Gospel Talktrine

On Memorial Day, we commemorate our honored dead—those who sacrificed so that we might have life, safety, and freedom. For those reasons and many others, Jesus Christ is our Most Honored dead, and we can make every Sacrament and Temple session his memorial as well.

Part 2 of 2: By resorting to Isaiah, John makes it clear that Jesus received his greatest royalty and glory at the moment of his deepest suffering.

Part 1 of 2: The withering of the fig tree was Jesus’ announcement that the corrupt leaders of Judah had run out of time. There was a new king in town, God’s Anointed King.

As he wends his way to Jerusalem for his death and resurrection, Jesus heals, and teaches his final messages—including his challenge to the rich young ruler, his emphasis of the higher law of marriage, and his invitation to bring all children unto Him.

Jesus draws a stark contrast between the Pharisees who consider themselves the sole occupants of the Kingdom of God, and the lost sheep who will be rejoiced over in heaven. He also raises Lazarus from the dead, and in so doing, lays down his life for his friend.

In teaching that he was the Good Shepherd, Jesus was describing himself performing a role that the Scriptures reserve for God Himself. In this and several other ways, Jesus clearly testifies not only of his mission, but of his mercy, love, and power.

Jesus instructed Peter in the way to put off the natural man by expounding upon his most central teaching: unlimited forgiveness.

What were the forces surrounding Jesus in his final week? How did he show us the way to have faith, hope, and courage? What do Book of Mormon and modern prophets have to say about the resurrection? This episode was originally published March 30, 2018.

Matthew uses the Pharisees and Sadducees’ asking for a sign to teach a valuable lesson about trying to get God to follow our expectations.

When Jesus multiplied bread in the wilderness, he tied the experience of ancient Israel to the Sacrament, and pointed forward to a time when he would redeem them from the Fall.

The parable of the wheat and the tares, among others, explains our role in choosing a path between settling for our earthly lineage, or taking our royal place in the lineage of Christ.

Jesus told his apostles he was sent not to bring peace, but a sword. What does he mean by this, and how does it relate to the Messianic expectations of Jews under Roman rule?

When asked to think of Jesus, most people probably think of his miracles. But what do his miracles teach us, why are the stories about them told in the order they are, and is there some greater miracle underneath them all?

Jesus taught us how to pray, when to use judgment (and when to avoid it), the dangers of pride, and tied it all into his role as Redeemer of all creation.

The “Old Testament” is the covenant Yahweh instituted on Mt. Sinai, when he called Israel to be a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. The New Covenant is Jesus’ fulfillment and upgrade of this covenant, where he takes the kingdom of priests, and turns everything upside down.

Early in his ministry, Jesus comes into confrontation with important symbols of Jewish life. What we learn from these encounters highlights the difference between Heaven and Earth, Light and Darkness, between God and Man.

The story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness could have come from only one source: the Lord Himself. This is Jesus’ account not only of his own temptation, but of how temptation will appear in our lives.

The baptism of Jesus is not just a symbol of Jesus’ death, but a fulfillment of many Old Testament events pointing toward the Messiah, and teaches lessons about God as Creator, as giver of mercy, as liberator, as guide, as personal Savior, and as God.

John chapter 1 is more than a simple story; it’s the decoder ring to the entire Gospel of John, which is revealed by John’s first chapter to be a carefully honed narrative, crafted and pruned to show only the most vital concepts and events to help us believe in Jesus and live through Him.

When we look at these treasured scriptures from a new perspective, a much more traumatic narrative emerges. And a much more comforting one.