Post # 130 – Come,
Follow Me – Week # 28 -- Acts Chapters 10 –15 –“The Word of God Grew and
Multiplied”
Dear Family
and Friends
It is such a
beautiful day here today; the temperature is just right and we have a lite
breeze😊 I hope that you have wonderful
weather wherever you are as well! I have never been able to handle the heat
ever since I was a little girl. I have a seizure disorder and being too hot
seemed to be a trigger, so of course I stayed out of the heat😊
common sense, right!
And speaking
of common sense – it seems as though there are a whole lot of folks out there
these days that appear to have very little common sense☹I am
wondering if that is something that isn’t taught anymore?? There is very little
curtesy that I see amongst our drivers these days as well☹ There
doesn’t seem to be an age on it either, for the most part. Though I do think
that older folks should know better and therefore should do better as well!!!
Don’t you think so?
We took the
kids and went out to Wichita so the kids could go again to the Imagination
Place. They sure do enjoy going there, the boys want to check out everything😊
While we were there my granddaughter built a man out of keeva planks ( I am
probably spelling this wrong, but I tried) that was as big as she is and a
tower about half her size. I think it took her about two and a half – maybe three
hours to build them.
She is very
imaginative and creative too! She was very diligent in her efforts to finish
the man before we left so he ended up having very small head, but she totally
enjoyed herself, so it was worth the wait! And the boys were able to have
second and even third turns at most of the things, so they were happy to wait
as well. All in all, we had a really good time😊
I hope you are able to spend good quality time with each of your family members
on a regular basis😊
I can not
believe the cost to stay in hotels these days either. I was looking online to
find us a room --- oh boy, so expensive!!! I can understand why we don’t take
trips very often! What I don’t understand is how some people can afford to take
trips all the time? I realize that everyone probably makes more money than I
ever have and that’s okay, but it would have taken me years to save enough
money to take my kids on some of these trips that people go on with their kids.
Who knows,
maybe it took them years to save enough to take their family on a trip too! Let
me see, where was I going with this train of thought??? It seems as though I am
rambling on like a runaway train today😊 oh, yeah! I was thinking that I had
been rambling too much, so, maybe we should get on to the lesson for this week😊
We are studying in Acts Chapters 10 –15 –“The Word of God Grew and Multiplied”
I hope you
were all able to get all your chapters read and you are ready for your first
question: Do you have a missionary experience from acts 10 -15 that impressed
you? Would you like to share your insights with all of us? How about sharing
them with your family members and friends? So, are you ready?? Okay then, let’s
get started --- we will dive into Acts chapter ten, for a start😊
Acts 10; 11:1-18; 15:1-25
Heavenly Father teaches us line upon line through
revelation.
Sometimes we or our family members and/or friends may have some misconceptions
about the process of receiving revelation. I know that I has taken me a long
time to sort it all out and make good sense of it all. If this is true or you
are just learning about personal revelation and the ways that God speaks to you
through the Holy Ghost. Now would be a good time to discuss how revelation came
to Peter and how we ( each one of us) and / or they can move forward, “doubting
nothing” (Acts 10:20), when sometimes
revelation seems incomplete or unclear.
Arise therefore, and get thee
down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
This comes
from the Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Heavenly Father teaches me line upon
line through revelation.
When Peter saw the
vision described in Acts 10, he struggled at first to
understand it and “doubted in himself what [it] should mean” (verse 17). Yet the Lord gave Peter greater
understanding as Peter sought it. As you read Acts 10, 11, and 15, notice how Peter’s understanding
of his vision deepened over time. How have you sought and received greater
understanding from God when you had questions?
Acts 10, 11, and 15 recount instances in which the
Lord directed His servants through revelation. It might help to record what you
find regarding revelation as you read these chapters. How does the Spirit speak
to you?
See also “Revelation,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org; Ronald A. Rasband, “Let the Holy Spirit Guide,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 93–96; “The
Jerusalem Conference” (video, LDS.org).
You can Listen to or read the whole talk here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
I found the video here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bible-videos/videos/the-jerusalem-conferences?lang=eng
So, these
three men come to Peter’s door and he doesn’t know these men, but the Spirit
told him that three men were looking for him and he should go with them because
the Spirit had sent them. Peter had
received a revelation in a dream earlier that he didn’t quite understand. Then
a time later he receives this one and when it comes, he acts on it immediately
even though he didn’t know just why he had to go with these men – he trusted in
his Father in heaven and in Jesus Christ to do as the bid him do.
This come
from the Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:
During His mortal
ministry, Jesus Christ’s teachings often challenged people’s long-held
traditions and beliefs; this didn’t stop after He ascended into heaven—after
all, He continued to guide His Church by revelation. For example, during Jesus’s
life His disciples preached the gospel only to fellow Jews. But soon after the
Savior died and Peter became the prophet of the Church, Jesus Christ revealed
to Peter that the time was right for the gospel to be preached to non-Jews. The
idea of sharing the gospel with Gentiles doesn’t seem surprising today, so
what’s the lesson in this account for us?
Perhaps one lesson is
that changes in policy and practice—in
both the ancient and modern Church—come
by revelation from the Lord to His chosen leaders (Amos 3:7; D&C 1:38). Continuing revelation is an
essential characteristic of the true and living Church of Jesus Christ. Like
Peter, we must be willing to accept continuing revelation and live “by every
word of God” (Luke 4:4), including “all that [He] has
revealed, all that He does now reveal” and the “many great and important
things” He will yet reveal “pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Articles of Faith 1:9).
There is a family
home evening lesson on the ninth Article of Faith here: http://www.ldsliving.com/FHE-The-Ninth-Article-of-Faith/s/70699
During our
class for this lesson our instructor drew a line across the board and at the
end of it he wrote: The gospel is to be preached to the Gentiles. Then
he asked us, as a class to review Acts Chapter 10 and 11:1-18. After he had
given us sufficient time to review the chapter and verses, he asked us to tell
how the Lord revealed to Peter step by step that the time had come to preach
the gospel to the Gentiles. He began with the example in Matthew28:19 when the
Savior commanded His disciples to “teach all nations.”
Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy ghost.\
This is what
I could come up with to share with you on the computer. I am not very
knowledgeable on the computer, but I do try. I hope that this makes sense to
you all. instead of giving each part a line – I gave it a Roman numeral. Then I
put the Roman numerals down below the graph with explanation and verse with it.
Again, I hope you can make some sense out of my intentions😊
here goes nothing😊 I am not sure if this is what you
envisioned, or even if you came up with the same parts as I did. And I guess
that’s okay too!
Heavenly Father teaches us line upon line
through revelation.
I----II-----III-----IV----V----VI----VII----VIII----VIIII----X The gospel is to be preached to
the Gentiles
l- Matthew 28:19 -- the Savior
commands His disciples to preach the gospel to all nations.
Il -Acts 10:1-6 -- Cornelius
saw a vision,
III -Cornelius acted
immediately on what he saw in his vision.
IV -- Peter went on the rooftop
to pray.v.10:9 He was caught in a trance,v.10:10 where he saw a vision.
–v.10:11
V -- Peter sees his vision
three times – the same vision – Peter is not sure just what his vision means.
his vision taught him that if
God cleanses something, it is clean.
VI -- While Peter is pondering
on the meaning of his vision, three men show up – sent from Cornelius and are
at his gate waiting to see him.
VII --- An angel came to Peter
telling him to go with the men he had sent. V.10:20 Peter goes with them
immediately, taking others with him.
VII – The men tell Peter about
Cornelius and why he was sent for … v. 10:22
VIII-- Peter meets with
Cornelius and learns, through Cornelius’ vision that he should teach all
nations.
VIIII -- Peter teaches Cornelius’ and his
people.
Next it was
mentioned how the Lord had come to Cornelius in a dream. This Cornelius was a
centurion of Caesarea, of the band called the Italian band, as found in
chapter 10 verse 1. He was a devout man, and one that feared God. All of his
household feared God. They all prayed and gave fast offerings to the people, as
we find in verse 2. Verse 3 tells us that Cornelius received a vision about the
ninth hour of the day. In this vision an angel of God was coming to him and
calling him by name.
Verse 4 tells
us that Cornelius was afraid, but he said, “What is it, Lord?” then the angel
told him “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” In
verse 5 Cornelius is told to send men to a place called Joppa. When the men
arrived there, they were to “call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:” In
the next verse Cornelius is told that Simon with the surname Peter can be found
lodging “with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside: he shall tell
thee what though oughtest to do.” So, these first six verses in Acts chapter 10
tell us basically that Cornelius saw a vision, right?
The next
verse tells us that Just as soon as the angel has left him, Cornelius called
“two of his household servants and a devout soldier…” verse 8 – he shares his
vision with these men, then he sends them to Joppa, in search of Peter. When
they arrive in the city, “Peter went upon the housetop to pray about the sixth
hour:” then in verse 10 tells us “And he became very hungry, and would have
eaten: but while they made ready , he fell into a trance,” so there is Peter
upon his roof in a trance.
What can we learn about revelation from Peter’s experience? What
do Nephi’s teachings about revelation in 2 Nephi 28:30
For
behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children o men line upon
line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blesse 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 thm shall be taken away even that which they
have.
and the teachings from Elder David A. Bednar and Elder
Dallin H. Oaks in the following excerpts from their talks, might add to
the discussion you will have with your family members and friends this week?
Receiving revelation line upon line.
Elder
David A. Bednar made the following observations about the Lord’s pattern
of revelation: “Many of us typically assume we will receive an answer
or a prompting to our earnest prayers and pleadings. And we also
frequently expect that such an answer or a prompting will come immediately
and all at once. Thus, we tend to believe the Lord will give
us A BIG ANSWER QUICKLY AND ALL AT
ONE TIME.
However, the pattern repeatedly described in the scriptures
suggests we receive ‘line upon line, precept upon precept,’ or in other
words, many small answers over a period of time. Recognizing
and understanding this pattern is an important key to obtaining inspiration and
help from the Holy Ghost” (“Line upon Line, Precept upon
Precept,” New Era, Sept. 2010, 3–4).
You can Listen to or read the whole talk here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2010/09/line-upon-line-precept-upon-precept-2-nephi-28-30?lang=eng
Personal
revelation often comes over time through persistent effort.
Elder
Dallin H. Oaks gave this counsel: “We should study things out in our minds,
using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray
for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we
should act upon our best judgment” (“Our
Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct.
1994, 13–14).
You can read the whole
talk here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1994/10/our-strengths-can-become-our-downfall?lang=eng
Okay, now I want you to think of some ways you might use to help
yourself, or your family members and friends to think more deeply about how you
or they receive revelation? Let’s start by searching for instances in the
scriptures in which the Lord has taught the people line upon line, precept upon
precept. In addition to Peter’s experience in Acts 10, your family members and
friends could review the experiences of Nephi (1 Nephi 18:1–3); Alma (Alma 7:8; 16:20); and Mormon (3 Nephi 28:17, 36–40).
Now think about what other examples you or your family members
and friends might think of in which people received spiritual guidance “here a
little and there a little”? (2 Nephi 28:30). Why do you think might
be the reason that the Lord sometimes choose to reveal things in this way
rather than giving us answers all at once? (see D&C 50:40; 98:12). This analogy was used
by our instructor and it might help you too: Suppose someone suggested that you
take a calculus class before you had learned algebra or geometry. How would you
respond? How does this relate to the Lord’s pattern for revealing truth?
You do know that when the policies and procedures change in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is through revelation to our living
prophets, right? This may be a good time to have a discussion with you family
members and friends on how the revelation to begin preaching the gospel to the
Gentiles in Acts chapter 10 replaced the Lord’s earlier instructions to His
disciples – Matthew 10:1,5-6.
If you or your family members and friends
lived during the time when Peter lived –how would you respond to someone who
disagreed with Peter’s direction because it directly contradicted what the Lord
had said earlier? It would change all their practices that they have had for a
long time maybe, to do things in a new way☹
How can the revelation in Acts 10 help us heed the
Lord’s continuing revelation through His prophet?
Here’s something that may be interesting for you and your family
members ad friends to review the counseling together that took place among the
Apostles, as described in Acts 15:1–22, and the letter that they
wrote to the Saints (see verses 23–29). You could show the
video “The Jerusalem Conference” (LDS.org). What question
did the disciples have? How did they seek an answer? This statement by
President Gordon B. Hinckley may shed additional light on how the Lord
leads His Church through revelation to apostles and prophets.
President
Gordon B. Hinckley shared his perspective serving in the Church’s
presiding councils:
“At the outset in
considering matters, there may be differences of opinion. These are to be
expected. These men come from different backgrounds. They are men who think for
themselves. …
“… Out of this very process of men speaking their
minds has come a sifting and winnowing of ideas and concepts. But I have never
observed serious discord or personal enmity among my Brethren. I have, rather,
observed a beautiful and remarkable thing—the
coming together, under the directing influence of the Holy Spirit and under the
power of revelation, of divergent views until there is total harmony and full
agreement. Only then is implementation made. That, I testify, represents the
spirit of revelation manifested again and again in directing this the Lord’s
work” (“God Is at the Helm,” Ensign, May 1994,
54, 59).
You can Listen to or read the whole talk here:
“God is no respecter of persons.”
·
Do you think your family members and
friends would benefit from a discussion about what it means to be “no respecter
of persons”? You might start by inviting the them to read scriptures that teach
that God is not a respecter of persons, such as Romans
2:1–11; 1 Nephi
17:34–40; 2 Nephi
26:32–33; Alma
5:33; Moroni
8:12; and Doctrine
and Covenants 1:34–35. You could ask your family members and
friends to write possible definitions of “no respecter of persons,” based on
what they read, and then share what they wrote.
If you have young children, you may need
to pair them with an older sibling or friend or parent. You could have them
draw a picture as you read the scriptures to them😊 If they don’t understand
you may need to help your family members and friends to understand that being
“no respecter of persons” does not mean that God blesses everyone equally
regardless of our actions.
He wants all of His children to accept His gospel, but the
fulness of the blessings of the gospel are reserved for those who make and keep
covenants with Him. How do the events and principles in Acts 10:34–48 show that God is no
respecter of persons? How can the righteous be “accepted” and “favored” by God
even though He is not a respecter of persons? (see Acts 10:34–35; 1 Nephi 17:35).
This comes from the Come, Follow Me for
Individuals and Families manual:
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
“God is no respecter of persons.”
For generations, the
Jews had believed that being of “the seed of Abraham,” or a literal descendant
of Abraham, meant that a person was accepted (chosen) by God (see Luke 3:8). Anyone else was considered an
“unclean” Gentile who was not accepted by God. In Acts 10, what did the Lord teach Peter
about who “is accepted with him”? (Acts 10:35). What evidence do you find in this
chapter that Cornelius was living a righteous life that was acceptable to the
Lord? Why is it important to know that “God is no respecter of persons” (verse 34), meaning that all people can
receive the blessings of the gospel if they live by its teachings? (see 1 Nephi 17:35).
35 Behold, the Lord
esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in
iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did
curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse
it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers
unto their obtaining power over it.
Like the Jews who looked down on
those who were not of the seed of Abraham, do you ever catch yourself making
unkind or uninformed assumptions about someone who is different from you? How
can you overcome this tendency? It might be interesting to try a simple
activity for the next few days: Whenever you interact with someone, try to
think to yourself, “This person is a child of God.” As you do this, what
changes do you notice in the way you think about and interact with others?
See also D. Todd
Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” Ensign
or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 48–51; 1 Samuel 16:7; “Peter’s Revelation to Take the
Gospel to the Gentiles” (video, LDS.org).
You can Listen to or read the whole talk here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/abide-in-my-love?lang=eng
The prayers of the righteous can bring forth
great miracles.
This account in Acts
12:1–17of Peter’s deliverance from
prison can help you and your family members and friends to build their
faith in the power of prayer. I believe that there is great power in prayer!!!
I know that our Heavenly Father hears our prayers. He answers our prayers. It
may not be in the way that we feel it should be answered or during the time
that we feel that it should be answered, but nonetheless, I know that the Lord
has always answered my prayers, even those that were unspoken😊
I know that there is great power in
prayer. I have felt the strength from others praying for me. I have been
strengthened through prayer😊 We should pray always and keep a prayer
in our hearts all day. You or a family member or friend could come to this
lesson ready to share the details of this story of Peter and you could share
yours or they could share their testimony of prayer. You could do a family
search together to find others in the scripture whose prayers were answered.
Then you could sing or at least read the
word to the hymn “Did
You Think to Pray?” Hymns, no. 140)
and discuss what the hymns teach about the power of prayer. You might sing other hymns about prayer
as well😊 You
can find this and other hymns here:
Think about and then ponder on the reasons that we each
sometimes fail to share the gospel with others. You might ask your family
members and friends to do this as well and then suggest to them that
studying Acts 16–21 can help them
overcome obstacles that can prevent them from sharing the gospel.
This comes from the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families
manual:
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
I am a Christian because I believe
in and follow Jesus Christ.
What is significant
about a person being called a Christian? (see Acts 11:26). What does it mean to you to be
known as a Christian or to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ?
(see D&C 20:77). Consider the significance of
names. For instance, what does your family name mean to you? Why is the name of
the Church today important? (see D&C 115:4).
See also Mosiah 5:7–15; Alma 46:13–15; 3 Nephi 27:3–8; M. Russell Ballard, “The Importance of a Name,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 79–82.
You can Listen to or read the whole talk here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/10/the-importance-of-a-name?lang=eng
This comes from the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families
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:
Have we ever has piritual
experiences and later doubted what we felt or learned? What advice can we give
each other that might help us overcome our doubts? (See Ronald A.
Rasband, “Lest Thou Forget,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016,
113–15.) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/lest-thou-forget?lang=eng
When Peter was cast
into prison, members of the Church gathered together and prayed for him. Is
there someone your family feels inspired to pray for, such as a Church leader
or loved one? What does it mean to pray “without ceasing”? (Acts 12:5).
As you read this
chapter together, some family members could make note of blessings that came to
the disciples and the Church, while other family members could note opposition
or trials disciples experienced. Why does God allow difficult things to happen
to righteous people?
These verses describe
a disagreement in the Church regarding whether gentile (non-Jewish) converts
should be required to be circumcised as a sign of their covenant. The
disagreement was resolved after the Apostles met together to consider the
subject and then received an inspired answer. This may be a good time to teach
your family that the same pattern applies today. As a family, pick a question
about the gospel that you want to find the answer to together. Look together
for insights in the scriptures and in the teachings of modern prophets and
apostles. (The Topical Guide and the topic
index in the conference issue of Church magazines might help.) You
can find any topic you wish to look up here in the Topical Guide: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/tg/introduction?lang=eng
You
can find the most recent conference issues of the Church magazines here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/general-conference?lang=eng
Wow! There was so
much to learn in this lesson. We have only touched on it a little bit. I hope
you will take advantage of the idea for personal scripture study and those
ideas for family scripture study and family home evenings. I hope and pray that
you have each earned as much as I have today😊
there is so much more we need to learn, and we must learn – if we want to be
prepared for our Saviors Second Coming.
A good part of our
preparation will be through our scripture study, our prayers, family home
evenings, and keeping the commandment of the Lord. Honoring our covenants that
we have made with the Lord. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with those all
around us😊 I feel like I have received so many
blessings in my life since I became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints that I only want that for all of my family members and
friends – and that includes each one of you.
Oh, hey, here we are
at the end of our lesson and the end of today’s post. I hope and pray that I
have shares something that has helped to uplift and inspire you to do better in
your lives. I know that I always need to work on being better and doing better😊
I hope by studying about Peter it has helped you each to understand a little
bit more about how the Lord teaches us through personal revelation and how it
is done line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a
little😊
As always, please
each one of you remember who you are – a son or a daughter of Heavenly Father.
He loves you so much. He is in the details of our lives. He knows each one of
us individually. He knows our needs. He is there for us. He answers our prayers
and provides us with everything that we need. I hope and pray that each one of
you are healthy ad happy and doing well. Keep saying your prayers, studying
your scriptures with us. Until my next post, please make it a spectacular
week!!! 😊
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