Money, not as valuable in the kingdom of God

Money has value and helps things get done in nearly every aspect of life. Even in the church, we pay tithing which is used to help build the kingdom. Also, having enough money to survive is critical for every individual. However, it must be noted that on an individual basis, money is not important. No one is chosen to be Bishop or advanced in the priesthood due to money. No one gets a better seat in church or has less to do or more to do than another because of money.

This principle is illustrated well in Acts 8. Simon (not Peter, a convert) sees the power the Apostles have when giving the gift of the Holy Ghost and wants that same power. We don't know Simon's intentions, but considering he was a somewhat famous person in that area, perhaps he wants that notoriety again that would come from having the priesthood and giving people the gift of the Holy Ghost. Simon offers money for the priesthood and is told it's a grave error to believe money will give someone access to the priesthood. Here's the account in Acts 8:

17 Then ^alaid they their hands on them, and they received the^bHoly Ghost.

18 And when Simon saw that through ^alaying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this ^apower, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the ^agift of God may be ^bpurchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not ^aright in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy ^awickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the ^bthought of thine ^cheart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the ^agall of bitterness, and in the^bbond of iniquity.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

I appreciate that the priesthood and right to do things in the name of God is instead intended for all men who desire to come unto Christ and do His work. See D.C. 1:

20 But that every man might ^aspeak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;

Showing Patterns - An Important Way to Teach, Acts 7

The story of Stephen does not have a good ending. He is stoned for his testimony.

His preaching, however, does give us an example of a way to teach the gospel. Stephen recited to the Jews the story of Moses (starting with an intro connecting Moses to Abraham). In the story, he highlights the fact that despite Moses' good intentions to help the people, on a couple different occasions the Israelites rejected him. First, the Israelites rejected Moses after he killed an Egyptian. It was actually an Israelite who gave a snide remark to Moses that caused Moses to leave Egypt. (See verses below; Acts 7:23-29)

Then Moses' teachings were rejected again after he led the children of Israel out of Egypt. The people created a golden calf and other false gods to worship despite being taken out of slavery through the most miraculous of methods.

Stephen made the point that it was not uncommon for the Jews to misidentify their prophets. In fact, most of their prophets were rejected. Jesus was another example of a person they had rejected, only in this case he was the Son of God.

By bringing up patterns that applied very aptly to the Jewish people, Stephen pricked their hearts; unfortunately this caused them great anger and led to his death. It's clear that they understood the message. It's clear that it impacted them. It's also clear that they were a proud and wicked people. Being able to take patterns and stories in the scriptures and apply these to life is a critical teaching skill and requires knowledge of the scriptures.

Have a good day.

23 And when he was full ^aforty years old, it came into his heart to visit his ^bbrethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was ^aoppressed, and ^bsmote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have ^aunderstood how that God by his hand would ^bdeliver them: but they understood not.

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye ^awrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ^aruler and a judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then ^afled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two ^bsons.

Need for witnesses - 1 John 1

I taught the Epistles of John today. I hope it went well. John starts the epistle by giving his testimony. He knew the Savior and knew he was risen (as he says, "our hands have handled") and bears testimony of him:

Here's the verses:

1 ^aThat which was from the ^bbeginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the ^cWord of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and ^ashew unto you that ^beternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have ^aseen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our ^bfellowship iswith the ^cFather, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things ^awrite we unto you, that your joy may be full.

It made me think of how powerful a personal witness of something is. Below is a quote by Hugh Nibley about the power of a witness. I believe the witnesses of the Apostles and what they have written and say. I know they are honest men.

There is nothing paradoxical about the resurrection… [But many have to see it to believe it]. When falls of meteorites were reported in the eighteenth century, the learned members of the French Academy argued with perfect and unanswerable logic that such a thing simply could not be. In the spirit of the Enlightenment, Thomas Jefferson is reported to have said regarding a meteorite that fell in Connecticut in 1807, “I could more easily believe that two Yankee professors would lie than that stones would fall from heaven.” … They were convinced that what their science had not officially noted simply did not exist, and that what could not be scientifically explained—by them—was necessarily impossible…

Once the fall of meteorites was proved by witnesses in 1803, the Academy promptly shifted from complete denial to complete acceptance, and all acted as if they had never questioned such a thing for a moment. So it was with the resurrection. In a moment, Thomas changed from doubt to assurance so perfect that he was astonished and humiliated at ever having doubted anything so obvious. No matter how wildly improbable or paradoxical or utterly impossible a thing may seem to the cleverest people on earth, only by witness and not by reason, theory, or speculation may its truth be ultimately established, whether the truth be scientific or religious. “This is the testimony . . . which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him . . . and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father” (D&C 76:22-23). Compare this testimony of modern prophets with that of the ancients: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; . . . That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.” (1 John 1:1, 3) After all, it is the testimony of the prophets that gives us the real Easter. (The World and the Prophets, 3rd ed. [Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book Co., Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1987], 162.)

To give repentance to Israel

Many times when we think of what repentance means, we think that it's something that comes about only because we messed up. That's a very negative way to look at repentance. Everyone makes mistakes. Life is about figuring out how to improve.

The truth is that repentance is a great gift that we're so blessed to be able to use. The great gift of repentance is wonderful. It's one of the main reasons Jesus came to earth, to make the gift of repentance available to everyone.

Here's how the Apostles explained it in Acts 5:

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and^ahanged on a tree.

31 Him hath God exalted ^awith his right hand to be a ^bPrince and a ^cSaviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and ^dforgiveness of sins.

I appreciate the gift of repentance given to us.

Doing Greater things than the Master - a difficult challenge

At the end of his life, the Savior told the Apostles that they would do greater things than Him if they believed. That's such a tough statement to live up to. Here's the verse from John 14:

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that ^abelieveth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I ^bgo unto my ^cFather.

I can only imagine how Peter felt then when he healed the lame man outside the temple. That event was the first recorded time that the Apostles had a great following and did a work that was truly comparable to the miracles of the Savior. Certainly, it was a day where their confidence in their calling grew. Here's the incredible account of the healing:

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man ^alame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an^aalms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have^agive I thee: In the ^bname of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and ^alifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people ^asaw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

I once heard Elder Gene Cook talk about this experience of Peter's. He said that this was true faith; Peter had never done such a thing, but he trusted in Jesus to a remarkable degree, he had the Priesthood, and the result was a great miracle.

Later we read that the man was over 40 years old, and that the people marveled greatly at the miracle. In the end, Peter's reputation grew so that people brought their sick out into the paths Peter was walking so that perhaps his shadow would touch the sick, and the sick would be healed. This is similar to the woman touching Jesus garment or the friends of the man with palsy dropping him in through the roof. Peter began to become all that Jesus wanted.

Here's Acts 5 about Peter:

14 And believers were the more ^aadded to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the ^ashadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.