Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Latter-day Saint
New Testament Notes 201-204

New Testament Notes 201-204

Last updated on: April 12, 2019 at 11:56 pm by Dan Peterson

New Testament Notes 201-204 2019-04-12T23:56:09-06:00 Dan Peterson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We attended a session at the San Diego California Temple this afternoon. (LDS.org)

Luke 12:22-32

Compare Matthew 6:25-34

A difficult standard.

It may be significant, though, that the roughly equivalent passage in the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi 13:25-34, is expressly directed not to the faithful at large, but specifically to the Nephite Twelve, who’ve been called into full-time service. We might also apply it further to full-time missionaries.

Such things happen, alas! (Wikimedia Commons public domain photo)

Luke 12:33-34

Compare Matthew 6:19-21

The simple fact is that material possessions wear out and become obsolete. Houses burn down. Things get broken, are stolen and lost. The pleasures associated with them fade. They become “old hat.”

Seeking lasting satisfaction in a new car or a new HD-TV or a new house or a new dress or a new cell phone is a quest that’s bound to fail.

We all know this. But we forget it. Constantly.

I’ll be happy when I get that promotion. When I own that car. When I move into that house. When I have that boat.

We’re slow learners.

“Our hearts are restless,” wrote St. Augustine, addressing God at the beginning of his Confessions, “until they rest in Thee.”

Most of the Lamanites and Nephites were unprepared, too. (LDS Media Library)

Luke 12:35-48

Compare Matthew 24:42-51; 25:1-13; Mark 13:33-37; John 13:4-5

To paraphrase a common saying, “When the time for action arrives, the time for preparation is past,” or “When the time of judgment arrives, the time for preparation is past.”

We lull ourselves into a state of comfortable complacency, assuming that everything will continue as it has long gone, that we have lots of time, that tomorrow will be just like today.

And then we die. Or become ill. Or have a terrible accident. Or experience a natural catastrophe. Or suddenly lose a loved one. Or are fired.

We’re seldom fully ready, and, all too often, we’re utterly unprepared.

And, each time, we vow that it won’t happen again.

“Christ before Pilate” (Mihály Munkácsy, 1881); Wikimedia Commons public domain image

Luke 12:49-53

Compare Matthew 10:34-36; Mark 10:38

Having faith in Christ, living the Gospel, and enjoying fellowship with the Saints is, on the whole, a prescription for peace and happiness.

But it can sometimes be distinctly otherwise.

There are people out there who really dislike our faith and our church, and they’re not always nice about it.

The Gospel brings unity, but, in this life, it also creates disharmony.

In my particular case, being a public advocate and defender of the claims of the Restoration has drawn a great deal of hostile fire, derision, misrepresentation, and contempt. I don’t take any pleasure in this. I don’t enjoy conflict. I have no interest in martyrdom or persecution. I’m a pretty cheerful, mild-mannered guy. I would much rather have peace and quiet. But, if this is the way it’s got to be, this is the way it’s got to be. It’s not as if we weren’t warned.

Posted from San Diego, California

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 12, 2019

Religion is, yes, fascinatingly still alive.

Next Post

April 13, 2019 O brave new world, that has such complexly-gendered people in it!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 March 2014 August 2013 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the main lesson of the Parable of the Rich Fool?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Money solves problems Laziness is bad Eat, drink and be merry Life does not consist in possessions