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

Topic Choices (Choose One)

Choice 1: Overview of the Last Week of the Savior’s Mortal Ministry

Read the information in the institute student manual about “The Last Days of Jesus’ Mortal Mission” (pp. 135–37). Then fill in the following chart with key events that took place during the Savior’s final week of mortality:

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7 (Sabbath)	Day of the Resurrection
Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, was praised, went to the temple and took note of what he saw, then retired to Bethany.	Cleansed the temple.	Jesus condemned the Jewish leadership, and from then on only taught the twelve (and not the public).  Jewish leaders consulted about Jesus' death.	Jesus knew of the plot	Passover meal with the twelve. Jesus introduced the Sacrament. He prophesied of his death and who would betray him.  Jesus suffered the pain of all men and bled from every pore. He was then taken away by an armed band lead by Judas,  and brought to an illegal trial.	Jesus was charged with “blasphemy,” and the charge of sedition against the state. Pilate gave into the clamor to crucify Him. Jesus voluntarily gave up his spirit.  At sundown, was the Passover, and Jesus' body was taken to the sealed tomb.	The Jewish Sabbath day, Jesus’ body remained in the tomb, but his spirit “ministered in the realm of departed spirits.”	Christ emerged from the tomb, and appeared to Mary and many other witnesses.

Become a disciple of Christ

Choice 2: Luke 10:38–42; 11:1–13; 12:13–40; 13:23–24; 14:16–33. Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ

1. Read Luke 10:38–42; 11:1–13; 12:13–40; 13:23–24; 14:16–33 and the institute student manual commentary for Luke 11:5–13, “The Parable of the Friend at Midnight” (p. 115). Make a list of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and what the Savior taught about counting the costs of following Him.

Disciple of Christ

·         Hear and listen to the counsels of the Lord.

·         Learn to pray

·         Forgive others

·         Stay away from temptation

·         Be a good friend

·         Gain a testimony by asking

·         Beware of covetousness

·         Do not “take ease” (chapter 12:19)

·         Have faith

·         “Consider the Ravens” (chapter12:24)

·         Don’t be doubtful

·         Seek the kingdom of God

·         Be ready for when Christ comes

·         Missionary work

·         Don’t be afraid to lay down your life for Christ’s sake.

·         Real need for prayer

·         Real trust in God

·         Fervently ask

        Cost of following Him

·         Narrow gate (Luke chapter 13:23-24)

·         Forsake all that you have (Luke 12:33)

2. Identify one of the teachings from your list that you would like to apply more fully in your life. Write a paragraph about how you could apply that teaching and what difference you believe it would make in your life.

One of the teachings that I would to apply more fully in my life is fervent prayer.  Sometimes prayer becomes something to check off my list of things to do.  This shouldn’t happen.  This shouldn’t happen, I should be fervently praying to the Lord, instead of half heartedly doing so.

3. Read Luke 14:33; Omni 1:26; Mosiah 2:34; Matthew 13:44–46. Explain in writing what is ultimately required to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

·         Forsake all that we have

·         Come unto Christ

·         Partake of Christ’s salvation and the power of his redemption

·         Offer your whole soul

·         Pray and fast

·         Endure to the end

·         Be as little children

·         Render all that you have and are to Heavenly Father (law of consecration)

·         Be teachable

·         Sacrifice all that you have for the kingdom of Heaven

Becoming as a Little Child.

Choice 3: Matthew 18:1–14. “Become as Little Children” 

1. Review Matthew 18:3–4 and Doctrine and Covenants 78:17–18. Explain in writing the ways we are like little children. In these verses, how does the Lord say He will help us?

The Lord says that he will lead us. He recognizes that we cannot bear all things alone. And that we shouldn’t fear, but be of good cheer.  We are like little children if we are humbled. Even though we may not understand the blessings that our Father in Heaven has prepared for us, we are still inherent of them if we are humbled as little children are.  

2. Read Mosiah 3:19 and list the ways in which we are to become as little children.

·         Yield to the enticings of the the Holy Spirit

·         Put off the natural man

·         Become a saint

·         Be submissive

·         Be meek

·         Be humble

·         Be patient

·         Be full of love

·         Be willing to submit to all things the Lord sees fit

At stake conference a little while ago I heard a great talk on becoming like a little child.  This talk touched on the fact that children are always moving.  They are always learning, and they learn by doing and seeing.  We as adults tend to stay still for long periods of time.  We should also be moving, as children are.  The point made was that we shouldn’t be stationary in our learning processes.  We should learn and grow continually.   

Christ's Parables

Choice 2: Matthew 13: 24-48. The Lord Often Taught with Parables

1.   In the Bible Dictionary read the first three paragraphs under the entry “Parables” (pp. 740-41). In your own words, write a definition of a parable.

·         A parable is a comparison, it conveys truth. We have to seek the truth in a parable in order to find it.

2.    Read the following parables: parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:31-32); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46); parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50). Next to each of the following questions write the name ​of the parable that best answers that question.

·         What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Parable of the mustard seed.

·         Why does the Church send out so many missionaries?

Parable of the gospel net.

parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46);

·         How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier?

Parable of the mustard seed.

·         Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?

parable of the tares

·         Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church?

parable of the gospel net

3.    Write answers to the following questions:

o       Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (see Matthew 13:44-46), what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?

I would be willing to make any sacrifice for the treasure of the gospel.  One great sacrifice that all 4 of my brothers and husband have made is going on missions.

o       What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? (See Matthew 13:47). What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away? (See Matthew 13:48-50).

The net represents missionaries. To be gathered into the net means to be baptized. What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away, I think, is the second coming.