I have decided to share a daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is the 12th day.

Jesus Teaches of Being Born Again

In the darkness of night, Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the necessity of every person being born again.

John 3: 1-36

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus , a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again , he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit .

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness .

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 ¶And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 ¶For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life .

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved .

18 ¶He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light , that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

22 ¶After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized .

23 ¶And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much

24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth,

27 John answered and said, A man can

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth ; and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35 The Father loveth the Son , and hath given all things into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

My Impressions:

My first thought was of the importance of obedience.  We must be baptized by immersion by one who has authority to do so.  Then we must receive the Holy Spirit.  This is an important key in being able to return to live with our Heavenly Father.

My next thought was that we simply need to have faith.  We must look toward the Savior and not look away in order to stay in the Light.  Much as the Israelites needed to look upon the serpent on the staff that Moses raised up to be healed, we need only to focus on the Savior to be healed and protected from sin.  He is the source of Light.  To stay in the light and not be in the darkness, we must focus on Him.  That takes obedience and faith.

What did you learn from today’s video?

I have decided to share a daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is the 11th day.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Jesus clears worldly merchandise from the temple courts in order to keep the temple a holy place.

John 2:13-17

13 ¶And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

My Impressions:

My first thought was that we are not to trifle with holy things.  There is a time and a place for exchanging goods and services for money, but holy places, like the Temple, and church are not the place or time.

My second thought was how our bodies are temples.  Do we make the houses of our spirits a house of merchandise?  Are we not keeping it holy as we should?  Much to ponder on this topic.

What did you learn from today’s video?

I have decided to share a daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is the 10th day.

Jesus Turns Water into Wine

Jesus performs a miraculous act of service in one of the first recorded events of His ministry.

John 2: 1-12

1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman , what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren , and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

My Impressions:

I think it is neat that the Savior did this for his Mother.  He loved her enough to help her out in a way that he could.  And then he gave them the best.  He truly honored his mother and showed love to her in this moment.

What did you learn from today’s video?

I have decided to share a daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is the 9th day.

Jesus is Baptized by John

Jesus seeks out John the Baptist and is baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness.

Matthew 3: 13-17

13 ¶Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness . Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized , went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove , and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased.

My Impressions:

First, I once again had the impression of how important obedience is to God.  Even Jesus needed to be baptized in order to be obedient to God the Father.

Next, I recognized how important it is to be baptized by one who has the authority of the Lord.  This is someone who is commissioned by Jesus Christ through the authority of the priesthood.  I am glad I was baptized by someone who had the authority to do so.

What did you learn from today’s video?

I have decided to share a daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is the 8th day.

Young Jesus Teaches in the Temple

Mary and Joseph find Jesus about His father’s business, teaching in the temple.

Luke 2:40-52

40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

My Impressions:

First of all, I can empathize with how worried Mary and Joseph were when they discovered that Jesus was missing from the rest of the family.  My son used to be an escape artist when he was little and it is a very scary feeling when you can’t find your child. This was something that Jesus had to learn from his mother.  That even though he was doing the business of his Heavenly Father, he needed to let his earthly parents know where he was going first.  I don’t think they would have ever stood in his way.  They just needed to know where he was.  All children have to learn this lesson and Jesus was no different in this matter.  He may have had an increased understanding of the gospel at a younger age, but he still had to be taught certain things from his earthly parents.  I think sometimes we just picture that Jesus always knew everything.  He had to learn and perhaps he learned more quickly than the rest of us, but he still needed to learn.  Pretty neat when you stop to think about it.

What did you learn from today’s video?