Like a fire is burning

John 14: 15-17

John 14: 26-27

John 15: 26-27

John 16: 7-8

John 16: 13-14

What the Holy Ghost does:

• Has the ability to abide with us forever
• The world cannot receive him because they cannot see him, but we know if him and he can be within us
• Teaches
• Help one remember things
• Comforts/provides feelings of peace
• Testifies of Christ
• Reprove the world of sin
• Guide us into all truth
• Purifies all the natural passions and affections and adapts them to their lawful use
• Inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity.
• Strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves.
• In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.
• He is a convincing witness that the gospel is true.
• Gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants upont he earth.
• Acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin.

What we must do to receive the Holy Ghost:

• Being faithful and obedient. “His mission is to instruct and enlighten the minds of those who, through their faithfulness have obeyed the commandments of the Father and the Son.”
• Entering covenants with God, starting with baptism, and then by keeping those covenants.. “He bears witness of the truth, quickens the minds of those who have made covenant and reveals to them the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”
• The gift can only come after proper authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands.
• “The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy.” -Bible Dictionary

Describe how the Holy Ghost helped the apostles fulfill their missions after the savior’s death and resurrection.

For some reason, it is not fully explained in the scriptures that the Holy Ghost operated before Christ was resurrected. But it is abundantly clear that the Holy Ghost was operative in earlier dispensations. Without the Holy Ghost, no one would have received a testimony of the truths that the apostles taught.

“When a person speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost that same power carries a conviction of the truth into the heart of the hearer. The Holy Ghost knows all things and can lead one to know of future events.” –Bible Dictionary

The Holy Ghost was also with the apostles after his death. One of the main roles of the Holy Ghost is to comfort us and provide peace. This is why he is also called the Comforter. I’m sure the apostles were very sorrowful after Christ died and needed the comfort of the Holy Ghost so that they could continue their mission. Their mission was to bring others unto Christ; to become fishers of men. Without the Holy Ghost there to testify of truth, the apostles wouldn’t have been able to do this. The Holy Ghost is the “convincing witness that the gospel is true.” Although the apostles were an instrument in God’s hands, they weren’t the convincing witness; the Holy Ghost was the convincing witness.

I have such a strong testimony of the Holy Ghost. He truly is a comforter and the Spirit of God. An experience where the Holy Ghost has comforted me was during my senior year of High School. It was the night before the ACT and I was starting to freak out at midnight. I realized that I wasn’t ready at all and I was starting to freak out. Then I got hungry and when I went to eat my favorite snack, I realized that my brothers had left just the box in the cupboard. For some reason that just sent me over the edge. I started sobbing. Not knowing what to do next, a voice in my head said to go in my room and kneel down and pray. At this point in my life, the only praying I did was with my family when they had to drag me to join them. But I decided to listen to the prompting I had received. I walked up to my room, shut the door, and started praying. As soon as I asked for comfort, I felt the most amazing feeling in my life. A wave of peace started from my head and slowly headed down the rest of my body. I could feel my tears subsiding, my heart slowing down, and my body calming. I smiled, thanked Heavenly Father, crawled into bed, and was immediately able to fall asleep. The next day, I still did horrible on the ACT, but this experience was the start of my testimony of the Holy Ghost. He inspires me daily and I want to always live my life so I may be worthy of his companionship.

Legacy of Love

According to John 13:34-35, how can others know we are disciples of Jesus Christ?
By following the legacy of love that Christ left while he walked this earth. 


List some specific ways a disciple of Jesus Christ might respond in the following situations.

• Someone you know is ridiculed or made fun of for the way he or she dresses.

Find something about the way they dress that you sincerely like and compliment the person. This doesn't have to be done in front of those who were making fun, but can be done after everyone has left.
Maybe this person comes from a very poor family and wishes they had the means to get nicer clothes. Start a secret charity to shop for new clothes for this person and deliver them anonymously. 

• You see a new person at church.

Welcome them. Introduce yourself. Sit with them. Make it a point to continually be their friend and not just at church. Invite them to activities. If they come, make sure to introduce them to everyone and make sure they are not ignored or feel uncomfortable.

Ponder the questions, "Do people know that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ by the way I treat them?"
Make a short list of ways you can show a neighbor, family member, or coworker the kind of love the Savior would show. Focus on doing these things throughout the next week.

He lives!!

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3		Day 4
Rode into Jerusalem. A “very great multitude” placed palm branches in his way and greeted him with a hosanna shout:  (Matthew 21:9.) He went directly to the temple, and took note of what he saw and retired to Bethany for the night (Mark 11:11).	Went to the temple and cleared the temple of money exchangers. As he cleared the temple courts, he said, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13.) Again that evening Jesus returned to Bethany.	Priest challenge Jesus at the temple. He responds with parables that offend them. Pharisees challenge Christ. He no longer teaches to the public. Jewish leaders plot Christ’s death.		Jesus well knew of the plot. The fourth day was spent outside the city, perhaps at Bethany. The record of the gospel writers is silent on the proceedings of this day.
Day 5	Day 6		Day 7 Sabbath		Day of the Resurrection
Passover. Induced a new ordinance, the sacrament. Prophesied of his death and revealed who would betray him. Offers his great intercessory prayer.  Went to Gethsemene with 11 of his apostles. He suffered the pain of all men and atoned for us. He was seized and taken to an illegal trial that night.	Jesus was charged of blasphemy and sedition of the state. Christ was discredited. Pilate gave in to the clamor to crucify Jesus, and the death sentence was pronounced. And so Jesus was executed by the brutal Roman practice of crucifixion. Later that afternoon he voluntarily gave up his spirit.		This was the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus’ body remained in the tomb, but in spirit he ministered in the realm of departed spirits. (See 1 Peter 3:18–20.)		Jesus Christ emerged alive from the tomb, and appeared before Mary. The testimony of these witnesses constitutes the gospel story, the “good news.” “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31.)

He lives!

Day 1	Day 2		Day 3		Day 4
Rode into Jerusalem. A “very great multitude” placed palm branches in his way and greeted him with a hosanna shout:  (Matthew 21:9.) He went directly to the temple, and took note of what he saw and retired to Bethany for the night (Mark 11:11).	Went to the temple and cleared the temple of money exchangers. As he cleared the temple courts, he said, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13.) Again that evening Jesus returned to Bethany.		Priest challenge Jesus at the temple. He responds with parables that offend them. Pharisees challenge Christ. He no longer teaches to the public. Jewish leaders plot Christ’s death.		Jesus well knew of the plot. The fourth day was spent outside the city, perhaps at Bethany. The record of the gospel writers is silent on the proceedings of this day.
Day 5		Day 6		Day 7 Sabbath		Day of the Resurrection
Passover. Induced a new ordinance, the sacrament. Prophesied of his death and revealed who would betray him. Offers his great intercessory prayer.  Went to Gethsemene with 11 of his apostles. He suffered the pain of all men and atoned for us. He was seized and taken to an illegal trial that night.		Jesus was charged of blasphemy and sedition of the state. Christ was discredited. Pilate gave in to the clamor to crucify Jesus, and the death sentence was pronounced. And so Jesus was executed by the brutal Roman practice of crucifixion. Later that afternoon he voluntarily gave up his spirit.		This was the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus’ body remained in the tomb, but in spirit he ministered in the realm of departed spirits. (See 1 Peter 3:18–20.)		Jesus Christ emerged alive from the tomb, and appeared before Mary. The testimony of these witnesses constitutes the gospel story, the “good news.” “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31.)

He lives!

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7 Sabbath	Day of the Resurrection
Rode into Jerusalem. A “very great multitude” placed palm branches in his way and greeted him with a hosanna shout:  (Matthew 21:9.) He went directly to the temple, and took note of what he saw and retired to Bethany for the night (Mark 11:11).	Went to the temple and cleared the temple of money exchangers. As he cleared the temple courts, he said, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13.) Again that evening Jesus returned to Bethany.	Priest challenge Jesus at the temple. He responds with parables that offend them. Pharisees challenge Christ. He no longer teaches to the public. Jewish leaders plot Christ’s death.	Jesus well knew of the plot. The fourth day was spent outside the city, perhaps at Bethany. The record of the gospel writers is silent on the proceedings of this day.	Passover. Induced a new ordinance, the sacrament. Prophesied of his death and revealed who would betray him. Offers his great intercessory prayer.  Went to Gethsemene with 11 of his apostles. He suffered the pain of all men and atoned for us. He was seized and taken to an illegal trial that night.	Jesus was charged of blasphemy and sedition of the state. Christ was discredited. Pilate gave in to the clamor to crucify Jesus, and the death sentence was pronounced. And so Jesus was executed by the brutal Roman practice of crucifixion. Later that afternoon he voluntarily gave up his spirit.	This was the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus’ body remained in the tomb, but in spirit he ministered in the realm of departed spirits. (See 1 Peter 3:18–20.)	Jesus Christ emerged alive from the tomb, and appeared before Mary. The testimony of these witnesses constitutes the gospel story, the “good news.” “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31.)

Lord, I will Follow Thee...

To be a true disciple of Christ or not to be a true disciple of Christ,,, that is not the question, but rather HOW will I be a true disciple of Christ?

Luke 10:38-42, 11: 1-13, 12:13-40, 13:23-24, 14: 16-33

What it means to be a disciple of Christ:

• Obedient
• Watchful
• Ask, Seek, Knock
• Seek the Kingdom of God before anything else
• Willing to Sacrifice.

Just like you wouldn't build a tower without seeing if you had enough money, or go to war without comparing numbers and strength, you wouldn't go about being a disciple of Christ without the willingness to sacrifice all you have. This really struck me. If I am to become a true disciple of Christ, I must first be willing to put aside anything. With this attitude, nothing will stand in the way of bringing others unto Christ. I don't have enough time? Oh wait... I'm on a mission to be a true disciple of Christ, so therefore, the Lord's time is much more valuable than my own time. I'm not strong enough? Oh wait... I'm on a mission to becoming a true disciple of Christ, so therefore I am going to put aside my pride and selfishness and become strong enough. When I look at this way... it just makes so much more sense. Why would I attempt at becoming a disciple if I wasn't willing to sacrifice? I wouldn't. This new mind set would change my life because it would make setting aside things to leave room for the more important things easier.

What is ultimately required to become a disciple of Christ?
Sacrifice; a willingness to give up all that we have to follow Christ and bring others along with us. The path that Christ would have us go is not meant to be climbed alone.

Any kid will run any errand for you if you ask at bedtime. ~Red Skelton

Matthew 18:3-4, D&C 78:17-18

How are we like little children?

We are like little children in the sense that there is so much ahead of us that we can't even comprehend. Heavenly Father has prepared blessings for us with his own hands and we don't even know how great they are. You can sit a child down and tell them over and over how amazing the temple is; but until they actually go inside, they will not be able to comprehend how great it is. We are also like little children in the sense that there is still so much to learn. Age 20 isn't too old, but if I tried to tell a child everything I knew all at once, they would not be able to bear it. The same is with our Heavenly Father. If he were to reveal all the mysteries of the world to us now, and told us everything he has to say to us, we would not be able to bear it. (John 16:13)

This might sound overwhelming or hopeless, but luckily the Lord hasn't left us alone. In D&C 78:18, the Lord tells us to be of good cheer because he will lead us along. We may not know everything and we may not be ready to know everything, but there is one thing we do know; and that is that our Heavenly Father loves us and is always there to lead us. We just need to make sure we're following him.

Mosiah 3:19 tells us to put off the natural man and become as little children. To do so we need to become:

• Meek
• Submissive
• Humble
• Patient
• Full of love
• Willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit

I have two younger brothers and have had many teaching opportunities in my life to know that these are indeed qualities that little children have. I love being around children for this very reason. They make me want to be better. They are so full of love and so willing to do whatever is asked of them. Christ said, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." We are never too wise to learn from little children.

If you haven't time to respond to a tug at your pants leg, your schedule is too crowded.  ~Robert Brault