"The Lord Appointed Another Seventy Also"

This week in my New Testament Class we only read in Luke. Normally we study parallel stories in each of the four gospels, but I enjoyed getting to spend some quality time in Luke. This week's assignment focused on the organization of the church, specifically the Savior's use of a quorum of seventy to preach the gospel. My research is as follows:

1. Write a summary of the instructions and counsel that the Lord gave the seventy:

The Lord sent out seventy and told them to carry nothing with them, to not salute any man along the road, to say “peace be unto this house” before entering any house, to be humble like lambs among wolves, to what they are given, to heal the sick, to preach the gospel in the streets, even when they were rejected, and that they would have power over all the souls in Christ’s name.

2. Using information from Luke 10:1-24, write a paragraph that supports the 6th article of faith:

 The Lord sent out the seventy, two by two to labor in the vineyard to eat what they are given, to heal the sick, and preach even when they were rejected. He gave them power in His name, but warned that they not rejoice in the power but rejoice in their righteousness. This is how our current seventy are organized also. This supports our article of faith that we still organize our church the way the Savior did previously.

3. Describe how the scriptures show the existence of a priesthood "office" of the Seventy:
 The scriptures plainly show that people are called and ordained to the Seventy, making it an office of the Priesthood.

It was very interesting to see how clearly we follow the Savior's plan for the gospel in our modern day!

This week in my New Testament Class, we spent time reading in Matthew about becoming as a little child. We read and compared scriptures in Matthew in the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, and Mosiah from the Book of Mormon. I love this principle because it reminds me to focus on the good and wonderful traits in my own child. As a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, little children can be overwhelming. This principle not only reminds me to be more like a little child, but also to look at my daughter in wonder, and realize how special and innocent she is. Here are the questions that were posed, and that I found some answers to:

1. How are we like little children? How does the Lord say He will help us?

We are, and should be like little children, in that we need God to help us on our way. We should be humble and accept this help. God says that he knows we cannot bear all things now, but that He will help us by leading us along. This is so comforting to me. He assures us that the kingdom and blessings are ours, and that He has prepared us.

2. List ways we are to become like children:

Meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.