1. The Lord’s counsel to each of the seven branches of the Church in Asia follows a pattern:
•  

              §  He told the members of the branch what they were doing that pleased Him.

              §  He told them in what ways they needed to repent.

              §  He told them of the blessings that would come if they were faithful.

• Fill in the chart below with information you find in Revelation 2–3:

City	What They Did That Pleased the Lord	How They Needed to Repent	Promised Blessings
Ephesus (2:1-7)	thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:  3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.	Forgotten why they had been sent to this earth and needed to remember from whence the had fallen.	Eat of the tree of life.
Smyrna (2:8-11)	Handled their burdens well.	Blasphemy	The Crown of Life. Not taste second death.
​Pergamos (2:12-17)	Held fast and denied not the faith.	Fornication	Give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Thyatira (2:18-29)	Works, charity, service, faith, and patience	They sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.	Have power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.  28 And I will give him the morning star.
Sardis (3:1-6)	Received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.	Only a few had not defiled the garment.	Not have his name blotted out in the book of life and have the Savior confess of him to the Father
Philadelphia (3:7-13)	Hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.	Lies	Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.
Laodicea (3:14-22)	Faithful and true witnesses	Being lukewarm	Sit in the midst of the Savior and the Father in their thrones.

2. Write a paragraph about what counsel given to the seven branches of the Church in Asia applies to you today. Which of the promises the Lord gave to the seven Churches most inspires you to seek eternal life? 

The counsel given to the seven branches applies to me today because it encompasses almost every aspect of things we learn in the temple and in church. The one thing that inspires me the most is the ability to sit with the Savior and the Lord to rule with them together.

3. How does Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, 63:20 give meaning to the phrase "to him that overcometh? To me the meaning that it gives is that we are destined for greatness and by being such our Lord has prepared an equally great prize for us if we endure to the end.

1. Read 2 Peter 2:1–19. Record the characteristics of false teachers described by Peter. Explain in writing how your list helps you recognize false teachers today.

1.      Deny the Lord

2.      Covetousness

3.      Walk after the flesh in lust of uncleanliness

4.      Despise constituted authority

5.      Boastful

6.      Not afraid to speak evil

7.      Find pleasure in reveling

8.      Adulterers

9.      Leading others astray

10.  Loving money

11.  Focus on vain things of the world

12.  Preach freedom but only deliver bondage.

This list helps us to identify the false teachers of our day by bringing to light the many attributes of those who desire to bring us down. If we can recognize these characteristics in someone we can know to say away from them.

2. Read 2 Peter 2:20–22; Doctrine and Covenants 82:3, 7. In your own words, write a few sentences describing the dangers of returning to the “pollutions of the world.”

If we are someone who returns to the pollutions of the world, we not only will lose the light inside of us but we will also be held even more accountable than if we had committed the same act before we had a knowledge of its being wrong. For, now that we have seen the light, to turn away from it is to deny it, and the consequence of such is severe.

This life wasn't designed in a manner that it would be considered fair as we may see it when we are in the midst of our trials. Yet, everyone who dwells on this earth does fairly have to deal with trials and tribulations. While we me not think that others may be off as bad as we may feel, we do not know what they are going through. Regardless of others, the Savior has gone through all things, suffering all types of afflictions on our behalf.

While we have been tried and tested, if we are worthy, we will have the ability to have a very strong testimony of the savior that we would love to share with others. Sometimes when we do this there will be those who will ridicule us for those beliefs, but as it was stated we should be not ashamed of our belief of the Lord and to recognize that those who will mock us are simply ignorant to the blessings of the Lord and will one day be brought into the light of their transgression.

In Hebrews 13 Paul gave some brief counsel that gives light to the following questions:

How should we treat strangers and those “in bonds”?

We should treat them with brotherly love and hospitality.

How is marriage looked upon?

Marriage is honorable in all.

What warnings are given about covetousness?

We should be content with such things we have for the Lord will never leave or forsake us.

What is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever”?

Jesus is constant. He does not change to suit the people of anytime. He will always be the same.

How are we sanctified?

We are sanctified by the blood that Jesus shed for us.

How do we respond to those who rule over us?

We are to remember them and to honor the counsel that they give to us.

Who did Paul ask the people to pray for?

He asked the people to pray for him, that they might have a good conscience and a willingness to live honestly. This reminds me that we should pray for all of our leaders.

According the the Epistle to the Hebrews, and an analysis given in the Bible Dictionary, Christ is truly a supreme being. Some examples given are:

1.    Superiority of Jesus: (a) Jesus is greater than the angels. He has a more excellent name, inheritance, and higher calling. They are servants; He is the Son (1:4–2:18). (b) If the word of angels is important, how much “more earnest heed” we ought to give to the things spoken by the Lord (Jesus) (2:1–4).

2.    Jesus is greater than Moses. Moses was a faithful servant, but Jesus was a faithful son (3:1–6).

3.    The superiority of Jesus’ word: (a) The Israelites while traveling through the wilderness could not enter into the Promised Land because they did not believe and obey the teachings of God received through Moses (3:7–19). (b) How much more important it is, therefore, to obey the words of Jesus who is greater than Moses, if we wish to enter the heavenly land (4:1–2).

4.    Jesus, as a high priest of Melchizedek, is superior to the high priests of the Law of Moses: (a) Jesus was of the order of Melchizedek, which is greater than the order of Aaron. Melchizedek was even greater than Abraham (7:1–12). (b) The law of the Melchizedek Priesthood (gospel) is greater than the law of the Aaronic Priesthood (Law of Moses) (5:1–7:28).

In Hebrews 1 Paul taught of the truths of Christ. Christ’s throne is for ever and ever, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. He loved righteousness and hated iniquity. He laid the foundations of the heavens and the earth in the beginning.

Christ came to earth because He needed to be put below the angels and be able to suffer death, that through death he might ^cdestroy him that had the power of ^ddeath, that is, the ^edevil. Through his coming to earth all men are able to obtain mercy. He had to go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. By he so coming to the earth to suffer all for us, can see tha all is possible because we are not greater than he yet through him all is possible.

At times we may find ourselves complaining over petty matters throughout the week or even in church meetings. In Philippians chapter 2, Paul discusses how we must do all things without murmuring and disputings that we may be found blameless and harmless. By doing so we will shine like a light unto the world.

Some people today, especially the youth, may find that the testimony that they have is actually a the testimony of someone that they look up to, because they have not sought after one for themselves. If we do not work towards our own testimony we are failing ourselves. A man may say he believes, but if he does nothing to make that belief or faith a moving power to do, to accomplish, to produce soul growth, his professing will avail him nothing.

There are those who are investigating the church but are hesitant because they are being told that they will be exiled by their own families. But if we remember what is said in Philippians 4, we can remember that we can do all. It reads, “13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” While it may be hard, Christ has suffered all sorrow and through him we can have the power to conquer all if it be his will.

If we are willing to harken to the promptings of the Holy Ghost we will be able to hear the words of Christ and if we truly feast on those words and try to understand them we will find that the Lord is willing to tell us all things if we are worthy to receive them.

D&C 14:7 reads, “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” This is one of my favorite scriptures because it tells of God’s promise to us. If we are able to keep his commandments AND be strong enough to endure to the end, we WILL have eternal life!!

In Romans 12 and 13 Paul gives us counsel on how to be able to obtain that salvation that the Lord has promised us.

In Romans 12 verse 1 Paul speaks of our body and how we need to keep it holy and by doing such it is a living sacrifice to him. In verse 2 he speaks how while we have to be in this world we do not need to be of the world, and that we must be continually learning what is good so we can work towards perfection. Verse 9 is one of my favorites. He speaks of how we need to let out love be REAL, and to cleave unto that which is good and abhor evil. Verse 13 goes along with nine, for if we have real love we will be more willing to give of what we have to those who need it. IN 16 he is speaking how we must be of humble nature, never elevating ourselves above the likes of another. The last verse of Romans 12 is probably the most powerful verse in the chapter. It reads, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” To me this is a statement that good will always have to power to overcome evil.

Paul continues in Romans 13 verse 1 by stating that there is no power higher than that of God, no man can possess that power unless he is ordained of god. Verse 3 speaks to me in the effect that those who are in authority must be good I nature, if they are they shall receive his praise. Verse 8 speaks of matters of finance, stating that we should owe no man anything. To me this speaks loudly a word of caution pertaining to our wants and needs. We must understand what we need and limit the obtaining of things we want. The last verse in reference is verse 9, Paul speaks of being worthy morally, covenanting to not steal, lie, covet, or be adulterous. And that the main way to obtain salvation is to love our neighbors as ourselves, for if we truly love all, the tendency to wrong them would not exist and we would easily be permitted to dwell with our Father in heaven.

To add to what has already been stated, in Romans 14:1-13 and 15:1-3 Paul talks about the act of judging. He emphasizes that it is not our place to judge our neighbor for that is a privilege that only God possesses. Our duty is to love our neighbor without judging him, for we all will be judged accordingly at the last day. D&C 38:25-27 does a great job at solidifying what Paul was saying. It speaks of how we must esteem our brothers as ourselves, and by doing so can become one, for we can truly have the same goal of returning to our Father.

As Paul stated, we are truly saints of these latter-days. We must act as such and be willing to put all others before ourselves.

I was reading in Romans today, particularly chapter 6. This is a great chapter that helps us to understand what is necessary for us to be ready for the waters of baptism. The chapter speaks of how we must die in Christ before we can live in Him. So, to me, to die in Christ is to let go of the sins and sorrow of our lives that we have before we are baptized, that we can have them be buried in the depths and arise a new person.

Christ literally died for our sins that we may be found clean. He took all of our sins with him as He died on the cross for us, He was then resurrected and the sins were no more. The savior had to die so that we can live. We don’t have to die but we must be fully “buried“ in the waters of baptism to represent that death. If we were to simply sprinkle ourselves with the waters it would not be the same because it would be like the Savior simply putting a small scratch on his arm instead of giving the ultimate sacrifice.  When we follow the Savior’s example we gain a new life. We can continue to have this new life by continually remembering the covenants that we made and by partaking of the sacrament each week.

                Mosiah 3:19 talks of how when we are baptized we can have the death of the natural man be the death that signifies Christ’s death. For the natural man is an enemy to God. If can allow the natural man to die in us we will find that we will be better servant to our Lord.

                When we are baptized we become the servants of our Lord. For he has taken all of our sins and cleansed us from them, he has allowed us to be changed from natural men to men who are destined to be Kings. The lord wants us to be in his grace and to serve him righteously.

                For when we are servants of our Lord we are truly free from the sorrow and pain of the devil, for he has saved each of us!

In 2 Cor 2:1-11, Matt 6:14-15, and D&C 64:9-10 we learn that when others may cause us grief it is our responsibility to forgive them. If we do not we come under the same condemnation of those who offend us.

When we forgive those who offend us, the Lord too will be more willing to forgive us our own trespasses, and if we don’t forgive, he will be less likely to forgive us.

It is not our place to choose who we will forgive. We are commanded by the Lord to forgive ALL men because we are not able to judge those who offend us. Our Lord will take the responsibility of judging those who offend and forgive who he will.

In Luke 22:19 he uses the word “given” in his description of the sacrament. In Paul’s description he does not use the same word.

With regards about when it is and isn't appropriate to take the sacrament 1 Cor 11:27-29 is basically saying that a man should decide himself if he be worthy to do so, in affect allowing him to possibly take it unworthily. In 3 Nephi 18:28-29 the counsel given is that if we know that a man be unworthy and he is taking the sacrament it is our duty to inform the bishopric in an effort to protect him.

If a man takes the sacrament unworthily he is bringing damnation to his soul.

The sacrament is something that we must be preparing to partake of with an endless amount of effort. We need to remember the covenants that we made, not only on Sundays, but throughout the entire week. A way to do this is by striving to learn the importance that the sacrament plays on out lives, through scripture study, the temple, Ensign articles, and conference talks. We must be constantly striving to be worthy when the next Sunday comes around.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; 4:1-12; 5:1-22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6, 11 read:

 12 And the Lord make you to increase and ^aabound in ^blove one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the ^acoming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his ^bsaints.

1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have ^areceived of us how ye ought to^bwalk and to ^cplease God, so ye would ^dabound more and more.

 2 For ye know what commandments ^awe gave you by the Lord Jesus.

 3 For this is the will of God, even your ^asanctification, that ye should ^babstain from ^cfornication:

 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his ^avessel in^bsanctification and honour;

 5 Not in the ^alust of concupiscence, even as the ^bGentiles which^cknow not God:

 6 That no man ^ago beyond and defraud his brother in ^banymatter: because that the Lord is the ^cavenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

 7 For God hath not called us unto ^auncleanness, but unto holiness.

 8 He therefore that ^adespiseth, ^bdespiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his ^choly Spirit.

 9 But as touching ^abrotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are ^btaught of God to ^clove one another.

 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

 11 And that ye ^astudy to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to ^bwork with your own ^chands, as we commanded you;

 12 That ye may walk ^ahonestly toward them that are without, andthat ye may have lack of nothing.

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the ^aday of the Lord so cometh as a ^bthief in the night.

 3 For when they shall say, Peace and ^asafety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not ^bescape.

 4 But ye, brethren, are not in ^adarkness, that that ^bday should overtake you as a thief.

 5 Ye are all the ^achildren of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

 6 Therefore let us not ^asleep, as do others; but let us ^bwatch and be ^csober.

 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

 8 But let us, who are of the day, be ^asober, putting on the^bbreastplate of ^cfaith and love; and for an helmet, the ^dhope of salvation.

 9 For God hath not appointed us to ^awrath, but to obtain^bsalvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should^alive together with him.

 11 Wherefore ^acomfort yourselves together, and ^bedify one another, even as also ye do.

 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which ^alabouramong you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

 13 And to ^aesteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.And be at ^bpeace among yourselves.

 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, ^awarn them that are ^bunruly,^ccomfort the ^dfeebleminded, ^esupport the ^fweak, be patient toward all men.

 15 See that none ^arender ^bevil for evil unto any ^cman; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

 16 ^aRejoice evermore.

 17 ^aPray without ceasing.

 18 In every thing give ^athanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 19 ^aQuench not the ^bSpirit.

 20 Despise not prophesyings.

 21 ^aProve all things; hold fast that which is good.

 22 ^aAbstain from all ^bappearance of ^cevil.

 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord ^amay have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

 2 And that we may be delivered from ^aunreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep youfrom ^aevil.

 4 And we have ^aconfidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

 5 And the Lord ^adirect your hearts into the ^blove of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye ^awithdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh ^bdisorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you^adisorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

The following is a list of attributes that Paul is asking the members to improve:

1.       Increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men

2.      Abstain from fornication.

3.      Do not defraud you fellow man.

4.      Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands.

5.      Watch and be sober.

6.      Edify and comfort on another.

7.      Know the members of the church, especially those who are in authority.

8.     Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

9.      See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

10.  Rejoice evermore.

11.   Pray without ceasing.

12.  In everything, give thanks.

13.  Do not suppress the Spirit.

14.  Do not despise the prophesyings.

15.   Put to the test all things

16.  Hold fast that which is good.

17.   Avoid the very appearance of evil.

18.  Pray for the leaders of the church.

19.  Do not associate with those who preach things contrary to our belief.

The following are a few of the previous topics that I believe I could work on.

Number 1 is one that I always feel I can do better with. I will strive to show my love to those around me by being more patient and trying to understand their lives as I can see it.

Number 7. I can work harder at trying to fellowship those in my ward, especially the leadership, by going out of my way to learn more about them.

Number 10. I need to rejoice more. School had a tendancy to cause stress in one’s life. I commit to take my wife on a date weekly and my family out at least once a month, in an effort to leave the world for a time and simply enjoy life.