31: “The Lord Had Called Us for to Preach the Gospel” (Acts 16–21)

Tammy 0:01

So I pulled out my mission journal and I just wanted to read over some of my mission stories. And I gotta be honest with you, they're just not as great as Paul's. I was a little disappointed.;I wasn't a very good journal writer. I wish I could redo all of that all over again, and really write about the saints instead of the things that I ate and the cats that I saw. Well listen, today we are going to study Acts 16-21. This is the Apostle Paul's second and third missionary journeys. And I gotta tell you guys, they're all over the place, and so are our topics. We get to cover so many important truths from the stories from Paul's mission, and I can't wait to show you them.

Welcome to the Sunday on Monday Study Group, a Deseret Bookshelf Plus original brought to you by LDS Living, where we take the Come, Follow Me lesson for the week and we really Dig In to the scriptures together. I'm your host, Tammy Uzelac Hall. Now, if you're new to our study group, just want to make sure that you know how to use this podcast, so follow the link in our description. It's going to explain how you can best use this podcast to enhance your Come, Follow Me study this week, just like my friend Vicki Frost from Ogden, Utah. Hello, Vicki. Thank you for coming to see me and say hello at Women's Conference, I loved meeting you. Okay, now the best part about this podcast that makes it so different is that each week we're joined by two of my friends, so we get to hear different stories and perspectives from people who join me. And today we have an old-timer - Sharon Staples, not meaning, no episode

Sharon 1:26

No, 'old timer' is right. You got that right. So,

Tammy 1:28

I'm a jerk.

Sharon 1:29

Hello, everyone.

Tammy 1:30

Y'all know Sharon and ya love her. But Sharon, we're excited because we have a new friend joining us and her name is Kendra Bybee. Hello, Kendra.

Kendra 1:38

Hi. How are you guys?

Tammy 1:40

Oh, we're good. We're so happy to see you. Okay, I wish you guys could see her because - I know this isn't a video thing, - but she's beautiful. And she has on the cutest hat, like, a brimmed hat. She's so fancy. My hair is in a bun on my head and I'm sweatin' in my closet. Kendra, you're so cute.

Kendra 1:57

Thank you. What you can't see underneath the hat is that I actually have my hair in french braids, because I am that lazy. So

Tammy 2:03

You're my people, then.

Kendra 2:04

The hat disguises it, okay?

Tammy 2:05

I need a hat. There you go. Um, Kendra, will you just tell us a little bit about yourself for our listeners who've never met you or don't know anything about you?

Kendra 2:13

Yes. So, my name is Kendra Bybee. I freelance write for LDS Living. And one of the articles that I have written is actually about my mom who was the first black woman to receive her mission call. So that's kind of how I got started into doing like things with LDS Living. But then in my other life, I am an artist who goes by K Dawn. I'm K Dawn Creates and I have, I make abstract and mixed media art. And that's what I love to do.

Tammy 2:45

Oh my gosh, that's awesome. We're gonna put the links in our show notes to her article, you're going to want to read it, it is phenomenal. So you are a very good writer Kendra, and also to your art, cuz we all want to see it. Are you married? You have kids? Are you single? What's your story there?

Kendra 3:00

I am. I am married. I've been married for - hold on, I have to count - 16 years.

Tammy 3:05

Nice. Congratulations

Kendr 3:06

Been married for 16 years and I have a 12-year old.

Tammy 3:08

Oh my gosh, how fun. You're in the thick of it.

Kendr 3:11

Huh, yeah, I'm in the thick of it.

Tammy 3:13

Let the hormones begins, Sistah.

Kendra 3:15

Oh, yeah.

Tammy 3:16

Uhh. Oh my gosh. Okay. Well, if you want to know more about my guests, then you can read their bios and see their pictures which are going to be in our show notes at LDS living.com/sunday On Monday. And you guys are in for a treat, we are going to have such a fun discussion. So grab your scriptures, your scripture journal, and something to mark them with. Open up to Acts chapter 16 and let's do this. Here we go, Let's Dig In.

Okay, so here we go. First things first. Everyone, you have to turn in your map section of the Bible to map #13. Now if you have your phone, you're going to want to do this: go into the gospel app. When you click on that, go down to the little library icon with all the books. Then you're going to click on scriptures, then you're going to click on Study Helps. And then on Study Helps, click on Bible maps. And when you get to Bible maps, scroll until you see #13 and it says "The missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul." Okay. Now Kendra and Sharon, just looking at this right here, would you say Paul was a homebody or that he traveled a lot?

Kendra 4:27

A lot of walking.

Sharon 4:28

He didn't like, he didn't like to stay home apparently. My gosh, he went everywhere.

Tammy 4:33

He did go everywhere. I mean, you can see all of these dots. They're all numbered. Now the reason why I wanted us to look at this is because, of the 27 missionary journeys that are listed, 10 of them - almost half - are in our discussion today. That is a ton of moving around. And I like how you said Kendra, that's a lot of walking. It is estimated by some that he traveled by ship and by foot at least 13,400 airline miles during his years as a missionary. Oh, that's a lot. That's a lot of what do you call it? It's a lot of steps.

Sharon 5:08

Transfers?

Tammy 5:09

Over 10000 steps, right?

Sharon 5:10

It's a lot of transfers.

Oh, yes,

If you're a missionary you transferred from here to here to here to here.

Tammy 5:16

Okay, that is so great. I love you just said that because we're going to begin with journey #12, it's a mission transfer. And so he gets transferred from 12. And we're going to turn to Acts 16:1 where the journey begins. Okay, here we go. This is where the first one we're going to start with today. Mission transfer, Acts 16:1. And will you just look at verse 1 and tell me who is Paul's new missionary companion?

Sharon 5:46

It's going to be Timothy, but Timotheus is probably how you pro

Tammy 5:51

Timotheus. Yeah. So let's put a square around his name. Thank you, Sharon. And Sharon, what is unique about Timotheus, or Timothy?

Sharon 5:58

Well, for one thing, do you want to talk about his not being a Jew?

Tammy 6:03

Yeah, just tell us everything you learned about him.

Sharon 6:05

Well, he wasn't a Jew but he was a believer. And one thing that I thought was interesting was that he was circumcised. And you wonder, well, if he's not a Jew, why was he circumcised? And the explanation from several scholars is that he wanted to be able to identify with the Jewish population and to be accepted by them as someone who was a believer, not only in Moses and the Law of Moses by being circumcised, but he also was a believer in Christ. But he couldn't tell them that he was a believer in Christ and they wouldn't listen to him until he realized, until he showed them. I'd hope he didn't show them - but until he demonstrated to them that he, you know, he was circumcised and, and was trying to be someone who identified with them and their value system.

Tammy 6:57

I mean, that takes getting ready for a mission to a whole other level.

Sharon 7:00

Yeah,

Kendra 7:01

It really does. I think it's really interesting, though, that it says in that first verse how it says that he was the son of a Jewess. Like, so he had his mom, I'm assuming, because it uses the phrase "a certain woman", had probably raised him with some of these traditional faith customs. But because his dad was a Greek, they were like, Just kidding, we don't want you.

Tammy 7:25

Oh my gosh.

Kendra 7:26

That's like really interesting.

Sharon 7:28

That's exactly right. Now he would carry the Jewish line because the the Jewish line is in the matriarch.

Tammy 7:33

Yes. Kendra, I'm grateful you pointed that out. Because in verse 1 where it does say, so in fact, will you just read verse 1 for us, the wording's so beautiful.

Kendra 7:43

Yeah. It says, "Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek."

Tammy 7:55

Yeah, I like how what you said about her that she believed, she believed in Christ. And, wow, I mean, just coming from your experience and the article you wrote. What is it about a mom who believes. What are your thoughts?

Kendr 8:07

So my heritage is African-American, but I also have indigenous ancestry. And it's really interesting, because if you grow up with a mom of color, like you were just raised different. Like there are just certain things that your mom instilleds within you. And so I feel like that is really important. Like these women, and you know, kind of throughout, like the first few books of the New Testament, it kind of like mentioned women here and there, but they're not like going into how significant and important these women are. These women are so important because they are upholding and building this kingdom by teaching their children what they believe, right? And you can even go back to Old Testament times, that's what Moses's mom had to do with him so that by the time like the Lord called on him, he, it's not like he was brand new, like he had some stuff, And so the kingdom cannot be built and furthered without mothers and women who teach us, like, because they are so vital. They are like, we are building this the kingdom.

Tammy 9:08

Oh-HO! You are the perfect guest for this episode when we talk about women. Yes. I love how this works! Okay, that is awesome because yeah, get ready everybody. Buckle up, because we're gonna talk about some pretty important women in this episode, it's going to be so fun. Okay, so let's do this. Next to Acts chapter 16, I'm going to give you a cross reference. Let's put Matthew 28:19. And we've learned this, we're just gonna remind you about it. Matthew 28:19. This is where Jesus commands His disciples, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." That is what the Savior tells His apostles He wants them to do. So this is the message of Acts 16-21: "Go ye into the world." Now I have a great quote about this specific instruction. It's from Elder Uchtdorf, and we're going to read this and then I want to ask you a question. So Sharon, can you read this quote for us please.

Sharon 10:10

"I have often pondered and prayed about the Savior's great commission to His disciples to ""Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." I wrestled with the question, how can we, as members and disciples of Christ, best fulfill that great commission in our daily lives? Today, I invite you to ponder that same question in your heart and mind." from Brother Uchtdorf, Elder Uchtdorf.

Tammy 10:42

Thank you, Sharon.

Sharon 10:42

You're welcome.

Tammy 10:43

So I asked you this question, I wanted you to think about it before you came. What are some ways that we can do this, as Elder Uchtdorf has challenged us? What are some ways that we can go out and teach all nations and baptize them?

Sharon 10:58

Well, of course, missionary work. And also temple work. When we go to the temple we don't take a name, we escort that person whose name is on that card. So we become the escort for that person. And we are helping them, teaching them by accompanying them through the temple ordinances and through the temple procedures. So I think I'm doing missionary work when I get those people into the temple. So I think that's one important way in addition to, live, out in the countryside teaching, preaching the gospel. I think we can do that as well.

Tammy 11:40

Oh, I like how you said escort.

Kendra 11:42

Same, I love that. My thought, as I was thinking about this is, I think that ministering - and not even like having a specific assignment - but we are called to minister to everybody. I'm not, I'm not from Utah, we're from Kansas and I learned because I had to have a close-knit community. I learned how to minister to people who felt, who thought differently than I did. I learned how to like care for people. And if we do that, I think that that is how the gospel, that's how we spread the light of Christ. And I think like, so much of these chapters - yes, it's about missionary work - but there are so many great examples of ministering in these chapters.

Tammy 12:27

Oh, absolutely. That is a great input. Both of you are right on. In fact, I'd love to pose this question on Instagram this week is: How can we do this? I'd love to hear what other people are doing to preach the gospel, and bring it to all nations of the world and what this can look like on a daily basis, because that's what's going on here in Acts. And if we go back into Acts chapter 16, let's read what happened in verses 4 & 5, the result of Timothy being circumcised and the two of them going on a mission. Kendra, will you read verses 4 & 5 for us please.

Kendra 13:00

Okay. And it says, "And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."

Sharon 13:20

Oh, boy, we love verse 5. I love how it says "established in the faith...increased in numbers daily." So it's working.

Okay. And in an insight to that is that we know that the Apostles have the keys, as special witnesses, to open nations to the preaching of the gospel. They go first and they do that, and then it's our responsibility to follow them in and do as Chapter 5 says, and preach the gospel. And after they have, it's a process and it's a house of order. And the Apostles have those keys. They go in, they establish that nation for the preaching of the Gospel when those people are ready to receive it. And that's how the church is established. And so they send missionaries in and, you know, members, and it just works.

Tammy 14:07

Oh, Sharon, I'm a visual person. And I imagined in my mind when you said that they open or they unlock the door and open the door. Because one of my favorite movies as a kid is "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", or "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". But when they go to the factory and he unlocks the door and opens it and the kids rrrrrun into there, I was like, am I running? Or am I like, whoo, ha, aaa, well, maybe I'll just make it my way. So like I think that, I love that idea. Like they unlock the door and they want us to just rrrrrrun and minister and do temple work as fast as we can. So, thank you. Wow, that was a great visual and a great way to enter into this idea of missionary work and missionary stories and you two set it up perfectly as we talk about the rest of the transfers that Paul is going to experience. So in the next segment, we're going to continue on with this transfer, and we're going to meet someone who definitely did what Elder Uchtdorf challenged us to do.

Segment 2 15:08

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Tammy 15:23

Okay, so in light of Elder Uchtdorf's challenge, I was specifically struck with verse 13. So what you want to do is just bracket off verses 7-13, and you could write to the outside, "Paul went to teach all nations." Like it lists places that he went. Bracket off verses 7-13. These are some of the journeys that Paul took and he's all over the place. In fact, scholars believe it's, in verse 11-12, he just traveled 150 miles from Troas to Macedonia by boat. Like he's all over the place, a lot of distance he's going to travel. And as he's traveling, we have verse 13 that I just was struck with. And so read it for us Sharon.

Sharon 16:04

You bet. (16:13) "And on the sabbath we went out of the city by river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Okay. Now, I want to know from both of you, why do you think Luke, who is the author of Acts, why does Luke include this detail? That they "spake unto the women which resorted thither?" Want to know your thoughts.

Kendra 16:32

So I think, so it's really interesting because in the chapters preceding, there's this there's this very specific vision that Paul is given where he is, where it says that, like, Hey, you can't think of this thing as unclean, because I've made it clean, right. So women, right, are not usually allowed in the school, they're not able to like learn the same way as the men. And this sets up right there, like that dream that Paul had that we thought applied to this group of people? That applies to everybody, God is no respecter of persons. So women are not lesser, they are equal and they are a key part to this work going forward.

Tammy 17:07

Oh, my gosh, that is so good. Because actually, women are unclean for seven days every month - they are deemed unclean. Oh, that is such a good connection. Yes. So here they are. Nope, they can be taught. Excellent, Kendra.

Sharon 17:24

And in addition to that, if you look at verse 14, that's the kicker, because in that group of women was Lydia. And I'm sure we're going to talk about Lydia, but

Tammy 17:36

Oh, yes,

Sharon 17:37

It's not coincidental, it's not accidental, it's not just something they did. Oh, well, here's a group of women, let's teach them. It's no, it was purposeful. And part of that purpose was Lydia. And I think we'll probably talk about that,

Tammy 17:54

We're gonna talk about her right now. Yes, in fact, let's read what Camille Fronk Olson has to say about why she thinks Luke included women right here. I love what she teaches us about this. So here we have a quote. Kendra, can you read this quote for us.

Kendra 18:08

"Many would-be converts to Judaism considered some requirements of the Mosaic law, too greatest a sacrifice, especially circumcision for men. Not surprisingly, more women became converts to Judaism than men. Likewise, throughout the empire, more women than men showed interest in foreign religious practices. Those who did not fully convert but who adopted the Jewish belief in one God, observed dietary laws and the Sabbath, appreciated the moral teachings in Judaism, and feared God were called God-fearers. In his travels, Paul encountered many women who were God-fearers, and often found them to be prominent women of the community who regularly attended the local synagogue."

Tammy 18:08

That phrase, God-fearers. Tell me what your thoughts are about that. Women were called God-fearers. What does that mean?

Sharon 18:52

Well, fear, it's not fear as we understand it as being afraid of, right. It's respect for and admiration of God. They're not afraid of Him, they're respectful of Him and mindful of Him and recognize Him as who He is. God,

Kendra 19:16

I love that you said they're respectful of Him and recognize Him. And I think in addition to that, I think that traditionally speaking, I think that women are the, we are the keepers of memory. And how many times has the Lord commanded us to remember as a people? And so these women have been brought up with these traditions, they're learning these things, and they're, these things are coming to the remembrance again so that they can keep this tradition of remembrance and respect going forward.

Tammy 19:44

Absolutely. Both of you what you said, I really appreciate how you defined that. Real quick, who would you call God- fearers in your life? Do either one of you have women that are God-fearers? Give me their names.

Sharon 19:54

Well, I think there are three of us sitting right here on this podcast.

Tammy 19:58

Well, I'll take that first.

Sharon 20:00

I mean, absolutely. I mean, it's obvious how we feel about our Heavenly Father and our Savior and the Holy Ghost. So yes, I'm proud to be a God-fearer.

Tammy 20:11

I'll take that. Me too.

Kendra 20:12

Amen.

Tammy 20:13

Yeah,

Kendra 20:14

Amen!

Sharon 20:14

And of course there are others in our lives, you know, mothers, aunts, cousins, sisters, General auxilary leaders and others who have touched our lives and helped us along our path too in the kingdom. Of course,

Kendra 20:29

Yep, yeah. I think for me, I agree. I agree with all of that. But actually, one of the God-fearers in my life is my 12-year old daughter, like. And you know, her brain works totally different. She's like neuro-divergent and everything. But like, I am obsessed with "The Golden Girls". I'm not recommending it for everybody, but for me, I love "The Golden Girls." And somebody had given me a gift, and she was, she's like, Mom, like, you don't need this. And I said, Yeah, but I love the Golden Girls. And she looked at me, and she said, Who do you love more - "Golden Girls" or Jesus? I was like, Ouch, that hurts. Yeah, okay, you're right.

Sharon 20:30

Yeah, that's great. Oh, it's a great generation, she's part of a great generation and she's manifesting that greatness. That's wonderful.

Tammy 21:19

It is pretty incredible to watch this generation and to have the responsibility over them, whether you're a parent or an aunt or an uncle, or even in a calling. Anytime you get to work with these youth ,to be surrounded by these budding God-fearers is pretty profound, because they will have a remarkable influence on those they come in contact with. In fact, in Acts chapter 16, - and Sharon, you beautifully introduced us to her - let's mark a name of a God-fearer. Verse 14, put a square around her name. "And a certain woman named Lydia," There she is. Now we love Lydia. And here's why I love Lydia. So what you want to know is in verse 15 it says, "And when she was baptized, her and her household,". So we just learned SHE has a household, there's nothing about her being married. At all. It's just her household. So many scholars believe that she may have been single, or at least wealthy enough to have a household which would have included family members, servants, all sorts of people.

Sharon 22:22

Exactly.

Tammy 22:23

So Sharon read us, will you please read verses 14 & 15 so we can learn about Lydia.

Sharon 22:29

"And a [certain] woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." (meaning she invited us in and had us stay for dinner.)

Tammy 23:00

Yes, perfect. So let's talk about Lydia, tell me what you guys know or what you notice about her.

Kendra 23:07

I think it's really interesting that they say, "a seller of purple", because purple is royal. First of all, she's a hard worker. There's a whole lot of work that goes into dyeing fabric to be purple, which is for royalty, right? So

Tammy 23:18

In fact, can I tell you what this is because I looked it up, I had to find this out. So purple dye comes from the mollusk glands. One gram of purple dye requires 8000 mollusks. So you are totally right. Such a hard worker, such a hard worker. Keep going.

Kendra 23:35

Yeah. So she's a hard worker. But what is really interesting when it says that the Lord opened her heart, so she was a hard worker. And sometimes we, I think we think, Oh it's a single woman and she's a hard worker, and we just think like they're just so independent and that they don't need to know anything. She was humble. She's a hard-working humble woman. Like she was able to do this.

Sharon 23:58

Exactly, yes. And she probably was wealthy.

Tammy 24:01

Yeah

Sharon 24:01

You don't invite in all the people you know, 3 or 4, don't know how many were traveling with Paul. But it was Timothy and Silas and maybe even Luke at this time. Some researchers think Luke was with them as well. But we don't know that for sure. But and the fact that you said she was a humble is when she says "if you find me faithful," And she, that's a characteristic of being humble. If I'm worthy, if you find me worthy enough to house you, ie: Missionaries of God, I'd love to have you stay with me and feed you and house you and have you be here. And I think it's my understanding that she was one of the first ones to establish the church, ie: provide a building in which people could meet, and provided everything that they needed to have church services: altars, candelabras, whatever. I mean, it was still a Jewish community a little bit, some gentiles, so. But she was all the things that you mentioned Kendra. And I think her humanity and her hard work and her wealth she was willing to share, all of that, she was willing to share with those in the Gospel. Marvelous woman. I would like to meet her someday.

Tammy 24:01

Oh, gosh, me too. I think you perfectly both of you just described her. I wrote 'humble, hardworking, wealthy.' But yeah, that humility, "if you have judged me to be faithful." I'm so grateful you pointed that out Sharon. And Kendra, the idea that her heart is opened. I mean, that says a lot about her, especially for a woman who's hard-working and busy, that she had the time to have her heart opened. I asked you guys ahead of time, do either one of you have an experience, because let's talk about what that feels like? Or what does it mean to have your heart open? Do either of you have time in your life where your heart was opened for the greater good of a situation?

Sharon 25:21

Well, yes, when the sister missionaries taught me my heart was opened to them. So that was the beginning of my heart being open to all truth, because they brought that into my home, well, my apartment. And that's the first thing I thought of when you indicated that that might be a question. I thought, well, of course, I opened my heart to the sister missionaries because they were filled with truth. You can see it in their faces, see it in their eyes that they were true disciples, and they opened my heart.

Kendra 26:22

So I thought a lot about this because I, you know, my memory is not great. And there's been a few times that my heart has been open. But I think for me, the most profound was when I was 25, and I had a stroke when I was 25 and it changed my life. But it was also really interesting because my heart was open and I remember just being open to like so many different things and aspects of life. But, with that came a new difficulty, which is that it's when you have like brain damage and whatnot, it affects the way that you feel the spirit. And so for me, like I had that moment, but I also struggled to really keep an open heart. Like, it's, it's hard for me and I think that like, what I love about Lydia is that it says that the Lord opened her heart, but then she is putting into practice like this open heart. She's inviting these people in, she's trying to figure out how she can help spread the word. It's not just enough to have our hearts opened, it's that process of continually opening our hearts.

Tammy 27:24

Oh, yes, I appreciate how you just said that because it's not a one time event. We will be asked to open our hearts throughout this whole missionary journey we're on as we minister and do temple work and all of that, so,

Sharon 27:35

Constant

Tammy 27:35

Constant. Thank you, both of you. I want to add this last quote before we end this segment. Again, this is by Camille Fronk Olson, and here's what she has to say about Lydia. And Kendra, can you read this quote by Camille.

Kendra 27:48

It says, "Lydia shines in Scripture as a golden convert. She understood the gospel, she listened. She's led all of her household in baptism after her, she shared her resources, including her home, making it the most logical place to establish the first Christian congregation in the city. In this way, Lydia can be seen as a benefactor or patron of the Philippi branch."

Tammy 28:11

Thank you. Wow, what a legacy. And I'm grateful you brought that up, Sharon. In fact, I do have written in my scriptures that she was the first convert on the European continent. So, pretty amazing that a woman who, again, going back to what you said Kendra, I appreciated that, an unclean woman who's unclean seven days out of every month, the good that she did. So great discussion. Okay. So Paul's first mission that he's on, it actually closes with him back at Lydia's house - which we're going to read later - to stay with her and rest from a pretty tumultuous experience. So in the next segment, we're going to learn about that experience.

Segment 3 28:50

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Tammy 29:05

So I asked Sharon to tell us this story because when we met earlier and we were talking about it, she just went on about this story, and it's so good. And so I'm excited to have you teach it to us. We are in Acts chapter 16. And we're going to start in verse 16, all the way to the end of the chapter. So go ahead, Sharon.

Sharon 29:22

Let me just read that first, verse 16 of 16. "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with the spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying." Well, let's talk about those two words: divination. Divination, is seeking knowledge of future by supernatural means. And soothsaying is pretty much the same thing. But to me, it was like insider trading, meaning she did it kind of illegally and not up to snuff, but she was praising Silas and Paul and Timothy and saying, You need to follow these men. They're true. They're duh, da-da-da-duh. They're wonderful, you need to believe what they say. And Paul said, Um-umm. He had the discernment of evil, and so he cast out the evil spirit of this damsel because he was who he was and he knew that. And so, as a result of that, this damsel had a lot of businessmen and politicians and men called magistrates who were paying her to give them information about what's going on in the city. You know, what to buy, what to sell, who to vote for. I mean, all that kind of stuff, so she was pretty important to them.

And when she lost her power, they're of course were losing money. And they thought, uh oh,, this, this can't be right. So those magistrates, those guys brought charges against Paul and Silas, and brought them up before the leaders of the city at that time. And so they were cast into prison, Paul and Silas, but they were not just in a prison, they were in the darkest part of a prison where it was cruel. It was a cruel place, according to those who have studied about that prison. It was very dark and dank and bad, and they were put in stocks and shackles. So you know, they had no movement. They were cold and hungry and dark and miserable. But they didn't let that get them down. They decided to sing hymns, so they sang and prayed at midnight, that night when they were cast in. And what happened was an earthquake shook that prison and the locks on the prison doors opened, and their bands of shackles were loosened. So in verses 23 & 24, we learn that they had laid upon them many stripes, meaning they were beaten.

And the jailer was assigned to keeping them there, keep them safe, don't let them get away. They were prisoners and they were his prisoners. And so when this earthquake happened and the locks were opened and the bands were loosed and the jailer then feared for his life, thinking, Oh my gosh. I have failed because the doors are open and they're gonna get out, and I'm in trouble, I am in deep trouble. And so bad was it that he decided to take his life. And luckily, Paul and Silas were happened to be there with him and said, No, no, no, don't do that. That bad. that's a bad thing, don't do that. So the jailer said to them, Well, what can I do? You know, I'm going to be in real trouble here. If I don't take my life, they're gonna beat me and put me in here. And Paul said to and Silas said to him, You must believe in Jesus Christ and you must be baptized. So they taught him; he and his household were preached to. So it's not just Lydia's household, but now we have the jailer's household; they were preached to and they were baptized.

Not only that, but the jailer took them in, as Lydia did, and he treated their wounds, and He fed them, and he housed them. And what happened is then, Paul and Silas were Romans, they had been beaten. And as it says in 37, "openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily?" They want to throw us to the wolves? "but let them come themselves and fetch us out." Because they were Roman citizens and they deserved Roman protection, and was what they got from the sergeants ie: the guards for protection to get them out of the prison and including the jailer and his household. They were all protected until they got to Lydia and then from then on, of course, they were protected.

Tammy 33:46

Well, and you just love their reaction in verse 38. "And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans."

Sharon 33:54

Romans, right.

Tammy 33:55

Oh boy.

Sharon 33:56

The amazing thing to me is that Christ is in the details: the earthquake, the jailer, Lydia, the Gospel, the household. So much for this to happen and it did. Even though it looked bleak for those missionaries - for Paul and Silas. It looked so bleak. They prayed and sang songs, and it's just, I think it's a wonderful story of staying true to the faith, doing what the Lord has asked us to do. And I'm, and I relate that to missionary work. Because sometimes our missionaries, well and I and probably you, Tammy and probably you, Kendra, faced times in your mission you thought, This is not going to work. This isn't, you know that, you know, they're having riots in the street or they're calling us spies and spitting on us or they're, you know, whatever happened in your particular mission. But you stay true to the faith and you know that the Lord's in the details and everything will turn out okay. Like President Hinckley said, Don't falter, everything will be okay. And it's, that's what happened here, everything was okay. They got to Lydia and she was able to fulfill her desires and her mission in helping them fulfill theirs. That's the story.

Tammy 35:06

Excellent story. Such a good, Sharon, you did so well telling that. Thank you for telling us that story because it really is so powerful, especially the part where he asked to stay in the jail, sort of as a way to stick it to him. Because he's like, I'm a Roman, and you can't put me in jail.

Sharon 35:24

That's right.

Tammy 35:25

In fact, bracket off verses 37 & 38; that's where that conversation happens. Sharon, I really like how you applied this to our life, how you took this story and said that the Savior is in the details and things don't usually make sense. And you're wondering, How's this going to turn out? But it does, because Jesus has carefully planned all, and we've talked about this the last couple episodes. There's so many things that have gone into play with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so that things can work out. And who would have ever guessed that this sweet Lydia, seller of purple, would have been so integral to the gospel and to Christianity in Europe. And then to be a place where Paul and his companion could stay. Like it just, it just works out.

Sharon 36:04

It's wonderful.

Kendra 36:06

I love in that, in that story, I think it's really interesting when they talk about the guard, and how it says that he washed their stripes. And that always makes me think of Christ. And I think that's really interesting for this jailer, because I think that this story is a reminder that there are people who are prepared to receive the gospel, they have been called to receive it. And when it is the right time, that they will seek us out and act upon that opportunity.

Tammy 36:33

Um-hmm. What verse says he washed their stripes?

Kendra 36:36

Verse 33.

Tammy 36:38

Oh, verse 33, can I read that?

Kendra 36:40

Of course.

Tammy 36:41

"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." I mean for me, when I read that, too, it goes back to this idea of having his heart opened. And you would never have considered in a million years that this jailer would have had an open heart. But because of the way Paul treated him in that moment to save his life, that's, that relationship right there opened this jailer's heart. And then he, yeah, I like that you both brought up that he washed their stripes. And as a result, they're all baptized, he and his whole household. So good. That's a great story. Okay, so the thing I like about it, and what we've talked about is you just never know whose heart's going to be open. So in the next segment, we're going to learn about a tool that we have been given that can have an effect on opening hearts, and it can also lead many to receiving the gospel. We'll talk about that next.

Segment 4 37:33

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Tammy 37:49

So I have a fun fact for you guys. In 1998 Elder Bednar, who was then the time President of Rick's College, or BYU Idaho today. But, who are my Ricks College grads? Hey old people. Before it was BYU-I, he started a new tradition. At the beginning of each Tuesday Devotional, the attending students were asked to hold up their scriptures in the air. Now he did this because he was trying to place emphasis on the study and use of scriptures among the students at Ricks or BYU Idaho. So everyone who's listening right now hold up your scriptures in the air so you can remember this moment, here we go. I'm holding mine up. You've got scriptures, hold them up. And the whole idea of this, very good, Sharon, thank you. Hold those up, hold up your phone. Okay. Hold up your scriptures to remind you of the importance of studying the scriptures. So I asked you two to think about this. I want to know, Why do you guys study the Scriptures?

Kendra 38:45

For me, it was is funny because I thought about it and my answer is actually, Well, why not?

Tammy 38:51

Yeah.

Kendra 38:52

Like why don't I? Like if if I am truly trying to have my heart open to Christ, I have to be constantly looking for Him and willing to learn of Him. So why would I not read my scriptures?

Tammy 39:04

So good, great answer.

Sharon 39:06

And I say ditto to that, Kendra. And it's not only that, because it's for our own advancement. The more we know, the more we learn, the better prepared we are to do His will. And if we read the scriptures for our own benefit, then we read the scriptures for the benefit of others so that we can testify and teach. And if we don't know the Scriptures, how can we testify and teach? So we need that knowledge in addition to the faith that we believe that they're true. So it's for personal advancement, it's for the advancement of our family members or children or parent, whoever, whoever's in our purview with our lives as they're going on - anybody. If we are prepared with the Doctrine of our Savior and the scriptures, then we can help build the kingdom.

Tammy 39:57

Amen. Absolutely. In fact, I think that's exactly what Paul would say. Go to Acts chapter 17. And we're going to read verse 1 & 2. Sharon, can you please read those two verses for us?

Sharon 40:08

17:1 & 2. "Now, when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonia, where there was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures."

Tammy 40:08

There it is, highlight that: "reasoned with them out of the scriptures." But what about verse 2 when it says, "And Paul, as his manner was."

Sharon 40:30

Right, hello? just who he was.

Tammy 40:45

Hello. We, I mean, I like that, "as his manner was." Then we're all like, Oh, we know what he's about to do. Right? He's gonna just preach, and so he does it out of scriptures. Okay, so as he's doing this, here's something interesting. Polis Amphipolis and Apollonia, that's an 80 mile trek. So again, he's all over the place. Here we are in his missions. He teaches them out of the scriptures and he teaches, look at verse 4 at the very end, "the chief women, not a few." I mean, there are so many people who are listening to him. Many people who want to hear what he has to say. Okay, so as we go along in this story, then, we have Paul who's teaching out of the scriptures. We also have more examples of how important scriptures are in Scripture studying. Turn to Acts 17:11 & 12. It says that "the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews." So they're in a New Synagogue teaching. And then we have verses 11 & 12. Kendra will you read those for us.

Kendra 41:45

"These were more noble than those and Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few."

Tammy 42:00

There's women again, studying the Scriptures, we have how important - they searchedo the, and look at 11. How often did they search the Scriptures?

Kendra 42:08

Daily.

Tammy 42:09

Yes. Searched the Scriptures daily. Go ahead Sharon.

Sharon 42:13

What's amazing to me, is that we see this being played out today. Our Apostles are all over the world. They're traveling all over the world now, not just Paul and Silas. And they're going to every nation, kindred and tongue. And they teach out of the scriptures. Fortunately, for us in this modern day, we have additional scriptures, you know, not just the Tanakh, not just the Old Testament. We have the Doctrine and Covenants, we have the Pearl of Great Price. We have so much that they teach out of for US. General Conference, that's part of their travels, that you know, Salt Lake is on their mission route, is to teach us. And so when I think of Paul and Silas and where they went and traveled by land and by sea, and I think, Gosh, I'm wondering where Elder Rasband is this week? Or where Brother Anderson is? And I think they're doing the same thing on a higher level, a higher scale with additional information. And I'm just, I'm just glad to be part of this church.

Tammy 43:22

Yeah. Thank you for sharing that.

Sharon 43:25

Just an insight for me.

Tammy 43:27

Well, it's a great insight. In fact, it goes right along with Acts 18:24-28, another story of a man teaching from scripture. His name's Apollos, and it tells us about the role that scriptures plays in his life and the missionary work. Let's read verses 24-28, we'll read this story. Let's each take a verse. And we'll start with Sharon and then Kendra and then me.

Sharon 43:48

Okay. 24 reads, "And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

Kendra 44:00

25: "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the Spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John."

Tammy 44:00

So he was, he was a believer of John, that that's John the Baptist. 26: "And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." And real quick right here, Aquila and Priscilla, they come from Acts 18:1, they're married. They're tentmakers and converts who Paul stays with when he arrived in Corinth. And then later in First Corinthians, their home will actually be a center of Church activity, so kind of just tuck that in the back of your mind.

Sharon 44:42

27: "And when he was disposed past into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

Kendra 44:55

28: "For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

Tammy 45:02

Okay, let's just do this real quick. Highlight and mark that last line that was read that says, "showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." I mean, because I heard that and immediately had the thought, Now, that is why I should study the Scriptures. I just, I want to be able to do that with the scriptures. That was, that was powerful to me. I love that. So thank you. Okay, let's go on. Another great example of how important scripture study can be, and being prepared - missionary work. These are great examples. Now, going back to that fun tradition I told you about, and we will include this in our show notes, there's a link to the talk where Elder Bednar introduces this new tradition. And his entire talk was about scripture study. And in it, he said, here are his top three reasons why studying the scriptures is important. So Sharon, will you read the first one for us.

Sharon 45:51

"Studying the scriptures is important because of the covenants we have made.

Kendra 45:56

"Studying the scriptures is important because of the direction we need in our lives.

Tammy 46:00

"Studying the scriptures is important, because scripture study is a preparation for and prerequisite to receiving personal revelation." And then he says this: "Those three answers can be summarized in the following words: covenants, direction, and revelation. Those are the three doctrinal reasons why studying the scriptures is so important." And so I've written next my scriptures those three things, and I think that is powerful, that it can be summed up in covenants, direction, and revelation.

Sharon 46:31

Absolutely, great teachings. Great.

Tammy 46:34

So great. So I asked you guys to think about this question before we met. What are some verses of scripture that have made a difference in your life?

Sharon 46:42

Mosiah 5:15.

Tammy 46:45

Mosiah 5:15. Let's read it.

Sharon 46:49

Mosiah 5:15: "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen."

Tammy 47:22

Sharon, that's an incredible go-to scripture for you. Why is that your go-to?

Sharon 47:28

Well, because it tells me what to do, and the blessings I'll get if I do it. And it tells me who He is, and that He's the one who's telling me, so I should believe it and do it. And that He will seal me His. Not sealed in the sense of you know, a marriage sealing, but sealed as His sister, as His ward, as His patron, as His, whatever. It's just that He and I will be connected, that His will will be my will, my will will be His will, and we'll be sealed in the pact of the gospel in His atoning sacrifices, and the plan of salvation and everything. It just, it's powerful every time I read it, and I read it often, that He will seal me His and He will bring me to heaven.

Tammy 48:21

That is an awesome scripture. In fact, I looked back at those three things - that Scripture is about covenants, direction, revelation right there.

Sharon 48:28

Right.

Tammy 48:30

Thank you, Sharon.

Sharon 48:31

Thanks for asking.

Tammy 48:32

Kendra, what's your go-to Scripture?

Kendra 48:35

My, I feel like mine is like a cliche'. Cuz it's the Youth theme this year. But it's actually, it's always been my favorite, my favorite go-to Scripture and it's Philippians 4:13, which says, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

Tammy 48:51

Why is that it?

Kendra 48:52

Because no matter what we're going through, even good times, bad times, like, you know, just mediocre times we can do what the Lord needs us to do as long as we depend on Christ. We can do all things. There's nothing too hard for our God.

Tammy 49:11

Amen. Nothing too hard for our God. Covenants, direction, revelation right there. "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." Thank you.

Sharon 49:20

Even if it's hard, we can do hard.

Tammy 49:22

Yeah. Right?

Sharon 49:24

We can do hard.

Tammy 49:25

We can. Mine came about when I was like, probably in my late 20s, wondering if I was ever going to get married. And I had just reached an all-time low of sadness and depression. And I remember crying on my bed, praying, Heavenly Father - and I'd just had it, I was sad and lonely and frustrated. And I had the thought, Al lright, maybe I'll just read my scriptures because I read them every night before I went to bed. But this time I tried something different because I heard that sometimes it could work. It's called scripture roulette. You know, we just open some random place, put your finger on a verse and read it. I'd heard of it working for some people, but I was like, I don't know if it'll work for me. So I did it, I just thumbed through my scriptures, opened up, closed my eyes, pointed at a scripture and read Alma 37:47. And this is what it says: "And now my son, [or and now my daughter,] see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son [daughter], farewell."

And that "look to God and live" just hit my heart because I wasn't living. I wasn't. I was sad, I was consumed in myself, I was just all about me. And that was like, You need to get back on track. You need to Look to God and live, and not yourself, and not the world. And so that has always sort of been my mantra like, "Look to God and live." It's the only way I can do it. And that's how I do hard things is looking to Him and then living my life. So that's my scripture.

Sharon 50:54

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Tammy 50:56

Well maybe we'll ask, well you're welcome. And maybe we'll ask that question. What's everyone's go-to Scripture? Why do you study the Scriptures and what's your favorite scripture verse? That would be so fun to find out from people. So okay, thank you. Well, Paul leaves Berea. And in the next segment, we're going to tell you where he went. And we're going to tell you how Paul did. And if he did, as his manner was, if he proved to be successful. We'll do that next.

Segment 5 51:21

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Tammy 51:38

All right, you two. I have a picture to show you. I think this picture is really cool. And if you can see this picture in our show notes, it gives you context for where Paul went on his next mission. Can you guys describe to the listener what you're seeing?

Sharon 51:52

So it's a huge, a huge building. It looks like a bunch of rocks beneath that columned building.

Tammy 51:58

Kendra, would you say it's modern or old?

Kendra 52:01

Well, for the time it was modern.

Tammy 52:05

Yes, very good. For our time today?

Kendra 52:08

For our time it is very ancient. It looks like the building at the top is probably like a forum or a temple of sorts.

Tammy 52:14

Ah, you're brilliant. That's exactly what it is. In fact, this is called Mars' Hill. Turn with me to Acts 17:15. This is where Paul goes next, his next mission is Acts 17:15. And Kendra, can you read verse 15 for us.

Kendra 52:32

"And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed."

Tammy 52:42

Thank you. So I circled Athens, and drew a line over connecting it. Write then to the outside, it's a 250 miles south of where he was, that's how far he had to travel. So now he's in Athens and he's teaching the people. Now here's an interesting thing about Athens that you want to know. Athens was the world center of idol worship, and some claim it was easier to find a god in Athens than it was to find a man. That's how many gods they had that they worshipped. So knowing that right out of the gates without even reading anything in these verses of Scripture, how do you think Paul is going to fare - successful or not successful?

Kendra 53:21

Not so great.

Sharon 53:22

Not so great, no.

Tammy 53:24

In fact, let's look at just verses 17-20 and we're going to circle a couple of words that might make us think, Oh, Paul's not going to be successful. Verse 17, we have the word disputed. "Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews." Oh, daily he does this. Verse 18, it's what they call him. "And some said, What will this babbler say?" Babbler, he's going on and on and on. Verse 20, they describe what he's talking about, "For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears." Like we don't even know what this is. Now Kendra, you're smiling. Tell us why.

Kendra 54:01

Well, I just, I love that. They say it's like you're bringing strange things to our ears. Like you have so many gods you can't keep track. Are you serious?

Tammy 54:08

Yeah, that's so true. He's like, and you're teaching us about one God? That is so strange. Yeah. Oh, Kendra, that's great insight. So okay, so Paul's teaching, and all of these philosophers, the Athenians, they invite him to preach. They're like, come and teach us. So he teaches them, in verse 22: "He stood in the midst of Mars' Hill. That's the picture that we have. He stands on top of that hill, and he begins to preach. And so we just have to read what He taught, we can't even just gloss over it because it is so profound. So we're each going to take a verse, everybody get comfortable. And we're going to start in verse 23 and read to verse 29. Now grab something to mark your Scriptures with as you're listening to us read these verses. I want you to underline what stands out to you in this just epic speech from Paul on Mars' Hill. Okay, here we go, verse 23.

Sharon 55:05

"For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you,

Kendra 55:21

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Tammy 55:31

"Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Sharon 55:40

"And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;,

Kendra 55:53

"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they they might feel after him, and find him though he' be not far from every one of us;"

Tammy 56:03

And by the way, before we go, on that verse that Kendra just read, you want to look at footnote b, where it says, "And they should seek the Lord; (b) the jJoseph Smith Translation says, Kendra, will you read that for us?

Kendra 56:16

"If they are willing to find him, for he is not far from every one of us."

Tammy 56:20

Thank you, verse 28. "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of our own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Sharon 56:30

"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

Tammy 56:45

Thank you. Ah, okay, tell me what you guys marked. What stands out to you about this speech on Mars' hill?

Kendra 56:52

Yeah, I've marked verses 26-28 because I think it's so unique because he gets up and he's teaching them that we are all children of God, that makes us siblings. So like, You're not better than me, I'm not better than you. We, like we are all in this and God is no respecter of persons truly. And He controls everything.

Tammy 57:17

I'm grateful you brought in "no respecter of persons." We actually studied this, that verse last week when that was taught. So thank you for bringing that in. I appreciate your emphasis on this idea that we are all children of God. I mean, verses 28 & 29 must have been so strange. Talk about strange things for these people. Right? For them to go, Wait a minute, we're His offspring? He's our father.?And for them to call Him the unknown God, not even sure of a name or any role He plays in their life. And now, of all the things Paul could have taught, don't we love that he just funnels it down right into, Oh, and by the way, He's your Father.

Sharon 57:59

Yeah. Um-hmm.

Tammy 58:00

There is so much power and beauty in this incredible Mars' hill speech. And then when we talk about, and Kendra I'm so grateful you said that, like He is no respecter of persons. In fact, when you marked verse 26, the part that I thought of when you said that was "He hath made of one blood all nations of men." Like what do you think of when you hear that?

Kendra 58:21

I mean, it to me, it's just like, it's the first two commandments that Christ gave like, love God and love your neighbor, as you love yourself. The whole some of it is basically like, Guys, it's really not that hard. The other commandments become redundant if you just do the first two. Like really, truly. And so I love that we are all together, we're all connected. And if you are not truly loving your neighbor, then you can't truly love yourself. You can't love God because you are not recognizing the divinity in another child.

Tammy 58:52

Yeah. In fact, Kendra, I want to know if I can just ask you this personal question. That verse and specifically this idea of being children of God, as a woman from the BIPOC community, of a woman of color, how important is this verse for your brothers and sisters to know?

Kendra 59:07

I think I mean, it's very important. And I mean, I've had a lot of interactions. I, you know, I've been blessed to be a member my whole life. But I've had a lot of interactions where people have treated me really poorly because of my skin tone, which I have no control over. And so it's always like, whenever I read this, and like guys, it says, right here. We all came from the same place, we're all going to end up the same place. Like no one is better than anybody else, like we are in this together. And what to me, what it also teaches us is that when we remember that we are children of God, it connects us. We are all connected. You're not doing, everything that we do affects other people. It is not just about us.

Tammy 59:48

Wow. I like that, I wrote that in my scriptures. That verse connects us. Oh, thank you Kendra. I appreciate your willingness to answer that question.

Kendra 59:59

Of course.

Tammy 1:00:00

So we have a great quote, this is by Elder Brian K Taylor of the Quorum of the 70 in his 2018 General Conference talk, and I just think it's a beautiful quote about Satan and his role to try and get us to not believe these verses. And Sharon, can you read this quote for us?

Sharon 1:00:16

Certainly. "This great war over divine identity rages fiercely as Satan's proliferating arsenal aims to destroy our belief in and knowledge of our relationship with God. Thankfully, we have been blessed with clear vision and understanding of our true identity from the beginning.......Coming to know our Father changes everything, especially our hearts, as His gentle Spirit confirms our true identity and great worth in His sight. God walks with us along the covenant path as we seek Him through prayerful pleadings, scriptural searchings, and obedient strivings." end of quote.

Tammy 1:01:01

Thank you. Just jump in. Is there anything you want to say about that quote, or thoughts you had as you were reading it?

Sharon 1:01:07

Well what it says to me is that -and I don't want to cast blame on anyone or anything - but they say try to read the Book of Mormon in a month. Try to read this in a year. My gosh, if we actually studied and contemplated, and looked at the scriptural searchings and obedient striving, if we actually did all that it will take us years.

Tammy 1:01:35

Yeah, it really would.

Sharon 1:01:37

So rushing through, reading the scriptures say, okay, Yes, we did that in a month's time, we'd read it all. Well, how do you gain the insight and the discipline to think outside the box or to bring in talks by Brian K Taylor, or any of the others that we've quoted here today, brother Bednar and others. That is so significant to the strengthening for me of the scriptures. And so I really appreciate quotes like this to help me realize that I do not need to speed through the scriptures. I need to study them and incorporate them into my life and have them be part of who I am. And I'm so grateful for them.

Tammy 1:02:24

Oh, thank you, Sharon. Well, iand Sharon's our Gospel Doctrine teacher. How different would your lessons be if people really studied and prepared throughout the week for your lesson?

Sharon 1:02:36

Oh, my gosh, I have a hard time not punishing them for not doing it, you know. You just welcome them and are grateful they're in church. But yes, yeah, I think studying the scriptures like for this podcast? My goodness gracious. My appreciation for Paul, and Timothy and Silas and Luke, is just over the top now. Because I, I feel a kinship to them and that's because we have studied it. And of course prayed about it. And it's so significant for me that we actually study it out in our minds and in our hearts and in our souls.

Tammy 1:03:15

Um-hmm. For sure,

Kendra 1:03:16

I was thinking, and this is kind of like abstract, but I just feel like whenever I read that quote, I feel like it basically says like if we forget who we are, we're gonna lose our way. And so I appreciate that quote because it's a reminder for us to focus on what's truly important. There's a lot of things in life that call for our attention, but they're essentially distractions. Anything that distracts our focus from who we are and our relationship with God is not, then we shouldn't be putting energy into that, as much energy as we do for some of the things, right. It's really important because as we remember who we are, we remember what we're working on and like what our goal is.

Tammy 1:04:01

Um. And what you just said, Kendra really, really strikes at this quote when he says Satan's proliferate, "Satan's proliferating arsenal aims to destroy our belief that we're children of God." So you're absolutely right. Thank you. So then as my last question in this segment, then, what does your identity as a child of God mean to you?

Kendra 1:04:22

For me, it means everything. It's everything to me because this teaches me that I am divine and that I have light and that God knows me. And just like any person who has ever tried to care for children, be you know, parent, uncle, grandparent, whatever. You're not, the kids are never an afterthought. And sometimes I think we feel like that, right? We think like, Gosh, did You forget about me? And this is very plain, like, I didn't forget about you, like, just be patient, child, right, which is hard. Patience is not one of my virtues. And so It's just so important. For me, I have to constantly remind myself who I am. Because that keeps me focused on where I'm going, which is hopefully to return to live with, you know, our Heavenly Parents.

Tammy 1:05:14

Right, thank you.

Sharon 1:05:15

Wonderful

Tammy 1:05:16

Great.

Sharon 1:05:17

Uh, mine is, I'm glad I voted in our premortal existence to sustain our Savior's plan. I'm glad I did that, that it reminds me that I voted for Him, and for what would lie ahead for all of us. And that, my goal now, and my responsibility is, to sustain that vote by continuing to study and to learn and to serve and to be kind and generous and to be a Lydia and to be whatever so that I can be part of Their family: our Father's family, our Savior's family, our Heavenly Mother's family. I would get FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out, you know, I have fear of missing out. I really do, I have it when it comes to wanting to be with Them and with my family. So I want to do everything I possibly can do to be part of the bloodline of our Heavenly Father.

Tammy 1:06:30

Wow, that's great, Sharon. Thank you. So we'll finish this discussion with this quote from Elder Maxwell, when he gave this in April of 2004, and it's the last address he gave before he passed away. And here's what he wanted us to know.

"I testify to you that God has known you individually, brethren (and sisters) for a long, long time. He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars, He knows your names and all your heartaches and your joys. By the way, you have never seen an immortal star, they finally expire. But seated by you tonight are immortal individuals, imperfect, but who we are nevertheless, trying to be like Jesus. In His name, even Jesus Christ, Amen."

Sharon 1:07:19

Amen. Brother Maxwell.

Tammy 1:07:20

What a great, and then he will pass away three months, in July of that same year. Great message to hear from him. I agree completely. So thank you so much for all of your comments and for that great discussion on being children of a Heavenly Father. So in the next segment, we're going to continue on with Paul's journeys, another mission transfer, and some of his last words that he has for the believers.

Segment 6 1:07:42

.....

Sharon 1:07:42

All right, so we don't even have time to cover Acts chapter 18, Acts chapter 19. I highly recommend you go and read them, great stories. You've got the awesome story of Aquila and Priscilla, who were tentmakers which, by the way, so was Paul. That's where we find out what his previous occupation was. They get baptized. Then in 19, we have this great story about Diana, a god that they're worshiping. So go study that. And then we come to Acts chapter 20. Okay, oh, and we don't even have time to do 21 and I'm sorry. Let me just point this out, because Sharon, we would be remiss if we didn't. In Acts 21:9, we meet a man who has daughters which have the gift to prophesy. So cool, again, really powerful women. Okay, so go back with me now to Acts chapter 20. We're actually going to begin with the ending of this story. So go to Acts 20:36, 37, & 38. Paul is with the Ephesians and he is teaching them one last time before he leaves his mission and gets another mission transfer. I just want to read how the people responded to his words. Kendra, can you read verses 36-38.

Kendra 1:09:00

"And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. Sorrowing most of all for them words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship."

Tammy 1:09:18

Tell me about the reaction of the Ephesians to him leaving.

Sharon 1:09:22

My gosh, they loved him so much, you know. They cried and wanted to hug him and hold him and say, Don't go, don't go. That a true demonstration of love.

Tammy 1:09:34

And he loved them. So let's read some of the words he said to them that brought this emotional goodbye at the very end. We're going to be in Acts chapter 20. And we're going to start and let's just read verses 18 & 19. Sharon, can you read those for us, please.

Sharon 1:09:49

"And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I had been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:"

Tammy 1:10:09

Underline 'temptations.' That word translates as trials ,ordeals, or afflictions. Wow, Paul experienced a lot. "Humility of mind, with many tears and trials, ordeals, and afflictions." Okay, so he goes on telling them how I was testifying to the Jews. Verse 22: "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there." Kendra, will you please read 23 and 24.

Kendra 1:10:10

"Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

Tammy 1:10:57

Thank you. Then bracket off verses 28 through 31. And label those 'Paul predicts apostasy.' So then he's saying, I'm going to leave and it's going to get hard. In fact, 29 says, ".... know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." Oh, that must have been hard to hear. But then he's like, but let me tell you what. And so we're going to read verses 32-35. So Sharon, will youu read that.

Sharon 1:11:25

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourself know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Tammy 1:12:02

Okay, highlight at the end of verse 35 - What is significant to you about Paul ending his speech to them with "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Of all the things he could have ended with, why that?

Kendra 1:12:14

Well I think it's interesting, because when we were talking about at the beginning, about how to live this daily commission, I feel like that's what Paul is telling them is that you have to keep giving and ministering to each other. This is not about what you're getting. This is about what you're willing to give the other members of the Church.

Tammy 1:12:31

Oh, yes! In fact, I'm writing your answers, at the beginning. I'm writing, ministering and temple work, how we give. Excellent. What about your thoughts, Sharon?

Sharon 1:12:41

Well, he did it. He's summing up what he has done. And he has felt blessed for it. So he's just summarizing the significance of, I think, of his missionary journey. It's more blessed to give than to receive, because that's what his life was all about. I mean, in the travels, in the prison, in being beaten to almost to death, giving, giving, giving, giving. Saving the jailer from death, and it's just, so it summarizes what he learned and demonstrated.

Tammy 1:13:18

Sharon, you said something - you said it's what his life was all about. And that struck me because immediately in my mind I thought, How can that be what I am all about? How can we make sure that we give more than we rereceive? It is not easy.

Sharon 1:13:33

Oh, know. But it's like Kendra said, ministering. That, I think that's a key right there. And you hit it right on the head, Kendra.

Kendra 1:13:41

But I think that it also is like everything that Paul is doing, he's emulating Christ. Sometimes I think we read these stories and like, Yes, this is a story about Paul. And it's very hard for some people to connect what this teaches us about the Savior. This is Paul showing us this is what the Savior did. He was giving. Like, if you, and if you go back to the Four Gospels, rChrsit is not receiving a lot. It's Him giving constantly. This is the pattern, this is what they're teaching us is you have to keep giving and keep ministering, because that's what Christ did. And that's what's required of all of us.

Tammy 1:14:18

Sharon, you look pensive. Any thoughts?

Sharon 1:14:19

Well, giving us going to the temple, giving us teaching Primary class, giving us talking to the lady in line at the grocery store asking her how her day is. Giving is, I mean, it's, you know, when you get your oil changed you're saying, How's your day going? You know, are you happy? And, you know, do you have children? I mean, it's thinking outside of yourself. Giving to me is thinking of them, not me, in whatever I'm doing. If it's, you know, a church assignment, if it's serving in another capacity, if it's, whatever it is, they come first. Can I bring a smile to his face? Can I help her carry her groceries? Can I, I mean a little things. Can I return the shopping cart where I'm supposed to return it because it saves, I mean, it's just little things of being invested in God's world and his sons and daughters in His world. So that's what it is for me.

I really liked that you snuck in the shopping cart thing. Nothing drives Sharon more crazy than people who don't return the shopping carts.

Well, it's so dumb. I mean, they, anyway, anyway. I just had to throw that in.

Tammy 1:15:38

You bet you did. Well I like that you just threw in simple daily acts. I mean, when you read that, sometimes you think you have to give a ton.

Sharon 1:15:46

No, yeah, no,

Tammy 1:15:47

Like it, it can be simple.

Sharon 1:15:48

Just little thing.

Tammy 1:15:49

Yeah, I like that.

Kendra 1:15:51

Yeah, I like that you said that too because I think in our society today, sometimes our giving, we use our finances as a crutch. Oh, I can't give this to this. I can't give this to this, or I can give to that. But, and that's not bad. But then we're not thinking about individuals and we forget those small daily acts. So that's like Sharon, what you said is really important, is that giving is not this great big thing where you have 1000s of dollars and checks, which is helpful, but it's the small acts. And it's really connecting with people and helping them realize that you see them, which means that you're recognizing the divine within them.

Tammy 1:16:30

Yes. Gosh.

Sharon 1:16:33

I think of an occasion where a neighbor was driving down the street, and she saw a homeless woman sitting on the curb of a convenience store smoking a cigarette in the pouring rain. And this friend kept driving and went to a store and came back to the woman still sitting there in the drenching rain. She had bought her an umbrella and gave it to the woman. She didn't give her $20, she didn't give her you know, but you know, she didn't give her a free meal. She had other things other people were giving to this woman as well, you know, like a banana or an apple or hot coffee or whatever. But she just kept driving, went to the store, bought an umbrella and brought it back to the woman. And when I was talking to her later about it she says, I have one regret. And I said, Oh, what was that? She said, I should have bought a bigger umbrella. I mean, she was thinking of that woman. She was trying to protect her, she was trying to help her. And it's not a big thing. What $5.95 for an umbrella? I don't know. But it's those kinds of things that have meaning for me, and prompt me to want to be a better person and to give the little things of myself.

Tammy 1:17:47

Absolutely. Well, and we'll just end this by going back to Acts chapter 17 because Kendra, you read this for us. But it just struck me again in Acts 17:27, the Joseph Smith Translation. Originally said, "If haply they might feel after him and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." But the Joseph Smith translation says,"If they are willing to find him, for he is not far from every one of us." And if you're wondering how you can give or how you can be, like you read that you think, Oh, I want to be closer to Jesus. No, right here, it's, then do, then give. And it's not hard. The answer and the opportunities are not far from you to be like Jesus. And so you taught us that Kendra, to be like Him. So, thank you. Thank you, both of you. That's the end of our episode. This was awesome, this discussion.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Sharon 1:18:33

I certainly learned a lot.

Okay, so just take a minute and gather your thoughts, and what is your takeaway from today? What will you remember or think about?

Kendra 1:18:41

I think for me, is kind of what we were talking about is giving, but also that the path of discipleship is not going to be easy. It's going to require a lot of us and, but as long as we are giving and willing to follow that path, the Lord is going to bless us.

Tammy 1:19:02

Amen. I absolutely agree. That was a beautiful takeaway. Thank you.

Sharon 1:19:08

My takeaway was the entire podcast. It was so enlightening to me. Every scripture that we studied, every concept that we gleaned from every scripture. I want to go back and reread, I will go back and reread those scriptures and try to implant them in my head, in my heart. So it wasn't just a give and take, it was pay attention. Pay attention to what you just heard and read and felt and, and keep going.

Tammy 1:19:46

Thank you, Sharon. Great takeaway. Mine was, Sharon, your scripture, Mosiah 5:15. I'm so grateful that I got to learn that's your go-to Scripture, and it's powerful. So thank you. And then Kendra, I put in my scriptures next to that we're children of God, "we are not an afterthought." I'm so grateful that you said that because we need to be reminded of that. It is so easy to think that we might have been forgotten or that God's too busy and He'll help us when He has time. And we are not an afterthought. I've actually used to think that one time. I'm like, Oh, He's got other stuff on His mind. I'll come back when He's less busy. We are not an afterthought. So thank you for teaching us that. Thank you, ladies.

Kendra 1:20:26

Thank you.

Sharon 1:20:27

It's great.

Tammy 1:20:28

Well, of course, I want to know what your takeaway was or what you learned this week. So if you haven't joined our discussion group on Instagram or Facebook, go join, it is worth it. Because then you can post what you learned or, you can even ask questions. And then throughout the week, I try to answer those questions, but so does our community. It's really cool how we've all come together, studying the scriptures together. Then on Saturday, we will post a question that comes from this specific episode. So I want you to go there and on Saturday and on Sunday, go ahead and post your answer to that question. You can find our links to Instagram and Facebook in our show notes which are found at LDS living.com/sunday On Monday, and it's really for this one, not a bad idea to go there because that's where we're gonna have the links to all the references as well as a transcript for this whole discussion and a glue-in for this specific episode.

The Sunday on Monday Study Group is a Deseret Bookshelf Plus original brought to you by LDS Living. It's written and hosted by me Tammy Uzelac Hall and today our beautiful study group participants were Kendra Bybee and Sharon Staples. And you can find more information about these friends at LDS living.com/sunday on Monday. Our podcast is produced by Cole Wissinger and me. It is edited by Hailey Higham, and recorded and mixed by Mix At Six Studios. And our Executive Producer is Erin Hallstrom. Thanks for being here. We'll see you next week.

And please remember, you are His offspring, so you are His favorite.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai