Category: Beatitudes

Blessed Are All They Who Are Persecuted for My Name’s Sake

~ Richard Rowley

Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same gospel principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.

Below is the final portion of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)

“And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; for ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” (3 Nephi 12:10-12)

Questions:

-Is a true and faithful follower of Jesus Christ prone to suffer persecution, regardless of the country or culture he or she lives in?

-Is Christ preparing His most faithful followers for the inevitable in these verses?

Blessed Are the Peacemakers, For They Shall Be Called the Children of God

~ Richard Rowley

Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same gospel principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.

Below is the seventh of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. (3 Nephi 12:9)

Questions:

  • Is peace one of the main results created in the world by those who Christ calls His children?

Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart, For They Shall See God

~ Richard Rowley

Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same gospel principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.

Below is the sixth of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

“And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (3 Nephi 12:8)

Questions:

-What is the relationship between having a pure heart and seeing God?

-Does this apply to one’s heavenly destination as well as to one’s ability to see God’s beauty in this mortal life?

Blessed Are the Merciful, For They Shall Obtain Mercy

~ Richard Rowley

Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same gospel principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.

Below is the fifth of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

“And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (3 Nephi 12:7)

Questions:

-Is it possible for a person to be both merciful and just in their actions? Or, does insisting on justice always downplay mercy and vice versa?

Blessed Are They Who Do Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness, For They Shall be Filled with the Holy Ghost

~ Richard Rowley

Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same gospel principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.

Below is the fourth of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

“And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (3 Nephi 12:6)

Questions:

-Is hungering and thirsting after “righteousness” as defined by one’s culture different from hungering and thirsting after God’s righteousness?

-Is it possible to find true righteousness, and to be truly spiritually filled, without the influence of the Holy Ghost?

Teachings of Latter-day Prophets, Seers, and Revelators

“…A visitation of an angel…would not leave the impression and would not convince us and place within us that something which we cannot get away from which we receive through a manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Personal visitations might become dim as time goes on, but this guidance of the Holy Ghost is renewed and continued, day after day, year after year, if we live to be worthy of it (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:44).

Blessed are the Meek, For They Shall Inherit the Earth

~ Richard Rowley

Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.

Below is the third of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

“And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (3 Nephi 12:5)

Questions:

-How much of the pain and suffering in the interpersonal affairs of humanity is caused by those who are the opposite of meek (god-despising, unprincipled, prideful, arrogant, impatient, dismissive of gospel teachings)?

-Will any of the above (who don’t repent) be a part of the beautiful society that will exist upon the Earth after it is celestialized?

Blessed Are They That Mourn, For They Shall Be Comforted

~ Richard Rowley

Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.

Below is the second of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

“And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (3 Nephi 12:4)

Questions:

-Do the pains and disappointments of this life provide the context in which the joys and blessings of heaven are deeply appreciated and valued (for eternity)?