Welcome to July!
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July, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. Today, read Luke 24.
2. On the third day after his death, Jesus was resurrected. He showed himself to his apostles, but they were afraid, and thought that they had seen a spirit. Jesus comforted them, and told them to touch him and see that he was not a spirit, but alive.
3. Watch the video “Jesus is Risen.”
4. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter! Luke 24:36-39. (Here is a song for this verse.)
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
4. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Listen to the whole song.
Youth
1. Today, read Luke 24.
2. After Jesus Christ voluntarily gave His life on the cross, His body was taken down and wrapped in clean linen cloth and placed in a tomb. Following the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and a few other faithful women returned to the tomb early in the morning. They saw angels who told them that Jesus was not there, but risen. They went and told what they had learned to the apostles.
3. Luke indicates that it was difficult for the eleven Apostles to believe the women who testified that Jesus had risen from the grave. Although other individuals had been temporarily revived from death but would eventually die again as mortals, Jesus Christ was the first person to be resurrected. President Gordon B. Hinckley explained:
Never had this occurred before. There had been only death without hope. Now there was life eternal. Only a God could have done this. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the great crowning event of His life and mission. It was the capstone of the Atonement. The sacrifice of His life for all mankind was not complete without His coming forth from the grave, with the certainty of the Resurrection for all who have walked the earth.
Of all the victories in the chronicles of humanity, none is so great, none so universal in its effects, none so everlasting in its consequences as the victory of the crucified Lord, who came forth from the tomb that first Easter morning.
Those who were witnesses of that event, all who saw and heard and spoke with the Risen Lord, testified of the reality of this greatest of all miracles. His followers through the centuries lived and died in proclamation of the truth of this supernal act.
To all of these we add our testimony that He who died on Calvary’s cross arose again in wondrous splendor as the Son of God, the Master of life and death. (“Special Witnesses of Christ,” Ensign, Apr. 2001, 15, or Liahona, Apr. 2001, 16–17)
4. Watch the video “The Risen Lord Appears to the Apostles.”
5. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter! Luke 24:36-39. (Here is a song for this verse.)
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
6. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Listen to the whole song.
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Matthew 28.
2. Early on the first day of the week, or Sunday, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’s body. However, they found the stone covering the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away, and Jesus was gone. An angel told them that Jesus had risen. They went and told the apostles.
3. Listen to the song “Stand for the Right.”
Youth
1. Read Matthew 28.
2. Early on the first day of the week, or Sunday, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’s body. However, they found the stone covering the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away, and Jesus was gone. An angel told them that Jesus had risen.
3. Read the following statement by President Gordon B. Hinckley:
The miracle of that resurrection morning, that first Easter Sunday, is a miracle for all mankind. It is the miracle of the power of God, whose Beloved Son gave His life to atone for the sins of all, a sacrifice of love for every son and daughter of God. In so doing He broke the seals of death. …
And just as He took up His body and came forth from the tomb, even so shall all of us enjoy a reunion of body and spirit to become living souls in the day of our own resurrection.
We rejoice, therefore, as do many, and as should all mankind, when we remember the most glorious, the most comforting, the most reassuring of all events of human history — the victory over death. (“The Victory over Death,” Ensign, Apr. 1997, 4)
4. Take another look at verses 11-15. While the women were hurrying to bring the disciples news of Jesus’s Resurrection, the chief priests heard what had happened from the soldiers who guarded the tomb. The Jewish leaders were afraid that people might learn the truth, so they paid the guards to spread lies that the Savior’s disciples had taken His body from the tomb while the guards slept.
5. Verse 19 says “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how Church members can use social media to share the gospel:
The Lord is hastening His work, and it is no coincidence that these powerful communication innovations and inventions are occurring in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Social media channels are global tools that can personally and positively impact large numbers of individuals and families. And I believe the time has come for us as disciples of Christ to use these inspired tools appropriately and more effectively to testify of God the Eternal Father, His plan of happiness for His children, and His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior of the world; to proclaim the reality of the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days; and to accomplish the Lord’s work. (“To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” [Brigham Young University Campus Education Week devotional, Aug. 19, 2014], LDS.org)
Day 3
Primary
1. Today read John 20.
2. After Jesus died, his body was put in a tomb. A few days later, Mary Magdalene came to take care of his body, but it was gone. She went to get the apostles, who came to see the empty tomb. Once they had seen it, they left. Mary stayed, and she was the first person that Jesus appeared to after he had been resurrected. Jesus could have visited the apostles first, but he didn’t – he visited a woman. This is an important reminder that the Savior values women.
3. Listen to the song “I’ll Walk With You.”
Youth
1. Today read John 20.
2. After Jesus died at about 3:00 p.m. on Friday, His body was placed in a tomb late that afternoon and a large stone was set to seal the entrance of the tomb. The Sabbath then began at sunset. Before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Lord’s covenant people observed the Sabbath from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on Sunday, she found it empty and went to get the apostles. They came, looked at the empty tomb and left. Mary Magdalene stayed, and was the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection.
3. President James E. Faust of the First Presidency explained that the first person Jesus appeared to as a resurrected being has a great deal of significance:
No woman should question how the Savior values womanhood. The grieving Mary Magdalene was the first to visit the sepulchre after the Crucifixion, and when she saw that the stone had been rolled away and that the tomb was empty, she ran to tell Peter and John. The two Apostles came to see and then went away sorrowing. But Mary stayed. She had stood near the cross [see Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25]. She had been at the burial [see Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47]. And now she stood weeping by the empty sepulchre [see John 20:11]. There she was honored to be the first mortal to see the risen Lord. (“Woman, Why Weepest Thou?” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 54)
4. Later, Jesus Christ appeared to the apostles. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the despair of the disciples of Jesus Christ on the Friday He was crucified. Then he added:
The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind. …
Each of us will have our own Fridays — those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.
But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.
I testify to you that the Resurrection is not a fable. We have the personal testimonies of those who saw Him. Thousands in the Old and New Worlds witnessed the risen Savior. They felt the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. They shed tears of unrestrained joy as they embraced Him. (“Sunday Will Come,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 30)
Day 4
Primary
1. Read John 21.
2. The resurrected Lord appeared to His disciples while they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. On the shore, Jesus ate with them and invited Peter to demonstrate his love for Him by feeding His sheep. What do you think it means to feed his sheep? Jesus was asking Peter to teach the gospel to those who had not heard it.
3. Listen to the song “I Know My Father Lives.”
Youth
1. Read John 21.
2. The resurrected Lord appeared to His disciples while they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. On the shore, Jesus ate with them and invited Peter to demonstrate his love for Him by feeding His sheep.
3. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said,
This is the call of Christ to every Christian today: ‘Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep’ — share my gospel with young and old, lifting, blessing, comforting, encouraging, and building them, especially those who think and believe differently than we do. (“Being a More Christian Christian,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 91)
4. There are countless ways to reach out and minister to others in love and kindness. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
Jesus showed patience and love to all who came to Him seeking relief for their physical, emotional, or spiritual illnesses and who felt discouraged and downtrodden.
To follow the Savior’s example, each one of us must look around and reach out to the sheep who are facing the same circumstances and lift them up and encourage them to proceed on the journey towards eternal life.
This need today is as great as or perhaps even greater than when the Savior walked on this earth. (Ulisses Soares, “Feed My Sheep,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 98)
Week 2
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read Acts 1.
2. For 40 days following His Resurrection, Jesus Christ ministered to His disciples. During this time, He prepared His Apostles to direct His Church after His Ascension into heaven.
3. The Acts of the Apostles forms a bridge between the record of Jesus Christ’s life and teachings in the four Gospels and the writings and labors of His Apostles. The book of Acts illustrates how the Savior continued to direct His Church through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to those who held the keys of the priesthood. The Holy Ghost revealed truth to the Apostles, who then led and taught the Church. The Apostles also performed miracles in the name of Jesus Christ.
4. Watch the video “The Apostles Lead the Church.”
5. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Make sure you can sing it through Acts!
Youth
1. Today read Acts 1.
2. For 40 days following His Resurrection, Jesus Christ ministered to His disciples. During this time, He prepared His Apostles to direct His Church after His Ascension into heaven.
3. The Acts of the Apostles forms a bridge between the record of Jesus Christ’s life and teachings in the four Gospels and the writings and labors of His Apostles. The book of Acts illustrates how the Savior continued to direct His Church through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to those who held the keys of the priesthood. The Holy Ghost revealed truth to the Apostles, who then led and taught the Church. The Apostles also performed miracles in the name of Jesus Christ. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
From the first verse [of the book of Acts], the declaration is that the Church will continue to be divinely led, not mortally led. … Indeed, a more complete title for the book of Acts could appropriately be something like “The Acts of the Resurrected Christ Working through the Holy Spirit in the Lives and Ministries of His Ordained Apostles. …
The direction of the Church is the same. The location of the Savior has been altered, but the direction and leadership of the Church is exactly the same. (“Therefore, What?” [address given at the Church Educational System conference on the New Testament, Aug. 8, 2000], 6, si.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
4. President Russell M. Nelson taught about how the Savior continues to lead His Church today.
We as members of the Lord’s Church know who stands at its head: Jesus Christ Himself. …
So, what’s in a name? When it comes to the name of the Lord’s Church, the answer is “Everything!” Jesus Christ directed us to call the Church by His name because it is His Church, filled with His power.
I know that God lives. Jesus is the Christ. He leads His Church today. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Correct Name of the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 88–89)
5. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Make sure you can sing it through Acts!
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read Acts 3.
2. A man who had been unable to walk his entire life was taken to the temple in Jerusalem each day so he could beg for money. He encountered Peter and John, who gave him a much greater gift than the money he asked for. Using priesthood authority and in the name of Jesus Christ, Peter healed the man. That experience gave Peter and the other Apostles many opportunities to testify of Jesus Christ.
3. Watch the video “Peter Heals a Man.”
4. Listen to the song “I’ll Walk With You.”
Youth
1. Today read Acts 3.
2. A man who had been unable to walk his entire life was taken to the temple in Jerusalem each day so he could beg for money. He encountered Peter and John, who gave him a much greater gift than the money he asked for. Using priesthood authority and in the name of Jesus Christ, Peter healed the man. That experience gave Peter and the other Apostles many opportunities to testify of Jesus Christ.
3. While serving as the dean of religious instruction at Brigham Young University, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
Peter had no money but he had riches: ‘such as he had’ included every key to the kingdom of God on earth, priesthood power to raise the dead, faith to strengthen bones and sinews, a strong right hand of Christian fellowship. He could not give silver or gold but he could give that which is always purchased ‘without money and without price’ (Isa. 55:1) – and he gave it. (“The Lengthening Shadow of Peter,” Ensign, Sept. 1975, 30)
4. Why are there times when we do not receive the Savior’s healing when and how we desire it? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered. We wonder, “Why?” I know that feeling! I know the fears and tears of such moments. But I also know that our prayers are never ignored. Our faith is never unappreciated. I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time. (Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 86)
5. Watch the video “Peter and John Heal a Man Crippled Since Birth.”
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Acts 4.
2. Peter and John were arrested and imprisoned for healing and testifying in the name of Jesus Christ. They were later released and instructed to not speak or teach in His name. Yet Peter and John continued to testify of Jesus Christ, and they were again arrested and imprisoned. An angel delivered them from prison and told them to return and continue preaching of Christ, which they did. Jewish leaders had them arrested again and beaten. The leaders commanded them to stop preaching of Christ, but Peter and John replied that they ought to obey God rather than people.
3. Listen to the song “Stand for the Right.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 4.
2. Peter and John were arrested and imprisoned for healing and testifying in the name of Jesus Christ. They were later released and instructed to not speak or teach in His name. Yet Peter and John continued to testify of Jesus Christ, and they were again arrested and imprisoned. An angel delivered them from prison and told them to return and continue preaching of Christ, which they did. Jewish leaders had them arrested again and beaten. The leaders commanded them to stop preaching of Christ, but Peter and John replied that they ought to obey God rather than people.
3. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how we can share and defend the gospel appropriately with others who may not agree with our beliefs:
Even as we seek to be meek and to avoid contention, we must not compromise or dilute our commitment to the truths we understand. We must not surrender our positions or our values. The gospel of Jesus Christ and the covenants we have made inevitably cast us as combatants in the eternal contest between truth and error. There is no middle ground in that contest. …
… We should all follow the gospel teachings to love our neighbor and avoid contention. Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. Our stands and communications on controversial topics should not be contentious. We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence. (“Loving Others and Living with Differences,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 26, 27)
4. President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about the importance of the name of Jesus Christ:
Foremost and underpinning all that we do, anchored throughout the revelations, is the Lord’s name, which is the authority by which we act in the Church. Every prayer offered, even by little children, ends in the name of Jesus Christ. Every blessing, every ordinance, every ordination, every official act is done in the name of Jesus Christ. It is His Church, and it is named for Him — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (see D&C 115:4) (“The Witness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 96)
Week 3
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Acts 6.
2. The Apostles ordained seven disciples to assist in the Lord’s work. Stephen, one of those selected, performed many miracles. Some Jews accused him of blasphemy and brought him before the Sanhedrin, where he was transfigured.
3. Listen to the song “Stand for the Right.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 6.
2. Because of the number of widows who were poor or otherwise in need of assistance in the Church, the Twelve were spending so much of their time trying to help them that they couldn’t devote their time to preaching the gospel the way the Savior had asked them to. Read Acts 6:2–8 and identify the solution the Twelve came up with.
3. How are callings in the Church and ward councils today similar to the solution the early Apostles proposed? As you read about the seven men who were chosen to assist the Apostles, what Christlike attributes did you notice they had? How do you think each of these attributes can help someone serve and bless others who are in need? As we develop Christlike attributes, we can better minister to and bless those who are in need.
4. Just as the Lord called seven worthy men to assist the Twelve in providing for the temporal needs of the Church as recorded in the book of Acts, the Lord has called the Presiding Bishopric to assist the Twelve in providing for the temporal needs of the Church today. The Presiding Bishop and his two counselors serve under the direction of the First Presidency to administer the temporal affairs of the Church. Fast offerings are an essential part of this program and provide temporary, life-sustaining assistance for the poor throughout the world.
5. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained why Stephen’s face appeared like “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15):
Stephen was transfigured before them, visible witness thus being given that God was with him. In a lesser degree, it was with Stephen as it had been with Moses, the skin of whose face [shone] visibly after he had communed with the Lord for forty days on the mountain. (Ex. 34:29–35.)(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 2:67).
By opposing Stephen and his testimony, the Jewish leaders were also opposing God, who had given an obvious sign showing His approval of Stephen. (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 289)
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read Acts 7.
2. The Apostles ordained seven disciples to assist in the Lord’s work. Stephen, one of those selected, performed many miracles. Some Jews accused him of blasphemy and brought him before the Sanhedrin, where he was transfigured. After chastising the Jews for rejecting the Savior, Stephen saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He was then cast out of the city and stoned to death.
3. Watch the video “Wicked Men Kill Stephen.”
Youth
1. Today read Acts 7.
2. The Apostles ordained seven disciples to assist in the Lord’s work. Stephen, one of those selected, performed many miracles. Some Jews accused him of blasphemy and brought him before the Sanhedrin, where he was transfigured. In response to the accusations against him, Stephen recounted some of Israel’s history. What did Stephen say about how ancient Israel treated Moses? (Acts 7:35-39)
3. Stephen was illustrating that just as ancient Israel had rejected the prophet Moses, the Jewish leaders in Stephen’s day rejected the Savior. Resisting the Holy Ghost can lead to rejecting the Savior and His prophets. After chastising the Jews for rejecting the Savior, Stephen saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He was then cast out of the city and stoned to death. How did God strengthen Stephen throughout his experiences with the Sanhedrin? If we remain faithful to Jesus Christ during tribulations, He will be with us.
4. Stephen is generally considered the first Christian martyr. In addition, he can be seen as a type of Christ, as both he and the Savior stood before a council to be tried, declared truths in the face of their enemies, gave their lives in a righteous cause, and even uttered similar expressions as they suffered death. A young man named Saul — who later became the Apostle Paul — was present and a witness to the martyrdom of Stephen (see verse 58).
5. Watch the video “The Martyrdom of Stephen.”
Day 3
Primary
1. Today read Acts 8.
2. Some people believe that money can buy anything. However, some of the most valuable things in life cannot be purchased. One thing that money can not get you is priesthood power. Priesthood power is only available to righteous men who have been given the authority.
3. Watch the video “Simon and the Priesthood.”
4. Listen to the song “I’ll Walk With You.”
Youth
1. Today read Acts 8.
2. Some people believe that money can buy anything. However, some of the most valuable things in life cannot be purchased.
3. Philip was one of the seven disciples ordained to assist the Twelve Apostles in ministering to the needs of Church members. Philip went to the city of Samaria and began preaching. How did they respond? (Acts 8:6-8)
4. Peter and John came to Samaria after hearing that the people there had accepted the word of God. They prayed that the converted Samaritans would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. What offer did Simon the Samaritan make to them? (Acts 8: 18-19) When he offered the Apostles money in exchange for receiving the priesthood, what did Simon not understand about the priesthood?
5. President James E. Faust of the First Presidency explained that the way in which priesthood power is accessed differs from the way in which worldly power is accessed:
This greatest of all powers, the priesthood power, is not accessed the way power is used in the world. It cannot be bought or sold. … Many of you watch and admire linebackers, power forwards, and centers, as well as those who wield wealth, fame, and political and military power. Worldly power often is employed ruthlessly. However, priesthood power is invoked only through those principles of righteousness by which the priesthood is governed. (“Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 1997, 43)
Day 4
Primary
1. Today read Acts 9.
2. When Jesus told Saul to stop persecuting the Lord’s Church, Saul immediately repented and changed. How can this story help us to quickly change when we make a mistake?
3. Watch the video “Saul Learns About Jesus.”
4. Listen to the song “I Know My Father Lives.”
Youth
1. Today read Acts 9.
2. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
There is something in many of us that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life — either our mistakes or the mistakes of others. …
Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. (“The Best Is Yet to Be,” Ensign or Liahona, Jan. 2010, 25–26.)
3. President Harold B. Lee explained that “Saul of Tarsus was one who had been valiant and conscientiously engaged in trying to stamp out Christianity which he believed to be a sect defiling the word of God.” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1946, 144) However, the experience with the resurrected Savior brought about a mighty change in Saul. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described what Saul may have experienced during his three days of blindness:
During [Saul’s] three sightless days commenced the character transformation which in due course would change the history of Christianity. What anguish of soul he must have felt, what fires of conscience, what godly sorrow for sin, as he humbled himself preparatory to submitting to the direction of Ananias. (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 2:90)
4. President Howard W. Hunter said the following about Saul’s conversion:
To make [Saul’s] conversion complete he was baptized. Paul’s life was changed. It is remarkable that the man who held the garments of Stephen’s executioners thereafter became the chief exponent of the principles for which Stephen died. …
… Paul’s life had been bisected by Damascus Road. Before, he was an aggressive persecutor of Christianity, but after Damascus Road he was one of its most fervent propagators. (in Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 108–9)
5. After Saul’s conversion, he dwelt in Arabia and later returned to Damascus. The Jews in Damascus conspired to kill Saul, but Church members helped him escape the city. Three years after his conversion, Saul went to Jerusalem, where Church members were afraid to receive him because they did not believe he had become a disciple of Jesus Christ. Barnabas, a Church member, brought Saul to the Apostles and told them of Saul’s vision and of his bold preaching in Damascus. Church members then welcomed Saul into their fellowship. When Greek Jews in Jerusalem sought to kill Saul, Church leaders sent him to Tarsus. The Church experienced peace and growth in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.
Week 4
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Acts 10.
2. In Peter’s time, Jews believed that God did not accept people who weren’t Jews (these people were called Gentiles). But God taught Peter that God loves all of His children, both Jews and Gentiles. Because of Peter’s revelation, the gospel began to be taught to anyone, whether they were a Jew or not.
3. Why do you think it’s important for us to know that Jesus wants everyone to have the chance to learn the Gospel?
4. Listen to the song “I’ll Walk With You.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 10.
2. Up to this point in New Testament times, the gospel had been preached, with a few exceptions, exclusively to Jews as directed by the Savior. However, the Savior also told His disciples that after the Holy Ghost came upon them they would preach the gospel “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This commandment began to be fulfilled when a righteous Gentile named Cornelius and the Apostle Peter received revelations and were divinely directed to each other.
3. Read Acts 10:9–16 again. Why was Peter concerned about what he was instructed to do in the vision? Peter grew up as a Jew, following the commandments and traditions of the law of Moses. This law contained strict requirements on what people could and could not eat. Animals that the Jews were allowed to eat were called “clean,” while animals that God forbade the Jews to eat were called “unclean.” Peter did not initially understand the full meaning of the vision. As he pondered it, the men sent by Cornelius arrived. The Spirit told Peter to go with these men to the home of Cornelius.
4. What truth did Peter learn in verse 34 about how Heavenly Father views all of His children? What do you think it means that “God is no respecter of persons?” How do you think Heavenly Father’s revelation changed Peter’s heart and perspective? How could understanding this revelation change the hearts of people today?
5. When Peter understood that God wanted the gospel to be taught to all people, he preached the message of Jesus Christ to Cornelius and his family and friends. While Peter testified of Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost came upon Cornelius and his household. Peter then invited them to be baptized. God’s revelation to Peter changed the practices of the Church, and the gospel began to be preached to all people.
6. Who will Jesus Christ accept into His Church and kingdom? President Russell M. Nelson explained:
Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes. The implications of this truth are profound. Brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear. He invites all to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female” [ 2 Nephi 26:33 ].
I assure you that your standing before God is not determined by the color of your skin. Favor or disfavor with God is dependent upon your devotion to God and His commandments and not the color of your skin. (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 94)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Acts 12.
2. Followers of Christ were experiencing persecution. Some of them were killed. Peter was cast into prison. The members of the church prayed for him without ceasing and God sent an angel to help Peter escape from prison. What can this tell us about how we should pray when we need help from Heavenly Father?
3. Listen to the song “Stand for the Right.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 12.
2. Since the martyrdom of Stephen, the Christians in and around Jerusalem had experienced increasing persecution. How did King Herod Agrippa I contribute to this persecution? (A quaternion is equal to four soldiers). The phrase “the Jews” in verse 3 refers to influential Jewish leaders in Jerusalem who encouraged the persecution of the Church of Jesus Christ. Herod sought to please these Jewish leaders. How did Herod’s desire to please others rather than God affect Herod’s direction in life? (If we seek to please others rather than God, then we can be led further into sin.)
3. Read Acts 12:5-10 to see what happened when Peter was cast into prison. What do you think the phrase “prayer was made without ceasing” (verse 5) suggests about the sincerity and fervency of the Church members’ prayers? Our sincere and fervent prayers invite God’s miracles and blessings into our lives and the lives of others.
4. The following day, Herod learned of Peter’s escape and executed the guards he felt were responsible for allowing Peter to escape. Later, Herod gave a speech to the people, who praised him for his speech. God smote Herod, and he died.
5. Acts 12 shows that Peter and James put God first in their lives, regardless of the punishment they might receive. Why is it so important to love God and place Him first in our lives? Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy related the following experience that helped him understand the importance of what direction we face in our lives:
‘Which way do you face?’ President Boyd K. Packer surprised me with this puzzling question while we were traveling together on my very first assignment as a new Seventy. Without an explanation to put the question in context, I was baffled. ‘A Seventy,’ he continued, ‘does not represent the people to the prophet but the prophet to the people. Never forget which way you face!’ It was a powerful lesson.
Trying to please others before pleasing God is inverting the first and second great commandments (see Matthew 22:37–39). It is forgetting which way we face. And yet, we have all made that mistake because of the fear of men. In Isaiah the Lord warns us, ‘Fear ye not the reproach of men’ (Isaiah 51:7; see also 2 Nephi 8:7). In Lehi’s dream, this fear was triggered by the finger of scorn pointed from the great and spacious building, causing many to forget which way they faced and to leave the tree ‘ashamed.’ (see 1 Nephi 8:25–28) (“Which Way Do You Face?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 9)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Acts 13.
2. In this chapter, Saul changed his name to Paul. He showed that the power of God is greater than the power of the devil. Paul and his companion Barnabas taught the people, both Jew and Gentile. (Gentiles refer to people who are not part of the house of Israel.) Why is it important for us to know that Jesus wants the Gospel to go to everyone?
3. Listen to the song “I Know My Father Lives.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 13.
2. As certain prophets and teachers were gathered in Antioch in Syria, they received direction from the Holy Ghost that Saul (later known as Paul) and Barnabas should be called to preach the gospel together. After they were set apart, Saul and Barnabas traveled from Antioch to the island of Cyprus and preached in a synagogue in the city Salamis. From there they traveled to the other side of the island to the city Paphos.
3. Beginning in Acts 13:9, Saul is referred to as Paul. Read Acts 13:9-12. How did Paul deal with opposition from the false prophet Elymas? Paul used harsh words because Elymas was attempting to keep another person from receiving salvation. What can we learn from this account about God’s power compared to the power of the devil? The power of God is far greater than the power of the devil.
4. Paul and Barnabas left Cyprus and sailed to Pamphylia (in present-day Turkey), after which one of their companions, John Mark, decided to leave them and return home. Paul and Barnabas continued on to Antioch in Pisidia (not to be confused with Antioch in Syria, from which they began their mission). On the Sabbath there, Paul stood before the men at the synagogue and recounted events from Israelite history. Paul then testified of Jesus Christ as the promised Savior of Israel. on the next Sabbath day, nearly the entire city came to hear Paul and Barnabas teach the word of God. What were the attitudes of the people there? (Acts 13:44-52)
5. Acts 13:51. “They shook off the dust of their feet” Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles provided this explanation regarding shaking off the dust from one’s feet:
To ceremonially shake the dust from one’s feet as a testimony against another was understood by the Jews to symbolize a cessation of fellowship and a renunciation of all responsibility for consequences that might follow. It became an ordinance of accusation and testimony by the Lord’s instructions to His apostles as cited in [Matthew 10:14]. In the current dispensation, the Lord has similarly directed His authorized servants to so testify against those who wilfully and maliciously oppose the truth when authoritatively presented. (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 345; see also D&C 24:15; 75:18–22; 84:92–96). However, because of its serious nature, the practice of shaking off the dust from one’s feet should never be done except under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Acts 14.
2. Paul faced a lot of opposition as he tried to teach the gospel. Sometimes even when we are doing the right thing, we can have trials and things can be hard. Why is it important for us to know that we can have trials even when we are doing what Heavenly Father wants us to do?
3. Listen to the song “I’ll Walk With You.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 14.
2. Acts 14 describes some of the tribulations that Paul and Barnabas endured as they continued to preach. Unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. After Paul healed a crippled man, the people in Lystra thought Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods and attempted to offer sacrifice to them. Paul was stoned and revived. What thoughts might you have had if you had been with Paul and Barnabas during these trials?
3. As we faithfully pass through tribulation, we will be prepared to enter the celestial kingdom. In what ways do you think faithfully enduring tribulation can prepare us for the celestial kingdom?
4. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about tribulation:
There is meaning and purpose in our earthly challenges. … Each of us must go through certain experiences to become more like our Savior. In the school of mortality, the tutor is often pain and tribulation, but the lessons are meant to refine and bless us and strengthen us, not to destroy us. (“Faith through Tribulation Brings Peace and Joy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 17)
5. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the purposes of affliction in mortal life:
There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan. The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God. (“The Songs They Could Not Sing,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 106)
Week 5
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Acts 16.
2. The Holy Ghost guided Paul and his companions to preach the gospel in Macedonia (northern Greece). A woman named Lydia received their message and was baptized. After Paul cast an evil spirit out of a servant girl, he and Silas were beaten and imprisoned. That night, they were miraculously freed from prison, after which they baptized the prison guard and his household.
3. Being thrown in prison for preaching the gospel might seem like an understandable reason to stop preaching. But to Paul and Silas, it became an opportunity to convert a jailer. Why do you think he was so bold and fearless?
4. Watch the video “Paul and Silas in Prison.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 16.
2, Paul, Silas, and a Gentile convert named Timotheus (also known as Timothy) traveled to several branches of the Church to announce decisions Church leaders in Jerusalem had made that would affect the whole Church and strengthen Church members in the faith. Paul and Silas traveled for many days until they came to Philippi, a city in Macedonia. On the Sabbath day, they left the city to pray near a riverbank and began talking with the women gathered there.
3. Read Acts 16:14–15. Look for how a woman named Lydia responded to Paul’s teachings. (The phrase “a seller of purple” [verse 14] refers to the fact that Lydia sold purple dye, which was very expensive, and probably indicates that Lydia was a woman of wealth and influence.) What principle can we learn from Paul’s experience about what can happen as we follow revelation? As we follow revelation from God, we can be guided to those who are ready to receive the gospel.
4. Read the following statement by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. What must we do to be guided to those who are ready to receive the gospel?
We must pray for the Lord’s help and directions so we can be instruments in His hands for one who is now ready—one He would have us help today. Then, we must be alert to hear and heed the promptings of His Spirit in how we proceed.
Those promptings will come. We know from countless personal testimonies that in His own way and His own time the Lord is preparing persons to accept His gospel. Such persons are searching, and when we are seeking to identify them the Lord will answer their prayers through answering ours. He will prompt and guide those who desire and who sincerely seek guidance in how, where, when, and with whom to share His gospel. (“Sharing the Gospel,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 8)
5. Why was the witness of the servant girl who was possessed by an evil spirit a problem? Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
The testimony of the devil-led damsel was true. Paul and Silas were prophets; they had the words and power of salvation. But true testimony from Satan’s servants does not lead to salvation. In effect the damsel was saying: ‘Go ahead and believe in Paul and Silas and this Jesus whom they preach. I agree they and their Master are of God; and since we are now united on that point, you can also continue to follow me and enjoy the fruits of my divination.’ And how many other practitioners of false religions there are who give lip service to Jesus and his doctrines so that people will the more readily follow them and their special brand of ‘saving’ grace. It was for the very reason here involved that Jesus himself forbade the devils whom he cast out to testify that he was the Son of God. (Luke 4:41.) (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 2:149)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Acts 17.
2. On Mars’ Hill, Paul taught basic truths about the nature of God, including the truths that we are His children and that He is “not far from every one of us.” He said “we are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29). Offspring means children. How is being a child of God different from being just one of His creations?
3. Listen to the song “I Know My Father Lives.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 17.
2. While waiting for his missionary companions to join him in Athens, the Apostle Paul was deeply concerned that the people of Athens were idolatrous and didn’t understand the true nature of God. To help the Athenians understand and draw closer to God, Paul taught the gospel of Jesus Christ in the synagogues and marketplaces. Philosophers then invited Paul to explain “this new doctrine” at a place called Mars’ Hill.
3. Verse 22 records that Paul complimented the Athenians by saying they were “too superstitious,” meaning that they were “most religious” or “careful in divine things” (Acts 17:22, footnote a). The altar “to the unknown god” in verse 23 was the Athenians’ attempt to appease an unknowable god or any god who was not known by name. They apparently did not want to offend or neglect any god. Paul used this altar “to the unknown god” to introduce the idea of the true God, Heavenly Father, the God they did not know.
4. Paul taught them many Gospel truths, including the following:
- God created the world.
- God gives life to all things.
- God governs all life.
- If we are willing to seek God, we will find that He is not far from us.
- We are God’s offspring.
- We were created in God’s image.
- God commands everyone to repent.
- God will judge us.
- God will raise all people from the dead.
5. What does it mean to be God’s “offspring”? Why is it so important to understand this doctrine? What problems or confusion could arise by not understanding this doctrine? Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained why we must remember to see ourselves first and foremost as children of God.
Be careful how you characterize yourself. Don’t characterize or define yourself by some temporary quality. The only single quality that should characterize us is that we are a son or daughter of God. That fact transcends all other characteristics, including race, occupation, physical characteristics, honors, or even religious affiliation. (“How to Define Yourself,” New Era, June 2013, 48)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Acts 19.
2. One of the greatest gifts that Heavenly Father offers to covenant disciples of Jesus Christ is the gift of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, Paul was surprised when he met disciples in Ephesus who said they had been baptized but had never heard of the Holy Ghost. As it turned out, they had been baptized but not in the name of Jesus Christ. After they were baptized in “the name of the Lord Jesus,” Paul laid his hands on them and gave them the gift of the Holy Ghost.
3. Listen to the song “Stand for the Right.”
Youth
1. Read Acts 19.
2. One of the greatest gifts that Heavenly Father offers to covenant disciples of Jesus Christ is the gift of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, Paul was surprised when he met disciples in Ephesus who said they had been baptized but had never heard of the Holy Ghost. As it turned out, they had been baptized but not in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. Read the following statement published under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and look for why these people needed to be rebaptized:
It seems … that some sectarian Jew had been baptizing like John [the Baptist], but had forgotten to inform them that there was one to follow by the name of Jesus Christ, to baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost: — which showed these converts that their first baptism was illegal, and when they heard this they were gladly baptized, and after hands were laid on them, they received the gifts, according to promise. (“Baptism,” editorial published in Times and Seasons, Sept. 1, 1842, 904; spelling modernized; Joseph Smith was the editor of the periodical)
4. Baptism must be performed by an authorized servant of God. In order for baptism to be complete, it must be accompanied by the reception of the Holy Ghost. The prophet Joseph Smith said:
You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half — that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 95)
5. Paul continued to preach in Ephesus for over two years. Part of the economy in Ephesus was driven by the worship of Diana, who was a false Roman goddess. Paul’s preaching against the worship of false gods caused craftsmen who made shrines and idols of Diana to turn the people against Paul. The people gathered in the city theater (which could hold up to 24,000 people) in confusion and uproar. Paul desired to speak to the crowd, but he was persuaded by some disciples and government leaders not to enter the theater. The town clerk eventually calmed the crowd, and they dispersed. Paul’s protection is an example of how God’s work will not be thwarted even in the face of wicked protests.
Day 4
Primary
1.Read Acts 20.
2. Near the end of his mission, Paul felt that he needed to return to Jerusalem. He said goodbye to all the people he had taught. One night, he taught the people late into the night. A boy named Eutychus fell asleep and fell down from an upper floor. He died, but Paul brought him back to life.
3. Paul also taught the people that it is better to give than to receive. What do you think that means?
4. Watch the video “Paul Obeys the Holy Ghost.”
5. Listen to the song “I’ll Walk With You.”
Youth
1.Read Acts 20.
2. During Paul’s third missionary journey, he spent time in Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor. During this journey, he felt impressed to return to Jerusalem. As he traveled, he stopped to preach and say good-bye to Church members along the way. The night before his departure from Troas, on the new Sabbath (Sunday), Paul and the disciples came together to partake of the sacrament. Paul then spoke with the Saints long into the night.
3. What happened to a young man named Eutychus after he fell asleep during Paul’s sermon? (Acts 20:9-12) What did Paul do to show love and concern for this young man? How did Paul’s actions mirror the Savior’s ministry?
4. How did Paul explain his missionary service? (Acts 20:18-23) True servants of the Lord faithfully perform their duty, and in doing so they feel joy.
5. What do you think it means that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”? (Acts 20:35)
