This was an actual Sunday School lesson in my ward, so not really “alternative” but it was worth sharing:
1 John
“5 But whoso keepeth his word [commandments], in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”
So. The way To obey the commandments of God without stumbling is to love others.
1 John 2: 5-10.
Following up from 1 John 3:
“11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”
In perspective, from the LDS KJV:
“Chapter 3
The sons of God will become like Christ—Love for others is required to gain eternal life—Obedience ensures us an answer to our prayers.
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
And from the Book of Mormon, Moroni 7:
“48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.”
At Sunday School today.
The primacy of love of others as the necessary commandment and the way we show a love of God.
In accord:
Images from wikimedia commons.
Questions:
- When you consider obedience to the commandments, which commandment do you try to keep first and why?
- How can you tell if you are keeping the commandments or not?
- Why is charity, or the pure love of Christ so important?
I see many familiar themes in this alternative Sunday School lesson, namely a continuation of our obsession over obedience and purity.
Instead of asking “How can you tell if you are keeping the commandments or not?” I’d rather try to inject some mercy into our culture by asking, “Have you felt Christ’s grace?”
May we know these paintings/their artist?
Laughing: they are from Wiki Commons. Public domain old masters. Congratulations
“There is a religious tradition that, unlike some others, asks the believer not only to observe and obey but also to discuss and disagree. There is the never-quite-comfortable status of Jews in places where they are the minority — intimately familiar with the customs of the country while maintaining a critical distance from them. There is a moral belief, ‘incarnate in the Jewish people’ according to Einstein, that ‘the life of the individual only has value [insofar] as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful.’”
NYT Opinion
The Secrets of Jewish Genius-
It’s not about having higher I.Q.s.
12/27/19
By Bret Stephens
Opinion Columnist