Where the gospel is preached, this should be told for a memorial of her

What is the Savior trying to teach us in these few verses?

Matthew 26:6-13

6 ¶Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

This event takes place during the last week of the Savior earthly ministry.   This verse tells us that Simon is one of the names of one of the lepers that Christ has healed in the New Testament.  If Simon had not been healed of leprosy he would have been in a community of lepers.

7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
John 11:2 Tells us that the woman was Mary, the Sister of Martha and Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead.  These three were friends and devoted followers of the Savior.   Mary who knows that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world.  She knows of the coming events and she is expressing her devotion and love to her Savior and Redeemer.  She cannot think of a better way to show her love for the Savior.  She doesn't care what others may think, she is giving all her love to the Savior.  John's account says that she even used her hair to wipe his feet.  This is total devotion to Jesus Christ. We need to be like this.

Alabaster Box

While looking for a picture to add I ran into a good article that is making the very points that I am making here.  I would recommend that you read his blog: https://ldsscriptureteachings.org/2012/12/12/john-121-8-marys-anointing/

Sometimes the alabaster box was made of marble to represent Solomon's temple.  Also, according to Donna B. Nielsen in her book titled "Beloved Bridegroom" on page 22-23 she said that the alabaster box was given to women during their betrothal and kept as a dowry so that if the husband left her or divorce her this was a means of wealth for her.   Also, if the husband died she would break the box open to anoint her husband for his burial. 

8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
The Savior had taught the disciples how important it was to take care of the poor.  The disciple were applying this teaching to this situation.  They thought the ointment could be sold and used for the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Although the Savior had taught His disciple to take care of the poor He could see that they were not quite spiritually mature to know when to apply this important teaching.  He knew they did not know the heart of Mary or what her gesture meant.  She was paying her devotion to the Savior. She believed and understood that he was not going to be with them much longer.

11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
The Jehovah of the Old Testament, the God of the earth was in flesh among them and in only a few days He would return back to his throne.   She was giving her all to show him her love and devotion through anointing his head with the oil from the alabaster box.

12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
He was testifying again of his pending death to those who followed him.  He wanted to prepare them for the coming events.  Mary understood this, which was evident by the act she had performed.

13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
If I am to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, then he has instructed us to tell this story as a memorial of her.  I think there is more to this story then to memorialize her.  I think we need to memorialize her act.  I think we need to pay our devotion to him as she did.  I think this story was used to point to his ultimate gift the atonement and resurrection.

Do you know who you are? Do you know the part you’re going to play in the Kingdom of God?

The story of Nicodemus makes me wonder if we really know who we are or the part we are playing in the Kingdom of God.

John 3: 1-7 - Nicodemus' private conversation with the Savior

Nicodemus a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews came to Jesus by night.  Why by night? I don’t know for sure, but was it because as a Pharisee who prided themselves upon their strict observance of the law and as a ruler he didn’t want to be seen of men conversing with the Savior?  Or did he want to have some quiet time with the Savior?  While with the Savior he calls Jesus "Rabbi" meaning holy teacher. Nicodemus also acknowledges that Jesus must be a man of God because of His many miracles.   

Although Nicodemus focuses on the the miracles and his conclusion that Jesus is a man of God. However, Jesus didn’t spend any time discussing his many miracles, but refocused Nicodemus on what was the most important thing for Nicodemus and for us.  Most important is that we need to be “born again” or we “cannot see the kingdom of God”.

These words affected Nicodemus to the point that he is now inquiring how to become born again.  Nicodemus thinks a bout being physically born again, but the Savior teaches him that He needs to be born of water (baptism) and of the Spirit (Holy Ghost) in order to enter into the kingdom of God.  There needs to be a change of heart, thought, action, feelings, desire all aligning with God. 

Although it is not stated here, we have other scriptures that indicate that Nicodemus had a change of heart and followed the Savior.

John 19:37-42 - Nicodemus's role at the death of the Savior

Nicodemus came with Joseph of Arimathaea to cover the body of the Savior in a "mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight".  Joseph and Nicodemus took the "body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury"  The night that Nicodemus spoke to the Savior did he know the role he would play in the Burial of the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?

Psalms 45:8 - Nicodemus is fulfilling prophesy

Did Nicodemus realize that he was the one that was prophesied to fulfill this scripture? Did he later realize his role in this life?  Did someone point it out to him?  Did the Savior point it out to him that night? When did he realize it?  Maybe not until he left this earth?  Did he know who he was?  Did he know the part he would play in the Kingdom of God? Did he realized he would be responsible to take care of the body of the Savior?  Do we know who we are?  Do we know the part we are to play in the kingdom of God?  Maybe not until we leave this life?  If we are born again and full of the spirit we will be guided by the spirit to fulfill our part in the kingdom of God.

Summary

Sometimes we go through life not knowing who we are or the part we will play in the grand scheme of things.  We need to do as Nicodemus did, seek out the Savior privately.  We need to ask Him our questions, follow his counsel.  Then we will come to find our self and fulfill the part that is waiting for us to do in the Kingdom of God.

Why the name Mormon? What does Mormon mean? Where did it come from?

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we have received the nickname "Mormons". Although we would prefer to be known as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Why? Because we believe this is Christ's Church and when someone says "Mormon" they may not realize that we believe in Jesus Christ. However, for some of us we understand the name Mormon to mean something very special and that it points indeed to Jesus Christ. The nickname Mormon comes from the Book of Mormon. We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe in the Bible, and we also believe in another book called the Book of Mormon. We believe this book was written by ancient prophets who lived in the Americas between 2200 BC and 400 AD. This book testifies of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon makes mention of Jesus Christ or makes reference to his divine role every 1.7 verses on average.

The Book of Mormon title page says that the purpose of the book is to convince both Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ. If you read the Book of Mormon, you will see that it truly does testify of Jesus and it will convince you that Jesus is the Christ. With that in mind let me explain how the name Mormon is used in the Book of Mormon and my opinion about the name Mormon in the title.

The story begins in the book of Mosiah chapter 11. A prophet by the name of Abinadi comes into the land and calls the people to repent. They are angry with him and take him before the wicked King Noah. For days Abinadi is preaching and teaching about Christ and the coming of Christ to King Noah and his high priests. One of the High Priest Alma believes all the words of Abinadi (He is convinced that Jesus is the Christ) and he pleads with the King to free Abinadi, but the King is angry with Alma and seeks to slay him. However, Alma flees before the King and escapes. King Noah puts Abinadi to death by fire. Alma goes into hiding.

Alma spends time repenting of his wickedness. While he is hiding, he writes the words of Abinadi. He secretly goes about teaching the word of Jesus Christ as taught by Abinadi.  He is hiding in a place called Mormon (this is the second time the word “Mormon” is mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The first time was in the book "Words of Mormon" when the prophet Mormon was giving the plates to his son Moroni) This place received its name Mormon from the King. This was not a very nice place, it being infested at the time with wild beasts. The people would gather to hear the words of Alma in the place called Mormon.

In this place called Mormon, there was a body of pure water, which was referred to as the waters of Mormon. It was in this land that Alma preached about Jesus Christ to the people. It was in this land of Mormon or in the waters of Mormon that they were baptized. It was in this land that the church of God or the church of Christ was established, the mode of baptism was revealed, the covenant of baptism was taught, the priesthood was restored, the teachings of Christ were established. The people were exercising and developing faith in Christ through the process of confessing and repenting of their sins.

I think verse 30 of Mosiah chapter 18 summarizes how they felt about this place. Verse 30, "And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormons, yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer, yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever."

It was in the land of Mormon that these people became born again! This was the most beautiful spot on the face of the earth for them. They had wonderful feelings about this place. The church had been established and more people were coming unto the church, more people were being convinced that Jesus is the Christ. Now as you read the Book of Mormon, you will see other prophets are referring to the church of this special time in the land of Mormon.

The Prophet Mormon who compiled the records and abridged them gives us some insights on how his generation felt about this special time. Mormon was born about 400 to 500 years later, he like others still looked back at this time. He writes in 3 Nephi 5:12, "And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people, yea the first church which was established among them after their transgression". Now Mormon's father's name was also Mormon, but Mormon points out to us he is not named after his father, but after the land. I'm sure his father was probably also named after the land and this special time when they came to know their Redeemer.

To me when I see the Title of the Book of Mormon I see it as the Book of those who came to know their Redeemer. As you read The Book of Mormon you too will be convinced that Jesus is the Christ and Redeemer. So in summary, when I am called Mormon, I think of this special time in the Book of Mormon and think, yes, I too have come to know my Redeemer and want to sing to his praise forever.