Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the
Mount)
 Everybody
needs a partner.
 You will be given four minutes to “teach
one another” the scripture block you
have been assigned. The first minute you
are to study the scripture block and the
last three minutes are for a very brief
introduction to one another, sharing
insights, understanding, experiences that
are related to the scripture block, etc…
Of this sermon, PresidentHarold B. Lee said:
“Christ came not only into the world to make an
atonement for the sins of mankind but to set an
example before the world of the standard of
perfection of God’s law and of obedience to the
Father. In his Sermon on the Mount the Master has
given us somewhat of a revelation of his own
character, which was perfect, or what might be
said to be ‘an autobiography, every syllable of
which he had written down in deeds,’ and in so
doing has given us a blueprint for our own lives”
(Decisions for Successful Living [1973], 55–56).
 Matthew
5:2-12
 Matthew 5:21-25
 Matthew 5:27-30
 Matthew 5:38-42
 Matthew 6:1-4
 Matthew 6:9-15
 Matthew 6:19-23
 Matthew 6:31-34
 Matthew 7:6
 Matthew 7:7-12
 Matthew 7:15-23
 Matthew
5:2-12
 Matthew 5:21-25
 Matthew 5:27-30
 Matthew 5:38-42
 Matthew 6:1-4
 Matthew 6:9-15
 Matthew 6:19-23
 Matthew 6:31-34
 Matthew 7:6
 Matthew 7:7-12
 Matthew 7:15-23
The Beatitudes
Don’t even get angry
Don’t even look
Blind & Toothless
Almsgiving
The Lord’s Prayer
Treasures in Heaven
Seek God first
Pearls before swine
Answers to prayer
False Prophets
The Organizer and Creator of this world understood perfectly the nature and
importance of salt. More than thirty-five references to this substance are found in the scriptures.
In the Old Testament mention is made of a “covenant of salt” (see Lev. 2:13; Num. 18:19; 2 Chr.
13:5). In the New Testament the Savior referred to his disciples as the “salt of the earth,” and
charged them to retain their savor (Matt. 5:13). He repeated this charge to his chosen disciples
on the American continent:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt
shall lose its savor, wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men” (3 Ne. 12:13).
How many times have we read, or heard others read, this scripture? Yet, do we understand fully
the “salt of the earth” message? Are we conversant with the analogy? Are we responding
properly to its implications?
A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not lose its savor with age. Savor is
lost through mixture and contamination. Similarly, priesthood power does not dissipate with age;
it, too, is lost through mixture and contamination.
When a young man or older man mixes his thoughts with pornographic literature, he
suffers a loss of savor.
When a priesthood bearer mixes his speech with lies or profanity, he suffers a loss of
savor.
When one of us follows the crowd and becomes involved in immoral acts and the use
of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and other injurious substances, he loses savor. (Carlos E. Asay, “Salt
of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men,” Ensign, May 1980, 42)
Ten days ago, I had a beautiful and touching experience in the Salt Lake Temple, the building
immediately to the east of this tabernacle. There in that holy sanctuary I had the privilege of
sealing in marriage, in two separate but consecutive ceremonies, two beautiful young women
who are twins, each to a handsome and able young man of her choice. That evening, a double
wedding reception was held where hundreds of friends came to express their love and good
wishes.
Mothers often shed tears at a wedding ceremony. Sisters also, and sometimes fathers. Seldom
do grandparents show any emotion. But these beautiful girls were my own granddaughters,
and I must confess that this old grandfather choked up and had a difficult time. I don’t
understand why. Certainly it was a happy occasion, a fulfillment of dreams and prayers.
Perhaps my tears were really an expression of joy and of gratitude to God for these lovely
brides and their handsome young husbands. In sacred promises, they pledged their love and
loyalty one to another for time and all eternity.
Of course, all in marriage is not bliss. Years ago I clipped these words from a column written
by Jenkins Lloyd Jones:
“There seems to be a superstition among many thousands of our young who hold hands and
smooch in the drive-ins that marriage is a cottage surrounded by perpetual hollyhocks to
which a perpetually young and handsome husband comes home to a perpetually young and
ravishing wife. When the hollyhocks wither and boredom and bills appear the divorce courts
are jammed. …
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around
shouting that he has been robbed.” (Deseret News, 12 June 1973, p. A4.)
I am satisfied that a happy marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an
anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion.
Selfishness so often is the basis of money problems, which are a very serious and real
factor affecting the stability of family life. Selfishness is at the root of adultery, the breaking of
solemn and sacred covenants to satisfy selfish lust. Selfishness is the antithesis of love. It is a
cankering expression of greed. It destroys self-discipline. It obliterates loyalty. It tears up sacred
covenants. It afflicts both men and women.
Too many who come to marriage have been coddled and spoiled and somehow led to
feel that everything must be precisely right at all times, that life is a series of entertainments,
that appetites are to be satisfied without regard to principle. How tragic the consequences of
such hollow and unreasonable thinking! There is a remedy for all of this. It is not found in
divorce. It is found in the gospel of the Son of God. He it was who said, “What therefore God hath
joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6) The remedy for most marriage stress is not
in divorce. It is in repentance. It is not in separation. It is in simple integrity that leads a man to
square up his shoulders and meet his obligations. It is found in the Golden Rule.
There may be now and again a legitimate cause for divorce. I am not one to say that it
is never justified. But I say without hesitation that this plague among us, which seems to be
growing everywhere, is not of God, but rather is the work of the adversary of righteousness and
peace and truth.(Gordon B. Hinckley, “What God Hath Joined Together,” Ensign, May 1991, 71).
 Celestial—return
good for evil (godly)
 Terrestrial—return
evil for evil; good for
good (law of Moses)
 Telestial—return
teachings)
evil for good (worldly

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

1. You say to your son “I don’t want you to hang out with him.
He’s trouble.” Your son responds “Quit judging.”
2. Your neighbor is arrested for embezzling 100,000 dollars
from the bank where he works and you bank. You say to
your wife “he’s going to hell.”
3. A student in your religion class misses a ton of days
because he’s “sick”.
4. You feel like when you go to church everybody in the
ward judges you.
5. Your friends want you to go to with them to smoke weed.
You judge them and choose not to go.
6. The school where you attend won’t let you wear certain
clothes or hair styles. Isn’t that a type of judgment?

I have been puzzled that some scriptures command
us not to judge and others instruct us that we should
judge and even tell us how to do it. But as I have
studied these passages I have become convinced
that these seemingly contradictory directions are
consistent when we view them with the perspective
of eternity. The key is to understand that there are
two kinds of judging: final judgments, which we are
forbidden to make, and intermediate judgments,
which we are directed to make, but upon righteous
principles. I will speak about gospel judging. (Dallin
H. Oaks, “‘Judge Not’ and Judging,” Ensign, Aug 1999,
7).
“Couldn’t you imagine that if a family
purposely built their house on sand, their
neighbors would come running to their aid,
would probably warn them and try to
persuade them not to make such a critical
error? But we are actually witnessing this
tragic mistake taking place. Some houses are
being built on sand” (David B. Haight, “A
Foundation Whereon Men Cannot Fall,”
Ensign, Jul 1972, 107).