The Sacrament

1 Corinthians 10:16-21; 11:20-29

3 Nephi 18:6-11, 28-29

Luke 22:19

The only word that I can see wasn’t used in Paul’s words but Nephi and Luke both said was “given.” I think that this word is important for us to know and to realize. Christ has literally given His body up for us so we can return to God again through saving ordinances. He has given His body as a gift for us, with no price for us to pay. It’s our own choice that we follow Him and use His saving grace for our salvation.

Comparing Corinthians and 3 Nephi, in 3 Nephi, it actually councils us to forbid the person who is unworthy of partaking of the sacrament to not take it.

à D&C 46:4 “Ye are also commanded not to cast any one who belongeth to the church out of your sacrament meetings; nevertheless, if any have trespassed, let him not partake until he makes reconciliation.”

Paul taught that taking the sacrament unworthily brought upon themselves damnation, not the ordinance of renewing and cleansing yourself of the body and blood of Christ.

à Mormon 9:29 “See that ye are not baptized unworthily; see that ye partake not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye do all things in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God; and if ye do this, and endure to the end, ye will in nowise be cast out.”

In order to make the sacrament more meaningful each week, I can read hymns, the scriptures, think about Christ’s Atonement and how the bread and water represent His sacrifices and pain and suffering for our sake, and think about what I can do better for the upcoming week.

Proper Authority and Ministering to the People

Acts 19:1-12; 20:7-12

5 priesthood ordinances Paul performed:

-baptism
-gift of Holy Ghost
-healed the sick
-sacrament
-raised a man from the dead

Because the Corinth saints hadn't been baptized by the correct authority, Paul re-baptized them under proper authority and also gave them the gift of the Holy Ghost. This example of Paul re-baptizing those saints should answer the question to members and nonmembers alike that unless the proper priesthood authority was used to baptize you, you need to be re-baptized and receive the Holy Ghost in order to have one of the saving ordinances done for yourself. Paul bestowed the gift of the Holy Ghost on those saints by the laying on of hands through proper priesthood authority that he himself received from God.

John 20:1, 19

The saints all met together on the first day of the week to break bread and partake of the sacrament. The verses above give us evidence to believe that the day of the Sabbath was changed because that was the same day that Christ rose from the dead and was resurrected after being in the tomb for three days.

Paul's Second Mission

Acts 16:6-10 Acts 18:9-11

Four cities that Paul visited on his second mission to whom he later wrote epistles to were: Phillipi, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and Corinth. The Holy Ghost directed Paul in many different ways on his journeys to go to the cities that God wanted Paul to preach in. Paul had the Spirit tell them not to go to certain cities and he also had visions of people asking him for help in others and visions of God telling him where he needed to be.

The Spirit has directed my missionary efforts in small and simple ways. Just by giving me little nudges on what I should say when opportunities have come up or knowing who I should share my testimony to. I remember one friend not wanting to have anything to do with our Church, but after years of seeing my example and of me bearing testimony of the things I knew to be true, she called me up one day and said that she met with the missionaries and was getting baptized! The Lord really does work in miraculous and mysterious ways. One way I can be more directed by the Spirit in my life is to always be in and at place to receive promptings, whether that be in a physical or spiritual place. That means I need to be reading the scriptures and praying daily for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 16:9-33

Paul was able to preach the gospel so effectively because:

-he immediately obeyed when the Lord called on him
-he had the Lord on his side
-he preached to everyone of all different backgrounds
-he used his priesthood powers righteously
-he praised God even in hard times

Paul turned his experiences into missionary opportunities by always relying on and praising God. Even when Paul was thrown into prison, he still sang praises to God, which led to the jailor's baptism. From Paul's missionary experiences I can learn to be a missionary wherever I go. I don't have to wear a missionary badge to go out and share my testimony. Even if I do service, that is showing others the good that is taught from God and my testimony of Him. The jailer is an example of a true convert because he chose to listen to Paul's words and get baptized right after, even though the same men he was learning from were thrown in jail because of what they believed.

Mosiah 4:9-10 expands my understanding of Acts 17:30-31 by showing that God knows all and understands things that man cannot. In the versus of Acts, those who were learning about resurrection did not believe in it. They could not comprehend the idea that after being in such an imperfect state with our spirits, why we would have them again after we die. Mosiah expounds on the idea that God knows all and even though man might not, doesn't mean that it isn't true and won't happen.

In order to be a better member missionary, I can prepare now by sharing my testimony in small ways with everyone I come in contact with. Whether it be some sort of service or actually expounding on the beliefs of the gospel, I can come that much closer to being the kind of missionary Paul was.

The Martyrdom of Stephen

Acts 6:6-8, Acts 7:51-60

Stephen's last words were accusing the priests of being unrighteous and disobeying God's commandments, telling them that they persecuted the prophets of God. The priests were so upset with him because he spoke the truth that they decided to cast him out and stone him to death. Stephen saw God and Jesus and asked them to receive his spirit, asking them to spare the priests the punishment for his death.

Stephen's last words impressed me because of how bold he was. He knew that what he was saying to the priests would most likely get him killed, yet he was not ashamed of telling them of their sins. He was so brave to continue on with his accusations and he also bore his testimony of God, the Savior, and the Holy Ghost by telling the priests that he saw them when the heavens opened and when he mentioned that the priests have stopped listening to the Holy Ghost. We learn from Stephen that the Godhead are three separate beings, not one being like some people think. What also impressed me was his final words, that God should not condemn the priests for killing him. What a kind heart Stephen had as to ask the Lord to forgive the men for his own murder. I could learn a lesson or two from Stephen in the act of forgiveness.

Stephen's final words are very similar to the words of Abinadi in the Book of Mormon.

Mosiah 17:7-20

Abinadi was also aware that his words would most likely get him killed, but he would not deny the words that he told the priests. He spoke boldly against them, accusing them of being wicked and disobeying God's commandments. He, like Stephen, also knew and trusted that there was a God and that He would save him in the Kingdom of God.

The testimonies of these two men give me strength and courage to stand up for what I believe. In this day and age, it wouldn't be likely that I would be killed for what I would say, but I could be ridiculed and mocked for what I believe. Because of how strong and courageous these two men were in standing up for what they believed, even unto death, then I can most definitely stand up for what I believe, even if I may get mocked. It gives me hope that there is a loving God out there that will bless me for my efforts in sharing His gospel and standing up for what I believe.