Peter's 3 Answers

Some observe that by thrice allowing Peter to affirm his love for Him, Christ was giving Peter a chance to amend for his thrice-made denial that desperate night of the trial. See, for example, James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. (1916), 693; Jeffrey R. Holland, “The First Great Commandment,” Ensign,Nov. 2012, 83–84. For a discussion of the denial and lessons to be learned from it, see Gordon B. Hinckley, “And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly,”Ensign, May 1979, 65–67; Neal A. Maxwell, “A Brother Offended,”Ensign, May 1982, 37–38. Other commentators, noting the subtle differences in the Greek of the text, suggest that the three questions were each asked to teach Peter different aspects and duties of his calling. Accordingly, the Savior twice asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” using the Greek agapao for “love,” meaning a social or moral kind of love, often thought of as godly or unconditional love and elsewhere translated as “charity” (e.g., 1 Corinthians 13:1–4; 2 Peter 1:7; Revelation 2:19). The third time Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?,” He used the termphileo for “love,” meaning friendship, affection, or brotherly love. Interestingly, in answer to each of the three questions, Peter affirmed his love usingphileo. To the first affirmation of Peter’s love, Christ commanded him to “feed,” from the Greek bosko, meaning to pasture, graze, or nourish, His “lambs,” from the Greek arnion,meaning a young or baby sheep. To the second affirmation of Peter’s love, Christ commanded him to “feed,” from the Greekpoimaino, meaning to tend or shepherd, His “sheep,” from the Greekprobaton, meaning an adult sheep. In response to Peter’s third affirmation of love for Christ, he was tobosko His probaton.Thus, by asking the question three times in three ways, the Savior asked the disciple if he had both charity and brotherly love for Him, and in His subsequent commandments the Savior taught Peter that he was to not only nourish but also shepherd both the young and old of His flock.

“Whom Say Ye That I Am?”

By Terry B. Ball

Professor of Religious Education, Brigham Young University

Ensign Feb 2018 reference #6

Always Remember

We celebrate anniversaries, study history, and designate holidays to commemorate significant events. We do these things to help us remember. I believe, of all that the Book of Mormon is meant to accomplish, helping us to remember is high on the list. And of all we are meant to remember, one fact stands alone in its significance, that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world.

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, "The Book of Mormon: A Standard unto my People," Ensign Feb 2018, 41.

Distance to Resolve Conflict

Faced with conflict, [Abraham] sought resolution by suggesting that his family and Lot's family physically distance themselves from each other....

Like Abraham, when faced with conflicts in our families, Church assignments, or employment, we can seek resolution rather than escalation. ..

All of us struggle to cope with negative influences of the world. From Abraham and Lot we can learn the power and protection of choosing to live righteously, choosing to avoid places where we or our families may be subject to great wickedness or temptation, and of choosing to always keep our tents facing toward the temple.

Elder Peter F. Meurs, "Living Righteously in a Wicked World," Ensign Feb 2018, 49-51.

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“What can I learn from this experience?”

Does the Lord give us challenges in life that are intended to impede us? No. When we face tests and trials, rather than feeling sorry for ourselves, let us ask these questions: “What can I learn from this experience?” and “How will this experience strengthen me and help me prepare for the future?”

Bishop Dean M. Davies, “Heavenly Help for our Mortal Jounrey,” Ensign, Jul 2014, 51.

A Worthy Goal

Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. “Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”

Mary Anne Radmacher, Courage Doesn’t Always Roar (2009).Note: In the January 2012 First Presidency Message, “Living the Abundant Life,” we initially failed to attribute the quotation to Mary Anne Radmacher. We apologize for any harm the oversight may have caused.

Attitude

Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”

Charles Swindoll, in Daniel H. Johnston, Lessons for Living(2001), 29.

Obedience to Covenants

Obedience to covenants, Elder Christofferson said, can change the natural man to a Saint over time.

Heather Whittle Wrigley, "Worldwide Leadership Training Highlights Path to Real Growth," Ensign, Mar 2012, 76.

Beloved

Beloved

“Every one of us is more beloved to the Lord than we can possibly understand or imagine. Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves.”

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2011, 73.

The Golden Ticket

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“One woman wanted more than anything else to marry a righteous priesthood holder in the temple and be a mother and a wife. She had dreamed about this all her life, and oh, what a wonderful mother and loving wife she would be. Her home would be filled with loving-kindness. Never a bitter word would be spoken. The food would never burn. And her children, instead of hanging out with their friends, would prefer to spend their evenings and weekends with Mom and Dad.

“This was her golden ticket. It was the one thing upon which she felt her whole existence depended. It was the one thing in all the world for which she most desperately yearned.

“But it never happened. And, as the years went on, she became more and more withdrawn, bitter, and even angry. She could not understand why God would not grant her this righteous desire.

“She worked as an elementary school teacher, and being around children all day long simply reminded her that her golden ticket had never appeared. As the years passed she became more disappointed and withdrawn. People didn’t like being around her and avoided her whenever they could. She even took her frustration out on the children at school. …

“The tragedy of this story is that this dear woman, in all her disappointment about her golden ticket, failed to notice the blessings she did have. She did not have children in her home, but she was surrounded by them in her classroom. She was not blessed with a family, but the Lord had given her an opportunity few people have—the chance to influence for good the lives of hundreds of children and families as a teacher.

“The lesson here is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Forget Me Not,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2011, 121–22.

Remembering Christ

Remembering Christ

“Most people in trouble end up crying, ‘What was I thinking?’ Well, whatever they were thinking, they weren’t thinking of Christ. … Surely it would guide our actions in a dramatic way if we remembered that every time we transgress, we hurt not only those we love, but we also hurt Him, who so dearly loves us. But if we do sin, however serious that sin may be, we can be rescued by that same majestic figure, He who bears the only name given under heaven whereby any man or woman can be saved (see Acts 4:12). When confronting our transgressions and our souls are harrowed up with true pain, may we all echo the repentant Alma and utter his life-changing cry: ‘O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me’ (Alma 36:18).”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2010, 46.

Improper Relationship

 “If an improper relationship is developing, sever it. Many of these influences, at least initially, may not technically be evil, but they can blunt our judgment, dull our spirituality, and lead to something that could be evil.”

Jeffrey R. Holland, “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul,” Ensign, May 2010, 45.

Feed Your Marriage

“The tender flower would wither and die without food and water. And so love, also, cannot be expected to last forever unless it is continually fed with portions of love, the manifestation of esteem and admiration, the expressions of gratitude, and the consideration of unselfishness.”

Spencer W. Kimball, “Marriage and Divorce,” 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year (1977), 150.

Would my spouse be pleased if he or she knew I was doing this?

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) counseled, “If you are married, avoid flirtations of any kind. … What may appear to be harmless teasing or simply having a little fun with someone of the opposite sex can easily lead to more serious involvement and eventual infidelity. A good question to ask ourselves is this: Would my spouse be pleased if he or she knew I was doing this? Would a wife be pleased to know that her husband lunches alone with his secretary? Would a husband be pleased if he saw his wife flirting and being coy with another man? My beloved brothers and sisters, this is what Paul meant when he said: ‘Abstain from all appearance of evil’ (1 Thessalonians 5:22).”

Ezra Taft Benson, “The Law of Chastity,” in 1987–88 Brigham Young University Devotional Addresses (1988), 52.

Mental Energy

"The way we spend our mental energy is an indicator of our true focus."

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Marriage and Selfishness

“Why all of these broken homes? What happens to marriages that begin with sincere love and a desire to be loyal and faithful and true one to another? … I find selfishness to be the root cause of most of it.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “What God Hath Joined Together,” Ensign,May 1991, 73.

Be Faithful

Be Faithful

“Be faithful in your marriage covenants in thought, word, and deed. Pornography, flirtations, and unwholesome fantasies erode one’s character and strike at the foundation of a happy marriage. Unity and trust within a marriage are thereby destroyed. One who does not control his thoughts and thus commits adultery in his heart, if he does not repent, shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear (see D&C 42:23; 63:16).”

President Howard W. Hunter (1907–1995), “Being a Righteous Husband and Father,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 50.