Poster Article:
Cornelius and Peter

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).

In a revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord said that He would reveal to the prophets what He wanted people to do. We are to obey the counsel of the prophets, He said, because “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, … whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).

Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army shortly after the death of Jesus Christ, learned this. Although he was not a Jew, he was a good man who believed in God. He and his family “gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway” (Acts 10:2).

An angel came to Cornelius in a vision. He was to send for the Apostle Peter, who was living in Joppa. The angel said that Peter would tell Cornelius what to do. The next day, Cornelius sent two servants and a soldier to bring Peter to him.

When they were almost to Joppa, Peter was praying while he waited to eat dinner. He was very hungry. While he prayed, “he fell into a trance,

“And saw … all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

“And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

“But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

“And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:10–15).

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of what he had seen, Cornelius’s men came, and the Spirit told him, “Go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them” (Acts 10:20).

Peter went with them the next day. He found not only Cornelius but also his family and friends. Cornelius told Peter about the angel and said, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (Acts 10:33).

Peter then understood what he had seen in his vision. The Lord was showing him that the gospel wasn’t only for the Jews but for all people. He taught the gospel to Cornelius and the others. While he taught them, “the Holy Ghost fell on all them.” Peter “commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (see Acts 10:44, 48).

Cornelius had obeyed the counsel of the angel and called for Peter, a prophet of God. When Peter taught him and his family and friends, they received the witness of the Holy Ghost. They followed the counsel of the prophet and became members of the Savior’s church.

Missionary Mobile

By Arianne B. Cope

To make the mobile, you will need: glue, heavy paper, scissors, a paper punch, two small metal fasteners, and string. Mount this page to heavy paper, then cut out the strips. Punch two small holes on each strip where marked. Fasten the tops of the strips together with the fastener, then fasten the bottom strips together with a fastener and spread the strips apart (see illustration). Attach a string to the top fastener; hang the mobile somewhere in your room to help remind you that the gospel is for everyone in the world.

Illustrated by Elise Black

Illustrated by Paul Mann