Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
The Sermon on the Mount begins with ways that we can be happy. It is a recipe for joy and shows us a path to personal discipleship. Christ's sermon focuses on our hearts and explains how we can come closer to Him. I love the Sermon on the Mount!
Regarding the Savior’s teachings in Matthew 5:1-12, President Harold B. Lee taught: “These declarations of the Master are known in the literature of the Christian world as the Beatitudes and have been referred to by Bible commentators as the preparation necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. For the purposes of this discussion may I speak of them as something more than that as they are applied to you and me. They embody in fact THE CONSTITUTION FOR A PERFECT LIFE” (Decisions for Successful Living 1973, 56-57).
Prophet Joseph Smith: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial.
“… External circumstances don’t really matter or determine our happiness.
“… We determine our happiness” (“Of Regrets and Resolutions,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 23).
To be poor in spirit means to be humble and “to recognize gratefully [our] dependence on the Lord—to understand that [we] have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that [our] talents and abilities are gifts from God” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 86).
To mourn is to feel or express sorrow. A person may mourn over the difficulties and trials of mortality, including the death of loved ones. Likewise, a person may also mourn because of sorrow for sin.
“To be meek, as defined in Webster’s dictionary, is ‘manifesting patience and long-suffering: enduring injury without resentment’ [Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (1976) ‘meek,’ 1403]. Meekness is not weakness. It is a badge of Christian courage” (Robert D. Hales, “Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 73).
To hunger and thirst after righteousness implies a great desire to know and do the will of God.
“Mercy is the compassionate treatment of a person greater than what is deserved” (“Mercy,” Gospel Topics, lds.org/topics). We are able to receive Heavenly Father’s mercy because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Alma 33:11).
“The pure in heart are those who love the Lord, who seek to follow Him and keep His commandments, who are striving to live virtuous lives and endure faithfully to the end. The pure in heart are those who control their thoughts to keep themselves free from immoral fantasies and deeds” (Sheldon F. Child, “Words of Jesus: Chastity,” Ensign, Jan. 2003, 44).
To be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” means to be willing to obey and defend Jesus Christ and His teachings, even when we may be mocked or mistreated for doing so.
“[Good salt] … is clean, pure, uncontaminated, and useful. In this state or condition, salt will preserve, flavor, heal, and perform other useful functions” (Elder Asay, “Salt of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men,” Ensign, May 1980, 42.)
Salt
Summary: Becoming a whole or complete person Matthew 5
President Ezra Taft Benson: “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.
“We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives. …” (Ensign, May 1988, 4.)
President Russel M. Nelson: "The term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means 'complete.' ... Note that the word does not imply 'freedom from error'; it implies 'achieving a distant objective.' ...
“We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86, 88)
“We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments. It includes thrones, kingdoms, principalities, powers, and dominions. It is the end for which we are to endure. It is the eternal perfection that God has in store for each of us.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1995/10/perfection-pending)
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: “…except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on this earthly journey we are pursuing, so while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists call “toxic perfectionism.”
“I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that, as children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/10/be-ye-therefore-perfect-eventually?lang=eng)
"In the days of Jesus, one school of Jewish thought had come to interpret the Mosaic standard (see Deuteronomy 24:1–2) in a way that allowed divorce for frivolous reasons. For example, if a man desired a younger or more attractive wife or if a man’s wife ruined his dinner, appeared in public with her head uncovered, or was disagreeable, it was permissible for him to seek a divorce. As recorded in Matthew 5:31–37, as in other places in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sought to call his followers to a higher standard of righteousness and to have them understand that marriage was an institution that should be honored and maintained according to the pattern established by God with the eternal marriage of Adam and Eve." (See Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. [1979–81], 3:291–97; see also Matthew 19:3–9.)
Teaching Thoughts:
Regarding the Savior’s teachings in Matthew 5:1-12, President Harold B. Lee taught: “These declarations of the Master are known in the literature of the Christian world as the Beatitudes and have been referred to by Bible commentators as the preparation necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. For the purposes of this discussion may I speak of them as something more than that as they are applied to you and me. They embody in fact THE CONSTITUTION FOR A PERFECT LIFE” (Decisions for Successful Living 1973, 56-57).
Prophet Joseph Smith: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial.
“… External circumstances don’t really matter or determine our happiness.
“… We determine our happiness” (“Of Regrets and Resolutions,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 23).
To be poor in spirit means to be humble and “to recognize gratefully [our] dependence on the Lord—to understand that [we] have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that [our] talents and abilities are gifts from God” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 86).
To mourn is to feel or express sorrow. A person may mourn over the difficulties and trials of mortality, including the death of loved ones. Likewise, a person may also mourn because of sorrow for sin.
“To be meek, as defined in Webster’s dictionary, is ‘manifesting patience and long-suffering: enduring injury without resentment’ [Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (1976) ‘meek,’ 1403]. Meekness is not weakness. It is a badge of Christian courage” (Robert D. Hales, “Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 73).
To hunger and thirst after righteousness implies a great desire to know and do the will of God.
“Mercy is the compassionate treatment of a person greater than what is deserved” (“Mercy,” Gospel Topics, lds.org/topics). We are able to receive Heavenly Father’s mercy because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Alma 33:11).
“The pure in heart are those who love the Lord, who seek to follow Him and keep His commandments, who are striving to live virtuous lives and endure faithfully to the end. The pure in heart are those who control their thoughts to keep themselves free from immoral fantasies and deeds” (Sheldon F. Child, “Words of Jesus: Chastity,” Ensign, Jan. 2003, 44).
To be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” means to be willing to obey and defend Jesus Christ and His teachings, even when we may be mocked or mistreated for doing so.
“[Good salt] … is clean, pure, uncontaminated, and useful. In this state or condition, salt will preserve, flavor, heal, and perform other useful functions” (Elder Asay, “Salt of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men,” Ensign, May 1980, 42.)
Salt
- Estimated more than 14,000 uses for salt
- A flavorer
- An antiseptic
- A preserver
- Cannot be hidden
- Visible to “all that are in the house.”
- Gives heat.
- God has more than 14,000 uses for you.
- Give the gospel flavor to others.
- Help others overcome harmful effects of unrighteousness.
- Help to preserve a soul.
- You are expected not to hide your light from others.
- Be visible to “all that are in the house.”
- Will your light warm another’s heart?
Summary: Becoming a whole or complete person Matthew 5
- 5:1- Come “unto Him”
- 5:2 - listen to Him.
- 5:3- be humble.
- 5:4- have compassion and comfort others.
- 5:5- be teachable.
- 5:6- have righteous desires and be filled with Holy Ghost.
- 5:7- extend mercy.
- 5:8- pure in heart.
- 5:9- avoid contention, be a peacemaker.
- 5:10-11- stand up for the truth at all times.
- 5:14-16- be an example.
- 5:22- control anger
- 5:28- control lust
- 5:33-37- develop honesty, integrity, keeping your word
- 5:38-45- love everyone including enemies
President Ezra Taft Benson: “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.
“We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives. …” (Ensign, May 1988, 4.)
President Russel M. Nelson: "The term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means 'complete.' ... Note that the word does not imply 'freedom from error'; it implies 'achieving a distant objective.' ...
“We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86, 88)
“We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments. It includes thrones, kingdoms, principalities, powers, and dominions. It is the end for which we are to endure. It is the eternal perfection that God has in store for each of us.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1995/10/perfection-pending)
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: “…except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on this earthly journey we are pursuing, so while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists call “toxic perfectionism.”
“I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that, as children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/10/be-ye-therefore-perfect-eventually?lang=eng)
"In the days of Jesus, one school of Jewish thought had come to interpret the Mosaic standard (see Deuteronomy 24:1–2) in a way that allowed divorce for frivolous reasons. For example, if a man desired a younger or more attractive wife or if a man’s wife ruined his dinner, appeared in public with her head uncovered, or was disagreeable, it was permissible for him to seek a divorce. As recorded in Matthew 5:31–37, as in other places in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sought to call his followers to a higher standard of righteousness and to have them understand that marriage was an institution that should be honored and maintained according to the pattern established by God with the eternal marriage of Adam and Eve." (See Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. [1979–81], 3:291–97; see also Matthew 19:3–9.)
Teaching Thoughts:
- Finding joy in …
- Recipe for joy.
- Being mindful of “perfection pending” and toxic perfectionism.
- Focus on the Heart!