The following assignments include various learning activities, such as questions, lists, essays, charts, comparisons, contrasts, and surveys. To receive credit for this lesson, you must complete the number of assignments indicated below and submit them to your institute instructor or administrator. You may submit your work either electronically or on paper, handwritten or typed.
Each lesson should take approximately 60–90 minutes to complete, the same amount of time you would typically spend in a weekly institute class. Since reading the scripture block listed in the lesson heading is expected of all institute students prior to class, the estimated time for each assignment does not include the time you need to spend reading the scripture block.
Complete assignments 1, 2, and two of the other assignments:
1. Matthew 14:14–21; 15:32–38. The Feeding of the Multitudes
The Savior provided two similar miracles. As a summary of what took place, complete the following chart:
In each story, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome. Read Romans 3:23, and explain in writing another way human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God. According to Ether 12:27, how does the Lord help us overcome this insufficiency?
2. John 6. The “Bread of Life” Sermon
Read the following scriptures and respond in writing to the corresponding questions and tasks:
- What miraculous event had taken place the day before the Savior preached the sermon on the bread of life? (see John 6:1–14).
- According to John 6:22–26, why were many people seeking out the Savior at this time?
- What motivates you to “seek” the Lord today?
- What did the Savior teach in response to these people in John 6:27–51?
- In John 6:27 the Savior spoke of “the meat which perisheth” and “that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.” Read Matthew 6:19–21, and identify another way the Savior described the difference between that which perishes and that which endures. In what ways do people today labor for “the meat which perisheth” or “that meat which endureth unto everlasting life”?
- After the Savior taught the bread of life sermon, what was the response of many of the people described in John 6:60, 66?
- From John 6:67–69 what was the response of the Apostles?
- According to verse 69, what enabled Peter and the other Apostles to respond in this way?
- What examples can you think of (in the scriptures, Church history, or the lives of people you know) where someone responded to a “hard saying” with faith like Peter?
- Explain what John 6 teaches you about following Jesus Christ even when it’s not convenient.
3. John 6. The Sacrament
Read John 6:51–57 and write what the Savior taught that people need to do in order to have eternal life.
Write a paragraph that compares the way we gain physical nutrition from what we eat and drink with the spiritual nutrition we gain from eating and drinking of the sacrament.
Which of the five senses—seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching—are involved with the ordinance of the sacrament, and why?
Read Doctrine and Covenants 89:14, and identify in writing what is the “staff of life” for man physically. Explain in writing how the bread and water of the sacrament are the “staff of life” spiritually.
Read the institute student manual Points to Ponder, “We Partake of the Sacrament to Satisfy Our Spiritual Hunger” (p. 93); “How Can the Sacrament Help You to More Fully Accept the Lord as Your Savior?” (p. 94). Write a paragraph describing how Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1873–1939) and Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1915–1985) defined the significance of the sacrament.
Write a paragraph about what you can do to ensure that partaking of the sacrament is not just an outward observance but a meaningful experience in the ways described by Elder Ballard and Elder McConkie.
4. Matthew 14:22–33. Walking on the Sea
Read Matthew 14:22–33. Identify in writing what the reaction of the Apostles was when they first saw the Savior walking on the water toward them.
What did Peter’s response indicate about him?
According to Matthew 14:30, why did Peter began to sink?
What did Peter do when he began to sink? What word in the verses describes the expediency or the timing when Jesus responded to Peter’s request?
Read Doctrine and Covenants 88:67. Write a paragraph describing what principle from this verse relates to what Peter did to successfully walk on the water. How can this same principle be applied to your life to assist you in walking over the storms of life?
5. Mark 7:1–23. The Savior Reproved the Pharisees for False Traditions and Ceremonies
After reading Mark 7:1–13, study the Bible Dictionary entry on “Clean and Unclean” (pp. 646–47). Highlight and make notes in your scriptures about what you learn. Identify in writing whether the Pharisees and scribes were accusing the disciples of being sanitarily unclean, morally unclean, or ceremonially unclean.
Read Mark 7:5–13. How were the Pharisees’ traditions affecting their observance of God’s commandments? According to these verses, when would a tradition be considered wrong? Give an example of a modern tradition that would be inappropriate according to this criterion.
Study Mark 7:10–13 and the Bible Dictionary entry “Corban” (p. 650). Explain in writing how the corban custom illustrated the conflict between manmade tradition and God-given commandments. Which commandment did the corban tradition contradict?
According to Mark 7:20–23, write what the Savior said defiles a man.
Read 3 Nephi 27:19–20 and write a paragraph that answers the following questions:
- Why is it important to understand what Jesus Christ taught about being clean or unclean?
- What must we do to “stand spotless before [the Lord] at the last day”?
6. Mark 8:22–26. Healing of a Blind Man in Bethsaida
Read Doctrine and Covenants 98:12. In writing identify a principle from this verse that matches a principle found in Mark 8:22–26. How could remembering this principle in life help you through challenges?