Lesson #13 Revelation and the Mount of Transfiguration

Matt 15:21-17:9

Beginning with Matt chapter 16, we see and interesting process of learning how to receive revelation and why it is so important to Christ’s church.

To go through this process we must put ourselves in Peter, James and John’s shoes.  So let’s first do a quick recounting of all the miracles they have witnessed and things they’ve experienced while literally following Jesus.

The Sadducees and Pharisees have set aside their differences to come together against Jesus is indicative of the great opposition mounting against the Savior.  They asked Jesus for a sign.  To which Jesus retorted that these two groups find signs in the evening and morning atmosphere to predict the weather patterns, but cannot accept the signs already given concerning the Messiah and tells them they will have the same sign as given to Jonah: swallowed up for three days then resurrected.

Then Jesus addresses his apostles telling them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.  They "reasoned among themselves" thinking he was rebuking them for not having brought bread with them.  But Jesus actually rebukes them for reasoning among themselves. There are a few reasons why:

• Coming up with a reason and calling it the will of God, or truth, when they didn’t think to ask.
• They were focusing on material things and not the spiritual meaning of his saying.

So, as far as revelation goes, the apostles learn that the answer doesn't come from their reasoning along, but their reasoning checked by divine reasoning.

Then Peter, James and John are asked "Whom do ye say that I am?" and Peter answers, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  To which Jesus replies "Blessed are though Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven."

Peter learns that revelation comes through the Spirit only, who is the messenger of the Father.  Peter's testimony is confirmed by this admission.

In Matt 16:18-20, Peter learns that it is in fact revelation that the church will be built upon, that is to say, direction from Jesus Christ.  In fact, in vs 18 when Jesus says "upon this rock shall I build my church" there is a footnote to rock that says "Here is a subtle wordplay upon “Peter” (Greek petros = small rock) and “rock” (Greek petra = bedrock). Christ is the Stone of Israel."  Peter is a small rock, just like we are all small rock with our own callings and testimonies.  Christ is the bedrock of the church, of our salvation, the author of revelation.  Peter further learns that he will be given the sealing keys, further revelation for the work of the Lord.

The Lord then begins to educate his apostles about his coming death.  To which Peter responds with dismay, not wanting Jesus to leave him (also that is not what their Messiah is supposed to do - he should save them , not die!).  Jesus says to Peter: Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou ^asavourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then tells them that those who follow him, should take up their cross and deny himself.  Peter learned of revelation here too, that the will of God should be savoured more than the will of men - even if it seems something righteous like not wanting Jesus to leave his presence.

Peter, James and Jon, then receive the greatest revelation to confirm their testimony of Jesus the Christ, upon the Mount of Transfiguration.  They receive an education from Moses and Elijah and Jesus about His death and resurrection and they also receive Priesthood keys.  I'm going to post the puzzle piece about this story from Matthew, Mark, and Luke below.

Puzzle pieced Mount of Transfiguration

Mount of Transfiguration: Basic Text from Matthew 17:1-9 

Text from other gospels as indicated:  Luke            Luke JST            Mark

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart to pray.

2 And as he prayed [He] was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light white and glistering shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

3 And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias who appeared in glory talking with him and spake of his decease and also his resurrection which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

4  And it came to pass, as they departed from him Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias for he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and they feared as they entered into the cloud and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, May 1977 Ensign, “We Beheld His Glory”.

Perhaps Jesus felt not only a sense of the heavenly calm which that solitary opportunity for communion with His Father would bring, but even more, a sense that He would be supported in the coming hour by ministrations not of this earth. He was to be illuminated with a light which needed no aid from the sun or the moon or the stars. He went up to prepare for His coming death. He took His three apostles with Him in the belief that they, after having seen His glory—the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father—might be fortified, that their faith might be strengthened to prepare them for the insults and humiliating events which were to follow.

We learn from what has been written that the Savior, finding a secluded place, knelt and prayed; and as He prayed to His Father, He was elevated far above the doubt and wickedness of the world which had rejected Him.

We can be elevated above the world to by asking for revelation from our Divine Father in Heaven.

#12 I am the Bread of life

John 5-6   Mark 6:30-44   Matt 14:22-33

This post is not going to be long because there is just one thing that really sticks with me and I'm still pondering it.  It concerns the event when the Savior walks on water and he bids Peter to come to him (Matt 14:22-33 also in John 6).  When I've read this story I've always focused on Peter, and likened him to me.  Sometimes I feel chastized, as perhaps Peter did for not having enough faith.  But when I read it through this time, I focused on what the Savior did.  When Peter started to walk out to Jesus on the water, he actually did walk on water as he kept his eye on the Savior.  When he paid attention to the circumstances around him, he started to sink. What did Peter do first? "He cried, Lord, save me."

"AND IMMEDIATELY JESUS STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND AND CAUGHT HIM."

Then He said to Peter, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Jesus said to Peter, he had only a little faith and asked why he doubted.  BUT THE SAVIOR STILL STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND AND CAUGHT HIM!!  Even though he only had a little faith, it was at least enough to ask the Lord for help and the Savior saved him.
 Maybe the Savior saying "O thou of little faith" wasn't the rebuke.  It was a statement. A fact that men have little faith, but that's OK.  A little is sometimes enough.  The rebuke is: why did you doubt?  And when I say rebuke, I mean the Savior is teaching him not to pay attention to the circumstance, only to keep focused on Him.

#11 He spake many things unto them in parables

Matthew 13

Why does the Savior teach in parables?

·      Teaching with imagery gives something to relate to

·      A parable is a call to investigate the truth

·      Weed out those who don’t/won’t/aren’t ready to understand

·      Mercy – so those who aren’t ready, aren’t accountable yet

·      Conceals messages from those who now strongly oppose Him

The first parable in Matthew 13 is the parable of the sower (vs 1-9) He told them the parable then after they asked about why he spake in parables, he gave them the interpretation of the parable.

So, when He was alone with the apostles, he told them the meaning of the parable.  Note that the only requirement for being taught further is to want to be taught.  They didn’t have any special designations or privileges to merit an interpretation; they just wanted to know more.

There are many different types of soils, but only one seed (the gospel) and only one sower (the Savior).  When I was a missionary we used this passage of scripture a lot (actually read from the gospel of Mark) to forewarn investigators that after they committed to be baptized, they will be bombarded by temptations and persuasions to not be baptized.  So, I associate this passage with missionary work and converts.  But as I read this passage, this year, I realized that at different times in my life my soul has been different soils.  There are times when I have not wanted to do things spiritual, and other times when I couldn't get enough of the doctrines of the gospel.  There are times when I went to church just because I felt I had to and time when I couldn't wait to get back to learn more.  There are times when I have not listened to promptings and others when I have.  But the great thing about soil is, you can always change it.  Even the rotten "soil" in Nevada, you can nurture and enrich so that you can actually grow things you can eat!  

Cultivating our soil or souls in a continual process.  There will always be rocks cropping up, there will always be weeds wanting to grow, there will always be pests wanting to take away nutrients.  But we have control over how fertile our soil or soul is.  It is a great comfort that the seed and the Sower never change.

Other parables in Matthew 13: the wheat and the tares which is a great example of patience.  The Savior shows us that it is necessary for good and bad to grow together, but He must wait until the crop is ready to harvest to tell the difference between what will be saved and what will be burned.

The parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price teach us that sacrifice for the gospel is required in order to gain the benefit thereof.

Lesson #10 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me

Matt 11:28-30   Matt 12:1-13   Luke 13:10-17   Luke 7:36-50

I really love this passage of scripture (Matt 11:28-30) "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I love this because it's so personal, so individual, so active.  Here is what this passage implies to me:

1. The Savior is already carrying our yoke or our burden.  We sometimes think that we are carrying it alone.  But if we even just acknowledge him as a possible partner, our burden will begin to be lighter.
2. The Savior will give us rest.  He will give us rest in the eternities by virtue of using his atonement.  He will give us rest now by offering empathy, by offering ideas, by offering support spiritually through him and through other people he sends.
3. If we take the yoke He is carrying AND learn of him we will find rest to our souls.  He offers us his yoke.  He offers to work with us. He offers to be our partner through all our burdens.  He doesn't take away any yoke or burdens.
4. We can still have rest WHILE carrying the yoke!
5. He is meek and lowly in heart.  He is a worker.  He is not a dictator, magistrate or an aristocrat.  He works WITH us. He is willing to share, to give and take. He won't tell us what to do, but help guide us.
6. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Why? Because he has done it all. He has experienced everything.  Most things are easier the second time around.  AND most things are easier when you have somebody helping.

What great imagery.  I think I'm going to find a picture of a yoke and hang it in my house.

Lesson #9 Sermon on the Mount Matt 6-7

One of my favorite gospel books is "The Measure of Our Hearts" by Marvin J. Ashton. In this book is a chapter called "That's just the way I am."  It talks about how sometimes we use this excuse to not change ourselves, an excuse for our laziness.  He talks about going into a prison and seeing a man with a tattoo that says: "A Born Loser" and therefore he acts like one and doesn't bother to change. So sad.

The Sermon on the Mount is a call to change.  It was a call for the newly called apostles and other disciples to change the way they have known religious leaders to be.  It was a call for the general population, or at least those who would listen, to change the way they relate to God.  It was a call to change the way they worship, learn and live.

READ Matt 6:1-4 (ALMS)

READ Matt 6:5-8 (PRAYER)

READ Matt 6:16-18 (FASTING)

WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE ARE BEING WARNED AGAINST?

List of what not do:

·      The main message, do not your alms before MEN

·      Do not be a hypocrite (a pretender) – though it might feel like pretending in the beginning i.e. canned missionary experience

·      What is the reward of men?  Glory, assessment of knowledge/spirituality

·      Breeds comparison, pride, condescension, or prideful ascension (I am better than you or they are better than me)

·      If people say I’m spiritual, I must be.  Vicious cycle of self-confirming spirituality instead of spiritual confirmation from God.  Which means we end up thinking we are better than God or have no need for his counsels.

·      Don’t be dramatic (sad countenance)

·      Do not boast in what you’ve been given (6:3).  D&C 3:4 and 7

o   For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him. (v7) For behold, you should not have feared man more than God.

o   Other issues with boasting: Elder Ashton:  Consideration for the feelings of others should always be important to worthy Latter-day Saints. Rightfully we may be happy about the number of children with which we have been blessed, the missionaries who have served, the temple marriages of our offspring, and the accomplishments of family members.  However, others who are not so fortunate may have feelings of guilt or inadequacy.  They may have been praying long and hard for the same blessings about which we are boasting, and they may feel that they are out of favor with God.  For this reason our appreciation should be sincerely felt, and we should express gratitude frequently to our Father in Heaven – but not too vocally to the world.  We should be gratefully aware of the source of our blessings and strengths and refrain from taking undue credit for personal accomplishments.

HOW DO YOU COMBAT HYPOCRSY?

·      All examples begin with self-mastery/self-control

·      Pray in secret, only report to Heavenly Father.  If you need to report it to someone else, don’t be boastful.

·      Avoid vain repetitions – WHAT ARE VAIN REPETITIONS?  Saying words over and over again or just speaking too much.

o   HOW DOES KNOWING THAT OUR FATHER KNOWS WHAT WE NEED BEFORE WE ASK HELP US NOT BE BOASTFUL OR OFFER VAIN REPETITIONS?

·      Just be obedient and get on with life. (wash thy face and fast – do it in secret)

READ Matt 6:19-20 (Lay not up treasures on earth)

·      Nephi decided to give up the judgment seat over a wicked people and with his brother Lehi went about preaching the word of God.  In doing so they remembered the words of their father Helaman:

o   Helaman 5:7-8 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.  And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.      Then he explains how to do this in vs 12:

o   And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless we, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Lesson #8, Part 1 of The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount is probably one of the most studied sections of scripture ever, anywhere.  There is so much that can be gleaned from the words of the Savior during this sermon.  As I read it this time through, I saw it as a call to serve, or a call to be what Heavenly Father thinks I can be.  The perfectionist part of me gets overwhelmed reading all the "beattitudes" because I feel like I should be more than I am, that if I could be everything on this list, I would be what Heavenly Father wants.  In this reading, I didn't feel that.  That is, I didn't feel overwhelmed.  I felt grateful for direction and grateful that direction comes from the Savior, who can help me be a peacemaker, a merciful person, a humble person, a stalwart, a seeker of wisdom.

The beattitudes and the information following is for the Jews to know that the Law of Moses has been fulfilled and that what is required of those who believe Christ is going to be a little more personal, a little more introspective and therefore a little more service oriented.  Which takes a lot more self-control and discipline (which more and more I'm discovering is the whole purpose of life: self-control).

Matthew 5 is full of doctrines from the law of Moses and then how they are fulfilled in Christ: "ye have heard that it was said" to "but I say unto you," followed by the new doctrine that requires further restraint or more understanding/empathy, based on a foundation of doctrine.  For instance: 

21¶Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou^ashalt not ^bkill; and whosoever shall kill shall be ^cin danger of the judgment:

22But I say unto you, That whosoever is ^aangry with his brother^bwithout a cause shall be ^cin danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, ^dRaca, shall be ^ein danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 Most of us have conquered the not killing people, but not even being angry most of us need to work on (I do!). 

I will talk more of this in the next post!

Lesson #7 "[He Took Our Infirmities, and Bare Our Sicknesses"

Mark 1:14–15, 21–45   Mark 2:1–12   Mark 4:35–41 5:1–20  Luke 7:11–17   Bible Dictionary, “Miracles,” 732–33.


I had to teach this lesson twice.  Each time was very different, so I'm not sure what to enter here.  It might be altogether different too.  This is a topic very tender to me.

When the Savior began his ministry years, he started with proclamations of his divine nature, preaching and also by performing miracles of healing. 

WHY DID HE BEGIN HIS MINISTRY WITH HEALINGS?

"Miracles" in the Bible Dictionary tells us a lot about why Jesus started preaching with healing.  Click on the link above to read the full text, here are the highlights:

• Healing is a part of divine teaching
• Showing the people individual healing prepared them for them to accept the greatest miracles of all: resurrection 
• Manifestation of power/action of a higher law 
• Fulfill prophecy 
• Teaching truths (cure of sin, value of faith, curse of impurity, law of love)   
• SHOW HOW THE LAW OF LOVE IS TO DEAL WITH THE ACTUAL FACTS OF LIFE (I could ponder this forever)
•  THEY ARE THE NATURAL RESULT OF THE MESSIAH’S PRESENCE AMONG MEN (He can do this by the power of His spirit and the eternal nature of his works and eternal perspective).

I did, in fact, rename this lesson for my class: "How the Law of Love is to Deal with the Actual Facts of Life."

This sort of power is new to the Jews.  There are instances in the Old Testament of healing, but not many.  So, the Jew even ask in Mark 1:23-27 "What new doctrine is this?"  

In Mark 2:1-5, where four men lower a man with a palsy down through the roof to be healed, Jesus notices their (the four men and the palsy) faith and first cleanses the man spiritually.  The scribes told Jesus that only God could forgive sins (little did they know they were in his presence).  Jesus said, it's easy for someone to say "sins are forgiven" but here's proof that I have power to both forgive sins and to change a man physically.  He then physically heals the man with the palsy.

What is the relationship between physical healing and spiritual healing?  When we ask for a priesthood blessing of healing, what are our expectations, what is our faith for?

•  All things are spiritual and eternal: D&C 29:31-34 – the higher law is spiritual law directing the physical.  It is no wonder then, that we are taught to obey and taught to fast, to suppress the physical and let the spiritual operate more fully and other commandments of obedience where we learn to put off the natural man/woman.
• We may have physical ailments to help us heal (or learn to heal) our spirits.
• Olive Oil has a special significance.  Jesus went through Gethsemane, an olive garden/olive press.  Using olive oil links blessings of healing to the atonement and power thereof for both physical and spiritual healing.

I think the reference to Mark 4:35-41 sheds a light on spiritual and physical healing and what exactly our faith is in.  At first I was puzzled at why this account was included in a lesson about healing, but the lesson is highly applicable.  The disciples are with Jesus in a boat in a heavy storm and they finally wake him and ask: "Carest Thou not that we perish?" Jesus responds: "Why are ye so fearful?" "How is it that ye have no faith?"

• The disciples were still in doctrinal infancy and this is a powerful lesson for them.
• They were surprised that he could calm the water.  So, if they didn’t expect him to do that, what do you think the disciples wanted Jesus to do?
•  Carest thou not that we perish? Do we ask this in the depths of our affliction whether spiritual or physical?  Jesus responds: “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?
• Faith in what?  (Jesus) Faith for what? (to be completely healed? To be able to calm the storm themselves? To endure the storm?)
•  They would have endured the storm without harm because Jesus was with them.  If they had a remembered his mission according to what he taught and what the prophets before him taught, they would know that this is not how the Lord would die.
• Maybe our healing is the ability to endure the storm.
• Good cross references in footnote:Alma 44:4  “Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith."

Blessings of healing are spiritually healing and physically healing and each depends on the will of the Lord.  What I take from it depends on me.  I have diabetes.  I have had many blessings of healing, yet I still have diabetes.  Do I lack faith?  NO!  My faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ and every time he helps me have more self-control, a new perspective about myself or the disease, every time he tells me through feeling his spirit that he loves me even though I have diabetes, or even because I have diabetes, I am healed. IF I DECIDE TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.  I can endure this storm and through enduring, I will be completely healed some day.

  

Lesson #6 "Straightway They Left Their Nets"

Luke 4:14–32    Luke 5:1–11, 27–28  6:12–16

I did not read through these scriptures all the way, so I cannot comment extensively on them, but here is what I was impressed with during the lesson:

The teacher asked us what the word "straightway" means to us.  The disciples, soon to become apostles, literally left their fishing nets immediately and followed the Savior, not just that day, but for a long and busy time.

I have loved listening to President Monson's stories about people he has helped and healed.  It seems that he is a good example of doing thing "straightway" when he is prompted.  This takes practice.  It takes practice to know what you think is a good idea and what the Spirit is telling you to go and do NOW.  I suppose either one is a good thing.  I know that doing right away what the Spirit prompts leads to happiness on my end and for someone else.  Having courage to do things of the Spirit straightway, is a gift for some, I think.  It means a great deal of unselfishness, having a lot of faith, and what tops it off is having the humility to not publish what you've done.

Lesson #5 "Born Again"

John 3:1–22  John 4:1–42  

I was overwhelmed with the amount of information available about being born again, including scripture chains that lead from one topic to another.   My husband has made this a topic of his study, and wisely so, as it encompasses topics such as the Spirit, repentance, baptism, faith, works, putting off the natural man and yielding to the Spirit of God.  In essence the doctrine of being born again is the purpose of our life.

Background on Nicodemus:

·      Pharisee- well educated, well respected, interpreted Mosaic Law symbolically, represent the people, belonged to a group

·      Came to Jesus by night (probably to avoid social discomfort yet putting forth the effort to learn)

·      Recognized that Jesus has power from God (a great teacher) and wants to know more (may want to read verse 2)

Savior perceives that Nicodemus is only seeing miracles with his physical eyes and so begins to explain the importance of seeing with spiritual eyes.  This is an important distinction to make for the Jews who are so focused on outward worship.

READ John 3:3-4 (for Jesus’ answer and Nicodemus’ next question)

WHY WOULD NICODEMUS ASK THIS IF HE IS A SMART AND RESPECTED PHARISEE, A LEADER OF THE JEWS?  WHY TAKE A LITERAL MEANING?

I don’t think he was argumentative about it.  In fact, in verse nine he says “How can these things be done?” I think he just wanted to know – the question is phrased oddly, but to me he has a feeling of “Lord, how is it done? “  It was also his first response to perhaps and unexpected answer.

As we read throughout the rest of this chapter concerning Nicodemus, put yourself in his shoes.  Remember that this is fairly new information to him (though it shouldn’t have been) as he tries to align his current teachings and beliefs with what the Savior teachers him.

WHAT ARE THE DOCTRINES THAT ARE GIVEN TO NICODEMUS? (read then answer)

READ John 3:5-8 (meaningful details of the passage)

·      Born of water (baptism) and spirit (Gift of Holy Ghost)

·      Flesh is flesh (it has it’s beginning and end)

·      Spirit is spirit (matter that has no end)

·      Flesh and spirit are separate

·      Wind comparison to spirit – cannot see or know where it comes from but you can hear it.

·      Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost

Nicodemus asks “How can these things be?”

The Savior reproves him a bit for being a “master of Israel” yet he doesn’t know what these things mean.  And He says “If I’ve told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly tings?”

Then he gives an example of an earthly things: Moses lifting up the serpent

Then he gives an example of a heavenly thing: The Son of man being lifted up

Again imagine that you are Nicodemus receiving this information as a new idea and probably a bit more impressionably as it is coming from the Savior teaching with the Spirit.

WHAT ARE THE DOCTRINES TAUGHT IN THESE VERSES?  

READ John 3:16-21

·      God loves the world (people)

·      Because he loves the world he gives

·      There is a plan

·      God has a Son

·      Not sent for political reasons

·      Sent to save spiritually and eventually physically

·      Men condemn themselves by holding to darkness

·      Men have choice to choose light

·      Works bring forth fruit – doeth evil=hateth light; doeth truth=cometh to light

·      He prefers saving to condemning (so should we),

·      A man really is the one who condemns himself

  We learn later in John that he defends Jesus to the Pharisees (John 7:50) when they were attempting to find and kill him.  He also brought  many expensive spices to Jesus’ burial (John 19:39), which was mentioned in Psalms 45:8.

In a key passage in Mosiah we are told that when the people desired to become followers of Christ, being born again, they did or desired to do certain things and then they became "children of Christ". I have emphasized these things in bold:

2And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty ^achange in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do ^bevil, but to do good continually.

3And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite ^agoodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.

4And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.

5And we are willing to enter into a ^acovenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a ^bnever-ending torment, as has been spoken by the ^cangel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

6And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.

7And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the ^achildren of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are ^bchanged through faith on his name; therefore, ye are ^cborn of him and have become his ^dsons and his daughters.

So, being born again requires certain things, that when they are fulfilled, we are spiritually begotten (as can happen over and over again and line upon line, precept on precept, or perhaps a better way of putting it is, each time a little of the veil over our minds is lifted to reveal another eternal truth we once knew, we are born again).

I really like that the people said they "have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."  This tells me that being born again has to do with our disposition.  And who knows our disposition better than the Savior?  Who knows better what line we need next and what precept will help at a certain time?  Only Christ, who proclaims us spiritually begotten when we commit to Him.  I find great comfort in knowing my Savior knows my current disposition and my potential disposition, that even in my imperfection He can proclaim me one of His daughters.