Repentance unto Life; Follow the Prophet

In Acts 11, Peter tells the story of Cornelius and the decision he made (after being clearly guided by God) to allow Gentiles to receive the gospel. I think it's critical to consider the context. Jews were not allowed to be around Gentiles at certain points of the day. I'm pretty sure Jews weren't allowed to eat with Gentiles. Now, salvation, the thing considered most precious by the truly devout, was being offered to them. And, it didn't take a long time for the change to happen. It took 1 day. The chief Apostle was guided to change the practice, and it happened.

I'm impressed by Peter's willingness to change so quickly and follow the Lord. I'm also impressed by the other church leaders who believed Peter and supported him with change. I'm sure it would have been easy to disbelieve Peter's experience, but they didn't.

This is a great lesson for us about willingness to support and expect changes in the "true and living church." Also, it's a great lesson about what Jesus gives to us. He gives us the gift of Repentance unto life.

Here's the verse in Acts 11 saying how the Church leaders responded to Peter's story:

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the ^aGentiles granted^brepentance unto life.

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.