Rejoice with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory

1 Peter 1–5, 2 Peter 1–3

November 20, 2023, to November 26, 2023

Peter, the head of the early church, left two treasured epistles. His short letters are packed as he teaches baptism, inheritance, faith, love, and salvation through Christ.

1 Peter 1

Chart 14-12: 1 Peter

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

Provides themes found in the First Epistle of Peter to guide readers in living a dedicated life of discipleship.

Peter’s Letters: Progression for the Living and the Dead

Richard Lloyd Anderson

Ensign 21, no. 10 (Oct. 1991)

Analyzes the teachings in Peter’s letters regarding the Atonement, repentance, priesthood power, apostasy, and the Second Coming.

Peter’s Principles: An Approach to the First Epistle of Peter

Terry B. Ball

Go Ye into All the World: Messages of the New Testament Apostles, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 40 (2002)

Examines Peter’s first letter, focusing on its purpose to warn, prepare, and strengthen Christian converts for challenges.

Temple Imagery in the Epistles of Peter

Daniel B. McKinlay

Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism (2015)

Discusses the presence of temple imagery in 1 and 2 Peter and its significance.

The Case for Petrine Authorship of 1 Peter

Frank F. Judd Jr.

The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 48 (2014)

Presents arguments for Peter’s authorship of 1 Peter and discusses opposing viewpoints.

The Gift of Grace

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Conference (Apr. 2015)

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the most long-awaited and glorious event in the history of the world. It is the day that changed everything.

1 Peter 2

A Chosen Generation

Gordon B. Hinckley

Ensign 22, no. 5 (May. 1992)

Reflects on Peter’s statement about believers being a chosen generation and its relevance today.

Chart 14-12: 1 Peter

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

Provides themes found in the First Epistle of Peter to guide readers in living a dedicated life of discipleship.

Peter’s Principles: An Approach to the First Epistle of Peter

Terry B. Ball

Go Ye into All the World: Messages of the New Testament Apostles, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 40 (2002)

Examines Peter’s first letter, focusing on its purpose to warn, prepare, and strengthen Christian converts for challenges.

The Teachings of Church Leaders Regarding the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, 1852–2018

John Hilton III, Emily K. Hyde, McKenna Grace Trussel

BYU Studies Quarterly 59, no. 1 (2020)

While Church leaders testify of the importance of Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane, they mention the saving importance of the Crucifixion five times more than they do Gethsemane.

1 Peter 3

Chart 14-12: 1 Peter

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

Provides themes found in the First Epistle of Peter to guide readers in living a dedicated life of discipleship.

Peter’s Principles: An Approach to the First Epistle of Peter

Terry B. Ball

Go Ye into All the World: Messages of the New Testament Apostles, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 40 (2002)

Examines Peter’s first letter, focusing on its purpose to warn, prepare, and strengthen Christian converts for challenges.

Saturday

Eric D. Huntsman

Latter-day Saint Seasonal Materials (Mar. 2024)

The only event the Gospels record for the day after the crucifixion is the posting of a guard at the tomb at the request of the chief priests and Pharisees (Matthew 27:62–66). Because this was ostensibly Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, Jesus's family and friends stayed away from the tomb that day.

Wednesday

Eric D. Huntsman

Latter-day Saint Seasonal Materials (Mar. 2024)

The Gospel of Mark allows three events on Wednesday: the plot of the Jewish leadership against Jesus, the story of an unnamed woman in Bethany anointing Jesus's head, and Judas's decision to betray Jesus.

1 Peter 4

Peter’s Letters: Progression for the Living and the Dead

Richard Lloyd Anderson

Ensign 21, no. 10 (Oct. 1991)

Analyzes the teachings in Peter’s letters regarding the Atonement, repentance, priesthood power, apostasy, and the Second Coming.

Temple Imagery in the Epistles of Peter

Daniel B. McKinlay

Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism (2015)

Discusses the presence of temple imagery in 1 and 2 Peter and its significance.

The Case for Petrine Authorship of 1 Peter

Frank F. Judd Jr.

The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 48 (2014)

Presents arguments for Peter’s authorship of 1 Peter and discusses opposing viewpoints.

1 Peter 5

The Case for Petrine Authorship of 1 Peter

Frank F. Judd Jr.

The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 48 (2014)

Presents arguments for Peter’s authorship of 1 Peter and discusses opposing viewpoints.

The One Pure Defense

Boyd K. Packer

Religious Educator 5, no. 2 (2004)

The full letter to Philemon can be seen as a chiasmus, with versus 14 and 15 as the center, pointing to the bond between Onesimus and Philemon.

2 Peter 1

2nd Peter and the Doctrine of Becoming Like God (Theosis)

Andrew C. Skinner

Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 43 (2014)

Examines 2 Peter in the context of the doctrine of becoming like God.

Chart 14-13: 2 Peter and 1 John

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

Offers a brief overview of themes in 2 Peter and 1 John.

Exceeding Great and Precious Promises

David A. Bednar

General Conference (Oct. 2017)

Discusses the doctrine of exceeding great and precious promises as mentioned in 2 Peter 1.

Peter, My Brother

Spencer W. Kimball

BYU Speeches (Jul. 1971)

Peter denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus forgave him. We also can forgive Peter and admire his strengths. The transcript can be found here: https://rsc.byu.edu/ministry-peter-chief-apostle/appendix-peter-my-brother

Peter’s Letters: Progression for the Living and the Dead

Richard Lloyd Anderson

Ensign 21, no. 10 (Oct. 1991)

Analyzes the teachings in Peter’s letters regarding the Atonement, repentance, priesthood power, apostasy, and the Second Coming.

Temple Imagery in the Epistles of Peter

Daniel B. McKinlay

Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism (2015)

Discusses the presence of temple imagery in 1 and 2 Peter and its significance.

2 Peter 2

Peter, My Brother

Spencer W. Kimball

BYU Speeches (Jul. 1971)

Reexamining Lot

RoseAnn Benson

Religious Educator 14, no. 1 (2013)

Peter calls Lot “righteous, godly, and just.” The book of Abraham tells us that Abraham and Lot prayed together, and that Jehovah told Abraham to take Lot with him. Lot chose grazing lands near Sodom. The article suggests that Lot preached the gospel in Sodom and Gomorrah and may have felt compassion for those people that caused his apparent reluctance to leave. The Joseph Smith Translation helps us understand that Lot was not participating in sin.

2 Peter 3

Chart 14-13: 2 Peter and 1 John

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

Offers a brief overview of themes in 2 Peter and 1 John.

Peter’s Letters: Progression for the Living and the Dead

Richard Lloyd Anderson

Ensign 21, no. 10 (Oct. 1991)

Analyzes the teachings in Peter’s letters regarding the Atonement, repentance, priesthood power, apostasy, and the Second Coming.

The Book of Abraham, Revelation, and You

Kerry Muhlestein

Ensign 48, no. 12 (Dec. 2018)

Two examples show that academic information related to the book of Abraham has improved recently: that the Egyptians did practice human sacrifice, and that there were writings by Egyptian priests about Abraham and Moses. The author tells that he has unanswered questions about the book, but personal revelation has led him to conclude that the book of Abraham is inspired.

The Condescension of God according to Paul

Frank F. Judd

Shedding Light on the New Testament: Acts–Revelation (2009)

Examining the concept of suffering for Christ’s sake in Philippians 1:29, drawing comparisons to teachings in Matthew 5.

The Occasional Nature, Composition, and Structure of Paul’s Letters

Eric D. Huntsman

How the New Testament Came to Be, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 35 (2006)

Learn how Paul’s epistles address specific congregational issues with wisdom that transcends time.

1 Peter

2nd Peter and the Doctrine of Becoming Like God (Theosis)

Andrew C. Skinner

Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 43 (2014)