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Devotionals

LDSBC Choir

Musical Cantata

LDS Business College Devotional

March 28, 2017

President Richards:

I will guarantee you that if you listen to the spirit of the music, and you open your heart to your Heavenly Father, you will be instructed today in unique ways, that are unlike ways that you have been instructed during other devotionals. So, if you are ready to join me today, to be taught by the Spirit in a very unique way, would you please join me. Thank you.

Alanna Taylor: Our hearts are full as we rejoice and give thanks for our Savior Jesus Christ. In humility, we remember His divine birth, the teachings He gave, the miracles He performed, the death He suffered, and His glorious resurrection. Those who walked and talked with Jesus when He lived and ministered on earth stand as eternal witnesses to His divine mission. And now, we will erase the centuries of time and hear these witnesses bear record of Him. Through their testimonies, we will know even more fervently that Jesus Christ is, indeed, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Jose Chavez: Both time and eternity shall pass, and still I will thank my Father in Heaven, for allowing me, a lowly shepherd on the slopes of Judea, to be a witness to the divine birth of Jesus Christ. On that sacred of all nights, in the stillness, the darkness, I, with other shepherds, was keeping watch over my flock when suddenly an angel appeared. Radiant in a light more glorious and bright than even the noonday sun, appeared to us. Never had we seen such a sight before, and we were “sore afraid.”[1]

The angel spoke: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy….For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”[2] And in an instant, there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Then we were alone, astonished at what we had seen and heard.

We left our flocks to seek the blessed babe that has been born on earth. In Bethlehem we saw Him, the Savior of the world, lying in a manger. And we worshipped Him. How great was our joy! At last, the promised Messiah was born.

After that sacred night, everywhere we went we told of all we had seen and heard. We proclaimed the holy word: Christ the Lord is born.

Song: Christ the Lord Is Born

Dawna Lofgren: I was sitting among a great gathering of people who had come from Galilee, Judea, and beyond Jordan, listening to the words of Jesus. We were astonished at his doctrine, for He taught as one having authority, not as the scribes. That memorable Sermon on the Mount changed my life as He taught: “Blessed are they [who] hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”[3] And I was filled as He spoke. “Ye are the light of the world…. Let your light so shine… that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”[4] “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to [those who] hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”[5] “Be ye therefore perfect.”[6]

And I wondered, how can I, a mortal, be perfect? But I came to know later, as He spoke the words, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.”[7] My heart rejoiced, and my spirit was filled with new hope.

Song: How Beautiful the Words of Jesus

Christina Klein: My mother had told me of Jesus. She told me how He taught, healed, and blessed those who followed Him. She wanted me to see Him, be blessed by Him. So we went, making our way through many people. Finally, when we were almost to touch Him, His disciples said, “Touch him not! Go away!”[8]

But then He saw us, and He drew His arm close to me as He said, “Suffer the little children… and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”[9] Then He laid His hands on my head and blessed me. Oh, I will never forget how He laid His hands on my head and blessed me.

Song: Suffer the Children

Sydny Terry: On the desert hills of Galilee, I was with the many, hearing the words of Jesus. I had come with my five barley loaves and two small fishes. At evening, five thousand and more were hungry. What good my scanty sum? To the Master, it was enough. And on His blessing, it multiplied to feed the multitude and more. Yea, twelve baskets were filled with the surplus.[10] On the desert hills of Galilee I witnessed, that day, the infinite power of Jesus.

Lucas Orides: I was helpless as my servant lay suffering, but I had heard of the greatness and power of the one called Jesus. In Him I had implicit faith. I sought Him out in Capernaum and said, “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” Jesus knew my name, and spoke: “I will come and heal him.”

I could only answer: “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”[11] Peace and joy filled my soul as He said, “Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Then He spoke the word I had come to hear: “Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” And my servant was healed. In the city of Capernaum, I witnessed that day the infinite power of Jesus.

Brendan Haymans: Evening approached as we entered the ship. Ministry had brought exhaustion, even to the mortal body of Jesus, and in the ship, He slept. As we crossed over the Sea of Galilee, a great storm arose. The fierce winds blew. The waters leapt in giant tides, lashing at our ship as if to swallow us up unto mass destruction. Fear engulfed our beings. In desperation we awoke Him, crying, “Lord, save us! We perish.”

Seeing our piteous plight, He spoke: “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then majestically He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea. At His very utterance, the winds and the seas obeyed Him, and there arose a great calm. We marveled, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”[12] On the Sea of Galilee that day, I witnessed the infinite power of Jesus.

Song: Every Creature on Earth

Joel Goeckentz: It was the Passover in Jerusalem when I first beheld the magnitude of the Savior’s physical stature and righteous indignation. He had come to worship, only to find His Father’s house in desecration. This could not be, and yet, an apostate priesthood had allowed it to be. With a whip of small cords and a physical force that commanded obedience, He drove out the treasure seekers, the sellers of sacrificial victims, the money mongers from the courts of that most holy place, and as He did, His voice thundered forth: “Make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.”

As impressive and forceful as it was, time passed and old ways returned. Three years later, one week remaining of His earthly ministry, the Savior returned—this time to proclaim His divine Sonship. And again, His temple was profaned. Once more the wrath of His indignation was laid open as He said, “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” He overthrew their tables, drove out their cattle, and expelled the filthy merchants from the sacred precincts.

Then into the holy courts of His holy house came the blind, the lame, and He healed them. Children there, witnessing the cleansing and the healings, recognized Him as the promised Messiah, and they sang aloud, “Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David.”[13]

Song: Hosanna to the Son of David by Iker Oliver

Taylor Baton: That terrible day on Golgotha, words from the past returned. The words of Gabriel to me some thirty-three years ago, I had pondered them in my heart for, lo, these many years: “Thou shalt… bring forth a son…. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest…. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”[14]

That superscription on the cross—a mockery, but the truth. This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Little did they know they were crucifying their king, but I knew it. And as I beheld my King, my Savior, my precious son, hanging in agony on the cross, my heart cried out, “Oh, how can it be! It is too much.” A darkened sun hid from the shame, and the earth moaned against this evil.

Then other words from the past returned, the words of Simeon to me in the temple when my son was but a babe: “A sword [of anguish] shall pierce… thy own soul also.”[15] And so it was. A sword of anguish piercing through my own soul. Oh, that my suffering could relieve His suffering! But not so. Dear Father, I pray do not let it be long. And then, seeing my suffering, even from the torturing cross, my son stopped, turned to me, and to his beloved John he gave the charge to care for me, as He said, “Behold, thy mother!”[16] My son—the same yesterday, today, and forever—caring more for others than Himself, suffering that we might not suffer, and now dying that we may live. I could bear no more, and John took me away.

Song: His Agony on the Cross

Ryan Gibbons: On the road to Emmaus, my companion and I walked, reasoning, remembering, mourning over all that had happened concerning Jesus, whom we loved. A stranger drew near and walked with us, and asked, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?”[17]

Did this man not know Jesus? We reviewed for him the tragic events of the crucifixion, and explained how we had trusted that it had been Jesus which should have redeemed Israel. We told how certain women had gone to the sepulcher and found it empty, and saw him not.

Then the stranger expounded unto us the scriptures concerning Jesus. As we drew near to the village, we constrained him to abide with us, for it was evening and we desired his companionship. As we sat at meat with him, he took bread and blessed it and brake, and gave it unto us.

Then, suddenly, our eyes were open and we knew him—not a stranger at all, but Christ, our Savior Himself. Then He vanished from our sight. We had walked and talked with the resurrected Lord. How glorious the news! We rushed to Jerusalem to tell the apostles and others gathered there. They greeted us, saying, “Indeed, the Lord is risen, and hath appeared to Simon.”[18]

We then told them all that had happened on the road to Emmaus, and as we thus spoke, Jesus Christ Himself stood in our midst.

Song: He Lives

Alanna Taylor: Yes, Jesus lives, and He reigns in majesty over the whole earth, this very day. What would He have us do, in return for what He has done for us? As He has said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”[19] And as the promise has been given, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”[20] “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Song: If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments

 

 

 

[1] Luke 2:9.

[2] Luke 2:10-11.

[3] Matthew 5:6.

[4] Matthew 5:14, 16.

[5] Matthew 5:44-45.

[6] Matthew 5:48.

[7] John 13:34.

[8] See Mark 10:13.

[9] Mark 10:14.

[10] See Matthew 14:17-21.

[11] Matthew 8:5-13.

[12] Matthew 8:23-27.

[13] Matthew 21:12-16.

[14] Luke 1:31-33.

[15] Luke 2:35.

[16] John 19:27.

[17] Luke 24:17.

[18] See Luke 24:34.

[19] John 14:15.

[20] 1 Corinthians 2:9.

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