1 Peter 1-5 A Peculiar People

A Peculiar People, A Royal Priesthood

• Chosen generation – By embracing the new Gospel, the house if Israel is now a “new Israel”, chosen and purchased by the Lord through the Atonement.
• Royal priesthood – not a congregation of lay members, with a minister at the head, but an entire Church in which every man is his own minister, in which every man stands as a king in his own right, reigning over his own family-kingdom.
• Holy nation – A kingdom of priests, a “new Israel”
• Peculiar people – Peculiar = peculium meaning private property, the footnote f indicates purchased or preserved; Hebrew segulah meaning special possession or property A people that has been purchased through Christ shedding his blood.

The price of becoming a "peculiar" people:

We are "redeemed with precious blood. " (1 Peter 1:18-19) Christ was precious…as a lamb without blemish.

Christ suffered temptations, pain, hunger, thirst, fatigue, more than man can suffer, blood cometh from every pore, anguish (Mos 3:7-8)

Our Redeemer suffered death in the flesh, suffered the pain of all men, that we might repent and come unto him. (D&C 18:11)

Principles to help us remain God’s peculiar people (1Peter 1:13–25; 2:1–17; 3:10–11; 4:8; 5:6–8)

• Gird up the loins of your mind
• Be sober
• Hope to the end for grace
• Be obedient
• Be holy in conversation
• Call on the Father – pray
• Believe in God, have faith in God
• Unfeigned love of brethren, love one another with a pure heart
• Be born again through the word of God
• Lay aside malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, evil speaking
• Desire the sincere milk of the word—true doctrine
• Build upon a spiritual house, spiritual sacrifice
• Praise God
• Abstain from fleshly lusts
• Honest conversations, good works
• Submit to ordinances—put to silence the ignorance of evil men
• Be an example of a servant of God
• Honor all men, love brotherhood, fear God, Honor Christ
• Refrain the tongue, speak no guile
• Eschew –Abstain from, shun, avoid—evil
• Do good, seek peace, ensue –follow eagerly—peace
• Have fervent charity
• Be humble
• Cast your cares upon the Lord,
• Be sober, be vigilant

Proclamation to the World and 1 Peter 3:1-12 regarding husbands and wives:

1. Wives maintain a meek and quiet spirit (?) ;) (Oh dear! Maybe that will be my goal for the week, maybe not!)
2. Husbands honor the wife
3. Be of one mind, have compassion one of another, love one another, be tenderhearted, compassionate, and be courteous

“It is in the depths where men and women learn the lessons that help to build strong men and women—not at the pinnacle of success. In the hour of a man’s success is his greatest danger. It sometimes takes reverses to make us appreciate our blessings and to develop us into strong, courageous characters.” —President Ezra Taft Benson

Lesson 4 Reflection Journal

Once again, I delight in getting to know Paul better. His letters are like journal entries, giving us a peek into his soul. He was very straightforward, and very compassionate. He told it the way he saw it, and pleaded with the Saints to continue to be faithful.

There must have been some petty dissensions arising within some of the "wards" and "branches". He gave specific instructions on how to bring peace and harmony and love into a congregation. In addition, perhaps some of the new converts might have been struggling a bit, finding their rhythm in this new lifestyle, and maybe even feeling a bit judged by the "old-timers". Paul addressed this concern--be mindful of the newness of the Gospel in these persons lives. Remember that it was new to you at one time. Let the unimportant things go and be an example and always, always, always fellowship.

I'm grateful for the Priesthood and for the teaching activity that encouraged me to look more deeply at the goodness of Melchizedek. I remember when Frank was called as a High Priest. He didn't think he was "old" enough and was a bit resistant. But his father flew out from Maryland to ordain him and showed him scriptures regarding the privilege of the calling of High Priest. It was a wonderful day, and weekend, actually.

I think that my goal will continue to be to stay a day or so ahead in my study. I love when I have the time to ponder the reading assignment, make notes, and then ponder the different questions with each section. If I just blast through, I will miss receiving personal revelation, and will be just "reading" not learning.

Lesson 4 Melchizedel and the Priesthood

1. A man must be called of God. This man would be one who is recognized as having the Spirit. The person, extending the call must have Priesthood authority, having been ordained by another man having authority, who is known by the heads of the church to have authority. The ordaining is performed by those who have authority laying hands upon the head of the person being called. We know who has authority in the church today by looking to the Prophet and to our Priesthood leaders, who are called by the Lord.
2. Melchizedek was considered a great high priest because:

• "he was a man of faith who wrought righteousness", he "feared God". He was "approved of God" (Gen 12: 26, 27 JST). He did everything according to God's will (v. 31) He had great faith. (v 32) He established righteousness. (v. 36)
• He stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire. He broke mountains, divided the seas, dried up waters, turned rivers from their course. He stood in the presence of God.
• Melchizedek blessed Abram (Abraham)
• The Melchizedek Priesthood was originally referred to as the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But, in order to not use the name of the Son of God too often, the ancient church instead referred to that priesthood as the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. I am very grateful for the Priesthood, both as a daughter and as a wife, and now as a mother of priesthood bearing sons. My father was a worthy priesthood holder--he gave us priesthood blessings and baptized and confirmed us and helped to set us apart when callings came. He and my mother served several missions together, and I delighted in hearing them refer to each other as "Elder" and "Sister". Dad served in various priesthood callings throughout his life. My husband has been a worthy priesthood holder throughout our marriage. He has blessed our babies, baptized and confirmed our children and served in priesthood callings. Honoring his priesthood has helped him to be a wonderful husband and father. Every year he gives our children father's blessings, and he is quick to respond to requests when one of the kids is sick. As I began my online classes, he followed our family tradition, and gave me a priesthood blessing for success as I go back to school after all these years. I'm grateful that my two sons consciously work to honor their priesthood. It's always a thrill to see a young son pass the sacrament for the first time, and it's a heart-wrenching event as a son leaves on a mission. I'm glad that one has already chosen to serve an honorable mission, and that my 15-year old son intends to serve. I'm grateful for priesthood leaders in our ward and stake. I know they are called of God and work hard to serve each of us in the wards and stake.

4. I discussed this with my 12-year old daughter. Some things she knew, some things that I thought she knew we clarified. She was able to list several ways that the priesthood has blessed her life, from being blessed as an infant, through baptism, confirmation, father's blessings, and being set apart in a Beehive class presidency. We discussed the offices of the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek, and the different responsibilities and privileges each has. We had a nice visit. It will apply to one of her Personal Progress experiences, also.

Phillipians 1-4: Finding Solutions in the Scriptures to Life's Challenges

1. Be like-minded (Phill 2:2)

As ward members we are counseled to "be like minded", love one another, be of "one accord" and "of one mind". (Phill. 2: 2) Naturally with all the different personalities in a ward family, there will be different opinions. However, we never accomplish anything through strife--vigorous or bitter conflict or antagonism. Another definition given is competition or rivalry. (Dictionary.com) We are to esteem--regard with respect or admiration (Dictionary.com)--each other better than ourselves. This doesn't mean that we degrade ourselves, but we work to respect one another's ideas and thoughts and find a common ground. Even the Savior, who was a God, "took upon himself the form of a servant", and humbled himself, and "became obedient unto death". (Phill. 2: 7-8) Sometimes we dig in and refuse to consider another person's point of view. I find it interesting that the phrase for this is "choosing that hill to die on". We aren't asked to die, just to work well with others and not be critical, "without murmurings and disputings". (Phill 2: 14)

2. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phill 3:12)

I wonder if perhaps Paul was concerned that some of the Saints were depending a bit too much on Paul's testimony, and hadn't found their own faith. He seems appreciative of the fact that they have been obedient whether or not he is present. ( Phill 2: 12) He is now urging them to work out their own salvation. He teaches them that it is the Spirit that is working in them--"God which worketh in you". (2:13) We must "demonstrate by activity, by thoughtful, obedient effort the reality of faith." (David O McKay in CR, Apr. 1957, p. 7) If we rely on someone else, regardless of how strong that person is, we will eventually be let down. We must "seek the strength of God for inspiration, to obtain the final victory." (McKay, CR, 1957, p.7)

3. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: (Phill 3:8)

I can't even the imagine the turmoil in the heart of a convert facing the loss of family should he choose to be baptized. However, my mother experienced this to some extent. When she married my father and joined the Church, her father never would allow my father into his home. I was only nine when my grandfather died, but I remember that we would go with my mother and stay at Grandpa's house. We lived a good eight hour drive from them. So, Dad would drop us off and get a hotel room in Spokane. I think he must have called once a day or so, I have a memory of speaking to him on the phone, but I wasn't particularly aware of why he wasn't with us. Mother worked very hard to re-establish and maintain a relationship with her father. Her mother wasn't angry about it, but she was never open to any gospel discussion, even after my grandfather passed away. Mother had children by a former marriage. They were also angry. I observed Mother working to keep a connection with her children. When she passed away, I found journal entries containing lists of inspirational thoughts and quotes that she had sent to each of her children. I heard her pray for their hearts to be softened, and she was constantly putting their names on the temple prayer roll.

Mother also served four missions with my father. I know that she continued to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phill 3:14) And I know that she had hope of her parents' and children's hearts someday being softened, trusting in the Savior's grace, after all that she could do. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phill 4:13)

4. The words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

I know that I quite often try to figure out a solution to a troubling situation by using my own limited resources. I pray for guidance and then I trudge along. 2 Nephi 32:3 reminds us that we should "feast upon the words of Christ;" I sometimes compartmentalize the feasting--reading for the sake of reading, finding the doctrine, preparing a lesson, etc-- and I don't read the scriptures to find answers to everyday problems and concerns. "for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (italics added) I guess I need to remember that ALL means ALL!