The Philadelphia Pennsylania Temple
Paul loved the church members in Corinth! He had taught many of them. He had served among them. He knew they had good desires, and he wanted them to be happy and successful.
At the end of his first epistle, he teaches them how to hold more effective meetings, he testifies of the doctrine of the resurrection, and he discusses the future with optimism. Here are some principles I have learned from these chapters:
“A house of order”
Some of Paul’s guidelines for church meetings are specific to the cultural context. We don’t do a lot of speaking in tongues in our meetings, and women have much more of a voice today than they did in ancient Corinth. But the principles underlying his guidelines are still applicable:
- Prioritize clarity over mystery (1 Corinthians 14:1-28). The goal is for participants to understand the gospel better, not for them to be merely impressed and amazed.
- Take turns speaking and listening (1 Corinthians 14:29-36). Respect the inspiration received by other church members, and come prepared to learn from them. (See also Doctrine and Covenants 88:122.)
- Follow church leaders (1 Corinthians 14:37). Trust their inspiration, and recognize that you can receive inspiration for your responsibilities within a larger organizational structure.
The common denominator among all of these principles is this: Worship requires order. We need to organize ourselves in order to commune meaningfully with God. As Paul writes, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). And as the Lord instructed Joseph Smith, “Mine house is a house of order…not a house of confusion (Doctrine and Covenants 132:8).
That’s true of the church, of our families, and of our individual lives. Here’s a blog post about establishing order in our lives:
“Death is swallowed up.”
Paul was troubled to learn that some church members had rejected the doctrine of resurrection. He reminded them that the entire gospel rests on the testimony of the apostles that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave. (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.) Take that away, and what do you have left?
Besides, he wrote, so many of the things we do would make no sense if there were no resurrection. Take baptism for the dead: “If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?” (1 Corinthians 15:29, New Living Translation).
Isaiah prophesied that the Lord “will swallow up death in victory” (Isaiah 25:8). Paul said that the resurrection of Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. (See 1 Corinthians 15:54.) He added that because of the Savior’s victory over the grave, death has no more sting. (See 1 Corinthians 15:55-56.)
Three Book of Mormon prophets—Abinadi, Aaron, and Mormon—also testified that “the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. (See Mosiah 16:8, Alma 22:14, Alma 27:28, Mormon 7:5.)
You may find these blog posts useful in your study of the resurrection:
- He Is Risen
- “Swallowed Up in Christ” – Mosiah 16:8
- Redeemed, Reunited, Restored, Resurrected – Alma 11:40-45
- What Does the Book of Mormon Add to Our Understanding of the Resurrection?
“An effectual door”
Paul informed the Corinthians that he needed to stay in Ephesus a little longer, because “a great door and effectual is opened unto me” (1 Corinthians 16:9). In the Book of Mormon, Limhi encouraged his people, who had struggled for freedom and were about to give up: “I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made” (Mosiah 7:18). In 1833, the Lord energized Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon as they began a mission in Canada with the promise, “I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened” (Doctrine and Covenants 100:3).
It’s not always obvious how things will work out, particularly when doors that we want to pass through turn out to be shut and dead-bolted. But disciples of Jesus have hope. They keep looking for the effectual door. They keep believing in the effectual struggle. Here’s a blog post on that topic:
Blog Posts: September 5-10
Songs, Sermons, Lessons, and Prayers
Moroni and Paul both explained that church services ought to include a variety of content provided by a variety of people. As we share what we have to contribute and learn from others, under the guidance of the Spirit, we are all edified.
“Covet Earnestly the Best Gifts”
Paul tells us to appreciate one another’s gifts, but he also tells us to “covet” the best gifts. Those gifts represent divine attributes which God wants to help us develop. We seek them by striving to develop them and by accepting the help God offers us.
“With the Spirit…and With the Understanding Also”
Paul told the Corinthians that it was important to worship with the spirit and with the understanding. Passion is inspiring, but it’s insufficient. We also need to clearly explain true principles which people can apply to real decisions.
Firstfruits
God commanded ancient Israel to bring their first crops each year to His house. Why were those crops considered holy? Because they represented the Savior, “the firstfruits of them that slept.” Jesus overcame death so that all of us can rise from the dead.
By the Grace of God
Paul gave credit to God for every good thing he had accomplished or become. Benjamin, Alma, and Mormon likewise expressed gratitude for God’s grace. We must not deny nor forget the power by which we are supported, delivered, and sanctified
Daily Death and Resurrection
In his epistles to the Corinthians, Paul uses death and resurrection as a metaphor for God’s daily deliverance. If we believe that God will raise us from the dead, then surely we can also believe that He will help us through our smaller afflictions today.
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