My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow Me. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
#todo (Required Assignments)
1. As you go through each required (or optional) assignment, please take notes on what you learn and questions you have in your commonplace book. Your commonplace book is a great place to take notes on Vanguard readings and movies for your own benefit, even if it’s not explicitly “required” in your homework.
(Though it will increase the quality of your study)
(I know I say this each week. It’s because I really mean it.)
2. The Testimony of John
Choose one (or many of these translations) and listen carefully:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdK7P8Zk5Hg — Douay Rheims (old) Translation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3iXhXglfY — King James (old)
https://scriptures.info/scriptures/nt/john — Joseph Smith Translation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-npazwUxt68 — Revised Standard Version (modern; this recording is dramatized — different readers for different characters)
3. Identify (and write down) something you have never heard before — something from or about Jesus. Listen carefully. There will actually be many.
4. What does John (the Beloved/Revelator) have to say about John (the Baptist)?
5. John includes a lot about the last evening before Christ’s arrest and crucifixion that the other writers do not. What do you recognize from these teachings? What is new to you? What unique teachings do we learn here?
Guys, I love the words and teachings of Jesus. Simply reading His words puts you in a place to learn more of who He is and what He came to do. I’ll close this with a statement that Jesus made to the Nephites:
Behold, I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you: that I came into the world to do the will of my Father because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross. And after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men, even so should men be lifted up by the Father to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. And for this cause have I been lifted up. Therefore, according to the power of the Father, I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works. And it shall come to pass that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled, and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father. And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men, and for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given; and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words. And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom, therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. Now this is the commandment: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the holy ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily I say unto you, this is my gospel, and ye know the things that ye must do in my church, for the works which ye have seen me do, that shall ye also do. For that which ye have seen me do, even that shall ye do. Therefore, if ye do these things, blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
And I echo the parting words of Moroni:
Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness. And if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ. And if ye, by the grace of God, are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
To know Him and to love Him and to pattern your life after Him, His faith, and His teachings is an adventure greater than all other adventures.
As you spend time in His word and in His Creation, you will gain greater clarity about His mind and His intentions for you in this world.
He knows you, He loves you, He has laid the Way before, and you have all that you need to become in very deed the Children of Christ
Give Him what the obedience and worship that He deserves.
There is no one more worthy of your love and adoration
Every moment and every effort given to Him will be multiplied and returned to you a hundred times
Never stop seeking to hear His voice and to understand His mind
You will find Him
He promised that He would respond
Praise and honor Him
— Casey
Additional suggested activities — do some or all of these, in any order you wish
- Listen to this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC486EFJgTs
It’s just beautiful
Find the meaning and get a laugh
This comes to us thanks to the inimitable, great Hazel Ballard (if you like it, you can send her a thank-you-gram). - Here’s another one. Sound doctrine stated with a bluntness that is clear (and hilariously) refreshing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cgp_l399cE
What was Jesus’ response when he was asked what was the greatest commandment in the law? - Look up the meaning to this Latin phrase:
SOLVITUR AMBULANDO
This is not, strictly speaking, one of things Jesus taught in any of His sermons
This is one He taught by example - One of the lesser-known expositors of scriptures:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke4Lq9QbNqo - More beauty. Watch this one (it’s Annabelle’s favorite):
Отава Ё – Иванушка-рачек (Otava Yo – Ivan the crayfish) - Take time to be holy
Speak oft with thy Lord
Spend much time in quiet with Jesus alone
Go walking
Find your Father
