Speed Teaching

1. Speed Teaching Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount)

2. Instructions Everybody needs a partner. You will be given four minutes to “teach one another” the scripture block you have been assigned. The first minute you are to study the scripture block and the last three minutes are for a very brief introduction to one another, sharing insights, understanding, experiences that are related to the scripture block, etc…

3. A Blueprint Of this sermon, PresidentHarold B. Lee said: “Christ came not only into the world to make an atonement for the sins of mankind but to set an example before the world of the standard of perfection of God’s law and of obedience to the Father. In his Sermon on the Mount the Master has given us somewhat of a revelation of his own character, which was perfect, or what might be said to be ‘an autobiography, every syllable of which he had written down in deeds,’ and in so doing has given us a blueprint for our own lives” (Decisions for Successful Living [1973], 55–56).

4. Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:2-12 Matthew 5:21-25 Matthew 5:27-30 Matthew 5:38-42 Matthew 6:1-4 Matthew 6:9-15 Matthew 6:19-23 Matthew 6:31-34 Matthew 7:6 Matthew 7:7-12 Matthew 7:15-23

5. Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:2-12 The Beatitudes Matthew 5:21-25 Don’t even get angry Matthew 5:27-30 Don’t even look Matthew 5:38-42 Blind & Toothless Matthew 6:1-4 Almsgiving Matthew 6:9-15 The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:19-23 Treasures in Heaven Matthew 6:31-34 Seek God first Matthew 7:6 Pearls before swine Matthew 7:7-12 Answers to prayer Matthew 7:15-23 False Prophets

6. Salt of the Earth The Organizer and Creator of this world understood perfectly the nature and importance of salt. More than thirty-five references to this substance are found in the scriptures. In the Old Testament mention is made of a “covenant of salt” (see Lev. 2:13; Num. 18:19; 2 Chr. 13:5). In the New Testament the Savior referred to his disciples as the “salt of the earth,” and charged them to retain their savor (Matt. 5:13). He repeated this charge to his chosen disciples on the American continent: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor, wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men” (3 Ne. 12:13). How many times have we read, or heard others read, this scripture? Yet, do we understand fully the “salt of the earth” message? Are we conversant with the analogy? Are we responding properly to its implications? A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not lose its savor with age. Savor is lost through mixture and contamination. Similarly, priesthood power does not dissipate with age; it, too, is lost through mixture and contamination. When a young man or older man mixes his thoughts with pornographic literature, he suffers a loss of savor. When a priesthood bearer mixes his speech with lies or profanity, he suffers a loss of savor. When one of us follows the crowd and becomes involved in immoral acts and the use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and other injurious substances, he loses savor. (Carlos E. Asay, “Salt of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men,” Ensign, May 1980, 42)

7. Matthew 5:31-32—Divorce Ten days ago, I had a beautiful and touching experience in the Salt Lake Temple, the building immediately to the east of this tabernacle. There in that holy sanctuary I had the privilege of sealing in marriage, in two separate but consecutive ceremonies, two beautiful young women who are twins, each to a handsome and able young man of her choice. That evening, a double wedding reception was held where hundreds of friends came to express their love and good wishes. Mothers often shed tears at a wedding ceremony. Sisters also, and sometimes fathers. Seldom do grandparents show any emotion. But these beautiful girls were my own granddaughters, and I must confess that this old grandfather choked up and had a difficult time. I don’t understand why. Certainly it was a happy occasion, a fulfillment of dreams and prayers. Perhaps my tears were really an expression of joy and of gratitude to God for these lovely brides and their handsome young husbands. In sacred promises, they pledged their love and loyalty one to another for time and all eternity. Of course, all in marriage is not bliss. Years ago I clipped these words from a column written by Jenkins Lloyd Jones: “There seems to be a superstition among many thousands of our young who hold hands and smooch in the drive-ins that marriage is a cottage surrounded by perpetual hollyhocks to which a perpetually young and handsome husband comes home to a perpetually young and ravishing wife. When the hollyhocks wither and boredom and bills appear the divorce courts are jammed. … “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.” (Deseret News, 12 June 1973, p. A4.)

8. Divorce—continued I am satisfied that a happy marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion. Selfishness so often is the basis of money problems, which are a very serious and real factor affecting the stability of family life. Selfishness is at the root of adultery, the breaking of solemn and sacred covenants to satisfy selfish lust. Selfishness is the antithesis of love. It is a cankering expression of greed. It destroys self-discipline. It obliterates loyalty. It tears up sacred covenants. It afflicts both men and women. Too many who come to marriage have been coddled and spoiled and somehow led to feel that everything must be precisely right at all times, that life is a series of entertainments, that appetites are to be satisfied without regard to principle. How tragic the consequences of such hollow and unreasonable thinking! There is a remedy for all of this. It is not found in divorce. It is found in the gospel of the Son of God. He it was who said, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6) The remedy for most marriage stress is not in divorce. It is in repentance. It is not in separation. It is in simple integrity that leads a man to square up his shoulders and meet his obligations. It is found in the Golden Rule. There may be now and again a legitimate cause for divorce. I am not one to say that it is never justified. But I say without hesitation that this plague among us, which seems to be growing everywhere, is not of God, but rather is the work of the adversary of righteousness and peace and truth.(Gordon B. Hinckley, “What God Hath Joined Together,” Ensign, May 1991, 71).

9. Matthew 5:43-48--Love your enemies Celestial—return good for evil (godly) Terrestrial—return evil for evil; good for good (law of Moses) Telestial—return evil for good (worldly teachings)

10. Judgment 1. You say to your son “I don’t want you to hang out with him. He’s trouble.” Your son responds “Quit judging.” 2. Your neighbor is arrested for embezzling 100,000 dollars from the bank where he works and you bank. You say to your wife “he’s going to hell.” 3. A student in your religion class misses a ton of days because he’s “sick”. 4. You feel like when you go to church everybody in the ward judges you. 5. Your friends want you to go to with them to smoke weed. You judge them and choose not to go. 6. The school where you attend won’t let you wear certain clothes or hair styles. Isn’t that a type of judgment?

11. Judge not I have been puzzled that some scriptures command us not to judge and others instruct us that we should judge and even tell us how to do it. But as I have studied these passages I have become convinced that these seemingly contradictory directions are consistent when we view them with the perspective of eternity. The key is to understand that there are two kinds of judging: final judgments, which we are forbidden to make, and intermediate judgments, which we are directed to make, but upon righteous principles. I will speak about gospel judging. (Dallin H. Oaks, “‘Judge Not’ and Judging,” Ensign, Aug 1999, 7).

12. The Wise Man & The Foolish Man “Couldn’t you imagine that if a family purposely built their house on sand, their neighbors would come running to their aid, would probably warn them and try to persuade them not to make such a critical error? But we are actually witnessing this tragic mistake taking place. Some houses are being built on sand” (David B. Haight, “A Foundation Whereon Men Cannot Fall,” Ensign, Jul 1972, 107).