Notes on 1-3 John; Jude "God is Love"; CFM study for Dec. 2 - 8

About 1-3 John

  • 1 John is rather repetitive about various themes, and it is written in very simple, easy-to-understand Greek.  Because the themes, vocabulary and style of this and 2 and 3 John are similar to the Gospel of John, it is thought that all four are by the same author.   "By 215 AD, the authorship of 1 John was accepted by the eastern and western Christian churches as John the Beloved. However, debate over the authorship and dating of all three Epistles continues." (Lynne Wilson)
  • 1 John seems to be written in response to certain philosophies that were gaining traction.  "The audience of 1 John is not explicitly stated. In form, 1 John is more of a doctrinal essay or treatise than an epistle to a specific Christian congregation. John wrote to believers (see 1 John 1:3–42:12–14), perhaps those in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), where historical sources say John lived and ministered in the late first century A.D. False teachers had created a schism, or division, among the Saints in the region (see 1 John 2:18–19, 22, 264:1).

    A particular philosophy that was gaining popularity at the time was Docetism. Docetism was part of a larger movement known as Gnosticism. A core teaching in many forms of Gnosticism was that the spirit was wholly good and that matter, including the physical body, was wholly evil. Followers of Gnosticism believed that salvation was not achieved by being freed from sin but rather by freeing the spirit from matter, meaning the physical body. They also believed that salvation was achieved through special knowledge (gnosis) rather than through faith in Jesus Christ.

    Followers of Docetism overemphasized Jesus’s spiritual nature to the point that they rejected the idea that He came to earth in actual bodily form. They believed that God was invisible, immortal, all-knowing, and immaterial, and they considered the physical world and the physical body to be base and evil. Therefore, they believed that since Jesus was the divine Son of God, He could not have experienced the limitations of being human. In their view, Jesus Christ was not literally born in the flesh, and He did not inhabit a tangible body, bleed, suffer, die, or rise with a physical resurrected body—He only seemed to do these things. Docetism comes from the Greek dokeo, meaning “to seem” or “to appear.”John refuted these false teachings by bearing witness of the Savior’s physical existence (see 1 John 1:1–24:2–3, 145:6). He declared that Jesus Christ indeed came to earth in the flesh, that His suffering and death made up His redeeming act, and that God sent His Son because of His great love for us
    .(New Testament Student Manual)
  • Jeffrey Marsh gives more information about the gnostic movement, "With gnosticism, there was no need for an atoning Savior but only for one who taught the secret knowledge. Good works were of little value. The proper function of religion was to teach a knowledge (gnosis) of secret mysteries. Salvation was achieved by the release of the spirit from the flesh and from the bondage of the material world into a heavenly realm. Gnostics claimed that the secret knowledge they had would allow an individual to ascend through multi-layered spheres of heaven until he or she could ascend into the presence of the divine substance, the unknowable God."
  • In response to these various factions and challenges, 1 John emphasizes the material Son of God who came in the flesh, the importance of doing and not just "saying," discerning those who are teaching falsehoods, avoiding personal apostasy, and especially the love and light of God, which love should help us to love each other.

The Word of Life, 1 John 1:1-10

  • John starts with his personal witness that he shares with others, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;"  
  • "John wrote that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (John 1:5). The idea that God is light is found elsewhere in John’s writings and other scripture (see John 1:4–9; 8:12; 9:1–5; 2 Corinthians 4:6; D&C 50:23–24; 88:49–50, 67–68). Those who seek fellowship with God must leave the darkness of sin in order to walk in the light of Jesus Christ. We deceive ourselves when we ignore our sins or say that we have no sin." (New Testament Student Manual).
  • John emphasizes saying versus doing.  We can't say we have fellowship with God if we are walking in darkness (v. 5).  We can't say we have no sin instead, we need to confess them and seek forgiveness (v. 9), "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (v. 10)  The Gnostics didn't believe in sin, just as many today don't, though for different reasons.  

An Atoning Sacrifice, 1 John 2:1-6

  • "John is the only author to use “teknion/little child” in the New Testament (once in his Gospel, seven times in this Epistle). It was also used for “someone deeply loved.”11 Outside of the New Testament, the term of endearment is used for disciples by their masters." (Lynne Wilson)
  • Christ is our "advocate" with the Father when we sin.  Through His sacrifice and His blood, we can be forgiven of our sins.
  • Of verse 2, the student manual explains, "A propitiation is a sacrifice made to regain God’s favor or goodwill (see 1 John 2:2; 4:10). Jesus Christ is the sacrifice that allows us to regain God’s favor. The Savior endured the suffering due for the accumulated sins of the whole world; however, only those who truly repent will receive the full benefits of the Savior’s Atonement (see D&C 18:10–12; 19:16–19). To read more about Jesus Christ as our propitiation, see the commentary for Romans 3:25. " (New Testament Student Manual)
  • John subtly emphasizes "knowing" of a different type than the gnostics taught.  If we want to "know that we know him," we need to "keep his commandments." (v. 3)  All the knowledge about God is useless in coming to actually know Him if we don't change ourselves to become like Him.  We do that by keeping his commandments.  There is not some secret shortcut way to come to know God that doesn't involve us changing our hearts and continually drawing nearer to Him.  "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."  (v. 6).  Christ is our model.  If we want to abide in Him, we do His works and love others.  

I am Writing a New Commandment, 1 John 2:7-17


  • John emphasizes the same commandment given of old, to love God and love our neighbor.  "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him." (v. 10)  If you say you are in the light and yet hate your brother, you're a liar. (v. 9)  John teaches that hatred brings darkness and that darkness blinds our eyes (v. 11).  How have you seen hatred bring blindness into your life or the life of others?  How have you seen love for others dispelling darkness and bringing light?
  • Elder Robert D. Hales said, "Light dispels darkness. When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. More importantly, darkness cannot conquer light unless the light is diminished or departs. When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs.

    Beloved young men and young women of the Church, we are engaged in a battle between the forces of light and darkness. If it were not for the Light of Jesus Christ and His gospel, we would be doomed to the destruction of darkness. But the Savior said, “I am come a light into the world.” “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”"

The AntiChrist is Coming, 1 John 2:18-27

  • John says that the AntiChrists who are teaching against Christ were actually once members who had left the truth (v. 18-19). Is there a parallel with today?
  • Paul says that an "unction from the Holy One," will help them "know all things." (v. 20).  This "anointing" could have been the gift of the Holy Ghost,  "Even as John pointed out how antichrists were at work within the Church, he assured the Saints that “an unction from the Holy One” would allow them to “know all things” as they sought to resist false ideas (1 John 2:20). Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained the meaning of “unction” in this verse: “Literally, an unction is the act of anointing, as with oil for medicinal purposes; figuratively, it is an anointing from on high, meaning that those so endowed receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Thus John said of the saints, ‘Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things’ (1 John 2:20), that is, they had received the Holy Ghost so that the spirit of revelation and knowledge rested with them” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 812–13)."  (New Testament Student Manual)  
  • Another possibility is that John was talking about temple anointings given to early Saints.  Lynne Wilson explains, "The KJV, “unction” means “anointed,” (RSV), or “are among the initiated” (NEB). The same word is used to mean “inaugural ceremony for priests” and we find it in 1 John 2:27. John writes to those who knew the sacred ordinations and probably the temple ordinances. He speaks to those saints who are endowed with the power of God."  
  • Whichever anointing it refers to, the point is that the true gifts of God can help us discern truth from error, for "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."  (Moroni 10:5).  John says that "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."  They don't need the secret knowledge the gnostics claim to have; they have the Holy Ghost to teach them and testify of truth.

The Children of God, 1 John 2:28-3:10

  •  "John called the Saints “the sons of God” and said that “when he shall appear, we shall be like him” (1 John 3:1–2). This is one of many biblical passages that teach about man’s potential to become like God and His Son, Jesus Christ (see Matthew 5:48; John 10:34; Romans 8:17; Revelation 3:21). " (New Testament Student Manual)
  • The student manual discusses the "the early Christian doctrine of deification—the idea that human beings can become like God. This doctrine continued to be taught by many Christian writers after the deaths of the Apostles. For example, the bishop Cyprian (about A.D. 200–258) wrote: “What man is, Christ was willing to be, that man also may be what Christ is. … What Christ is, we Christians shall be, if we imitate Christ” (New Testament Student Manual)
  • I love verse 2, "now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."  We can't see right now how glorious we will one day become.  As C. S. Lewis put it, "“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which,if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."  
  • Another sign of those who are not righteous is that they don't live righteously.  "He that committeth sin is of the devil"  Since we all sin, we need to recognize that when we choose not to repent and become clean, we are choosing instead to follow the devil.  Verse 9 is confusing as it is written because it contradicts most of the rest of the letter and makes it seem that it is impossible to sin if you are born of God.  The JST clarifies the verse as, "Whosoever is born of God doth not continue in sin; for the Spirit of God remaineth in him; and he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God, having received that holy Spirit of promise."  Lynne Wilson points out that "Most other modern English translations also change the meaning to refer to “practices sin” (NASB) or “continue to sin” (NIV)."

Believe in the Name of His Son, 1 John 3:11-24

  • Verse 13 reminds us that we shouldn't be surprised if the world hates us.  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "if you haven’t already, you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Such moments will require both courage and courtesy on your part . . . Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them."
  • Verse 16 tells us that not only should we love our brothers and sisters, but that we should "lay down our lives for them."  Given the persecution at the time, this could have been a literal sacrifice that some were making.  
  • The next verse is similar to other scriptures.  If we see a need in others and ignore it, what kind of Christians are we?  "But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"  James 2:15-16 says the same thing, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"  How can we be more aware of the needs around us and work to meet them?  What have you done this week to meet the needs of your brothers and sisters around you?
  • "To receive “whatsoever we ask” of God, we must “keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). The Bible Dictionary states: “The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them” (“Prayer”).  (New Testament Student Manual) 

Test the Spirits, 1 John 4:1-6

  • It's important to discern truth from lies, to "try the spirits" (KJV) or test them to see if they are from God (v. 1).  John gives several keys to recognizing truth.  The first is that a spirit that confesses that Christ came in the flesh is of God (v. 2), while the spirit of a false prophet teaches not that Christ came this way.  This is very similar to Moroni 7:16-17, "16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

    But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
    "
  • Of verse 3, Lynne Wilson writes, "False teachers of docetism taught that Jesus was not really a “human” who lived to suffer and die. Some taught that the divine Messiah or Christ joined the “man Jesus” at baptism and then departed from him just before his death. Others taught that the eternal Messiah really didn’t come in contact with temporal matter as that would have desecrated His divinity. These Greek philosophical arguments are laced with Gnosticism, which believed that only the spirit is perfect (that everything physical is bad and part of our punishment here on earth). They taught that salvation did not undertake to deliver mortals from sin and guilt, but rather it freed their spirit from contaminating matter. We face other antichrists now—humanism, materialism, skepticism, secularism, rationalism, and agnosticism, to name a few."  

Love One Another, 1 John 4:7-21

  • This section gives more calls to love one another, because "love is of God" (v. 7).  Another way we can discern false prophets is by their lack of love, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."  The real way we come closer to God is by loving as He loved.  In contrast with the gods of the Roman world, who toy with men and are demanding, the real, true God is one who love us!  "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
  • Can no one see God, as it says in verse 12?  "The King James Version of 1 John 4:12 reads, “No man hath seen God at any time.” The Joseph Smith Translation of this verse clarifies the misconception that mortals are unable to see God: “No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe” (in 1 John 4:12, footnote a). John continued by teaching: “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). John himself had seen God the Father (see Revelation 5:1; D&C 67:11)." (New Testament Student Manual).  Other prophets that have seen God include "Jacob, Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah . . .(see Genesis 18:1; 32:30; Exodus 33:11; Isaiah 6:1)." (New Era)
  • If we grow in love, then God can dwell in us and us in Him (v. 16).  I love to think about the light and glow I see in the older people around me who have spent their lives trying to love like that.  I want to be like that someday.  
  • Love also gives us confidence on the day of judgment instead of fear, because "perfect love casteth out fear." (v. 18)
  • "We love him, because he first loved us." (v. 19).  God doesn't wait until we understand the gospel deeply or until we do what's right or meet some arbitrary criteria.  He loves us deeply from beginning to end.  His love follows after us and seeks us out even when we have turned away from Him.  Elder Uchtdorf said, "while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, “What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?” God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind. In other words, the vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters.

    This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it. . . 
    Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love.
    God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him."

Born of God, 1 John 5:1-12

  • John says we show our love for God by keeping his commandments, which aren't "grievous" (v. 3) I love this quote from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, which covers so much of the same themes as 1 John,  "Do you love the Lord?

    Spend time with Him. Meditate on His words. Take His yoke upon you. Seek to understand and obey, because “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden. Obedience becomes a delight. When we love the Lord, we seek less for things that benefit us and turn our hearts toward things that will bless and uplift others.

    As our love for the Lord deepens, our minds and hearts become purified. We experience a “mighty change in … our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”

    Brethren and sisters, as you prayerfully consider what you can do to increase harmony, spirituality, and build up the kingdom of God, consider your sacred duty to teach others to love the Lord and their fellowman. This is the central object of our existence. Without charity—or the pure love of Christ—whatever else we accomplish matters little. With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive.When we inspire and teach others to fill their hearts with love, obedience flows from the inside out in voluntary acts of self-sacrifice and service. Yes, those who go home teaching out of duty, for example, may fulfill their obligation. But those who home teach out of genuine love for the Lord and for their fellowman will likely approach that task with a very different attitude.

    Returning to my original question, What quality defines us best as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? I would answer: we are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and we love our neighbors as ourselves.That is our signature as a people. It is like a beacon to the world, signaling whose disciples we are."
  • John emphasizes again the physical nature of God, saying that Christ came by water, blood, and the spirit.  These three witness of Christ. (v. 6, 8).  Verse 7, which adds an aside about how the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost are one, is actually an example of a later addition to the scriptures and was not in the original text.  Wayment notes that "the King James translation . . . used a Greek text that contained this spurious reading. However, the earliest manuscript to contain the Greek text of this additional verse is from the fourtheenth century, and it is clearly a verse that was added many years after the letter was originally composed." 

Concluding Remarks, 1 John 5:13-21

  • John reminds us that we receive answers to our prayers "if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:"  (v. 14)
  • Lynne Wilson notes of verse 18, “. . . whosoever is born of God sinneth not” (repeated in John 3:6, 8). The KJV sounds as if the righteous cannot sin and those who are elect do not need to work toward becoming Christlike. But, the JST once again changes the Calvinistic wording by adding five new words and cutting out three. “Whosoever is born of God continueth not in sin; but he that is begotten of God and keepeth himself, that wicked one overcometh him not.” The addition of overcometh identifies how Satan attacks us. He tries to influence us, but we do not have to yield. If we are not sinning Satan cannot “overcome” or conquer us. Many modern English translations also add the phrase, “continue in sin,” as Joseph did."

About 2 John

  • "New Testament scholars believe that 2 John was written between A.D. 70 and 100, probably in the last years of the first century. We do not know the location of its composition. . .The Second Epistle of John was written to “the elect lady and her children” (2 John 1:1). Since the epistle addresses a group of people, many commentators conclude that “the elect lady” actually refers to a Christian congregation (see 2 John 1:13). The Greek term for church is feminine, and it was common to personify the Church as a woman (see Ephesians 5:25–27, 32; Revelation 12:1–4, 17; 19:7–8). Another possibility is that “the elect lady and her children” were John’s wife and family.(New Testament Student Manual)
  • "The early Christian historian, Eusebius, recorded that John lived in Ephesus after Paul had opened the mission. He spoke of him being a very old man who was known by Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria. Even though John doesn’t identify himself as the beloved apostle, the style is very similar to his Gospel, and 1 John, so traditionally the authorship is given to the same man. We believe that Jesus gave John his desire to remain on the earth and serve God until the Second Coming (John 21:22–23)." (Lynne Wilson)

Warning about the Deceivers, 2 John 1:1-13

  • John reminds the "elect lady" about the importance of love.  "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments." (v. 6).  Why do you think John emphasized so much the connection between love and keeping the commandments? 
  • "John warned his readers that “many deceivers are entered into the world” (2 John 1:7). John advised the Saints that if they encountered a false teacher, they should “receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (2 John 1:10). John was not suggesting that the Saints should fail to extend common courtesy to those who taught contrary doctrines. However, since early Christian congregations gathered to worship in the homes of Church members, traditional customs of hospitality could inadvertently enable heretical teachers to infiltrate congregations. President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles warned modern Church members not to associate with deceivers and antichrists operating in our day:

    “Let us beware of false prophets and false teachers, both men and women, who are self-appointed declarers of the doctrines of the Church and who seek to spread their false gospel and attract followers by sponsoring symposia, books, and journals whose contents challenge fundamental doctrines of the Church. Beware of those who speak and publish in opposition to God’s true prophets and who actively proselyte others with reckless disregard for the eternal well-being of those whom they seduce. …“Perhaps most damningly, they deny Christ’s Resurrection and Atonement, arguing that no God can save us. They reject the need for a Savior. In short, these detractors attempt to reinterpret the doctrines of the Church to fit their own preconceived views, and in the process deny Christ and His messianic role” (“Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 63).
     " (New Testament Student Manual)
  • John seems to be warning against being complacent about the false teachings.  "For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (v. 11).  John seems to be condemning the spirit of ignoring the problem.  It's not good to "be neutral."  We have a cultural idea that all ideas are equally valid.  Because our culture doesn't believe in absolute truth, the idea of keeping an open mind and allowing all ideas and sides equal time can sound appealing.  But for those of us who believe in God and the devil, in right and wrong, we cannot subscribe to this fallacy.  As Elder Holland put it,  “The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team’s jersey we want to wear!"  (quoted in John Bytheway's book "When Times are Tough")  In speaking to the young men of the Church, Elder Holland also said, "From every man, young and old, who bears the priesthood, I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil and him who is the personification of it, but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God. Brethren of all ages, unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those “who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.

About 3 John

  • 3 John gives pretty solid evidence that the factions we've seen alluded to in many of the other letters are beginning to take over.  The prophesied apostasy is well underway in these late letters.  3 John addresses open rebellion from a Church leader and commends individual faithfulness.

Opening Address, 3 John 1:1-4


  • John writes to Gaius, who he loves, and commends his faithfulness.  He thinks of him as his child as he says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (John 1:4).  Though John spoke of his friend in this way, this statement is true of parents.  My greatest joys in life is seeing the good that my children do as they follow Christ.  It is a powerful thing for our family to have two missionaries serving.  Our oldest daughter returns from her mission in less than two weeks and it is incredible to see the growth she has experienced and the good she has done.  It's not just big things that bring me joy.  My four-year-old dotes on his little two-year-old brother.  He never gets a fruit snack or a sucker without grabbing two, "one for me, and one for Gideon!"  And even if Gideon isn't around, he doesn't eat both.  The other day, he woke up Gideon from his nap to give him the other sucker!  ("Never wake a sleeping child!" is my first rule of parenting, but it made me smile to have it broken on this occasion.  One of my daughters saw a friend had been missing from Church for quite a few weeks so she left sacrament meeting a bit early, went over to the girls' house, and invited her to come back for the second hour.  These are the moments that I find joy in.

Congratulations, 3 John 1:5-8


  • Gaius is commended because "thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:"  Gaius is simply good.  In contrast to Diotrephes, and in opposition to him, he has given charity and help to visiting brethren or perhaps Church members from another area fleeing persecution.  I like the way Wayment translates it, "you act faithfully by what you do for the brothers and sisters, even though they are foreigners."  Are we similarly engaged in helping refugees and foreigners?  Elder Patrick Kearon spoke about the refugee crisis in the world today,  "We must be careful that news of the refugees’ plight does not somehow become commonplace when the initial shock wears off and yet the wars continue and the families keep coming. Millions of refugees worldwide, whose stories no longer make the news, are still in desperate need of help.

    If you are asking, “What can I do?” let us first remember that we should not serve at the expense of our families and other responsibilities, nor should we expect our leaders to organize projects for us. But as youth, men, women, and families, we can join in this great humanitarian endeavor. . . There are multiple helpful ideas, resources, and suggestions for service on IWasAStranger.lds.org.

    Begin on your knees in prayer. Then think in terms of doing something close to home, in your own community, where you will find people who need help in adapting to their new circumstances. The ultimate aim is their rehabilitation to an industrious and self-reliant life.

    The possibilities for us to lend a hand and be a friend are endless. You might help resettled refugees learn their host country language, update their work skills, or practice job interviewing. You could offer to mentor a family or a single mother as they transition to an unfamiliar culture, even with something as simple as accompanying them to the grocery store or the school. Some wards and stakes have existing trusted organizations to partner with. And, according to your circumstances, you can give to the Church’s extraordinary humanitarian effort.

    Additionally, each one of us can increase our awareness of the world events that drive these families from their homes. We must take a stand against intolerance and advocate respect and understanding across cultures and traditions. Meeting refugee families and hearing their stories with your own ears, and not from a screen or newspaper, will change you. Real friendships will develop and will foster compassion and successful integration.The Lord has instructed us that the stakes of Zion are to be “a defense” and “a refuge from the storm.” We have found refuge. Let us come out from our safe places and share with them, from our abundance, hope for a brighter future, faith in God and in our fellowman, and love that sees beyond cultural and ideological differences to the glorious truth that we are all children of our Heavenly Father."
    " My own community doesn't have a large refugee population that I can serve, and the needs of our large family keep us from huge acts of service, but my husband and I have tried to reach out to those who are new to our country and welcome them as friends.  We can't do everything we might wish, but we can do something.

Diotrephes, 3 John 1:9-15

  • In contrast to Gaius (and Demetrius who we hear about in verse 12), John condemns "Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them," because he "receiveth us not." (v. 9).  This man's desire for prominence took precedence over welcoming John and those who traveled with him.  Not only did he not receive the brethren, he "forbiddeth them that would [receive the brethren], and casteth them out of the church."! (v. 10)  
  • "Diotrephes was apparently either a leader in a local branch or the host of a house-church. John noted that because Diotrephes loved to have “preeminence” among the Saints, he rejected the authority of John and other Church leaders. Concerning people like Diotrephes, the Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) wrote, “It is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion” (D&C 121:39; see also 2 Nephi 26:29)." (New Testament Student Manual).  How do we fight against the desire to have preeminence?  How do we fight against our own pride?  
  • Elder Holland spoke once about a "near-perfect elderly sister who almost apologetically whispered recently, “I have never been a leader of anything in the Church. I guess I’ve only been a helper,” I say, “Dear sister, God bless you and all the ‘helpers’ in the kingdom.” Some of us who are leaders hope someday to have the standing before God that you have already attained."  Can we all be "helpers" like her and Gaius and avoid the pride of Diotrephes?

About Jude

  • "The author identifies himself as “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James” (Jude 1:1). Traditionally the author has been understood to be Jude the half-brother of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). Jude was evidently an active Church member of high esteem in Jerusalem, and he had traveled as a missionary (see Acts 1:13–14; 1 Corinthians 9:5). Though Jude does not appear to have held a prominent leadership position in the early Church, early Christians held his epistle in sufficient esteem to include it in the New Testament canon." (New Testament Student Manual)
  • Jude's letter is evidence of many problems in the Church

Ungodly Have Entered Among You, Jude 1:1-16

  • Jude says he wanted to write a different letter but because of the challenges going on, he needed to write instead to "exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."  Are we willing to "earnestly contend" for our faith?  
  • Jude then condemns the problems in his day by alluding to various historical and scriptural happenings in the past.  He doesn't elaborate on a lot of these, which show his audience would have had a familiarity with each story or event.  The false teachers Jude warned against were
  1. Encouraging sexual sin, like Sodom and Gomorrha,  (v. 4-7)
  2. Denying the Lord Jesus Christ like the angels who kept not their first estate (v. 4-6)
  3. Speaking evil of Church leaders and contending sharply, like Cain (v. 8-11)
  4. Giving up true prophesy in exchange for greed like Balaam (v. 11)
  5. Seeking position and power like Core (v. 11)
  6. Full of emptyness, like clouds without water or trees without fruit (v. 12)
  7. Murmering, complaining, and working for their own advantage (v. 16)
  • In verse 6, "Jude wrote about the spirits who rebelled against God in the premortal world and followed Lucifer, calling them “angels which kept not their first estate” (Jude 1:6; see also Abraham 3:26, 28). Here, “estate” refers to a person’s rank or position. Because these spirits rebelled against the Father, they lost their standing before God and did not qualify for the privilege of coming to mortality—our second estate." (New Testament Student Manual)
  • "Jude 1:9 says that Michael the archangel disputed with the devil over the body of Moses. Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave insight about this verse: “Commentators assume … that Jude had before him and was quoting from a then current apocryphal book, ‘The Assumption of Moses,’ which has been preserved to us in fragmentary form only. This non-canonical work presents the doctrine that Moses was translated and taken up into heaven without tasting death. It appears to deal ‘with certain revelations made by Moses,’ and ‘with his disappearance in a cloud, so that his death was hid from human sight. … Michael was commissioned to bury Moses. Satan opposed the burial. … Finally, all opposition having been overcome, the assumption took place in the presence of Joshua and Caleb’ (R. H. Charles, The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, vol. 2, pp. 407–413.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:421).

    From the Book of Mormon we learn that Moses was translated and taken into heaven without tasting death (see Alma 45:19). This was necessary so that Moses could appear on the Mount of Transfiguration two thousand years later with his physical body and lay his hands on the heads of Peter, James, and John to give them priesthood keys (see History of the Church, 3:387)."  (New Testament Student Manual)
  • "Jude compared false teachers to the rebellious Cain, Balaam, and Core (or Korah, as it is spelled in the Old Testament), each of whom sinned grievously in the eyes of the Lord (see Jude 1:11). Cain murdered his brother Abel in order to gain his brother’s flocks (see Genesis 4:8; Moses 5:32–33). Balaam used his God-given gift of prophecy to seek after riches and honor (see Numbers 22:5; 25:1–8). And Korah rebelled against Moses because he was excluded from priesthood office (see Numbers 16:1–3, 31–35). In each instance the Lord cursed these men for their wicked actions."   (New Testament Student Manual)

A Christian Response to Dissension, Jude 1:17-25


  • Jude pleads for the people to resist the false teachers, to remember the words of the apostles (v. 17), avoid the mockers (v. 18), and keep themselves in the love of the Lord, looking for the mercy of Christ (v. 21).  
  • They should have compassion on those who have separated themselves from them (v. 22).  Other translations are much more clear than the KJV in verse 22, which says, "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"  Wayment translates it as "And have mercy on those who separate themselves."  the NIV reads, "Be merciful to those who doubt"  Doubt seems to be a modern plague.  How can we show love and mercy on those who are wavering in their faith?  One way is given in verse 23, "and save others by snatching them from the fire.  Have mercy couples with respect, hating even the clothing defiled by the flesh" (Wayment translation).  We need to go to the rescue of those who are faltering and save them from destruction, even while we are careful not to get enmeshed in sin and doubt ourselves.  Lynne Wilson explains, "This image comes from the ancient practice of stopping the spread of disease by fire. The Law of Moses instructed clothing should be burned if it were spotted with diseases. So too D&C 36:6 reads: “Save yourselves from this untoward generation, and come forth out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted with the flesh.” Jude exhorts the saints to avoid contact with even a spot of sin."
  • The last two verses remind us of Christ's ability to save us -- to save us from doubt, from those who try to pull us from our faith, and ultimately from sin and death.  "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever." (Jude 1:24-25)  How has Christ kept you from "falling"?  This video powerfully teaches about Christ's power to save us in this way:




  • The original talk by Elder Holland is a classic and reads in part, "My beloved brothers and sisters, today is Easter Sunday. Although we should always remember (we promise in our weekly sacramental prayers that we will), nevertheless this is the most sacred day of the year for special remembrance of brotherly hands and determined arms that reached into the abyss of death to save us from our fallings and our failings, from our sorrows and our sins. . .
    So today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we have ever had, every fear we have ever faced—to say nothing of our resurrection from death and forgiveness for our sins. That victory is available to us because of events that transpired on a weekend precisely like this nearly two millennia ago in Jerusalem. . . 
    That first Easter sequence of Atonement and Resurrection constitutes the most consequential moment, the most generous gift, the most excruciating pain, and the most majestic manifestation of pure love ever to be demonstrated in the history of this world. Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, suffered, died, and rose from death in order that He could, like lightning in a summer storm, grasp us as we fall, hold us with His might, and through our obedience to His commandments, lift us to eternal life.

Videos for the Week

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