PREPARED FOR PEACE by OBEDIENCE

New Testament readings in Matthew 3-4; Mark 1; Luke 3-4; John 1:19-4:54.

Teach One Another

Respond to the Instructions in your class sections (A).

Describe in writing what was taught about John the Baptist and his mission in 1 Nephi 10:7-10; 2 Nephi 31:4; Isaiah 40:3-4; Malachi 3:1; Doctrine and Covenants 84: 27-28.

PREPARED FOR PEACE by OBEDIENCE

John the Baptist is a witness that the Messiah came, and that he was obedient to all things expected of all mankind. John taught the Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and the Son of God. John’s mission is described in the Book of Mormon by the prophet Nephi (1 Nephi 10:7-10).

7 And he spake also concerning a aprophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—

 8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: aPrepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

 9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should bbaptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.

10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the aLamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.

In 1 Nephi 10:7 footnote ‘a’ (for prophet) refers us to 2 Ne. 31:4 (4–18). Nephi sees the prophet that will baptize “the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.” He describes John and Jesus to teach us the necessity of following Christ’s example.

Jesus took “away the sins of the world” by obedience. Nephi expounds,

“And now, if . . . he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water . . . how much more need have we, being unholy? . . . He showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.  Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove. And again, it showeth unto the children of men  . . . the example  . . . And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?” (verses 5-10).

Nephi now teaches repentance, and the promise that “if ye shall follow the Son . . . with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing . . . that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ  . . .—yea, by following [Him] down into the water . . . then shall ye receive  . . . the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost . . .” and exhorts us to “do the things” Jesus did as an example. Nephi explains that he was shown this so he could teach us how to receive the promised blessings bestowed by repentance and baptism whereby the gift and comforting witnesses and directions of the Holy Ghost are provided and received.

“Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, by one having authority, is a true principle, because Christ taught it; Christ obeyed it, and would not fail, for anything, to fulfill it—not that He was sinful and needed to be baptized for the remission of sins, but He only needed to do it to fulfill all righteousness, that is, to fulfill the law.” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 63

1Nephi 10:8 footnote ‘a’ for ‘prepare’ directs us full circle to the final reference in this reading section, D&C 84. Here we are taught about the Aaronic and Melchezdik priesthood, authority, and the blessings that the teachings of John “prepared” people for—literally “to make straight the way of the Lord  . . . to prepare [us] for the coming of the Lord” (D&C 84: 28). Here footnote ‘c’ on ‘make’ takes us to our current readings and Isaiah 40:3 to be instructed (as we read the references and footnotes) about the symbolism of baptism, and the power and peace of living like this example of the Jesus Christ. 

John saw and witnessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Nephi, and many, many other prophets saw John, what he bore witness about, AND why. They also bear witness of the divinity of Christ, and how following his example of obedience leads to joy—more than just mere happiness—lasting peace and power to effect it for ourselves and others.

D&C 65:4-5 teaches us that to “make ready” as John taught, we must “Pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name, make known his wonderful works among the people. Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.”

D&C 45:8-9 teaches that “as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles . . . . I have sent mine everlasting covenant . . . to be a standard for my people . . . to prepare the way before me.”

Columbia River Temple of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

We are also directed to the topical guide topics “Last Days” and “Millennium, Preparing a People for.” Many of the references in this reading direct us to Isaiah. He teaches about “the mountain of the LORD’s house . . . in the top of the mountains” (temples), a place to be taught Christ’s ways, so that people “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

Isaiah pleads with us “come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isa. 2:2-5). Isaiah 11:1-12 describes how the “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

"And a little child shall lead them"

He tells how the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, the calf and the lion, will dwell together “without hurt or harm . . . and a little child shall lead them . . . And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp [a poisonous snake], and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.”