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Hello class,

This year, we will be discussing the teachings found in the New Testement. I am excited to learn and teach as much as possible on this profound subject. Please feel free to bookmark this page, visit it often, post comments, questions, suggestions, even anonymously. This will help us communicate throughout the week. I need all the help during the week that I can get, and I hope some of you get the same out of it. This will work well because if we cannot finish a discussion, or if you want to bear testimony but not aloud, or if you just think of something outside of our block, you can come here and blog it! Let's enjoy our time together!

Brother Metcalf

"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior." Boyd K Packer, General Conference, 1986.

This will be our class motto. The hardest part of the sentence is the "understood". That's the key isn't it? Only when we clearly understand true doctrine, will it change our attitudes and behavior. Let us strive to make this our goal, each and every one of us.

It is important to know who you are, or rather, know who you think you are. Let me explain...many people have experienced occaisions on which they are prompted to make a change in their lives. I have had such occasions myself, and have felt the need to change my attitude, or my perception of something or someone many times. Unfortunately, most of these "changes" are short-lived and forgotten. I recently came upon a scripture that stands out to me on this subject. Proverbs 23:7 tells us "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Think about that...if you want to make a real change in yourself, your habits, your perceptions, your beliefs, whatever...make the change first in your heart. On top of that of course, enroll the help of our heavenly father, who always know the deepest truths of our hearts.

Just a few notes from this week, we only got through Acts 2 and there are some amazing happenings in the next 3 chapters. Peter and John pass a lame man pleading for alms as they entered the temple, and "...Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:5-6). Peter then used this miracle to testify, or "witness", of Jesus' ministry and divinity. The Sadducees and priests had Peter and John arrested, and 5,000 people that had heard Peters testimony and believed (Acts 4:1-4). But they did not stay in prison long, even the Sadducees could not deny that a miracle had occurred. It is interesting to see how powerful and passionate Peter's words are to the priests and Sadducees. On numerous occassions in these few chapters he says words like, "...Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified," and "...that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ," and "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree." You can see how powerful his testimony is of the divinity of Christ and his teachings.

Next week we will be discussing the happenings of Acts 6-9. Please read these chapters ahead of time if you have a chance. The name of the lesson is "The Number of the Disciples Was Multiplied". More leaders of the church were added to preach the gospel, it should be a pretty good lesson.

Saul's conversion: Saul was a Pharisee who actively persecuted the early saints. He was present at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58), and had been responsible for the imprisonment and death of many members of the Church. After his fateful trip to Damascus however, he would turn out to be a great missionary. For those who are not familiar with what happened, here is an abbreviated version: Saul heard a voice on the road to Damascus, and Jesus spake to him and he was blind for three days. He was lead to Ananias, who wasn't so keen to meet Saul...he knew his reputation. Ananias was told by the Lord that Saul was "a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles." After his conversion, he became an amazing missionary. We will expound on that later this year.

Next week, Acts 10-14; 15 1-35..."God is no respecter of persons"

One of the other things Paul taught the people in Corinth in his second letter to them, was how best to overcome tribulation. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 describes the great persecution that Paul & Timothy were dealing with and they "despaired even of life" during their teachings in "Asia". Some people would ask themselves why Paul and Timothy were able to avoid despair despite being troubled, perplexed, persecuted and cast down. Well, why do you think they were able to avoid despair?
Elder Maxwell taught us that "when we take Jesus' yoke upon us, this admits us eventually to what Paul called the 'fellowship of Christ's sufferings' (Philippians 3:10). Whether illness or aloneness, injustice or rejection,...our comparatively small-scale sufferings, if we are meek, will sink into the very marrow of the soul." You can also relate Alma to this situation if you read in Alma 7, particularly verses 11-12.
What do you do to overcome adversity? How can you help others overcome tribulation? Let us know some things that you have found in your life that help you overcome the troubles that we have discussed today. Bless you all this week, please email me if you have any questions.