43: “Perfect That Which Is Lacking in Your Faith” (1 and 2 Thessalonians)

Segment 1

Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (Paul’s love for the saints)
1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 (Followers of the Lord)

Translations:
1 Thes. 1:4 - beloved, your election = Beloved of God, Chosen of God (Greek)

Study Helps:
Election = A theological term primarily denoting God’s choice of the house of Israel to be the covenant people with privileges and responsibilities. (Election, Bible Dictionary)

Segment 2

Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 4:9 (Brotherly love)
CR: Acts 17 (Paul’s mission to Thessalonica mentioned)
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (Paul’s missionary work)
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (We receive the word through the Holy Ghost)
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (We wait for Christ)

President Nelson’s Prayers for Us:

1. During these past six months, you have been constantly on my mind and in my prayers. (April 2023)
2. You are constantly on my mind. I marvel at the way you spring into action whenever you see others in need. I stand amazed at the faith and testimony you demonstrate again and again. I weep over your heartaches, disappointments, and worries. I love you. I assure you that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, love you. They are intimately aware of your circumstances, your goodness, your needs, and your prayers for help. Again and again, I pray for you to feel Their love for you. (October 2022)
3. I pray for you every day. (April 2022)
4. You have been on my mind almost constantly during the past six months. I have prayed about you and for you. (October 2021)
5. I pray constantly that the Lord will comfort you. (April 2021)
6. I grieve with each of you who has lost a loved one during this time. And I pray for all who are currently suffering. (October 2020)
   

Segment 3

Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 (When will our loved ones be resurrected)
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (Caught up in the Rapture)
CR: D&C 88:97-99
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (The timing of the Second Coming)
CR: Matthew 24:36
CR: D&C 39:21 
1 Thessalonians 5:3-6 (Watch and be sober)
CR: 2 Nephi 28:21
1 Thessalonians 5:8-9 (More armor of God)

Words of the Prophets:
Our Heavenly Father loves all of His children, and He wants them all to have the blessings of the gospel in their lives. Spiritual light is not lost because God turns His back on His children. Rather, spiritual darkness results when His children turn their collective backs on Him. It is a natural consequence of bad choices made by individuals, communities, countries, and entire civilizations. (M. Russell Ballard, “Learning the Lessons of the Past”, April 2009 General Conference)

Segment 4

Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 5:11-26 (Paul’s advice for preparation)

Words of the Prophets:
I do not want men to come to me or my brethren for testimony as to the truth of this work; but let them take the facts in the case. And when the mind is open to the revelations of the Lord it comprehends them quicker and keener than anything that is seen by the natural eye. It is not what we see with our eyes—they may be deceived—but what is revealed by the Lord from heaven that is sure and steadfast, and abides forever. We do not want the people to rely on human testimony, although that cannot be confuted and destroyed; still, there is a more sure word of prophecy that all may gain if they will seek it earnestly before the Lord. (Brigham Young, 12:96.— Discourses Of Brigham Young C24)

Segment 5

Scriptures:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (The great apostasy)

Words of the Prophets:
When my time comes, I want to stand worthily not only before the Father and the Son, which is our ultimate accounting, but I also want to stand worthily before the prophets, pioneers, and early missionaries who paid this kind of price for their faith. I can envision them saying to me, “Jeff, you were born in the greatest of all dispensations and your call to serve came in the greatest of all times. Did you take advantage of it? Did you pursue the cause as faithfully as we did? Did you represent the Lord—and us—with devotion and commitment and loyalty?”

I probably won’t be asked to die the way some of them did. I am not likely to be crucified upside down or beheaded. But I will stand before these men and women—a whole series of people who went before us—who did face those fates. I truly believe I will be called upon to answer not only for the significance of the work in our day, but also for the significance it had for theirs.

Brethren and sisters, in a very real sense, we are carrying the weight of every dispensation on our shoulders because this is the last and the greatest of them all, into which all earlier truths will be gathered into one. It is in our day that the most comprehensive, global missionary work for the living, and all of the vicarious temple work for the dead, will be done. That is the moment into which you have been born. (Jeffrey R. Holland, Our Day Star Rising)

Segment 6

Scriptures:
2 Thessalonians 3 (Section heading: Pray for the triumph of the gospel cause)
2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 (The Lord will direct your heart)
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (Be not weary in well doing)

Words of the Prophets:
We’re witnesses to a process of restoration…If you think the Church has been fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning. There is much more to come…Wait till next year. And then the next year. Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. It’s going to be exciting. (Russell M. Nelson, “Latter-day Saint Prophet, Wife and Apostle Share Insights of Global Ministry”, Church Newsroom 30 October 2018)