Matthew 5; Luke 6 “Blessed Are Ye”

I am not sure how much I can add to Matthew 5 which is the beginning chapter of the sermon on the mount. However, I will try to talk about some impressions that I had while reading and studying.

In the chapter, Christ outlines the fundamental requirements for his disciples and teaches a higher law. The youtube videos that Mom and Dad like mention a quote by Harold B. Lee where he declares:

In that matchless Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has given us eight distinct ways by which we might receive … joy. Each of his declarations is begun by the word “Blessed.” … These declarations of the Master are known in the literature of the Christian world as the Beatitudes. … They embody in fact the constitution for a perfect life.

Jesus teaches the constitution for a perfect and happy life.     "[Happy] are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Along with the 7 other beatitudes.

For me, it is important to remember that happiness is found in Jesus Christ and in his gospel. It is easy for me to get discouraged about school or a job search and trying to figure out what career to pursue. But I know that happiness is found and PROMISED in Christ's gospel. It is critical for me to look for happiness in the right place. I know that Christ gives me hope and the map to find true happiness.

John 2–4 “Ye Must Be Born Again”

This week's reading has 3 stories that use the symbolism of water.

1. John 2--Miracle of turning the water to wine at the wedding feast
2. John 3--Jesus teaches Nicodemus that man must be born of water and the spirit
3. John 4--The woman at the well and living water


Brother Fotheringham, my seminary supervisor, taught me that all the prophets and all the miracles in the scriptures typify/symbolize Jesus' life, mission, work, and glory in some way. The word translated as "miracle" in John gives clues to the symbolic purpose of the story. The original Greek word used to describe Jesus' miracles is semeion. Semeion means "sign or indication." There are symbolic messages in all miracles. As we review the story of Jesus turning the water to wine, ask yourself how this miracle is a sign or symbol of Jesus' grace.

Jesus's first miracle comes at the request of his mother. She asks him to help when they run out of wine. We don't know who's wedding it is or why it is so important to Mary that they have enough wine, but it is beautiful to me that Jesus wants to help his mother. He asks the servants to fill the six waterpots of stone that are used in the ritual cleansing or purifying as people came into the home or a temple. They fill them to the brim, and then Jesus has them give some to the governor of the feast who declares the wine to be the best wine served at the feast. He points out that usually the best is served at the beginning, but this time the best is served at the end.

I have a few thoughts on the symbols. I think we can be the empty water pots, and Jesus can fill us. We can be the dirty water used for ritual cleansing, and Jesus can make us clean. We can be the water that is changed into something delicious and extraordinary. Also, most pictures depict the wine to be red wine, which could symbolize the blood of Christ that would be shed to cleanse us and change us. The miracle of Jesus' life is that He can change us. Interestingly, His first miracle is good, but like the best wine served at the end of the feast, Jesus will save the best miracle for the end.

This first miracle is a beautiful reminder of Christ's mission to save us from sin and death and of His grace that strengthens us and fills us when we are empty.


How has Christ changed you? Can you think of a time when He filled you? Or a time when He made you clean? Can you think of a time when he changed you from plain to delicious? What does water symbolize in the other stories?



This is a good talk on Living Water and how the scriptures can be living water that fills us and sustains us.

Matthew 4; Luke 4–5 “The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me”

This week we study the temptations of Jesus. 
All are tempted. 

This is a great talk on temptation by Elder and Sister Holland from their BYU days. I used to love how they would stand at the pulpit together and speak to the students setting an example of marriage and companionship that touched my soul. We called these speeches the "Jeff and Pat Show." I love them so much.

Enjoy :)

Inconvenient Messiah There is no video, but you can listen to the audio version of the talk

Also, I lived in Virginia at the time of the plane crash that he described. I remember sitting in my kitchen watching the live footage on the news. My recollection is that I was eating a snack after school, and my mom and I were watching television. This was a breaking news story. The news showed the man jump from the bridge to save the woman. I watched the man pass the ring, and my mother cried when the helicopter went back for him and found him gone. These images are seared into my mind.

Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3 “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”

A little thought on prayer from Mark 1.

After Jesus was baptized and after he spent 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus began his ministry. Mark tells how he calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him. He spends some time in Capernaum preaching and healing the sick, including Peter's mother-in-law. The people were astonished and amazed at his teachings and his healing of people from divers diseases. All in the city gathered at the door. He must have been so tired. Mark says in 1:35, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

Jesus sets the example for us. In the morning he goes into a solitary place and prays. He begins his day with prayer. Then, he has another busy day teaching and healing. If we want to be like Jesus, then we will begin our day with prayer. Did you pray this morning? Was your prayer sincere?

Are your prayers casual and unconscious, or are they commited and deliberate?

Elder Uchtdor said in his recent BYU address, "Communing with the Infinite, communing with the Divine, takes time. And it takes commitment. Casual prayers do not yield sublime answers."

Why do we sometimes begin our day without prayer or with a casual prayer? 

1. Wake up late

2. Busy

3. Tired

4. Don't feel worthy to pray

 About feeling worthy to pray, Elder Uchtdor said: 

"The scriptures teach, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Even though you may pray imperfectly and make mistakes, God will not find fault with you. He will give generously.

Your mistakes have not disqualified you from heaven’s reach.

If God answered the prayers only of the perfectly obedient, He would have to shut down heaven’s entire prayer-answering department.

God reaches out to us even when we are struggling, when we are failing. In fact, we might say that He reaches out to us especially when we are struggling and failing."

How can you make your morning prayers a little better?