Parables and Accounts That Teach Eternal Truths Luke 16: 1 - 12, 19 - 31; 18: 1 - 14

The Parable of the Unjust Steward
Luke 16:1–12

Through the Parable of the Unjust Steward, I feel that the major principle that the Lord is teaching is to properly use the things that we are given in the world. I think that He is trying to teach us to be prudent which means carefully managing resources so as to provide for the future or having good sense in dealing with practical matters. We must use the resources that we are given on earth wisely to prepare us for the future. In an Ensign talk, Elder Tsung-Ting Yang shared the meaning of this parable in his own life “It reminds me of principles that continue to blee me and my family. I am thankful that the Lord’s parables not only contain great spiritual concepts but also provide very practical advice for achieving financial success within the teachings of His glorious gospel”.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19–31

Through the Parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we are taught the importance of not being covetous in our lives. We learn that it is not our wealth, profession, power, or possessions that define us. The rich man in this parable was a man that was “clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:” (Luke 16:19), but that didn’t matter after he died. We are judged righteously according to our works, not according to the superficial things that we obtain on earth.

The Ten Lepers
Luke 17:11–19

Through the Parable of the Ten Lepers, I think that the principle that we must remember is gratitude. I have heard a joke many times that reminds me of this, a man was in a hurry heading to work where everything had gone wrong that morning; he woke up late, he couldn’t find his keys, he got stuck in traffic. As he arrived to work, he found that all of the parking places were taken, but he needed to quickly get in for a meeting. He circled the parking lot as he prayed that a spot would open up, right as a parking space right up front next to the entrance opened up, he said to the Lord, never mind, I found one. This parable reminds me that we need to be grateful in every aspect of our lives, not only at our times of need, but also in the times that we are blessed or overcoming a trial. We need to remember the Lord’s hand in all things at all times.

The Parable of the Unjust Judge
Luke 18:1–8

Through the Parable of the Unjust Judge, we learn “always to pray, and not to faint”. In this parable, a woman continually seeks the help of a wicked judge who continually denies her; the determination of the woman finally persuades the judge to grant her request. It is important to remember that Heavenly Father wants to bless us, but more importantly, he wants us to come to Him. We must come to him in constant prayer and not faint. When it is the hardest to stand, we must kneel; it is through the Lord that we will find rest as we face our trials and tribulations.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican
Luke 18:9–14

Through the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, we learn the importance of being humble. In Ether 12:27, we learn “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them”. We learn through this parable and this scripture in the Book of Mormon that we are given weaknesses that we may become stronger through them as we humble ourselves. We must remember the Lords hand in our lives as we overcome weaknesses. We also have to be willing to recognize our weakness and realize that it is only through the power of the Lord that we may overcome them.

Becoming a Disciple of Christ Luke 10 - 14

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

“A disciple of Christ is one who is learning to be like Chirst-learning to think, to feel, and to act as he does. To be a true disciple, to fulfill that learning task, is the most demanding regimen known to man.” Dr. Chauncey Riddle, a professor of philosophy and dean of the Graduate School, shared what a disciple is. In Luke 10 – 14, we learn more of what is required of us to become a disciple of Christ. We can find the following attributes throughout Luke 10 - 14 as we strive to become a disciple of Christ.

Prayerful ~ 11:1
Trusting ~ 11:2
Submissive ~ 11:2
Repentant ~ 11:4
Charitable ~ 11:8
Friendly ~ 11:8
Not Covetousness ~ 12:15
Modest ~ 12:21
Healthy ~ 12:23
Confident ~ 12:22
Faithful ~ 12:28
Not doubting ~ 12:29
Seek the Kingdom of God ~ 12:31
Fearless ~ 12:32
Serve ~ 12:37
Watchful ~ 12:37
Diligent ~ 13:24
Striving to enter the Kingdom of God ~ 13:24
Duty to God ~ 14:26
Loving ~ 14:26
Committed ~ 14:28
Dedication ~ 14:28
Obedience ~ 14:28

In Luke 14:28, the Lord uses the phrase “counteth the cost” in referring to discipleship. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” When I read these verses, I didn’t understand the phrase “counteth the cost”, but after reading it over and over, I have come to my own conclusion regarding this phrase. When we are preparing to make an investment or make a big purchase, you figure out how much it will cost you to make that purchase. You may cut coupons, you may prepare by comparing prices at many different stores, and you may also time it perfectly so that you will catch the best sale. In becoming a disciple of Christ, you must choose to be a disciple of Christ, no matter the cost. There will be many obstacles in the way of becoming a disciple of Christ, but you must always strive to be a disciple.

In Luke 12:29, it says “…neither be ye of doubtful mind.” I would like to work on my discipleship by being less doubtful. It is so easy to doubt yourself, those around you and sometimes even the Lord. As I have made decisions, I continually second guess the decision that I have made even if I have received confirmation of my choice through prayer, scriptures, and the Holy Ghost. Doubting in my life creates so many worries that are not necessary. There is a quote that I have written and taped to my wall that says “Most of the things you worry about will NEVER happen”. It’s true, we are all filled with worries and doubts that consume our thoughts, but as we trust in the Lord and have faith in the Lord and faith in our ability to receive personal revelation, then I know that we will indeed be blessed with peace in our lives. The turmoil that doubt brings to our lives will be replaced by the feeling of peace as we strive to remove doubt from our minds. Mormon 9:27 says “O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.” I would love to doubt not, and be believing as it says in Mormon 9:27.

Through the scriptures in Luke 10 – 14 and the additional scriptures in Luke 14:33; Omni 1:26; Mosiah 2:34; and Matthew 13:44–46, we learn what is ultimately required to be a disciple of Christ. Omni 1:26 says “come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved”. To become a disciple of Christ, we must be willing to give all that we have and all that we are to the Lord.

Avoiding Sin and Remaining Free Matthew 18:6–9 and John 8:32–34.

In Matthew 18:6-9, Jesus teaches about offenses using symbolism. We first see his use of the hand, foot, and the eye in verses 8 – 9, “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hand or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” In these verses, the hand, foot, and the eye symbolize friends, and family.
Jesus teaches that if we have a friend or a family member that offends us then we must “cut them off, and cast them from thee”. Throughout life there are many people that may offend you, but it is you that will decide how you will respond to that offense. You can indeed take offense walking through life with a chip on your shoulder or as the Savior says in verse 6 “it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
If you let it, an offensive comment or action can take over your life eventually drowning you in the misery of that offense or engulfing you in “everlasting fire”. If we take heed to what the Savior says in Matthew 18, we can get rid of the offense in our lives. The Savior says in verse 8 “it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.”
An offensive comment may hurt for a moment, but we can choose to move past it and become stronger in the process. In Mark 9:46, we learn that those that are offended are fighting a fight that they will never win or in the words of the Savior it is a “fire that never shall be quenched”.
In John 8:32, it says “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. The Word of Wisdom is a law of health that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints actively live. The Word of Wisdom exhorts us to refrain from the following substances; coffee and tea, alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and any other addictive and harmful substances.
We have been given this law as a law of health so that our bodies both physically and spiritually may be healthy. In the world, coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and even illegal drugs can be a way of life for many people. Their morning ritual includes their daily cup of coffee to get them started and they may have a glass of alcohol with their dinner or socializing with their friends. Many studies have been performed regarding specifically alcohol and coffee that they will benefit your well-being if you partake of them regularly. We are taught to abstain from these substances, yet, we continually hear of the benefits of having them just once in a while.
In John 14:6, it says “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. We are taught in this verse that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The Word of Wisdom is a law that was given by the Lord for our physical and spiritually well-being. Man will and has come to try to oppose that, but we know that because it comes from the Lord, it is the truth.
It is so hard to choose the right when we are constantly faced with opposing views, but as we hold fast to the scripture in John 14:6, we can know which path is right because we know that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. We can turn to the Lord in making decisions through prayer, fasting, scriptures, and many other resources and I know that we will be blessed to know which way is the Lord would have us go. We will truly be blessed with freedom knowing that as we strive to follow Christ then we will always have the way and the truth a part of our lives.

Walking on the Sea Matthew 14: 22 - 33

In Matthew 14:22-33, we experience the story of Peter walking on water and we learn more about faith and fear.

When the Apostles first see the Savior walking on the water, they fear that he it is a spirit. In our lives today, we are often times faced with decisions, challenges or trials where are first response is to be afraid like the apostles first were when they saw a being walking on the water.

Peter being filled with faith asks the Lord that if it is Him “bid me come unto thee on the water”. This response shows that he has incredible faith in Jesus Christ knowing that if it was indeed Him walking on water than through the power of Jesus Christ, he would be able to walk on the water as well.

Peter turns his faith into action as he takes those first steps on the water, but is filled with fear as he becomes unfocused on his goal of joining Jesus Christ on the water and the surroundings become clear to him as Christ becomes blurry. Many times, we may lose our focus, but it is important to keep our eye on our eternal goal.

As Peter begins to sink, he calls out to the Lord “save me” and the Lord immediately stretches forth his hand to catch him.

We our exhorted time after time to “come unto Christ” and we can learn from Peters example that as we do come unto Christ and call to him to “save me”, Jesus Christ will immediately come to our aid to help relieve our burden.

There is a guarantee through this journey of life that we will all be faced with our own personal “storms”. We will all face challenges, but we are blessed with another guarantee in our life and that is explained further in Doctrine and Covenants 88:67, it says “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things”. As we face the inevitable challenges in life, we can all be filled with hope as we keep our eye to the single to the glory of Christ and our whole bodies shall be filled with light. As Peter stepped onto the water, he was focused on Jesus Christ, his eye was single to his glory and thus, he was blessed and was able to walk on the water. We also learn from Peter that if we take our eye off of Jesus Christ and let fear inside then we will face the consequences. Christ will always be there to catch us when we fall. We may all be filled with the hope knowing that as we keep our eye single to his glory, then there shall be no darkness in you. That is such a great promise knowing that in the darkest, scariest of times, we can still rely on the blessings that the Atonement brings in each and every one of our lives. We will all be faced with decisions in our future especially as we are going to school, starting families, and becoming independent. As we make those decisions, our thoughts may become clouded by many different things, but remember this scripture in D&C 88:67 and keep your eye on the eternal perspective.

The Lord Often Taught With Parables Matthew 13: 24 - 48

Throughout the ministry and teaching of Christ, He used parables to teach the people of religious truths comparing them to objects or situations that were around them at the time. In my own words, the definition of a parable is a story that teaches us principles of the gospel that can be applied in our lives and in the lives of those that came before us and those that will come after. A parable is in some ways can be compared to a scavenger hunt, those that are actively involved searching in this “scavenger hunt” will find what they are looking for or they will find the meaning of a parable. Those that are not actively involved in the scavenger hunt will not necessarily know what they are looking for and therefore, they will not find it or they will not understand the meaning of a parable.

Parables can be used to answer questions that we might have in these latter days. For example:

What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven - Matthew 13: 31-33
Why does the Church send out so many missionaries?
The Parable of the Gospel Net - Matthew 13: 47-50
How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier?
Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven Matthew - 13:31-33
Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?
Parable of the Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price - Matthew 13: 44-46
Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church?
The Parable of the Tares - Matthew 13: 24-30

Matthew 13:44-46 is the parable of the treasure and the pearl of great price. This parable can be likened to the sacrifices that we have to make in our lives to obtain the treasure of the gospel. I would be willing to sacrifice everything that I own even my life to obtain the treasure of the gospel. That sounds like a lot, but we are taught the Law of Consecration that we will put forth all that we have and all that we can to the building up of the Lord’s Kingdom. The blessings of the gospel include so many things here on earth, but ultimately we are all seeking the greatest blessing of all which is eternal life and I would be willing to give up anything to live with our Heavenly Father again for eternity. I have seen so many examples of sacrifice in my family, the first example I have seen is in my Dad. My Dad grew up in a home that was filled with anything and everything that is opposite the teachings of the Gospel. He was constantly faced with pressure from his family to participate in those things, something kept him from being involved in it. He was baptized when he was 21 years old and has since dedicated his entire life to the gospel which has included many sacrifices. My brother and I have also had the wonderful opportunity to sacrifice 18 months to 2 years of our lives to give to the Lord in service. As I have seen the sacrifice in my family and even experienced it in my own life, I know that the blessings that come from our sacrifice are far greater than the temporary anguish we may have when we are faced with sacrifice.

Matthew 13: 47 is the parable of the net cast into the sea. The net represents the gospel being spread forth throughout the world or it can also mean those that are gathering many different people through their missionary efforts whether it be serving a full-time mission or in other capacities as members of the Church. The act of gathering in verse 47 is our efforts here to bring others to the gospel, missionary work. In the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith says “Behold the seed of Joseph, spreading forth the Gospel net upon the face of the earth, gathering of every kind, that the good may be saved in vessels prepared for that purpose, and the angels will take care of the bad.” (Teachings of the Prophet of Joseph Smith, 102) As we strive to share the gospel in our everyday lives, there will be those that accept the gospel and those that do not. Our job is to continue to find those that are ready to receive the gospel and to continue to spread the gospel in any way that we can whether it be through work, service, or even in the home. Those that do not accept the gospel we will continue to remember in our prayers and hope that they will be ready to accept the gospel later in their life.

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5: 1 - 12

As people all over the world pray, there is a common word that is used to plead for help in any situation. That word is “bless”, you may have heard or used it yourself in your communication with Heavenly Father. “Please bless this home”, “Bless this food”, “Bless our family”. The word “blessed” is used again and again in Matthew 5:1-12 as the beatitudes are introduced. Bless is a word that is so commonly used, but I have never thought to discover the real meaning of bless, blessed or blessedness, yet I have so many blessings in my life. In the Institute Student Manual, the word “blessedness” is defined as being “higher than happiness”. The Merrium-Webster dictionary defines “blessed” as “enjoying the bliss of heaven”. Thus, if you follow what was taught in the Sermon on the Mount than you will be filled with something that is higher than happiness, you will be blessed.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in Spirit”
One of my first semesters back at school, I was called to be a Sunday School Teacher teaching the New Testament. I have been taught the stories my entire life, but I didn’t feel like I had the knowledge or the ability to teach it to others. At this time, I relied on the Lord in all aspects of preparing and delivering my lesson. I was so blessed during this time because I overcame a big weakness for me which was public speaking. I use to only take classes that did not require any presentations because of my fear of speaking in public. The first Sunday, I was scared to death, but with much prayer and fasting, I did it! I taught and I owed my success in teaching to the Lord, for it was because of Him that I was able to do that. I am so thankful for that experience because through it I have been able to overcome my weakness and come closer to Christ.

Matthew 5:6 ”Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness”
I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; this was a time in my life that I devoted 18 months to the Lord, preaching the Gospel. During this time, I discovered the Gospel like I never have before. As I had daily personal and companionship study, studying the scriptures and as I taught lessons to those that were interested in the Gospel, I had an appetite for the gospel that encompassed my entire being. My life was all about striving for righteousness and it made my life so fulfilling.


Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers”
Peace is a trait that I strive to have in my life continually. It is something that is quickly recognized when it is not present. As I have been filled with peace, personally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally, my life has truly been blessed. As I have returned to school to continue to pursue my education, I have been confused and filled with turmoil as the time to make decisions neared. I use the word turmoil because that is how I always feel when I don’t have the presence of peace in my life. In the recent weeks as school has started, I have strived to have consistent, daily scripture study and I have also made an effort to take care of myself physically as I exercise regularly and eat healthily. I have noticed a complete change as I feel peace envelop my life. I still am not completely sure what I need to do at this time, but I do know that everything will work out and I feel that I am in control of my life because of the peace that I feel as I have put my life in line with the Gospel.

"Ye Must Be Born Again" John 3:7

In John chapter 3, verse 7, it says “Ye must be born again”. We are exhorted to be “born again”, but what does it mean to be “born again”? Like many of us, Nicodemus was confused as to the term “born again”. In verse 4, it says “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the womb, and be born? Jesus teaches Nicodemus’ men that “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:4)

In Verse 5 through Jesus Christs’ teachings, we learn that there are two things required to be born again. 1)Born of Water and 2)Born of the Spirit. In the footnotes of John, we see that being born of water means baptism. Through the Bible Dictionary, we learn that baptism is an introductory ordinance in the Gospel of Jesus Christ including faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. “Baptism symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection, and can only be done by immersion.” Baptism is necessary to our salvation or to entering in the kingdom of God as it says in John 3:3-5.

Baptism can be a symbol of rebirth. In Moses 6:59 many examples can be found such as “ye were born of the world by water”, the rising up out of the water following the baptism, “be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin”, through the Atonement, forgiveness of our sins is made possible and we must follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by immersion to be cleansed of our sins. Baptism can also be a symbol of death. Being immersed in the water is symbolic of death, being buried and then coming up from the water is symbolic of being raised from the dead as Christ was.

Born of the Spirit means to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This happens after baptism by the laying on of hands. After receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we are blessed with the constant companionship so that we may receive comfort, peace, guidance, and so on. In John 3:8, the Holy Ghost is compared to wind because as it says in verse 8 “thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth.” The Spirit may manifest itself in many ways whether it be a still small voice, or a feeling, or a clear and direct thought.

Our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us and because of His love, he sacrificed his only begotten son so that we could return to live with our Father again. Unconditional love was required of Jesus Christ to suffer as he did in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. That same love was required of Heavenly Father to sacrifice his son, to watch his son endure the pains of the world, but he did it for the world so that we could have eternal life. If we follow the example of Jesus Christ, accept the Gospel: Having faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, being baptized by the proper authority and in the proper way, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end then we will be blessed with eternal life. I have seen the blessings of following the Gospel in my life and in the life of my family. I know that the Atonement is real and is meant for each and everyone of us.