Young man and young woman helping an elderly woman with her groceries.
Caring for the poor and others in need of help has always been an important part of being a Christian. When widows were being neglected, the Apostles chose Stephen and six others to minister to their needs. Tragically, although Stephen performed mighty miracles with God’s power, the Jews stoned him for his testimony of Jesus Christ. As you study, ponder ways you can bless others by striving to follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, become like Them, and testify of Them.
The ward council is a group of members with certain callings (bishop, elders quorum president, Relief Society president, Young Women president, Primary president, and so on) who meet together regularly to address different situations and challenges in their ward. Imagine that you have the following situation in your ward or branch: A single mom named Lydia has a 16-year-old boy, a 7-year-old girl, and a 6-month-old baby. Lydia is having surgery this week and will be in the hospital for five days. How might the different members of the ward council be able to help this family?
Why do you think ward councils, or other similar organizations, are important?
How might it feel for those who are on the receiving end of assistance from a ward council or similar group?
Read Acts 6:1, looking for one problem the early Church faced.
Because of the number of widows who were poor or otherwise in need of assistance in the Church, the Twelve were spending so much of their time trying to help them that they couldn’t devote their time to preaching the gospel the way the Savior had asked them to.
Read Acts 6:2–8 and identify the solution the Twelve came up with.
1. Answer the following questions in your study journal:
How are callings in the Church and ward councils today similar to the solution the early Apostles proposed?
As you read about the seven men who were chosen to assist the Apostles, what Christlike attributes did you notice they had?
How do you think each of these attributes can help someone serve and bless others who are in need?
A truth we can identify from these verses is this: As we develop Christlike attributes, we can better minister to and bless those who are in need.
What are some additional characteristics that Jesus Christ has that help Him minister to those in need?
Take a moment to ponder how well you have developed these Christlike qualities. Do any of these attributes relate to any of your personal goals for the Children and Youth program? If so, take a moment to write in your study journal how you are doing at developing that attribute. If not, consider making a plan in your study journal for how you will work on developing that Christlike trait so that you can better minister to and bless those who are in need.
Stephen’s testimony and martyrdom
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote:
Image
Head and shoulders portrait of Elder Bruce R. McConkie.
Great things do not come easily; events that shake the earth run into mountains of resistance.
Elder McConkie’s statement applies to Stephen. Even though he “did great wonders and miracles among the people[,] … there arose certain of the synagogue … disputing with [him]” (Acts 6:8–9). Stephen was brought before the Jewish council, and false witnesses were brought to testify against him.
As Stephen stood before the leaders of the Jews, he recounted how for generations the Jews had resisted the Holy Ghost and rejected and killed the prophets God had sent among them. Stephen then testified that these rebellious attitudes continued to that day, as the people had even murdered Jesus Christ, the Son of God (see Acts 7:51–52).
Read Acts 7:54–60, looking for how Stephen acted in spite of such anger and opposition.
Image
This painting depicts the stonong of Stephen as described in Acts 7:54-60. From a reclining position Stephen acknowledges through gesture the presence of the Father and the Son who stand in white at the top of the painting in the opened heavens. Those stoning Stephen do so with hatred and gross violence. Saul holds the garments of two of them. Two priests with indifferent looks stand to the right. The painting is signed, “Walter Rane.”
What stood out to you in the account of Stephen’s martyrdom?
As the account of Stephen’s martyrdom shows, good people and causes are often met with “mountains of resistance.”
How have you seen this in your own life?
Like Stephen, as you choose to share your beliefs and testimony of the Savior and His gospel, you may experience resistance or even persecution. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Image
Official Portrait of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Photographed January 2018.
I say to all and especially the youth of the Church that if you haven’t already, you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Such moments will require both courage and courtesy on your part.
2. Answer the following questions in your study journal:
Why do you think it is worth it to testify of and defend Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
How do you think our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help you when you face persecution for testifying of and defending Them?
Take a moment to ponder how you can choose to testify of and defend your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son throughout this coming week.
Optional: Want to Learn More?
Acts 6:1–6. Who is called to assist the Apostles with temporal matters today?
Just as the Lord called seven worthy men to assist the Twelve in providing for the temporal needs of the Church as recorded in the book of Acts, the Lord has called the Presiding Bishopric to assist the Twelve in providing for the temporal needs of the Church today. The Presiding Bishop and his two counselors serve under the direction of the First Presidency to administer the temporal affairs of the Church. Fast offerings are an essential part of this program and provide temporary, life-sustaining assistance for the poor throughout the world. (For more information, see the topic “Presiding Bishopric” at newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)
Will I face persecution or have to defend my faith?
Watch the video “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship” (available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org) from time codes 1:01 to 2:31, or read the statement below.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave an example of someone persecuted while striving to testify of Christ:
Image
Official Portrait of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Photographed January 2018.
A sister missionary recently wrote to me: “My companion and I saw a man sitting on a bench in the town square eating his lunch. As we drew near, he looked up and saw our missionary name tags. With a terrible look in his eye, he jumped up and raised his hand to hit me. I ducked just in time, only to have him spit his food all over me and start swearing the most horrible things at us. We walked away saying nothing. I tried to wipe the food off of my face, only to feel a clump of mashed potato hit me in the back of the head. Sometimes it is hard being a missionary because right then I wanted to go back, grab that little man, and say, ‘EXCUSE ME!’ But I didn’t.”
To this devoted missionary I say, dear child, you have in your own humble way stepped into a circle of very distinguished women and men who have, as the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob said, “view[ed Christ’s] death, and suffer[ed] his cross and [borne] the shame of the world” [Jacob 1:8].
