Show Notes for Episode 27 of the Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast. Learn about the Great Apostasy and how the Lord prepared the world for the restoration of the gospel. Includes FHE suggestion, a teaching tip inspired by comedian Ryan Hamilton and a fun game your whole family will love! This episode goes along with the Come, Follow Me – for Individuals and Families for the week of October 21-27.

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**This Episode goes along with the Come, Follow Me – For Individuals and Families for the week of October 21-27.**   

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PERSONAL STUDY 

1. 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-3

2. New Testament Made Easier by Ridges:

It appears that some of the Saints in Thessalonica had come to believe that the Second Coming of the Savior was very near and would come in their lifetime. Paul tells them that they should not believe such a thing, no matter what the source of their information. He informs them that there will be an apostasy from the Church before the Second Coming. We often use verses 1-3 in teaching investigators that the Great Apostasy (the falling away from the Church), as it is called, was prophesied by the Apostles in the New Testament. Thus it was necessary that there be a restoration of the gospel, which the Lord accomplished through the Prophet Joseph Smith, beginning with the First Vision in the spring of 1820.

3. Carlos E. Asay regarding 2 Thes. 2:3:

That sad day surely did come when grievous wolves entered in among the Christian flock. By the close of the first century after the death of Christ, all of the Apostles had been killed and a long night of spiritual darkness blanketed the earth. Before long, the people had ‘transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant’, just as Isaiah predicted they would (Isa. 24:5). The early Christian church became splintered, antichrists and false prophets appeared on the scene, and some men claimed to be Apostles but were found to be liars (see 1 Jn. 2:18; Rev. 2:2). Thus, the days came when there was “a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).

Many volumes have been written describing the Great Apostasy wherein pagan practices and other worldly influences diluted the early Christian doctrine. Eventually, the priesthood was lost, the gifts of the Spirit were no longer manifested, and the pure love of God waxed cold. Ultimately, the gospel taught by Christ and his Apostles was perverted almost beyond recognition and the church established by the Master was spiritually razed by men with ulterior motives. (The Seven M’s of Missionary Service: Proclaiming the Gospel as a Member or Full-time Missionary [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], prologue)

4. What I find pretty cool is how we can look back at history and see how the Lord, in His wisdom and timing, had a plan and he slowly put things into place preparing the world for the restoration of the gospel. Kinda like growing black bamboo… Click HERE  

5. 1 Thessalonians 3:10

6. Are you doing all you can to perfect what is lacking in your faith? Or as Elder Uchtdorf once asked the brethren, “Are you sleeping through the Restoration?” Click HERE

7. Neal A. Maxwell:

“Serving, studying, praying, and worshiping are four fundamentals in perfecting ‘that which is lacking in [our] faith.’ (1 Thes. 3:10.) If we cease nurturing our faith in any of these four specific ways, we are vulnerable.” (“Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds,” Ensign, May 1991, 88)

FHE 

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TEACHING TIP

Today’s teaching tip is on ministering. First, watch this funny video clip of Ryan Hamilton who was on Jimmy Fallon.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Didn’t you love the part where he talks about his “adult fall” 🙂 That was one of my favorite parts! What he said was true. How often when people are asked if they are OK, that they say no? It’s like NEVER! Everyone always says, “I’m fine.”

Isn’t that also true with the people we minister to? If we ask them, “How are you doing?” most times they will say, “I’m fine” even if they’re not. Perhaps it’s time we change what we ask. Perhaps next time we should ask questions such as: How can I pray for you? What makes you happy? What are you worried about right now? What’s been keeping you busy lately?

Ask questions that people can’t answer with “I’m fine” and I’ll bet you will get to know those you minister to a lot better. 

#taketimeforfamily

Play Kahoot! Click HERE

Yours Truly,

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