The Savior's Instructions About the Holy Ghost

1. As you study the following verses, make a list of what the Savior taught about (1) what the Holy Ghost does and (2) what disciples must do to receive the Holy Ghost:
• John 14:15–17 : 1) The Holy Ghost will abide with us and be a comforter. He will be the spirit of truth. 2)Keep the commandments
• John 14:26–27: 1) The spirit will teach all things and bring things to remembrance. Peace will be given to us. 2) Don’t be afraid and don’t let your heart be troubled.
• John 15:26–27 : 1) The spirit of truth and testify of the Father. 2) We will bear witness of the Father.
• John 16:7–8 : 1) The Holy Ghost will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. 2) We must live worthy
• John 16:13–14 : 1) The Holy Ghost will guide us in all truth and shall glorify the lord. 2) We must do the work for him to testify of truth.

·         Add to your list above as you study the following resources:

• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “The Holy Ghost Brings Man to His Fullest Potential” (p. 168) Makes us a better person spiritually, intellectually, and physically and opens us to the pure love of Christ.
• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, “As a Messenger of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost Teaches Faithful Members” (p. 168) Instructs and enlightens the minds of the faithful and bears witness.
• Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost” (p. 704) Bears testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants here on earth.

·         Review your list of what the Holy Ghost does. Then write responses to the following tasks:

• Describe how the Holy Ghost helped the Apostles fulfill their missions after the Savior’s death and resurrection. The Holy Ghost helped the apostles fulfill their missions after the savior’s death by administering to them the things that they should do to bring the gospel to all the children of men. The same way he does for our prophets and apostles today. He is their constant companion and bears witness to the mysteries of the gospel so that we are taught correctly.
• Write a paragraph about a time when the Holy Ghost blessed you in one of the ways you listed above. Give an example of how the Holy Ghost has inspired you. The Holy Ghost has provided me with comfort many times. One time in particular I was really struggling and feeling alone. I had just started my first semester at college and was feeling overwhelmed. When I knelt down to pray I was pouring out my feelings. I had prayed asking to be comforted. Instantly I felt like I was being hugged. I knew that it was an answer to my prayer. 

Three Parables of Preparation

1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Study Matthew 25:1–13 and the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 25:1–13, “What Is the Meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins?” (pp. 154–155). Then, write responses to the following questions:
• Who does the bridegroom represent? The Savior
• Who did President Harold B. Lee say the virgins represent? Members of Christ’s church.
• What does the wedding represent? The second coming
• Why did the bridegroom come at “midnight,” while the wedding guests “slumbered and slept”? How does this apply to our waiting for the Savior’s Second Coming? The Lord has his own timetable and this means we need to be prepared for when the Savior will come at the second coming.
• What did five of the virgins do that was foolish (See Matthew 25:3)? How might a Church member today make the same error as the foolish virgins? What would the consequences be? They didn’t have oil for their lamps. A church member could make the same mistake by not doing their own preparation to build a testimony. The consequence would be the Savior not knowing us at the second coming. We wouldn’t be prepared when the second coming comes.
• What should we learn from the actions of the five wise virgins? We should learn that we need to always do the things that will spiritually prepare us for the second coming.
• Keeping in mind that the oil in the parable represents spiritual preparation for the Second Coming, what are some ways we can add “oil” to our “lamps”? What does Doctrine and Covenants 45:56–57 teach about ways to add oil to our lamps? Some ways that we can add oil to our lamps is to read, pray, attend our meetings, follow the prophet. Doctrine and Covenants says that we need to let the Holy Spirit be our guide.
2. The Parable of the Talents. After studying Matthew 25:14–30 and the institute student manual, “An Explanation for the Parable of the Entrusted Talents” (p. 155), write responses to the following questions:
• Although a talent was a sum of money in New Testament times (see talent under “Weights and Measures” in the Bible Dictionary, p. 789), it can also represent all that the Lord has given us. List the rewards each of the three men received in the parable of the talents and explain why each man received that reward. What mattered more than the number of talents or gifts each received? The first received 5 talents and he doubled it. He was made ruler over many things. The second received 2 talents and he doubled it and he was made ruler over many things. The third was given one talent but he buried it. He had it taken away and was cast into outer darkness. What the person did with the talents mattered more than how many the person received.
• What reason did the third man give for hiding his talent? He said that he hid his talent because he was afraid.
• What teachings in 2 Timothy 1:7; Proverbs 3:5–6; Doctrine and Covenants 3:7–8; 6:33–37 can help us overcome our fears and to develop and use the talents given to us from the Lord? We should put our trust in the Lord. We need to fear God more than man.
• Outline a plan whereby you can better develop and use two of the gifts the Lord has given to you. I have been given a talent of empathy. I am able to empathize with people and I can use this to bring them to the gospel. I have also been given the gift of cooking. It is one that I am trying to further develop. I plan on trying different recipes to further my knowledge of cooking
3. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. After studying Matthew 25:31–46 and Mosiah 2:17, write responses to the following questions:
• What difference does the way we treat others make to the Lord? The Lord gave us the commandment to love our neighbors like unto ourselves. So how we treat others is very important to Him. He want us to love and serve others.
• List the six actions found in Matthew 25:35–36 that permitted “the sheep” to receive their reward at the King’s right hand. What are some spiritual or physical needs people have around you that are similar to those listed in the parable? 1) Hungry and gave meat 2) Thirsty and gave drink 3) Stranger and was taken in 4) Naked and was clothed 5) Sick and was visited 6) In prison and was went to.

Many people need are hungry or thirsty but don’t have the means to take care of that. Also, I think that many people are in their own prison spiritually speaking. They just aren’t doing the things that can bring them close to God or they don’t know about the Gospel. They need the missionaries in their lives to bring them to the truthfulness of the Gospel.

• How will following the principles of this parable about preparation for the Second Coming help someone prepare for that event? If we are serving our fellow men and teaching them we are helping them to fill their lamps one drop at a time.

Overview of the Last Week of the Savior’s Mortal Ministry

This week for my religion assignment we were studying the Last days of Jesus Christ's mortal ministry. This really helped to put the Holiday season into perspective for me. It is so easy to get swept up in the commercialism that is rampant during this time. However Christmas isn't about Santa Claus or presents. It is about our Savior being born. He is the greatest gift we have ever been given. He was born to perform the atonement. And for that we will all forever be indebted to him.

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7 (Sabbath)	Day of the Resurrection
Jesus arrives in Jerusalem and is greeted with the hosanna shout.	Cast out the money changers from the temple again. Which is a challenge to the Jewish leadership.	Jesus give parables that offend the Jewish leaders. He condemns the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites and denounces them. Jesus focuses on teaching the twelve.  Jewish leaders plot Jesus's death. Judas offers to betray Jesus.	The record is silent for this day.	Jesus organize to have Passover with his disciples. He introduces the ordinance of the Sacrament. Jesus suffered the sins of the world in Gethsemane. Jesus was taken into custody and brought to an illegal trial.	Jesus was crucified on the cross and he voluntary gave up his spirit. Then he was buried in a tomb.	Jesus' body remained in the tomb but in spirit he ministered in the realm of departed spirits.	Jesus emerged alive from the tomb. He then appeared to Mary. He then was witnessed by many. The testimony of these constitutes the gospel story.