Gospel Doctrine Lesson Eighteen

Purpose: To help class members

understand the joy that comes when we repent and when we help others repent

He was lost, and is found

Parable of the Lost things: Luke 15

The parables found in Luke 15 are often presented as four different parables, when in fact they should be taught as one parable: the

parable of the lost things. While each story tells about a different item being lost, the underlying theme is the same: joy in heaven at the

return of one of Heavenly Fathers children. The difference in the stories is how the object came to be lost in the first place. Using this as our

starting point we will look at the stories in the following order:

Parable of the Lost Sheep: Finding the distracted Parable of the Lost Coin: Finding the neglected

Parable of the prodigal son: finding the rebellious Parable of the other prodigal son: finding the prideful

Elder M. Russell Ballard said, Jesus taught these

parables because He wanted us to know that none of us will ever be so lost that we cannot find our way again through His Atonement and His

teachings. April 2012 General Conference

The Lost Sheep Luke 15:3-7

There is something unusual about sheep. Unlike other animals they do not deliberately run away. A dog who wants to be free will escape through a hole in the fence. A pig or cow will do the same. But sheep do not. They do not run away. They

only wander away. They do not mean to. They just drift away without realizing it. You can watch a sheep get himself lost. He is with the flock at first. Then he sees

some grass a few paces away that interests him so he goes over to it. Then he sees some more in another few steps and moves to that. Then he finds more a little

beyond. He is concerned only about the immediate, and, little by little, he is drawn away without realizing it.

Have you ever wandered away from the Savior? Maybe not so far as to have left the church entirely, but in your heart, in your actions? What did that look like?

Did you skip prayers one morning because you were busy? Skip scripture study the next day because you were tired? Which of your habits lead to wandering? What does wandering look like in your life? What are the symptoms? (e.g., grouchiness, impatience) How can you recognize when you have wandered and bring yourself

back?

Parable of the Lost Coin Luke 15:8-10

In the parable of the lost coin the thing that was lost, was lost at

home, a place of apparent safety. We think our families are safe places. That those within the walls of our own home are not

susceptible to the influences of Satan. This parable teaches us otherwise. The woman in the story is unaware for a time that the coin is lost, but when she discovers its absence she is stirred to a

flurry of activity to recover it. Hence this parable illustrates for us how we can recover lost things.

Jewish Culture

The coin referred to here is a small silver piece worth, in our

money, about 16 cents. The lady had ten of these, so the total value of her wealth was $1.60. That is not very much, but it was more than simply some

money to this woman because it had great sentimental value. We

learn from those who have studied the customs of ancient days that this was part of her

dowry. When a woman married she took

money that she had accumulated throughout her life

and sewed it into a headdress which she wore on her wedding day. She used ten silver coins -- which is why our Lord picked this number to illustrate the

story. Therefore these ten coins were of tremendous significance

to her as a woman. They symbolized her dowry. They

represented not just the value of the money, but all that she

had to contribute to the marriage. This headdress was of such value to the women of that

time that, by law, it was impossible for it to be taken

from them -- even to pay a debt.

How to find lost things

1. (v8) Light a lamp; Bring more light into your lifewhat is the symbolism

here? Why does the search for another start with you?

How to find lost things (Continued)

Step Two: The woman began sweeping. In those days it was customary to spread straw on the floor. Usually the floors were earthen and, in order to have something

soft underfoot, straw was spread. A coin falling down into the straw would be difficult to find. So the woman took a broom and swept up all the straw. Describe the

symbolism behind the second step presented here:

Step Three: She sought diligently. The word diligent implies repeated efforts over a protracted period of time. It implies that she gave herself entirely to her task and did not just look around a little bit in her spare time. How can you be more diligent in your search for lost things? (e.g., those who have wandered away or been lost to

the church)

Parable of the Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-24

Dr. Helmut Thielicke's title for his commentary on this parable is not "The Prodigal Son," as we would think, but "The Waiting Father. He

points out that what Jesus is trying to show us in this story is not the boy's heart, but the father's. It is a picture of the heart of God. When you stray, our Father in Heaven waits for you to return. We you pray, he listens to you as a father listens to a son. Just like the father in the parable, our father in heaven has given you his ring. He hasnt given up on you. He hasnt turned away. He hasnt walked out. He

could have. Others would have. But he hasnt. Spend some time writing what this parable teaches you about the heart of your Father in

Heaven.