Walking on the Sea; Matthew 14:22-33

1. Review Matthew 14:22-33. Identify in writing what the reaction of the Apostles was when they first saw the Savior walking on the water toward them.

"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear." The Apostles were frightened when they first saw Christ walking toward them. They didn't know it was him, but thought it was some kind of Spirit.

2. What did Peter's response indicate about him?

Peter's response indicated that he trusted Christ and that he had faith that what Christ said was truth.

3. According to Matthew 14:30, why did Peter begin to sink?

Peter began to sink because he began to feel the strong winds against him and he lost faith t hat he would still be able to walk across the water. This can also be related to how we sometimes lose faith in our Savior when our own trials come upon us.

4. What did Peter do when he began to sink? What word in the verses describes the expediency or the timing when Jesus responded to Peter's request?

When Peter began to sink he said, "Lord, save me." The word immediately describes the Savior's timing when Peter asked for help. I love this verse! Whenever we need help from Christ, he is always right there to grab our hand and save us from whatever is troubling us.

5. Read Doctrine and Covenants 88:67. Write a paragraph describing what principle from this verse relates to what Peter did to successfully walk on the water. How can this same principle be applied to your life to assist you in walking over the storms of life?

For Peter to successfully walk on water, he had to have faith that Christ would not let him fall, and that Christ had the ability for this to occur. Peter's eyes were "single to His glory", just like D&C 88:67 says. This verse can apply to my own life in many ways. I have realized that the lowest times in my life, and the times when I am filled with the most despair, is when I am not doing all that I can to stay close to Christ. But when I am close to Him, praying to Him and reading my scriptures, that is when I am able to get through the hard times with more strength and courage. Jesus Christ is my light; He carries me through my trials. Without Him I would be nothing, and I know that He lives!

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The Lord Often Taught with Parables

Matthew 13:24-48

In your own words, explain the definition of a parable.

• A parable to me is a type of analogy or comparison. The stories that are told are not meant to be literal, they are meant to teach a moral. Parables are understood by those who have faith and a religious intelligence. But to those of "the dull and uninspired it is a mere story" (Bible Dictionary).

Read the following parables: parable of the tares (Matt. 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matt. 13:47-50); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:44-46); parable of the gospel net (Matt. 13:47-50). Next to each of the following questions write the name of the parable that best answers that question.

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  What describes the future growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? -Parable of the gospel net



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  Why does the Church send out so many missionaries? -Parable of the gospel net



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  How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and smarted small in the American frontier? -Parable of the gospel net



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  Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership of the church? - Parable of the treasure and the pearl of great price



• Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church? -Parable of the tares

Write answers to the following questions:

• Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price, what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?

I honestly think that I would sacrifice a lot of my possessions in order to obtain the treasure of the gospel. My whole life revolves around the gospel, and without it I would have nothing. People sacrifice every day for the gospel, especially those who decide to go on a mission. Missionaries sacrifice two years of their lives for the gospel, and I have so much respect for that.

• What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away?

The net represents the kingdom of heaven, and to be gathered into the net means to be make it back to Heavenly Father's presence. I think that the gathering of the good into vessels means that Heavenly Father only allows those who have been obedient here on earth to enter the Celestial Kingdom, but those who have not been obedient he has to reluctantly turn them away.

Miracles are Evidence of Faith and God's Power

Matthew 8-9, Mark 2

1. Using the following references, write a brief description of the miracles the Lord performed, then list those who exercised faith for the miracle to occur.

2. Explain how it affects your faith to know that God has this kind of power.

1. Matthew 8:1-4:

• Miracle Performed: Jesus Christ heals a man with leprosy who has much faith
• Who demonstrated faith: The man with leprosy who said, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

Matthew 8:5-13

• Miracle Performed: Christ heals a centurion's son who is sick of palsy
• Who demonstrated faith: Centurion (boy sick with palsy's father). And he said, "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."

Matthew 8:14-15

• Miracle Performed: Touched a woman's hands and healed her from fever
• Who demonstrated faith: Paul's wife's mother

Matthew 8:16

• Miracle performed: Casted out evil spirits
• Who demonstrated faith: Possessed individuals

Matthew 8:23-27

• Miracle performed: Calmed the storm and the seas
• Who demonstrated faith: Jesus Christ, and He said, "'Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?' Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

Matthew 8:28-34

• Miracle performed: Christ cast out spirits into a herd of swine
• Who demonstrated faith: Jesus Christ

Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34

• Miracle performed: Christ heals a woman with a blood hemorrhage
• Who demonstrated faith: The sick woman who said, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole."

Matthew 9:27-31

• Miracle performed: Christ healed two blind men
• Who demonstrated faith: The blind men who said, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on us."

Mark 2:1-12

• Miracle performed: Christ healed a man sick of palsy
• Who demonstrated faith: Man with palsy and his friends who took him to Christ. In verse 10 the Lord says, "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins."

2. Reading these scriptures has reminded me what great power God really has, and how he gave that power to the Lord while he was here on earth so that He could perform miracles in order for others to believe in Him. It made me think about what miracles He performs today, and there are so many! Even though they aren't performed by Christ here on earth, they still happen. Heavenly Father has put prophets and apostles on this earth so that we can have the Priesthood on the earth. Miracles happen through Priesthood blessings every day. And even though I did not live on earth the same time as the Lord, I am still able to see and recognize the miracles that He performs on the earth today.

The Birth of John the Baptist, Luke 1:5-80

Read Luke 1:14 and write what Zacharias was told about the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Study Luke 1:5-25, 39-45, 56-80, and the Bible Dictionary entry, "John the Baptist" (pp. 714-15). Write a paragraph summarizing the reasons many people would rejoice over John the Baptist's birth and mission.

• Luke 1:14-15 "And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb."




• There are many reasons why people rejoiced over the birth of John the Baptist. Some of these reasons are:

1. He was a miracle because his mother was of old age and never able to bear a child.


2. Zacharias' tongue was loosed when he was born.


3. He was born to prepare the way for the Savior and to make ready the people to receive him.


4. He was the bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood.


5. Jesus said of John, "There is none who was greater." (Matt. 11:7-11)


6. He was entrusted with the mission of baptizing the Savior of the world.

John the Baptist was never able to perform miracles as Jesus did, but he allowed Jesus to do these things by preparing the way for Him. John the Baptist did so much for the Savior of the world, and I'm grateful that I am able to read of him in the scriptures and to feel of his spirit and of his faith.

Matthew 3:13-17

Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus?
John was hesitant to baptize Jesus because John knew that he needed to be baptized by Jesus, but he didn't think that Jesus would need to be baptized because He was the Savior, and completely perfect. John wanted to be cleansed of his own sins, and be able to be born again. He didn't know that Jesus would be baptized himself to be an example for everyone else.

What is taught here about the Holy Ghost?
In verse 16 it says, "...and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him." From this verse we learn that a dove is the sign of the Holy Ghost, but that it is not the Holy Ghost himself. The Holy Ghost descended from heaven as his own personage.


Jesus Christ said he must be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness". List three reasons why Jesus Christ was baptized (see 2 Nephi 31:6-11).
Jesus Christ was baptized because:

1. He was obedient to God in keeping His commandments.


2. To set an example for us. We look to Christ as the perfect example, and we try to emulate His life through our own. So he needed to be baptized in order for us to follow in his footsteps.


3. When we ourselves are baptized, we need to be baptized in Christ's name.

What evidence is found in Matthew 3:16-17 that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate personages in the Godhead?
The voice from heaven was from God, Jesus Christ was being baptized by John, and the Holy Ghost descended from heaven.