2019 Study Summary 28: The Word of God Grew and Multiplied

Acts 10–15

“The Word of God Grew and Multiplied”

How are Sight, Sound and Motion used in the scriptures?
The imagery of sight, sound, and motion used in the New Testament is a powerful part of doctrine and history being studied. “Sight” refers to the visual aspects; “sound” is in the doctrinal message that is spoken; and “motion” refers to the feelings as well as the movement of hours of the day and travel time.

What is the point of “numbers?”
This lesson shows that it was time for all worthy people to receive the covenants of the Gospel. The time frame enveloping Cornelius’ “ninth hour of the day” vision to send for Peter from Jaffa, Peter’s vision in Jaffa with instructions for him to go to Caesarea, and then Cornelius recounting his vision to Peter as he arrived at Caesarea is a three nights and three days chiasmus. The center point is Peter’s vision of salvation for all. The time when Jesus “gave up the ghost” was the ninth hour of the day. Three nights and three days later He completed the atonement. His resurrection provided salvation for all. That is the central doctrinal point of the Gospel.

How is “first” and “last” used by the Lord?
“Taking the dispensation of the meridian of time as a starting point, the gospel was preached first to the Jews and thereafter to the Gentiles. Then dropping down to the dispensation of the fulness of times we find the gospel message going first to the Gentiles, with a promise that it will hereafter go to the Jews. Thus, the first shall be last and the last first.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Pg.721) “. . . the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” (1 Nephi 13:42)

What did Peter see in his Vision of the sheet?
Simon Peter apparently was praying (religious Jews pray three times a day, covering their heads and using a special prayer cloth, a tallit, over their shoulders). During his prayers, Peter saw a sheet with knitted or knotted corners—maybe like the typical Jewish prayer shawl, a tallit with its knotted corners—filled with all sorts of common or unclean foods (unkosher). An angel commanded Peter to eat of those foods, contrary to Jewish dietary law. The vision was a conflict (or contrast) in symbolism: The tallit with its 613 knots and strings symbolizing the laws given by Moses, was now filled with foods forbidden by the Law of Moses. Visions really do contain sights, sounds and motion that convey vital information.

What are symbols of salvation?
Cornelius’s invitation to Peter arrived just as Peter was contemplating the meaning of the unusual vision of “unkosher” foods he had just been commanded to eat. After their overnight trip to find him, he lodged his Roman guests overnight, then departed with them to Caesarea—which required the third overnight stay. Peter was soon to learn of the correlation of these two heavenly manifestations. When Peter arrived to visit in the house of the Roman Cornelius, again contrary to Jewish law and custom, he related that God had updated or changed the food laws of Israel (showing Israel’s singularity), and said, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34-35) The three nights and three days is an obvious reminder of Jehovah saving Jonah at Jaffa, and after Jaffa, came the reminder that He rose on the third day to save us all!

How do Peter’s and Cornelius’ visions relate?
The scriptural report of the Peter/Cornelius events is written in a chiasmus: First we read of Cornelius’s vision; next we learn of Peter’s vision. However, when Peter arrives in Caesarea, the vision of Cornelius is repeated. The center point is the Savior’s message: “Salvation is for all people.” (Isaiah 12:2)

What does “Jesus” mean?
The name of Jesus is Jeho-Shua. It come from the words, “Jehovah saves” or “salvation is of the Lord” (Jehovah). Since salvation is of the Lord, the direction we need for our process of being saved comes from Him, too. That principle is constant as long as there are living prophets on the earth. Gentiles being able to become full covenant members at the time of the Apostle and Prophet Peter was similar to “all worthy people” receiving the priesthood (or to be blessed by all priesthood functions) at the time of President and Prophet Spencer W. Kimball.

How was the Priesthood limitation on blacks changed by revelation?
“He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple.” “We declare with soberness that the Lord has now made known his will for the blessing of all his children throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice of his authorized servants and prepare themselves to receive every blessing of the gospel.” (Spencer W. Kimball. N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney, The First Presidency)

What can I learn from inspired changes?
Just as in Peter’s time, there are those who find change, even prompted from the Lord, difficult to understand. Through various visual travel experiences that the ensuing chapters in the New Testament teach the same “sound doctrine” that salvation is for all, to the ends of the earth. Adjustments in the Word of Wisdom and the social acceptance of non-Israelites into the House of Israel amplify the responsibility of those who were first to share their blessings with everyone, as they are fulfilling a sign of the times.