Making Choices with Guidance from the Scriptures

• People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week (see Philippians 2:1–8, 14–15).

Don't look down on others and view them as equals. If everyone had God in mind and their one purpose of wanting everyone return to Him then no one would argue or be mean.

• Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12–15 and institute student manual commentary for Philippians 2:12, “Work out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling” [pp. 361–62])

We shouldn't rely on others testimonies, but grow our own testimony through a trial of faith. If you find yourself relying on your parents testimonies then realize this and pray to have your own. Don't go to church because your parents do and it's tradition. You should do this if you are striving to gain your own testimony though.

• An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7–16; 4:13).

It may be hard, but if your testimony is true, then you know that Christ sacrificed everything for us and we need to have faith in Him and do what we know feels right. We should love Christ and God above everyone else.

• How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3? 

This assignment is an example of the principle taught because we are relying on the word of Christ to solve our problems. Through using the scriptures to help us through our problems we will have love and peace in our lives.

Live as Saints Should Live

1.    Review Romans 13:11 and look for what is “nearer.” Read Ezekiel 3:20; Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; and explain in writing what we must continue doing to work out our salvation.

Our salvation is what is coming near, it is time we come nearer to Christ. Ezekial adds that we do not want to die in our sin and D&C further contributes by explaining that we endure to the end we will have eternal life.

2.    In Romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. Read each of the following verses and list what Paul taught would help lead to salvation:

o       Romans 12:1- sacrifice our bodies (give of ourselves in service)

o       Romans 12:2- think not of what the world want, but what God wants

o       Romans 12:9- love endlessly and embrace good

o       Romans 12:13- be hospitable

o       Romans 12:16- be kind to ALL

o       Romans 12:21- overcome evil with good

o       Romans 13:1- accept God as the highest form of power

o       Romans 13:3- do not be afraid of men in charge, but always do good

o       Romans 13:8- stay out of debt and never stop loving

o       Romans 13:9-  9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thyneighbour as thyself.

3.    Review Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3. Then write answers to the following questions:

o       What cautions did Paul give about judging? Do NOT judge others. We all are judged at the last day by Christ, what gives us the right to judge our brother?

o       People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember? The most important thing to remember is to love and respect all of our fellow men.

o       What additional insight comes from reading Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27? All men are men! Even if one is dressed nicer or shabbier, it is not right to treat them differently, we must be fair to all and love all.

4.    Review Romans 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15. Write the term Paul frequently used to refer to members of the Church in his day. 

He reffered to them as saints.

Romans 6 and Baptism

1.    Review Romans 6:1–13 and answer the following questions in writing:

o       What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?
     Sin must be put away before baptism. "The body of sin dies."

o       What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?
     How he died and then arose once again. His crucifiction. They relate this event to baptism because "For he that is dead is freed from sin." And when Christ died he was free from the sins of the world and freed us from our own sins.

o       Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?
    I feel that a sprinkling, maybe, does not symbolize because being freed from our sins is a BIG thing. Symbolically I feel it is appropriate to be immersed in water rather than sprinkled because when we come out of the water we are a clean, new person from our sins.

o       What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?
     The verses teach us that we can " 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" These verses explain that we put away the natural man and accept our bodies as instruments to do the work of Christ.

o       According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?
     Ideally, the natural man in us would die and we would become as children, "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him". In reality though we may put off the natural man and have to continually repent throughout our lifetimes. This I feel is natural and nothing to be ashamed of.

2.    Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

     We can know whose servant we are by where our heart resides. When we are servants to sin our heart lay in uncleanliness and we go from iniquity to iniquity. I feel this can be related to people in the world being lost or feeling empty. They go from doing one wrong thing to another, even if they do not think it is wrong, they can feel something in their heart isn't right. They view the world is against them and are not sure what they can do about it. People who are servants of sin pay the price of misery and sadness throughout life and then they die. In contrast those who are servants to Christ put away their life of sin (yes, everyone is a sinner even if they sin differently) They then become servants to righteousness and holiness. Being a servant of these bring purpose to life and can only bring happiness, if someone's heart is truly converted. Last, those who give their life as a gift to God receive eternal life.

The true source of freedom comes from the atonement of Christ and by living the guidelines set forth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Some may view these guidelines as restrictive, but in reality, they free oneself from the pain of sins.

Finding Strength During Tribulations

2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

These scripture verses can help me get through tribulations by comforting me and helping me achieve an eternal perspective! It is so important to have an eternal perspective through trials so that I can stay sane during them and know they are for my betterment.