Working While the Baby's Asleep
Week 2:
Jesus Christ and The Everlasting Gospel
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE TEMPLE WORTHY BUT STILL DON'T FEEL WORTHY OR FAITHFUL ENOUGH TO RECEIVE REVELATION?
As His children, and members of His Church (those who have received the Holy Ghost) we are entitled to personal revelation. He loves and and wants to speak to us. We just have to learn to #HearHim. We don't have to perfect, He is. We just have to trust Him:)
"The Living Christ": “We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles— that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father.”
This week you will gain a greater understanding of God's great plan for our lives by studying the following truths:
- The Father has a plan designed to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).
- The Savior is a central figure in the Father’s plan.
- How one responds to the Father’s plan and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, has eternal consequences.
- By choosing to place the Savior at the center of our lives while we are here on earth, we will obtain greater blessings in eternity.
- In the premortal world, Heavenly Father foreordained His Firstborn Son, Jesus Christ, to be the central figure in His plan.
- One reason Jehovah was chosen is that He sought to do the Father’s will and give all glory to the Father.
- In the pre-earth life, our faith that Jehovah (Jesus Christ) would work out the Atonement enabled us to overcome Satan in the war in heaven.
- In the premortal world, Jehovah excelled above all of God’s children in all divine attributes.
Humans are prone to wonder and ask questions about where they came from, why they are here, and what will happen after they die. Prophets in our day have blessed mankind with answers to these great questions. The Prophet Joseph Smith emphasized, “The great plan of salvation is a theme which ought to occupy our strict attention, and be regarded as one of heaven’s best gifts to mankind” (HC 2:5). This week provides information and assignments which will help you better understand what we know concerning our Father’s plan, the premortal life, and foreordination of Jesus Christ. Understanding our Father’s plan brings great purpose to life and deepens appreciation and understanding of the Savior Jesus Christ.
Study the following scriptures and resources in preparation for this week's activities. Here are a few questions to ponder as you study:
- What is Heavenly Father's plan for His children and how does it bring about His ultimate goal and purpose for His children?
- How do gospel ordinances and covenants help you receive the “power of godliness” and fulfill God’s ultimate purpose to become like Him?
I have always enjoyed the knowledge we have of the three degrees of heaven. It makes so much sense because we are all on different levels in our journey in life and it would be incredibly naive to think that every Christian, believer, or good natured person will end up in one heaven and be happy and comfortable with no more progression needed on their journey. The three degrees exist so we can continue to progress after this life. The three degrees existed before God shaped everything that is spiritual into the physical world that we enjoy. And from what I understand, our intelligences existed long before God shaped us into spiritual and then physical beings; which is why some of us are more progressed then others. Abraham 3: 19 drew me to this conclusion: "And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all."
I have always wondered how and why Jesus was "The Chosen One". How could someone be foreordained to lead a perfect life when literally everyone else was incapable? I always figured that since Christ was God's firstborn, he was more special and more God like than the rest of us. But after reading Abraham chapter 3, I am wondering if Jesus was God's firstborn because his intelligence was older and more developed than the rest of us. I used to think that Christ was a God before he came to earth because I couldn't comprehend how he was able to lead a perfect life but my new theory is that Christ must have been able to spend more time developing to be able to handle all that was required of him. I might be wrong because I'm not sure how well this theory fits in with Paul's vision in Revelation 5 but I would love to know other people's thoughts. I've always just kind of accepted that Christ was perfect and we needed him to complete God's plan of salvation. But now that I've read these scriptures, I wonder how Christ was able to do it.
SUMMARY
I loved learning about our intelligences and how they existed before the creation. Between learning about that and refreshing my memory on the war in heaven, I feel like I have a stronger foundation. I also had to pause and ponder on the scripture that told us that there will be few that find the gate to exaltation. It was a bit discouraging but like we relied on the blood of the lamb before we came to this life, I will allow the atonement to help me hold on to the iron rod.
GOD'S PLAN: Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to live eternally with him (Moses 1:39). He knew that to be like Him we needed to obtain a physical body. In order to fully learn and grow we needed to forget everything about our pre-mortal life and be tempted to choose between good and evil. Whilst learning and growing God knew that we would mess up and ruin our chances for immortality. God accounted for these mistakes by giving us a Savior to die for our sins and make up the ground of where ever we fall short. Because Christ felt all our emotions and sins and died for each and every one of us, He will judge us and be our mediator.
Examples explaining the ways that God’s plan brings about His ultimate goal and purposes for His children: God gave us a body so we can be like Him. God gave us a Savior to die for our sins and make up the ground of where ever we fall short. In 3 Nep 27 vs 10 we learn that God gave us a church to be built upon His gospel so the Father can show forth His works in it. God gave us commandments to follow so we can learn to be more like Him and ultimately God does everything that He does so that we can return to Him again.
Unrelated: In order to receive the "power of godliness" God wants and needs us to have, we need to be worthy and clean. When we have a clean mind and a humble heart we are more open and able to receive the power of God. So to help us receive this power God has us make and keep sacred covenants and ordinances. Without these necessary promises and responsibilities we cannot grow to become like He is.
Math 108
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave:
For members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea – it’s a commandment. We are to learn ‘of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad.’ Joseph Smith loved learning even though he had few opportunities for formal education…Joseph taught the Saints that knowledge was a necessary part of our mortal journey, for ‘man is saved no faster than he [gains] knowledge,’ and that ‘whatever principle of intelligence we attain…in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.’ During challenging times, it is even more important to learn. The Prophet Joseph taught, ’Knowledge does away with darkness, [anxiety], and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is.1
The Quantative Reasoning Process:
2) Identify Key Variables
Now that we have an understanding of the real-world problem Lucas and Amanda are facing, we need to identify the variables in their problem.
Definition: A variable is an element of a situation that has the potential to vary or change in value.
To identify the key variables, we ask ourselves which elements of the situation have the potential to vary or change in value. In Lucas and Amanda’s situation, here are some variables they should consider:
- Tuition costs
- Living expenses
- Lucas’ salary after graduation
- Student loan amount
- Student loan cost
- Annual interest rate
- Wages from part-time employment.
If we consider each of these variables, we realize they are elements of the situation that could change. For example, tuition prices could go up before Lucas graduates and their living expenses could go up or down. Lucas’s salary after graduation will depend on the job he gets. Lucas and Amanda could take the maximum loan amount available or they could decide to take a smaller amount. The costs of the loan and the interest rate will vary based on the economy. Lucas’s wages from part-time employment could change if Lucas gets a raise or he loses his job.
All of these variables are important for Lucas and Amanda to consider when making their decision. Lucas and Amanda will have to decide which variables are the most important.
Making Assumptions
Lucas and Amanda’s situation involves several different variables that could take on different values. This makes the problem more complicated because there are so many different quantities that could change. In order to simplify any situation and make it more manageable, we must make some assumptions.
Definition: An assumption is an idea or concept that is accepted as true.
Often, our assumptions are related to our variables (that is why assumptions and variables are listed in the same step of the Quantitative Reasoning Process). We frequently assume that a variable will behave in a certain way. For example, Lucas and Amanda could assume that their living expenses will remain fairly constant for the time Lucas needs to finish school. This assumption will simplify their calculations and allow them to focus their attention on other aspects of the situation.
In addition to making assumptions about variables, we also make general assumptions about situations. For example, Lucas and Amanda will need to assume that they have explored all possible options for scholarships and grants that could help them pay for school. If additional scholarship or grant money were available, that might impact their decision about taking out student loans.
These are not the only assumptions they need to make.
“Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.”2
Lucas and Amanda assumed that Lucas will have good grades with either option. But what if Lucas’s grades go down when he starts another part-time job and he ends up having to repeat some classes? This would increase the time it takes Lucas to graduate.
- What do you think Lucas and Amanda should do?
President Clark Gilbert:
Your academic stewardship at BYU-Idaho includes your time to graduation. Did you know that your probability of being an engaged future employee nearly doubles when you graduate on time and with modest college debt? Work hard in your classes. Take your education seriously. Never steal from the Lord or yourself by cheating in a class. Be a profitable servant, and return with increase the talents He has given you in this remarkable faculty and rich academic environment“5
Once Lucas and Amanda have made a decision, it is important that they reflect on and evaluate their decision. They should ask themselves questions like
- Does this decision make sense?
- Are my assumptions reasonable?
- Are there any consequences of this decision I haven’t considered?
- What types of events could happen that would violate my assumptions? (Perhaps an unplanned illness or the loss of a job.) Do I have a plan to deal with these events?
- Have I prayed about the decision?
Why is it so important that Lucas and Amanda make a careful, informed decision in this situation? Heber J. Grant answers this question:
If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means. And if there is any one thing that is grinding and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet.“6
- Family/parent education – community or workplace
- Family/parent education – school based
- Human Service agency – faith based
- Human service agency – nonprofit, secular
- Media/communications organization
- PreK-12 teaching (center or school)
- Private practice/consulting
- University Extension/outreach
- Child & Family Advocacy
- Child Life Specialist
- College/University Education
- Community Action/Service
- Communication & Writing
- Community Education
- Counseling/Therapy
- Daycare/ Preschool
- Early Childhood Education
- Family Life Education
- Family Preservation
- Head Start
- K-12 Education
- Marriage & Couple Relationship Education & Enrichment
- Media (TV, Radio, Magazine, Newspaper, Internet, Film)
- Mental Health Services
- Parent Coordination
- Parenting Education
- Pregnancy/Family Planning
- Youth Development Programs
Points to Ponder
- What are the earliest roots of the field of marriage and family studies?
- What federal law created the American Land Grant University System? What president signed it into law? What did this law ensure?
- What is the premier professional organization for the field of marriage and family studies? What internationally recognized credential did they create?
- According to Brother Gardner, what disciplines have contributed most to the field of Marriage and Family Studies?
- What are the two ways you can become a certified CFLE and what are the requirements?
- Chapter 1 Historical and Philosophical Perspectives - Accessible version
- While reading this article, define family life education (FLE) and what applications this has on society.
- Read the following sections from your Careers in Family Science booklet (p. 16-43).
- Family Science: Career Opportunities for Family Science Graduates
- Family Career Profiles
- National Council on Family Relations
- Pay close attention to the types of careers this major prepares you for. Please note that most universities have "Human Development and Family Studies" degrees, which combine child development with family studies and give you a little information in both areas. Thus, there are a few careers listed in the book that a BYU-I Marriage and Family Studies major will NOT be prepared for, such as the Early Childhood Education careers and anything clinical (counseling, therapy, clinical psychology, clinical social work, etc. For these, you would need a Masters degree.)
- Read the following sections from your Careers in Family Science booklet (p. 16-43).
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