a particular chapter my find different verses
that ‘speak’ to them or ‘jump out’ at them😊
I thought this might be an activity you would like to
do with your family. You could have the younger children draw a picture or tell
the rest of the family what part they liked best in the verses you read together.
Or you might pair up a younger and an older child and have them share together😊 It
all depends on your family dynamics and how you would like to discuss these
chapters of John with your family. You can have a family discussion with your roommates
or neighbors and friends as well😊
We will begin in John chapter 13, when
the Savior and His disciples have just finished their supper – the Last Supper
they will have with their Savior and friend, Jesus Christ. At this time His disciples
did not realize that this would be their last upper together. They did not
understand why He was washing their feet at the time He was actually doing it. It
was Peter who questioned it, he even went so far as to tell Jesus that he would
not let his Master wash his feet.
The Savior is our example of humbly serving others.
To help you and your family members ponder the significance of
Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. It might work well to ask a family member
ahead of time to play the role of Peter in this account and be interviewed by each
reporter – being of course – the rest of the family. Together as family you
could search through John 13:1–17 and think of a few meaningful
questions that you might ask Peter, if you were there with him at this time. What
questions would each of you ask Peter if you were there to interview him?
1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his
hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father,
having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into
the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon’s son, to
betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had
given all things into his hands, and
that he was come from God, and went to
God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and
took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began
to wash the
disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was
girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto
him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest
not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou
shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no
part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but
also my hands
and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save
to wash his feet,
but is clean every whit: and ye
are clean, but not all.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his
garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done
to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say
well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another’s feet. If I have served you, you should
serve one another. I have met our needs so you should meet the needs of others.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I
have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
·
What do we learn from this account that might affect how we serve
others?
Love is the defining characteristic of disciples of Jesus
Christ.
- What might you
do to encourage your family members to be more loving towards one another
and towards all people? It might be interesting for you to ask them how
they can tell that someone they meet is a follower of Christ. What traits
do they notice about the person? Then
together you might want to search through John 13:34–35 to learn how the Savior’s true
disciples can be identified. They truly love
one another = they have love for all people, just as Jesus does😊
·
34 A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved
you, that ye also love one another.
What do you think that we can each do to make love the defining
characteristic of our individual and family discipleship? Try
to see people as Jesus sees them. Love and serve them as He would do if He were
here😊 How might this teaching
influence the way we treat others, including on social media, when no one is
watching?
As an individual, a family or group, you have each learned a lot about the Savior’s life this year, during our study together. We have seen (in a video, or in our own imagination – personally, I like to ‘see’ what I am reading😊) or studied about many examples of how our Savior, Jesus Christ showed His love for others. One way to help each one of us individually or with our family members ponder the commandment that is found in John 13:34 might be to get a sheet of paper, fold it in half lengthwise, so you have two columns.
Then write on the
left side at the top, these words: As I Have Loved You.
You could then ask your family members to list some examples that they recall
from the New Testament that illustrate Jesus’s love. On the right side of the
paper at the top you could write Love One Another. For
this side you can ask your family members to list ways that they can follow His
example of love. I hope I made that clear to you as to what to do😊 this next part comes
right from the manual:
I
show my love for Jesus Christ by keeping His commandment to love.
Jesus had already taught that the two greatest commandments have to
do with love (see Matthew 22:34–40).
In keeping with this emphasis, love was a major theme of His final instructions
to His Apostles. As you read John 13–15, you
might note or mark each use of the word love.
You may notice the word commandments repeated
frequently in association with the word love in these
chapters. What can you learn about the relationship between love and
commandments from the Savior’s teachings? What other words do you find repeated
frequently with the word love in these
chapters? Based on what you learn, consider writing a brief summary of the
Savior’s teachings about love.
See also D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,”Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2016, 48–51.
Another
way to help each one of us to individually or with our family members ponder
the commandment that is found in John 13:34 might be to Reading
and pondering the words or Singing or listening to the hymn “Love One Another,” Hymns, no. 308,
-- Lyrics
As I have loved you,
Love one another.
This new commandment:
Love one another.
By this shall men know
Ye are my disciples,
If ye have love
One to another.
The
Mormon Tabernacle Choir https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2018-04-5081-love-one-another?lang=eng&_r=1
or
watching one of the videos listed below would be a good addition to this
activity.
Videos on LDS.org about love.
“Love One Another”
Thanks for Filling the World with Love
“Families
Sacrifice, Give, and Love”
Enduring Love
Dayton's Legs
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/other?lang=engdaytons-legs&videoId=1030847749001
“Preparation of Thomas S. Monson: He Learned
Compassion in His Youth”
What if we are not feeling particularly
loving toward others, what can we individually – personally do to seek after
the gift of love? For me personally, I always
turn to prayer and reading my scriptures whenever I am out of sorts – so to
speak😊 I
have realized that there are many people who are hard to love. In this
realization I have come to the conclusion that most generally, these are the
people that need our love the very most!
1.
pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart,
that ye may be filled with this love
2.
Repent --- the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart;
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the
Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love,
which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of
his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall
appear we shall be like him, for
we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as
he is pure. Amen.
26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and
lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope
and perfect love, which love
endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end
shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with
God.
- Who do we know that needs to feel our love? You probably wont have to look
very far, sometimes within the walls of your own home there is someone who
is hurting, lonely, depressed, worried, or whatever the case may be, they
are in great need of your love and kindness😊
Love is the defining characteristic of disciples of Christ.
The Holy Ghost enables us to fulfill our purpose as disciples of
Jesus Christ.
- We did this
activity in Sundy School. Our instructor divided us into three groups and
he gave each group one of the following passages: John 14:16–27; 15:26; and 16:7–15. He then asked us to look up our passage
and discuss together.
·
16 And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
·
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
·
19 Yet
a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live,
ye shall live also.
·
20 At
that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
·
21 He
that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will
love him, and will manifest myself to him.
·
22 Judas
saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself
unto us, and not unto the world?
·
23 Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my
Father will lovehim, 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 peaceI give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
·
26 But
when the Comforter is come, whom I will
send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from
the Father, he shall testify of me:
·
7 Nevertheless I
tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
·
10 Of
righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
·
11 Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
·
13 Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
·
15 All things that the Father hath are mine:
therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Discuss with your family and friends what
they learn about the Holy Ghost from these passages. Encourage family members to
add other insights they find as they explore the scriptures listed below:
The Holy Ghost.
- Acts 2:37–38; Galatians 5:22–23; 1 Nephi 10:17–19; 2 Nephi 32:3–5; Mosiah 3:19; 3 Nephi 27:20; Moroni 8:26; 10:4–5; Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3; 42:17
When have you or a family
member felt the influence of the Holy Ghost? What objects or visual aids could
you show your family and friends that would help your family members and
friends understand the roles of the Holy Ghost?
Here are
the conference talks that were mentioned in the lesson:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/10/receive-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng
You could study them and
then share what you have learned from them with your family and friends😊
- What do these messages add to what we have learned about the Holy Ghost from John 14–16?
As we abide in the Savior, we will be fruitful and have joy.
What did you or your family members and
friends learn this week from the Savior’s parable of the vine and branches? This
next part comes directly from themanual, Come Follow Me for Individuals and
Families:
As I abide in Christ, I will bring
forth good fruit.
What might it mean to
“abide in [Christ]”? (John 15:4). What
“fruit” shows that you are attached to the vine, which represents Jesus Christ?
You might want to show a small plant to your
family and friends and using it to help your family members and friends to visualize
the Savior’s parable. Then after reading John 15:1–12
together with your family and friends, you could discuss what it means to
“abide in [Christ]” (John 15:4).
·
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and
every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring
forth more fruit.
·
3 Now ye are clean
through the word which I have spoken unto you.
·
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide
in me.
·
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
·
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast
forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned.
·
7 If ye abide in me, and my words
abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall
be done unto you.
·
10 If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall
abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
·
11 These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
You may want to ask your family members to
share how they have found John 15:5 to be
true. This statement from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and also The video “The Will of God” (LDS.org) might also be helpful in this discussion with your
family and friends😊
Abiding in Christ.
Noting that the
word abide has
connotations of permanence and commitment, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
taught:
“The sense of this
[word] then is ‘stay—but stay forever.’ That is the call
of the gospel message. … Come, but come to remain. Come with conviction and
endurance. …
“Jesus said,
‘Without me ye can do nothing’ [John 15:5]. I
testify that that is God’s truth. Christ is everything to us and we are to
‘abide’ in Him permanently, unyieldingly, steadfastly, forever. For the
fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached
to Him, the Savior of us all, and to this His Church, which bears His holy
name. He is the vine that is our true source of strength and the only
source of eternal life. In Him we not only will endure but also will prevail
and triumph in this holy cause that will never fail us” (“Abide in Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May
2004, 32).
The Will of God – You
can find it here:
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are perfectly united, and They
want us to be united too.
Just as we were unable to cover all of these truths in one lesson, you probably can’t
teach all of the important truths found in John 17 in one discussion with your family
and friends either, but here’s a way to help them explore several of them.
You will most likely find more but here is a short list of concepts from John 17, for you to discuss with your family and friends:
You will most likely find more but here is a short list of concepts from John 17, for you to discuss with your family and friends:
·
Our relationship with Jesus Christ
·
Jesus Christ’s relationship with His Father
·
Our relationship with the rest of the world
·
Our relationship with each other as His disciples
You could ask family members and friends to choose one of these
concepts and to read John 17, searching for verses that are related to
it. Ask your family members and friends to share what they learn. I have
underlined a few verses for thought, I hope that it is helpful for you😊
JOHN CHAPTER 17
Jesus
offers the great Intercessory Prayer—He is glorified by gaining eternal life—He
prays for His Apostles and all the Saints—He explains how the Father and Son
are one.
1 These
words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour
is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As
thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And
this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
5 And
now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I
have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the
world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now
they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For
I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from
thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them
which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And
all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And
now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to
thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me,
that they may be one, as we are.
12 While
I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest
me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And
now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might
have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I
have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not
of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
18 As
thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them
into the world.
19 And
for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth.
21 That
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may
be one in us: that
the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
23 I
in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou
hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father,
I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that
they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before
the foundation of the world.
25 O
righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known
that thou hast sent me.
26 And
I have declared unto
them thy name, and will
declare it: that the love wherewith
thou hast loved me may be
in them, and I in them.
Jesus Christ intercedes for His disciples.
Jesus’s words recorded in John 17 are
known as the Intercessory Prayer. In this prayer, Jesus prayed for His Apostles
and “them also which shall believe on [Him] through their word” (John 17:20). That
means He was praying for you. What did Jesus request from His Father in behalf
of you and all other believers?
This prayer also
teaches profound, eternal truths. What truths do you find as you read it?
How are Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father one?
In His prayer in John 17, Jesus
emphasized His unity with the Father, but this does not mean that He and His
Father are the same being. When the Savior prayed that His disciples may be one
“even as”—or in the same way that—He and His Father are one (John 17:22), He was
not asking that the disciples become one being. Rather, His desire was for them
to enjoy the same unity He has with the Father—perfect unity of purpose, heart, and mind.
Here you can find a Family Home Evening lessons on Love One Another:
http://www.ldsfamilyfun.com/fhe/lessons/fhe_loveanother.htm
You can download the pdf of the lesson
plans here: https://www.ldsdaily.com/home-and-family/fhe-lessons/fhe-lesson-love-love-one-another/
For next week encourage your family members and friends to read Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; and John 18 during the coming week, in these
chapters you will read about one of the pivotal moments in God’s great plan of
salvation. When you are teaching your family members and friends be sure to:
Invite the Spirit. “No mortal teacher, no matter how skilled or experienced, can replace the Spirit. But we can be instruments in God’s hands to help His children learn by the Spirit. To do this, we invite the influence of the Spirit into our lives and encourage those we teach to do the same. … Sacred music, the scriptures, words of latter-day prophets, expressions of love and testimony, and moments of quiet contemplation can all invite the presence of the Spirit” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 10).
Invite the Spirit. “No mortal teacher, no matter how skilled or experienced, can replace the Spirit. But we can be instruments in God’s hands to help His children learn by the Spirit. To do this, we invite the influence of the Spirit into our lives and encourage those we teach to do the same. … Sacred music, the scriptures, words of latter-day prophets, expressions of love and testimony, and moments of quiet contemplation can all invite the presence of the Spirit” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 10).
These
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home
Evening come directly to you from the
manual Come, Follow Me for Individuals and families:
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:
What does our family
learn from the example of the Savior in these verses? In what ways can we
follow His example?
As you discuss the Savior’s teachings about love, consider also
these words from President Thomas S. Monson: “In today’s world, nowhere is
that bedrock foundation of love needed more than in the home. And nowhere
should the world find a better example of that foundation than in the homes of
Latter-day Saints who have made love the heart of their family life. … Love is
the very essence of the gospel, the noblest attribute of the human soul” (“As I Have Loved You,” Ensign or Liahona, Feb. 2017, 4–5).
Your family members
may enjoy drawing pictures or writing on paper hearts something they love about
each other. They could place these hearts around the house as a reminder to
show love for one another.
It might be fun to
read these verses outside next to a vine, a tree, or another plant. How does
this activity help your family members better understand the Savior’s
teachings?
Jesus taught, “I am the
vine, ye are the branches” (John 15:5).
Why do you think
Jesus Christ warned His disciples of persecution? How are disciples of Christ
persecuted today? How can the Savior’s counsel in these verses help us when we
face persecution?
How has Christ overcome the world? How has His Atonement brought us
peace and cheer? (see also D&C 68:6).
How can our family be more united as Jesus Christ and Heavenly
Father are united? Why does the Lord want us to be united? (see also D&C 38:27).
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Well my dear
Family and Friends – here we are yet again at the ed of a wonderful lesson on
love --- you felt that did’nt you? The overwhelming love of your Heavenly Father
and Jesus Christ --- for you as you studied these chapters of scripture in
John??? Heavenly Father loves each one of us so very much that He gave up His
Only Begotten Son for each of our sake's, so that we could return to live with Him some
day.
And Jesus
Christ died to pay for all of our individual sins and transgressions. All we
need do it believe on Him, repent of our sins and transgressions, follow His
example and His teachings, and endure well to the end😊
We must put our trust in our Heavenly Father and in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
We must not allow Satan to derail our faith. If there was a tie when the world
needed our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ it is NOW!!!
As always, my
dear family and friends, please do remember who you are – tat each one of you
are a child of God – no matter what your age. Remember also, that your Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ love each one of you – They know each one of you individually.
They know your individual struggles and heartaches. They know your strengths
and your weaknesses. They know your heart and your mind.
They know your
past, your present, and what your future could be😊
They are waiting for you to reach up in prayer. Until my next post continue
with your prayers, your scripture study – and be sure to share with your families,
your, neighbors and your friends what
you are learning😊 There are so many people in this
world that truly need to feel the love of our Heavenly Father and or our Savior,
even Jesus Christ.
They are just
waiting for each one of us to take that first step and come to them in prayer. I
guess I have rambled on enough for today, I hope you are all going to make it a
terrific week and my prayers are out there for each one of you that you might listen
to the Spirit and take that first step towards repentance and baptism -- you won’t be sorry that you did😊
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