Jesus himself drew near (Come, Follow Me)

From this week's Come, Follow Me reading...  If we gather and speak of Christ, He will walk with us.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luke 24:15

I have overcome (Come, Follow Me)

From today's Come, Follow Me reading in John comes these comforting words.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of peace and joy.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

He loved them unto the end (Come, Follow Me)

Studying Come, Follow Me this week, I found this comforting verse. Because of His love for us, Jesus Christ endured to the end, in the garden and on the cross. As a result, He opened the door to salvation and eternal happiness for all. May I follow His example in exercising enduring love for others.

He loved them unto the end.
John 13:1

The house of prayer (Come, Follow Me)

My house shall be called the house of prayer

Matthew 21:13

Come Back Podcast: "the Book of Mormon didn't do anything for me personally"

Reading the Book of Mormon can signal to God that we are open to his divine help.  Some may wonder, "why don't I feel anything when I read the Book of Mormon?" or "why didn't I get an answer that the Book of Mormon is true?"

In this Come Back Podcast interview, Lauren Rose shares her experience reading the Book of Mormon and how it was a turning point in her life.  After reading it, she said, "the Book of Mormon didn't do anything for me personally", but she recognized that it opened the door to Heavenly help:

Sometimes the Lord uses small acts of faith, like reading the Book of Mormon, to start making changes in our lives that lead us to the happiness we seek.

I love the Come Back Podcast.  So many people have finding their faith in Christ and coming back.

With God all things are possible (Come, Follow Me)

I have seen so many miracles in my life, that I know this is true:

With God all things are possible.
Mark 10:27

ChatGPT and Scripture Study

Many are concerned that ChatGPT might be used for questionable or unethical purposes or that it might take away the need for learning.  I like to believe that technology is inspired to help carry out the work of the Lord and spread His truth.  If used wisely, I believe ChatGPT can be another instrument that brings us closer to God.

To that end, I decided to try out ChatGPT.  I asked a series of questions and was pleased with the results.  Here are some examples.

Chat:  Please list ten names or titles of Jesus Christ from the Book of Mormon.

1. The Lord God Omnipotent
2. The Holy One of Israel
3. The Redeemer of the World
4. The Light and the Life of the World
5. The Savior of Men
6. The Prince of Peace
7. The Good Shepherd
8. The Great Mediator
9. The Resurrection and the Life
10. The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Chat:  Please list ten names or titles of Jesus Christ from the Bible.

1. Son of God
2. Lord
3. Messiah (Christ)
4. Immanuel (God with us)
5. King of Kings
6. Lord of Lords
7. Lamb of God
8. The Word
9. The Way, the Truth, and the Life
10. The Bread of Life

ChatGPT provided some insightful comments in response to several questions, but occasionally it gave unusual responses that made me think.  Here's one example:

Chat: What symbols in the Book of Mormon point us to Christ?

The Book of Mormon uses several symbols that point to the Savior Jesus Christ. Some examples of these symbols include:

• The Tree of Life: The tree of life is a symbol of the love of God and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It represents the source of eternal life, and it is an invitation to partake of the love and grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
• The Iron Rod: The Iron Rod is a symbol of the word of God, it represents the way to eternal life, it is a guide to navigate the difficulties of life and come to the presence of God.
• The Liahona: The Liahona is a symbol of the guidance and direction that God provides through the Holy Ghost. It reminds us that we are not alone and that God is always with us, guiding and directing us along the path to eternal life.
• The Atonement of Christ: The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a central symbol in the Book of Mormon, and it is frequently referenced throughout the text. The Atonement represents the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity, and it reminds us of the infinite love and compassion of God.
• The Temple: The Temple is a symbol of the House of the Lord, the place where God dwells, the place where we can make covenants with God and receive the blessings of salvation and eternal life.
• The Word of God: The Word of God is symbolized by the word of Christ, the scripture, the teachings of the prophets, the voice of God, it points us to the knowledge of Christ and the path of salvation.

I think ChatGPT is a useful tool for discovering and synthesizing information in response to human input, but its results should be evaluated in light of true sources of information.  It will likely improve over time.  Careful use of this tool may provide valuable learning opportunities.