Note: this Thought of the Week was not posted on the Ward Bulletin due to General Conference.

This week for “Come, Follow Me” we are reading Galatians. Most Biblical Scholars believe that Galatians is one of the earliest Epistles that Paul wrote, likely written before the Jerusalem Council. Paul starts off this Epistle pretty upset with the Galatians. These were primarily non-Jewish who joined the Christian religion. It seems that these Christians were fascinated with the Jewish religion. They started wanting to adopt Jewish custom and the Law of Moses into their religious beliefs. Paul wrote this letter in an attempt to teach them that the Law of Moses was a “schoolmaster to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24) and to avoid the “bondage” of the Law of Moses but to the “liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Galatians 5:1).

Whenever I read Galatians, I think back to a time in about 2001 when I was serving as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My missionary companion and I had read Galatians 1:6-9 which reads
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9, King James Version, emphasis added).

Within a few days of this companionship study we were out proselyting. We met an elderly man, who at first appeared to be very nice, well versed in The Holy Bible, and interested in our message. As we were talking, all of a sudden I felt like Amulek in Alma 10:17. Somehow I knew that he was “laying traps and snares to catch” my companion and I. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going to happen. This man asked where The Book of Mormon came from. My companion and I spoke about Moroni, who was a prophet in ancient America and, after he had died, he came back as a resurrected angel and delivered to Joseph Smith the record that prophets kept. Joseph Smith then, using the gift and power of God, translated these records into English. The man seemed to think about this for a moment and then said something to the effect of “Thank you for the explanation. So that I understand correctly, an angel from heaven delivered this new gospel that you are here to preach to me?” My companion started to say that yes, this is exactly right. I interrupted him and said “No, its not a new gospel. It’s another witness or testimony of the same gospel that is contained in the Bible.” The man was shocked by my answer. He was also upset that I was able to detect his trap. I then quoted to him Galatians 1:6-9 and explained the background and message that the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote this letter. I further testified of the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon and The Holy Bible and how, together, they teach us the gospel of Jesus Christ. After the man left, saddened that he couldn’t damn us to hell for preaching a different gospel, my companion starred at me in disbelief that I knew what he was doing. He asked how I knew what scripture the man was talking about. I reminded him that we had read it just a few days ago. It made me think of the promise the Savior made in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would “bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”. We had read this verse and so the Holy Spirit was able to help me remember it and avoid this trap.

Brothers and Sisters, learn the lessons of Galatians and the other writings of Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ, for they testify of Christ, and we can become more like Him and our Father in Heaven as we apply the messages of the scriptures into our life. Through the atonement of Christ, we can become perfected in Him and return to life with them again.

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Note: this Thought of the Week was not posted on the Ward Bulletin due to Stake Conference.

This week for Come, Follow Me, we are reading Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians. Paul and his companions first taught in Thessalonica in about AD 50 and is recorded in Acts 17:1-9. About a year after establishing a community of believers in the city and leaving, Paul sends Timothy (as reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:2) and likely other church leaders to the city to strengthen them in their faith in Jesus. Shortly after Timothy’s visit Paul writes 1 Thessalonians. Thessalonians reminds us to stay strong in the faith of Jesus and to love one another. Paul writes a great reminder of instead of the Law of Moses’ “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Leviticus 24:20) we need to live the higher law that Jesus taught in Matthew 5:38-42 to “turn the other check”. Paul describes this in 1 Thessalonians 5:15 as to not “render evil for evil but [to] follow that which is good” followed in verses 16-22 of things that are good that we should follow and do.
As we follow the higher law taught by Jesus Christ we will come closer to Him and can help us be a positive influence in our neighborhoods and communities. I encourage each of us to find ways to “follow that which is good” this week.

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