The Gospel Doctrine Class
New Testament - Lesson 29
The Number of the Disciples Was Multiplied
“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory
of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55)
Acts 6-9
A study of this lesson will help us recognize that the work of
the Church is done by many people, all of whom contribute
their talents and testimonies to strengthen the Church.
President Howard W. Hunter: "It is in understanding and
accepting [the] universal fatherhood of God that all human
beings can best appreciate God's concern for them and their
relationship to each other. This is a message of life and love
that strikes squarely against all stifling traditions based on
race, language, economic or political standing, educational
rank, or cultural background, for we are all of the same
spiritual descent. We have a divine pedigree; every person
is a spiritual child of God." (Ensign, Nov 1991, p18)
President Spencer W. Kimball: "What could you do better
for your children and your children's children than to record
the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your
recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black,
your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?
"Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and
places, but there will also be rich passages that will be
quoted by your posterity.
"Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last
through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it
for eternity. Begin today and write in it your goings and
comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and
your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your
impressions and your testimonies. Remember, the Savior
chastised those who failed to record important events."
(Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p351)
President James E. Faust: "This greatest of all powers, the
priesthood power, is not accessed the way power is used in
the world. It cannot be bought or sold. ...Worldly power often
is employed ruthlessly. However, priesthood power is
invoked only through those principles of righteousness by
which the priesthood is governed." (Ensign, May 1997, p43)
Elder S. Dilworth Young: "If I am to receive revelation from
the Lord, I must be in harmony with him by keeping his
commandments. Then as needed, according to his wisdom,
his word will come into my mind through my thoughts....
Accompanying this always is a feeling of peace."
(Conference Report, Apr 1976)
Sidney B. Sperry: "...we can be sure that through prayer and
meditation Saul came to peace with himself and his God in
the desert place. Like Moses and the Christ before him, in
such solitary places was he prepared for his ministry;
doubtless, during this desert sojourn, he became the
recipient of divine revelations instructing him in the truths of
his new faith." (Paul's Life and Letters, p24)
President David O. McKay: "Meditation is one of the most
secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the
presence of the Lord" (Conference Report, Apr 1967)
Sidney B. Sperry: "We can only imagine Saul's reception by
his family and former associates upon his return to Tarsus.
Yet it would very probably be a sad one, marked by the
sorrow and evident displeasure of his father, a strict old
Pharisee, at his son's conversion to the hated sect
composed of the followers of Christ. Saul never once in later
years refers to the encounter with his family and former
friends. He doubtless chose to forget a scene that had
caused another tragedy in his life. Surely he would have
mentioned his father and mother if they had turned to Christ
through his preaching; he mentions the names of so many
other converts in his Epistles. And what, in the meantime,
became of his wife and child (or children) whom we believe
he had before Stephen's martyrdom? Perhaps there is still
another tragedy here. His wife may have completely
forsaken him also, after his conversion. But of this we can
only speculate; the record is silent." (Paul's Life and Letters,
pp29-30)
Next Week’s Reading Assignment
Acts 10–14; 15:1–35
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