Full description not available
M**N
Excellent resource and must have for any Gospel Library
In the vast world of LDS Informational non fiction books by General Authorities and other prominent LDS authors and scholars such as Gerald Lund, there is surprisingly little on the subject of the Parables of Jesus.I know this because four years ago when we were doing Come Follow Me New Testament study for the first time in 2019 and Jesus' parables became more frequent in His teachings, it led me down a rabbit hole of my own to learn more and dive deeper into these parables. I was looking for a good resource that laid out each Parable as found in the KJV, some context as to why Jesus told this story to emphasize his teaching point and any deeper meanings behind it that I could apply to my own 21st century life almost 2,000 years later. A parable is one of the simplest forms of storytelling and what better example for an amateur writer like me to study than from The Master Storyteller.I found little to help me in this quest so, I opened a Word document and began my own "book" which is currently up to 45 pages. I painstakingly laid out each parable as found in each of the four gospels as many are repeated and some vary in wording and phrasing, then copied from my own notes helpful quotes and insights found on the website Gospel Doctrine.com which I rely heavily on in my own study and highly recommend to everyone before moving on to the next parable. At that time in 2019, this book “The Parables of Jesus” by John W. and Jeannie S. Welch with artwork by Jorge Cocco Santangelo, Covenant Communications, 2019 had just come out which I checked out of the library and also used in my writing project.This book would also have been a welcome edition in my personal study of Jesus' Parables back in 2019 but I was happy to check it out of the library once it became more readily available and dive in. Besides, I've always enjoyed the fictional writings of Gerald Lund ever since reading Work and the Glory for the first time in the 90's! I was happy to see this book has everything I was attempting to write myself in my own Word document Parables of Jesus project. Lund gives us the Parable in its entirety along with background context as to why the Savior included it in his conversation or public preaching and how we can apply it in our own lives.While not all the parables (My current list is 34) are included here, Lund focuses on just 16 as they relate to some of our more modern day LDS activities and gospel principles such as Ministering and Preparing for the Lord's Second Coming. Two of Jesus' most famous Parables, "The Good Samaritan" and "The Prodigal Son" are in here along with those helpful insights I listed above.One of my favorite parables is, not surprisingly, The Parable of the Ten Virgins. (Since I can relate and hopefully to the Wise Ones!) Lund includes this one toward the end of his book and this is a good example of what he does with the other parables he teaches us about in his book.After giving the parable along with the background context as to why Jesus told this particular story to his audience, Lund then gives the reader his analysis, listing a side by side comparison allowing the reader an interpretation of what the symbols in this parable might mean. Finally, he gives us his application of this parable.It is rather sobering, he says, when we consider this particular parable is specifically given to members of the church and how it applies to his final section in his book "Preparation for Christ's Coming" as the foolish virgins were not wicked, just foolish. Their sense of entitlement, their casual attitude that having spiritual oil was not really important and so failed to bring any with them or put in the work that would accrue their own personal supply like the Wise did.How many do you know who are just "casual" members of the church? JST adds a very important lost translation/correction to this parable when the foolish are banging on the closed door, deathbed repentance, demanding equality to the food and festivities, the Bridegroom does not say, "I don't know you. Tough luck. That's why you are denied entrance." It is instead corrected to "You never knew ME. Your own lack of spiritual preparation is why you are denied entrance. I love you but I'm sorry."This is an excellent read, a great resource and a must have for any gospel library which I plan to add to my own. I have some new ideas now as well for my own personal writing project "The Parables of Jesus: The Master Storyteller" Word document still on file, gathering dust.
Trustpilot
2 days ago
4 days ago
