• Which part of your body do you think is most important?

• Which member of the Church do you think is the most important? 

1 Corinthians 12:14-21: For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no Need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

In these verses the Apostle Paul compares the members of the Church to the parts of the body. Just as the foot, the hand, the ear, and the eye are important in their different functions, so are all members of the Church important with their different skills and talents.

OVERVIEW

Acts 6–9

• Seven men are ordained to supervise the temporal work of the Church.
• Stephen testifies before the Sanhedrin and is stoned to death.
• Philip preaches and performs miracles in Samaria.
• Saul is converted and baptized and begins to preach the gospel.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 29.

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The Law of Witnesses

Speaking of the Law of Witnesses, Elder Dallin H. Oaks:

“Witnesses and witnessing are vital in God’s plan for the salvation of His children. In the Godhead, the function of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of the Father and the Son (see 2 Ne. 31:18). The Father has borne witness of the Son (see John 17). The Lord has commanded His servants to testify of him (see Isa. 43:10; Mosiah 18:9; D&C 84:62), and all of the prophets have borne witness of Jesus Christ (see Acts 10:43; Rev. 19:10). The scriptures state the–in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established? (2 Cor. 13:1; D&C 6:28; see also Deut. 19:15). The most important ordinances of salvation “baptism, marriage, and other ordinances of the temple” are required to have witnesses (see D&C 127:6; D&C 128:3).

The Bible witnesses of Jesus Christ by prophecies of His coming, by accounts of His ministry, and by the testimonies of those who carried His message to the world. The Book of Mormon has the same content: wit-nesses preceding, during, and following the ministry of the Messiah. Appropriately, it is now titled ―Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” (The Witness: Martin Harris, Conference Report, April 1999)

This lesson is about the early Apostles, who were witnesses of the resurrected Jesus Christ. When they testified of him, many people believed them and were baptized into the Church. Now, we have a responsibility to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and allow the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us be effective witnesses.

The book of Acts is Luke’s account of important events in the Church during the 30 years or so following Jesus Christ’s mortal life. Luke tells of the resurrected Lord’s 40-day ministry and his Ascension. He then describes the great spiritual outpouring on the day of Pentecost, Peter’s leadership of the Church, the Apostles’ early missionary efforts, and Paul’s dramatic conversion. The second half of the book focuses on Paul’s missionary labors among the Gentiles.

OVERVIEW

• The Lord ascends into heaven. Matthias is called to be an Apostle.
• On the day of Pentecost the Apostles are filled with the Holy Ghost.
• Peter and John heal a lame man by the power of Jesus Christ.
• The Apostles continue to preach and heal with great power.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 28.

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Elder James M. Paramore:  “Many years ago … a writer for a newspaper was asked an important question, ‘What would be the most important news the world could receive?’ ”  Elder Paramore continued: “[The writer] thought and thought about the question, he talked to many people, and read all he could in an effort to find an answer for himself. And finally, he printed his answer, ‘To know that Jesus Christ lives today would be the most important news the world could receive. In fact, if He lives today, then we too will live eternally as He said’ ” (Ensign, Nov. 1990, 64).

The disciples’ sorrow at Christ’s death was replaced with unspeakable joy at his Resurrection. We too can rejoice in the knowledge that Christ was resurrected.

OVERVIEW:

Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20–21

• Mary Magdalene and other women are witnesses of the resurrected Lord.
• Two disciples on the road to Emmaus are witnesses of the resurrected Lord
• The Apostles are witnesses to the resurrected Lord.
• Some of the Apostles see Jesus again at the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee).

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 27.

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How would you answer this child’s question?
This lesson focuses on the Savior’s Crucifixion and the events in the hours that preceded it. These events occurred at places highlighted on the map below.

Locate the following sites: (1) the Garden of Gethsemane, (2) the house of Caiaphas, (3) Fortress Antonia (the house of Pilate), and (4) the Hill of Golgotha (Calvary). The Hill of Golgotha is the location of the crucifixion.

OVERVIEW:

Matthew 26:47–27:66; Mark 14:43–15:39; Luke 22:47–23:56; John 18–19

• Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and accused of blasphemy; Peter denies Jesus three times.
• Jesus is sentenced to be crucified.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 26.

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Several years before Elder Orson F. Whitney was ordained an Apostle, he received a vision of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane. Elder Whitney’s description of his vision:

“I seemed to be in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony. I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone. Standing behind a tree in the foreground, I beheld Jesus, with Peter, James and John, as they came through a little … gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, the Son of God passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed. It was the same prayer with which all Bible readers are familiar: ‘Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’  “As He prayed the tears streamed down his face, which was toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I also wept, out of pure sympathy. My whole heart went out to him; I loved him with all my soul, and longed to be with him as I longed for nothing else.  “Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling—fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or impatience, asked them plaintively if they could not watch with him one hour. There He was, with the awful weight of the world’s sin upon his shoulders, with the pangs of every man, woman and child shooting through his sensitive soul—and they could not watch with him one poor hour!  “Returning to his place, He offered up the same prayer as before; then went back and again found them sleeping. Again he awoke them, readmonished them, and once more returned and prayed. Three times this occurred” (Through Memory’s Halls [1930], 82).

This lesson and lesson 26 are about the Atonement—Jesus Christ’s voluntary act of taking upon himself death and the sins and infirmities of all mankind. This lesson focuses on the Savior’s experience in the Garden of Gethsemane, while lesson 26 discusses his Crucifixion. It is important to remember that the Atonement included the Savior’s suffering both in the garden and on the cross.

President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “In Gethsemane and on Calvary, He worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. It was the greatest single act of love in recorded history. Thus He became our Redeemer—redeeming all of us from physical death, and redeeming those of us from spiritual death who will obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel”  (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 14).

OVERVIEW:

 Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46

• The Savior takes upon himself our sins and infirmities.
• We need the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 25.

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Think about gifts you would like to receive. One of the gift boxes shown here represents one of the greatest gifts we can receive in this life. The other box represents what the Lord called “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).

In this lesson we will discover what these two gifts are and will learn how to receive them.

OVERVIEW:

 John 16–17

• Jesus promises his Apostles that they will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• Jesus foretells his death and resurrection.
• Jesus offers the great intercessory prayer.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 24.

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The hymn “Love One Another,” comes from John 13:34-35.  Jesus spoke these words at the Last Supper. This lesson discusses this commandment and other things Jesus said and did during this meeting with his Apostles.  The Savior’s words and actions during the Last Supper showed his love for his Apostles and for us. Jesus wants us to follow his example in loving and serving others.

OVERVIEW:

 Luke 22:1–38; John 13–15

• Jesus institutes the sacrament.
• After washing their feet, Jesus command the Apostles to love one another.
• Jesus teaches “I am the way, the truth, and the life” and “I am the true vine.”

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 23.

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Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, in the April      general conference of 1951, said of the nearness of the Lord’s coming:

I believe that the coming of the Son of God is not far away, how far I do not know, but I do know that it is over one hundred years nearer than it was when Elijah the prophet came to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple on the third day of April, 1836. Elijah’s words point to the fact that we are that much nearer. And this ancient prophet declared that by the restoration of  those keys we should know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at our doors. (Conference Report, 121st Annual Conference, April, 1951, p. 58.)

The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Prophet Joseph Smith to the present have not attempted to tell the world when the second coming of Christ would be. But they have lifted up a warning voice that His coming is to be in this dispensation, which began in the spring of 1820. That the Lord’s coming in power and glory is nearer is clearly evident to all, as stated by President Smith.

This lesson focuses on three parables the Savior taught in response to his Apostles’ questions about his Second Coming.

OVERVIEW:

  Matthew 25

• Jesus presents the parable of the ten virgins.
• Jesus presents the parable of the talents.
• Jesus presents the parable of the sheep and the goats.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 22.

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Look out a window and observe the sky. What if the sky is clear and it’s hot outside, but I predict that it will snow in a few hours? What if it’s cold and rainy outside and it appears that the rain will continue for a while, but I confidently predict that it will be hot and dry outside within five minutes.

Think about my prediction.  What would you predict about the weather in the next few hours? What helps you make that prediction?  The signs of upcoming weather conditions influence the things we do and we often make preparations based on these signs. For example, we may make plans for outdoor activities when it appears that the weather will be pleasant, or we may make special preparations to withstand a severe storm.

Predicting the weather is one situation in which we rely on signs to help us prepare for upcoming events. If we watch the signs, we reduce our chances of being caught unprepared. Similarly, watching for the signs of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ can help us prepare for that great event. This lesson discusses some of the signs that Jesus prophesied would precede his Second Coming. Note that a prediction specifies something that may happen, while a prophecy specifies something that will happen. A prediction about the weather may turn out to be wrong, but the prophecies about the Second Coming will all be fulfilled.

In spite of the tribulations of the last days, we can look forward with joy to this great event.

OVERVIEW:

 Joseph Smith—Matthew (Matthew 24)

• Jesus foretells the impending destruction of Jerusalem.
• Jesus describes the signs that will precede the Second Coming.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 21.

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Before Elder Hugh B. Brown left on a mission, his mother told him:

“Hugh, you remember when you were a little boy and you would have a bad dream or wake up in the night frightened? You would call from your room, ‘Mother, are you there?’ and I would answer and try to comfort you and remove your fears. Now as you go on a mission and out into the world, there will be times when you will be frightened, when you feel weak, inadequate, alone, and have problems. I want you to know that you can call to your Heavenly Father as you used to call to me and say, ‘Father, are you there? I need your help.’ Do this with the knowledge that He is there and that He will be ready to help you if you will do your part and live worthy of your blessings. I want to reassure you that He is there and will answer your prayers and needs for your best good” (told by Marvin J. Ashton, “Know He Is There,” Ensign, Feb. 1994, 50).

In this lesson we will study scriptural accounts that can help us develop greater faith that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and love each of us.

OVERVIEW:

 Luke 18:1–8, 35–43; Luke 19:1–10; John 11

• Jesus presents the parable of the unjust judge and the widow.
• A blind man demonstrates his faith and is healed by Jesus.
• Jesus is received in Zacchaeus’s home.
• Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: New Testament Lesson 19.

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