Meet Together Oft to Partake

In this week's Come, Follow Me reading, Paul emphasized the importance of gathering to take the sacrament in remembrance of the Savior.  Regularly coming together for this simple act unites us and provides a common healing that we need in the divisive world.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:  "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."  In in Moroni, we read that the members "did meet together oft to partake ... in remembrance of the Lord Jesus."

Moroni 6:
 5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
 6 And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

Be kindly affectioned one to another

I really appreciate Paul's teachings to the Romans (in Romans 12) regarding evil. He counseled us to abhor evil but at the same time encouraged us to overcome evil with good and to do good to and show kindness to all people, even our enemy.  I believe this is what the Savior would have us do, so I will strive to do the same.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12

And charity suffereth long, and is kind...
Moroni 7:45

Faith is an Anchor

Faith in Jesus Christ is the anchor which has helped me weather the storms of life.  Sometimes in the darkest, loudest, most violent moments of the storm, faith may be the only sure thing we can trust to hold us firmly from crashing to pieces against the hidden rocks near the shore.  Paul wrote to the Romans about faith, so we're pondering this principle this week.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith
Romans 1:16-17

by faith all things are fulfilled—Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men….

Ether 12:3-4

Hearts Knit Together in Unity

The gospel of Jesus Christ brings people together in love.  Regardless of our diverse backgrounds, the gospel unites.  We are all brothers and sisters, children of a Heavenly Father who loves us.  The Lord teaches this principle through his prophets and apostles in all times and places.

I have enjoyed studying the ministry of Paul this week for Come, Follow Me (Acts 10-15).  His story shows how we can all change.

  Paul and Barnabas … went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
  - Acts 13:50, 14:1

  And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.
  - Mosiah 18:21

He Did Deliver Them

Come, Follow Me....

I love Stephen, a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, who gave his life testifying of the Savior.  One of the principles he taught in Acts 7 was that Christ, our Savior, can deliver us from bondage and affliction, just as He did Joseph and his family as well as the Israelites at the hand of Moses.

The Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, confirms this eternal truth.

  And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
  And delivered him out of all his afflictions….
Acts 7:9-10

  I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them.

Acts 7:34

  For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob.

  And it came to pass that he did deliver them….

Mosiah 23:23-24