In Tune

1
In Tune.

• Arturo Toscanini, the late, famous conductor of
  the New York Philharmonic
• Orchestra, received a brief, crumpled letter from
  a lonely sheepherder in the
• remote mountain area of Wyoming
• "Mr. Conductor I have only two possessionsa
  radio and an old violin. The batteries in my
  radio are getting low and will soon die. My
  violin is so out of tune I can't use it. Please
  help me. Next Sunday when you begin your concert,
  sound a loud 'A' so I can tune my 'A' string
  then I can tune the other strings. When my radio
  batteries are dead, I'll have my violin.
• At the beginning of his next nationwide radio
  concert from Carnegie Hall, Toscanini
  announced "For a dear friend and listener
  back in the mountains of Wyoming the orchestra
  will now sound an 'A.'" The musicians all
  joined together in a perfect "A.
• The lonely sheepherder only needed one note,
  just a little help to get back in tune . . .
  he needed someone who cared to assist him
  with one string after that the others would
  be easy.
  
  (Elder David B. Haight,"People to People,"
  Ensign, November 1981,p 54.)

2
God Is No Respecter of Persons
The gospel is for all people and the Church is
guided by continuing revelation.

• Lesson 30
• Acts 1014 15135

Frances Hume
3
Acts 1011118Cornelius Peter
4
Acts 1011118

• What kind of man was Cornelius? (See Acts 1012,
  3031.)
• What was the angels message to Cornelius? (See
  Acts 1036.)
• How did Cornelius react to this message? (See
  Acts 1078, 33.) Why is it important to act
  immediately on instructions or promptings from
  God?
• While Corneliuss men were traveling to Joppa,
  Peter had a vision (Acts 10916).
• What did Peter see in this vision? (See Acts
  101112.)
• What was Peter told to do? (See Acts 1013.)
• Why did Peter resist? (See Acts 1014.
• How did the Lord respond to Peters concern? (See
  Acts 101516.)

5
Peter learns in a vision that the gospel should
be preached to the Gentiles.

• As he met with Cornelius, Peter understood his
  dream. What did it mean? (See Acts 1028, 3435.
• God is no respecter of persons
• It means that God will provide every person with
  the opportunity to receive the blessings
  available through the plan of salvation. The
  gospel was for all people, not just the Jews.
• Why were the Gentiles represented in the dream by
  unclean animals?
• The Jews thought the Gentiles were spiritually
  unworthy or unclean, like the animals that the
  law of Moses forbade Jews to eat. By saying that
  the animals in the dream were now cleansed, the
  Lord was telling Peter that the gospel should now
  be preached to all people.

6

• After Peter explained his dream, he began
  teaching Cornelius and his friends. What did he
  teach in his first sermon to them? (See Acts
  103643.)
• What happened as Peter was preaching? (See Acts
  1044, 46.) Why did this convince Peter that
  Cornelius and his friends should be baptized?
  (See Acts 104748 see also Acts 111517.)
• How did some Church members react when they heard
  that Peter had been teaching the gospel to
  Gentiles? (See Acts 1113.) Why were these
  members upset?

7
BIBLE DICTIONARY - CORNELIUS A centurion at
Caesarea, baptized by Peter (Acts 10). The
significance of Corneliuss baptism is that he
was probably the first gentile to come into the
Church not having previously become a
proselyte to Judaism (see Proselytes). Other
gentiles had joined the Church, but they had
been converted to Judaism before becoming
Christians, which caused no great commotion
among Jewish Christians who thought of
Christianity as having some ties with
Judaism. Preceding the baptism of Cornelius,
there were several spiritual manifestations
the ministry of an angel to Cornelius a
vision to Peter showing that the dietary
restrictions of the law of Moses were to be
discontinued the voice of the Spirit to Peter
and a manifestation of the power of the Holy
Ghost, accompanied by the speaking in tongues.
All of this would make clear the divine approval
and direction of what was about to take place.
The baptism of Cornelius and his family marked a
new dimension in the work of the Church in N.T.
times, since it opened the way for the gospel to
be preached to the gentiles directly, without
going by way of Judaism. It is notable that this
major event in the missionary activity of the
Church was done through the ministry of Peter,
the chief apostle, who held the keys of the
kingdom of God at that time on the earth.
8

• How did the Church members opinions change after
  Peter told them about his vision and his
  experience with Cornelius? (See Acts 11418.)
• What should we do when we receive new
  instructions from our Church leaders, even if we
  initially dislike the instructions or find them
  difficult to understand? (See John 717 2 Nephi
  2830 DC 611, 1415.)
• Why was Peter the one who received the revelation
  to teach the gospel to the Gentiles?
• Who receives revelation today for the entire
  Church? Why is it important to have only one
  person who receives revelation for the entire
  Church? (See DC 4326)

9
Where were you June 8, 1978?
What significant revelation occurred on that date?
The Priesthood was made available to all worthy
male members of the Church.
Official Declaration 2 located at the end of
the Doctrine and Covenants
Hint
10
The Apostles determine that Gentiles do not need
to keep the law of Moses.

• Acts 1512 - What dispute did Paul and Barnabas
  go to Jerusalem to resolve?
• Bible Dictionary, Circumcision, 646.
  Circumcision was symbolic of the entire law of
  Moses. A circumcised man was one who kept the
  law. Although Jesus Christ had fulfilled the law
  of Moses, some Jewish Christians still practiced
  it and wanted Gentile converts to practice it as
  well.
• How was the dispute resolved?

11
Token of Abrahamic Covenant

• Circumcision - Token of Abrahams and every male
  descendants covenant (Genesis 173-7 10-11)
• Circumcision Latin words meaning to cut
  around
• Not the act itself but rather what it stood for
  that gave circumcision its great significance.
  Though a person may have had the token of
  circumcision in the flesh, unless he was
  righteous the covenant was invalidated and the
  circumcision became profitless. Thus,
  circumcision was only a sign or token of what
  needed to happen to the inward man. If the
  inward change had not taken place, then
  circumcision was virtually meaningless.
• True circumcision is of the heart. The heart
  that is circumcised is one that loves God and
  is obedient to the Spirit. The uncircumcised in
  heart are wicked, proud, and rebellious.

12
Bible Dictionary, Circumcision, 646.

• There was much controversy in the early church
  with regard to the obligation of circumcision
  (Acts 151-31). The Church under direction of
  Peter and the Twelve, and acting under the
  guidance of the Spirit, declared that
  circumcision was not obligatory for gentile
  converts. However, it apparently did not settle
  the matter of whether or not Jewish members of
  the Church should have their children
  circumcised. As one reads the scriptures on the
  matter, it becomes evident that the real issue
  was not circumcision only, but also the larger
  question as to continued observance of the law of
  Moses by members of the Church.
• The word circumcision seems to have been
  representative of the law in these instances. The
  controversy was renewed later on in Galatia, as
  we read in Gal. 2 1-15 Gal. 5 2-6, 11 Gal. 6
  12-16. These passages, along with Rom. 2 25-29
  Rom. 3 1-2 Philip. 3 3 and Col. 2 11,
  contain Pauls teaching on the subject.

13

• The Jewish part of the church membership,
  especially in Jerusalem, appears to have been
  very reluctant to cease from the rituals and
  ceremony of the law of Moses (Acts 21 17-15).
  This is a marked contrast to the Church among
  the Nephites, in which there seems to have been a
  cessation of the law immediately upon their
  awareness of the death and resurrection of Jesus
  Christ.
• (3 Ne. 15 1-4 Moro. 8
  8).

14
Church Policy Practices

• How do the events described in Acts 15631
  demonstrate the pattern by which decisions about
  Church policy and practices are made?
• a. Church leaders meet to consider the matter
  (verse 6).
• b. They discuss the matter thoroughly (verses
  721).
• c. They make a decision in accordance with the
  Lords will (verses 1921).
• d. The Holy Ghost confirms that the decision is
  correct (verse 28).
• e. The decision is announced to the Saints for
  sustaining (verses 2231).

15
President Kimball speaking to saints inSouth
Africa.

• "As you know, on the ninth of June a policy was
  changed that affects great numbers of people
  throughout the world. Millions and millions of
  people will be affected by the revelation which
  came. I remember very vividly that day after day
  I walked to the temple and ascended to the fourth
  floor where we have our solemn assemblies and
  where we have our meetings of the Twelve and the
  First Presidency.
• After everybody had gone out of the temple, I
  knelt and prayed. I prayed with much fervency. I
  knew that something was before us that was
  extremely important to many of the children of
  God. I knew that we could receive the revelations
  of the Lord only by being worthy and ready for
  them and ready to accept them and put them into
  place. Day after day I went alone and with great
  solemnity and seriousness in
• the upper rooms of the temple, and there I
  offered my soul and offered my efforts to go
  forward with the program. I wanted to do what he
  wanted. I talked about it to him and

16
President Kimball speaking to saints inSouth
Africa.

• said, "Lord, I want only what is right. We are
  not making any plans to be spectacularly moving.
  We want only the thing that thou dost want, and
  we want it when you want it and not until."
• We met with the Council of the Twelve Apostles,
  time after time in the holy room where there is a
  picture of the Savior in many different moods and
  also pictures of all the Presidents of the
  Church. Finally we had the feeling and the
  impression from the Lord, who made it very clear
  to us, that this was the thing to do to make the
  gospel universal to all worthy people. You will
  meet this situation undoubtedly as you bring the
  gospel to them on condition that their lives can
  be changed. (It was announced to the church
  members.)
• I anticipate the day when the gospel, that has
  come to you and your families and has transformed
  your lives, will begin to transform their lives
  and make new people out of them. They become
  people who will love the Lord and who will make
  the same sacrifices that you make (Teachings of
  Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 450-451).

17
October 22, 1961

• The first official Church meeting in black Africa
  was held on October 22, 1961, in a small mud hut
  in Opobo District, Nigeria, where Brother
  Williams met with a pastor and 110 followers. No
  one came by car. Many, including eight mothers
  with small children, had begun their day before
  400 a.m. and walked 25 miles or more to be
  there. After teaching them for two hours, Brother
  Williams prepared to end the meeting. He
  recorded
• It was hot as blazes. . . . My suit was wringing
  wet. . . . When I turned the meeting back to the
  pastor, I heard a murmur all through the
  congregation . . . and the pastor said to me,
  "They don't want to go home. They have something
  to say."
• Then for three hours . . . these people were
  standing up bearing testimony to the truthfulness
  of the Church and how they believed in the
  prophets. I could not believe what I was hearing.
  Williams interview, pp. 1012
• One elderly gentleman said I keep hearing you
  say, "if we are sincere." Elder Williams, I want
  you to know that I am sincere. I am an old man .
  . . I am sick. But when I heard you were going to
  be here, I walked 16 miles this morning to see
  you and to hear what you have to say. I still
  have to walk 16 miles to get back home, and I am
  not well. I want you to know that I am sincere or
  I would not be here. I have not seen President
  McKay. I have not seen God. But I have seen you.
  And I will hold you personally accountable to
  tell President McKay that I am sincere.

18

• The significance of this unique
  chapter of Church history was summed up by
  Brother Jude Inmpey from Nigeria. At
  a social gathering with mission couples,
  the mission president called on him
  to share his feelings about the gospel
  coming to his people.
• He related a dream that he had not understood
  until that moment. He had dreamed that he was in
  a gathering where an organ was playing background
  music. It sounded terrible, and people were
  complaining. They discovered that the organist
  was playing only on the white keys.
• Brother Inmpey then observed, "For many, many
  years the Church has been playing only the white
  keys, but now we are playing on the white and the
  black keys, and the music is much, much sweeter"
  (LeBaron, All Are Alike unto God, p. 123).

19
Church Statistics

• At the beginning of 2002, the Church had over 11
  million members living in over 160 nations. There
  were more than 60,000 missionaries working in
  over 120 independent countries, speaking about 50
  major languages and many additional dialects.
• The Church is also growing more diverse
  internationally. More than half of all Church
  members now reside outside of the United States,
  a milestone that was reached in February 1996.

• 2007 13,000,000 members
• 2006 more than 272,800 convert baptisms.
• 8,254 meetinghouses internationally, a 10 percent
  growth rate over the past five years. United
  States has 6,361 meetinghousesor a 9.6 percent
  growth rate for the same time period. Many of
  these meetinghouses accommodate several
  congregations.
• More than 52,000 missionaries teach in 347
  missions in more than 140 nations.
• total number of missions around the world to 347.
  

20

• President Gordon B. Hinckley remarked With the
  ever increasing number of converts, we must make
  an increasingly substantial effort to assist them
  as they find their way. Every one of them needs
  three things a friend, a responsibility, and
  nurturing with the good word of God (Moroni
  64). It is our duty and opportunity to provide
  these things (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997,
  66 or Ensign, May 1997, 47).

21

• President Gordon B. Hinckley has emphasized how
  essential it is that new members involvement not
  end after baptism and confirmation. The
  challenge now is greater than it has ever been
  because the number of converts is greater than we
  have ever before known. I plead with you I
  ask of you, each of you, to become a part of this
  great effort. Every convert is precious. Every
  convert is a son or daughter of God. Every
  convert is a great and serious responsibility.
  In my view nothing is of greater importance
  (Converts and Young Men, Ensign, May 1997, 48).

22
Next Week

• Lesson 31 
• Acts 15361822
• 1 Thessalonians and
• 2 Thessalonians