Tag Archives: John the Baptist

In The Team’s Best Interests

Recently I heard of a sporting team where the selfish actions of three players cost their team the final and therefore the prize. In any team there is no room for those seeking their own glory. What is needed are those who will play for the team and put the team’s best interests above their own personal ambitions. Anyone who knows me, knows I am an avid Sydney Swans supporter. What I like is that the team is united. Everyone knows their role in the team and plays for each other and the team. ‘The culture of the club doesn’t … Continue reading →

RS/EQ: “The Mission of John the Baptist”

The sixth lesson in our Joseph Smith manual is entitled: “The Mission of John the Baptist.” We read that John the Baptist was “a legal administrator and the forerunner of Christ.” What all does that mean? As Joseph and Oliver Cowdery worked on the translation of the gold plates, they came to a passage about baptism that struck their souls. They went out into the woods to pray about it, and were given in answer a visit from John the Baptist, who ordained both of them to the Aaronic Priesthood. This event was significant, as it marked the return of … Continue reading →

General Conference From the Past: Preparing the Way

As I studied the ministry of John the Baptist, I found a talk in the archives that touched on his life, his teachings, and his ministry. In April 1980, Elder Thomas S. Monson gave a talk entitled “Preparing the Way”. President Monson’s talk centered primarily on the Aaronic priesthood, which John held. This priesthood came to him by virtue of his lineage; like his father, Zacharias, he was able to administer in the ordinances thereof. This priesthood enabled him to baptize, both mortal men and the Savior of the world. Elder Monson discusses the fact that the power of the … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: Prepare His Ways and Make His Paths Straight

The sometimes not-so-good thing about detailed scripture study is that you very rarely make it very far very fast. Today, after a good half hour of study, I finished the first three verses of Matthew 3, which make up part of next week’s lesson. The good thing, of course, is that I wound up pondering those three verses in full, and of course, part of that pondering included researching the scriptures given in the footnote. The surface of the verses seems very simplistic; John the Baptist began his mortal ministry, preaching that we must “Repent..: for the kingdom of Heaven … Continue reading →

Spending Time in Florence Italy

Florence is located in the Tuscany region of Italy to the north of Milan and the south of Rome. For a long time, this part of Italy was the hub of politics, philosophy, and art. While there are many beautiful places to visit while in Italy, Florence is simply magnificent, one of the largest tourist attractions since there so much to do and see. However, Florence Italy is also not so large that you cannot walk through the streets to enjoy shops, cafes, museums, and more. The public transportation in Florence is easy to navigate and affordable but keep in … Continue reading →