Zacharias and Elisabeth were a couple who had prayed for children yet Elisabeth was barren. Yet, one day when the couple was stricken with many years, an angel of the Lord cam to Zacharias and told him that his wife would have a child. Zacharias did not believe that it was something that was possible, but when the Lord has a plan, He will find a way. The Lord caused Zacharias to be made dumb until the day his new son would be born. As the day came for his son to be born, he and his wife knew that the name they should call him was John.  They knew that he was destined to bu part of a greater purpose. That he would be called a prophet of the highest. Also that he would go before the face of the Lord and prepare his ways. They knew he would be one who would give light, even to the darkest places. They knew John could would be a force for good.

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.