Seminary
Assess Your Learning 7

Assess Your Learning 7

Acts 1–28

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Young women enjoying themselves in Ghana.

This lesson is intended to help you evaluate the goals you have set and the learning and growth you have experienced while studying the New Testament.

Can people change?

Imagine that your friend tells you that there are things he wants to change about himself, but he doesn’t think he can make those changes.

  • How would you respond?

  • How does it affect your life to know that you can change through the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

Reflect on stories from the book of Acts that illustrate how people can change for the better as they come unto Christ and become His disciples.

If needed, consider reviewing one or more of the following examples.

  1. People who joined the Church: Acts 2:14, 36–47

  2. The Ethiopian eunuch: Acts 8:26–40

  3. Saul (who became Paul): Acts 9:1–22

  4. Cornelius: Acts 10:1–8, 24–25, 44–48

  5. The jailor guarding Paul and Silas: Acts 16:25–36

1. Do the following in your study journal:

Using one of these examples or another from the book of Acts, prepare a response to your friend who doesn’t believe that he can change. Include the following:

  • Evidence of a person or people changing with the Savior’s help.

  • How the Savior and the servants He sent helped in the conversion.

  • What the person or people did to trust the Lord and His servants.

Your conversion to Jesus Christ

Ponder your own conversion to Jesus Christ. Think about invitations to change or improve that you have felt from the Lord as you have studied the book of Acts. Answer the following questions in your study journal.

  • What do you know about Jesus Christ that motivates you to love and follow Him more completely?

  • Over the last month or so, what changes have you felt impressed by the Holy Ghost to make? How did you respond?

  • How has Heavenly Father blessed you for your efforts? What did you do that made the biggest difference?

  • What, if anything, has made it hard to accept invitations to change and improve? How could you seek additional help from Heavenly Father?

Continue to seek inspiration from Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost as you study this lesson. Try to identify what He wants you to do to change and become more converted to Jesus Christ. Choose one of the following activities to complete as you reflect on how to draw closer to Christ.

2. Complete Activity A or B in your study journal.

Activity A: The first principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ

In Acts, many people received heavenly help to change and become more converted to Jesus Christ through receiving the first principles and ordinances of the gospel.

The Guide to the Scriptures explains how these principles and ordinances help us become converted to Jesus Christ.

Repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and continued faith in the Lord Jesus Christ make conversion complete. A natural man will be changed into a new person who is sanctified and pure, born again in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17; Mosiah 3:19).

(Guide to the Scriptures, “Conversion, Convert,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Reflect on the account you chose that illustrated someone changing with the Lord’s help.

Think about your answers to the following questions:

  • What role did the first principles and ordinances of the gospel play in their conversion?

  • How have the first principles and ordinances of the gospel helped you or others become more converted to the Savior?

Imagine that the local missionaries ask for your help with someone they are teaching. They want you to share how the first principles and ordinances of the gospel can help strengthen conversion to Jesus Christ and invite His help to make needed changes in our lives. Write an explanation for this person as if you were speaking directly with them. Use at least one example from Acts and any personal experiences you feel would be beneficial.

Activity B: Scripture study and conversion

One important action we can take to strengthen our conversion to Jesus Christ is to consistently study the scriptures. Think about how the following accounts from the book of Acts show the importance of scripture study in conversion.

Ponder on how scripture study has helped in your conversion to the Savior.

Imagine that your Young Men or Young Women leader asked you to help the youth in your ward or branch to study the scriptures and strengthen their conversion to Jesus Christ. What resource could you create to motivate them? Take a few minutes to outline your resource in your study journal. It could be a video, an article, a talk, a website, or another resource.

Your resource could include any of the following:

  • An example from Acts or another book of scripture that shows the importance of scripture study.

  • An example or model of a scripture skill you use that helps you, or a description of how you study.

  • A description of an experience where scripture study helped you or someone you know become more converted to the Savior.

  • Your personal testimony of the power of scripture study.

Seek Heavenly Father’s help through the Holy Ghost as you write down any actions you feel you need to take to become more converted to Jesus Christ. The Savior will help you as you strive to follow these impressions. Consider sharing your impressions with a parent or a trusted Church leader. Ask them to help you follow through on these impressions.