Week 5

Read the information in the institute student manual about “The Last Days of Jesus’ Mortal Mission” (pp. 135–37). Then fill in the following chart with key events that took place during the Savior’s final week of mortality:

He is Risen

The Last Days of Jesus’ Mortal Mission

Day 1	Christ arrived in Jerusalem amongst much fan fare. Many people were there to greet Him as “the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”  Once He arrived He went to the temple. He spent the night in Bethany
Day 2	At the temple people were trading and exchanging money from foreign currencies, this practice was sanctioned by the Jewish leaders. Jesus went to the temple and drove out the money changers, in essence challenging the Jewish leaders authority. Jesus wanted it to be known that the temple was a place to worship God, not to make money.
Day 3	Jesus returned to the temple and was confronted by the scribes and Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees were upset with what Jesus had done by challenging their authority on the second day.  They sought to know where He received His authority.  Jesus spoke to them in parables and called them hypocrites.  The jewish leaders continued to plot His death. At this time Jesus was done teaching publicly and just taught the twelve privately from this time on.
Day 4	The gospel writers did not record the happenings of the fourth day.  Jesus spent the day outside the city, maybe in Bethany.
Day 5	Jesus spent the passover with the Twelve and introduced the sacrament. He told them of His death and betrayal. Jesus gave His intercessory prayer, and went to Gethsemane. He went and prayed to the Father, where Jesus suffered “the pain of all men”, which caused Him to bleed from every pore. Jesus was betrayed by Judas that night and taken to an illegal trial.
Day 6	Jesus was tried by the Jews and convicted of blasphemy, a capital offense, because He said He was the Son of God. The Roman governor, Pilate, wanting to appease the jewish crowd sentenced Jesus to death. Jesus was crucified. Jesus willingly gave up His spirit on the cross and died. Two disciples of Jesus removed His body before nightfall, and put His body in a tomb.
Day 7  (Sabbath)	Jesus body lay in the tomb, but in spirit He ministered to those departed spirits in the spirit world. (1 Peter 3:18-20)
Day of Resurrection (Sunday)	Jesus Christ emerged alive from His tomb and appeared before Mary. He was then seen by many witnesses.

Matthew 22:35-40. The Two Great Commandments

According to Matthew 22:35–40, what did the Savior say are the two great commandments? 

1. I am to love the Lord God with all of my heart, and with all of my soul, and with all of my mind.  

2. I am to love my neighbor as myself.

Study Exodus 20:3–17. Make a list of the Ten Commandments. To the side of each of the commandments, make a note as to which of the two great commandments applies best to it.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.-First great commandment

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.-First great commandment

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.-First great commandment

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.-First great commandment

5. Honor thy father and thy mother.-Second great commandment 

6. Thou shalt not kill.-Second great commandment

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.-Second great commandment 

8. Thou shalt not steal.-Second great commandment 

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.-Second great commandment 

10. Thou shalt not covet.-Second great commandment 

As we strive to obey all of the commandments we honor our Father in Heaven, showing our love to Him. In that case you could say the first great commandment could be attached to all commandments.  

Write a paragraph explaining why you think the first great commandment must come before the second. List in your paragraph two or three problems in life you are aware of that came as a result of people putting the second great commandment before the first.

As I strive to obey the first great commandment I will desire to obey all of the commandments, because I love my heavenly father.  It needs to come first because the desire to obey all commandments, the desire to have and grow faith will come from a love of our heavenly father. If we don’t love the Lord God we will not care about His commandments or what he wants from us.  I look at the advisary who hates our Father in Heaven.  The advisary does his best to destroy the commandments, the plan of happiness, and he has many followers in  this life. I saw a billboard from an atheist organization discouraging the use of Christ in Christmas, saying "don’t go to church it's boring, spend your time with family or in service."  They are encouraging service which falls in line with the second great commandment, but by leaving out the first great commandment all of the commandments fall apart. They will be blessed by doing good and obeying commandments even if they don’t know they are obeying commandments, but they are not getting to know our Father and have Him in their lives.  Their moral compass will not be anchored on Christ, a sure foundation, so they will seek to do good according to the standards of the world. The world's standards are ever changing and withering.

Record your testimony in regards to the Two Great Commandments. Include any feelings or experiences that you feel are necessary.

I know these two commandments are the basis for all of the commandments. They are instrumental and really cannot be separated for the person striving to worship our Father in Heaven. I have felt the strength of the Lord as I have sought opportunities to serve others, to visit those in need. What King Benjamin taught is true...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. 

As I do my best to be obedient to these two great commandments I find my desiree to obey all of Heavenly Father's commandments increases.