The document provides 6 things to remember when studying the New Testament. It discusses how Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were not eyewitnesses to all the events they wrote about and relied on previously written sources. It notes that Luke and Mark were not eyewitnesses to Jesus' mortal ministry. It explains that the Gospels and Book of Mormon were compiled in a similar way from multiple sources. The document aims to help readers develop greater faith in Jesus Christ through studying the lives of Elizabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph.

1. LESSON 2:
“MY SOUL DOTH
MAGNIFY THE LORD”

2. SLIDESHARE.NET
KELLYOLSEN777

3. 6 THINGS TO REMEMBER
WHEN STUDYING THE NEW
TESTAMENT

4. 1. Matthew and John were not eyewitnesses
to all the events they wrote about.
For example, it is not likely that Matthew was
present at the birth of the Savior (Matthew 1-2) nor
the events of the Savior’s ministry before his own
call to be an apostle (Matthew 9:9).

5. 2. Mark and Luke were not eyewitnesses to the
mortal ministry of the Savior.
Luke tells us that when he compiled his Gospel, he received his
information “even as they delivered them unto us, which from the
beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word” (Luke 1:2).
An early Christian canon list called the Muratorian Canon (c. 2nd
century A.D.) says concerning Luke: “Neither did he himself see the
Lord in the flesh.” After the mortal ministry of Christ, Luke became a
missionary companion of Paul (see Colossians 4:14 and 2 Timothy
4:11), and eventually wrote the Gospel of Luke.
Mark is traditionally understood to be the same “John Mark” who
became a missionary companion of Paul and Barnabas (see Acts
12:25). An early Christian writer by the name of Papias (c. 2nd
century A.D.) explains that after his missionary experiences with
Paul and Barnabas, Mark eventually became a companion of the
chief apostle Peter in Rome. Papias further says that Mark wrote
down all that Peter recalled of the mortal ministry of the Savior,
because Mark himself was not an eyewitness of these events.

6. 3. Luke relied upon previously written material
and oral information from eye-witnesses.
Most scholars conclude that Luke used a copy
of the Gospel of Mark, and possibly other
written Gospels that have not survived to
today.

7. 4. The Joseph Smith Translation teaches
that Matthew also relied upon previously
written sources.
The Joseph Smith Translation says: “Now as it is
written, the birth of Jesus Christ was on this
wise…” (JST Matthew 1:18, italics are the JST
addition). This seems to indicate that there
already existed a written account of the birth of
the Savior even before the Gospel of Matthew
was composed.

8. 5. Modern revelation teaches that John also
relied upon previously written sources.
It is evident that the first part of the Gospel of John came from a previously
written source. Both John 1 and D&C 93 describe Christ as the Word and
state that John bore record of the Savior (John 1:15 and D&C 93:6). But
D&C 93 quotes directly from a first-hand account (“I John…” in D&C 93:11-
12,15-16) and concludes: “If you are faithful you shall receive the fullness
of the record of John” (D&C 93:18). What is “the record of John” referred
to here? This seems to be a reference to a written record of John the
Baptist.
D&C 93:15 declares: “I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were
opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove,
and sat upon him.” One might assume that this John is the apostle of the
Lord after whom the Gospel of John is named. But John 1:32 declares, in
virtually the same language as D&C 93:15, “John bare record, saying, I
saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon
him.” This is John the Baptist who baptized the Savior (compare John
1:26). Thus the first part of the Gospel of John (the Apostle) comes from a
previously written source, “the record of John” (D&C 93:18)—the Baptist.

9. 6. The process by which the Gospels were written
was also used to compile the Book of Mormon.
Some people assume that the information in the Gospels was simply given by God through
revelation to each Gospel writer. This is certainly possible. But the idea that Gospel writers
were not eyewitnesses to all the events they narrated and that they used previously written
sources, should not surprise anyone, especially when compared to what we know concerning
the compilation of the Book of Mormon.
The chief compiler of our “Keystone” scripture, the prophet Mormon, was not an eyewitness for
most of the events that he narrates. Mormon says on many occasions that he is relying upon
previously written material, including the Small Plates of Nephi and the Large Plates of Nephi
(see, for example, Word of Mormon 1:6-9). Nephi also used past records—those of his
father—when composing the beginning of his own account (1 Nephi 1:17).
The use of previously written sources does not exclude inspiration and revelation. Rather, it
enhances our understanding that God works through inspired individuals to bring forth his
scriptures as they carefully choose which material to include. Both Mormon and Nephi testify
that they were inspired in the process of compiling and composing these holy records (see, for
example, 1 Nephi 6:3-6 and Words of Mormon 1:3-8).
The Book of Mormon, therefore, serves as a pattern for us to better understand and appreciate
the process by which other scripture, including the New Testament Gospels came to be. As
the Gospel of John testifies: “Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-
31).

10. IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT BESIDES JESUS, WHOM
WOULD YOU WANT TO MEET AND WHY?

11. We are often drawn to righteous people
because they follow the Savior and testify of
him.
As we become better acquainted with these
people, we also become better acquainted
with Jesus Christ.
This lesson discusses several people whose
righteous examples can help us draw closer to
him.

12. PURPOSE
To help us develop greater faith in Jesus
Christ through a study of the lives of
Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist,
Mary, and Joseph.

13. HOW ARE ELISABETH AND ZACHARIAS
DESCRIBED IN THE SCRIPTURES?
(LUKE 1:6-7)
6 And they were both
righteous before God,
walking in all the
commandments and
ordinances of the Lord
blameless.
7 And they had no child,
because that Elisabeth
was barren, and they
both were now well
stricken in years.

14. WHAT DID GABRIEL PROPHESY
ABOUT JOHN’S MISSION? (SEE
LUKE 1:14–17)John would “turn [many people]
to the Lord their God” (Luke
1:16).
He would “turn the hearts of the
fathers to the children” (Luke
1:17).
He would “turn … the
disobedient to the wisdom of the
just” (Luke 1:17).
He would “make ready a people
prepared for the Lord” (Luke
1:17).

15. What happened to Zacharias when he doubted
the words of the angel? (See Luke 1:18–20.)

16. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know
this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel,
that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak
unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak,
until the day that these things shall be performed, because
thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their
season.
If this happens, just ask to shake hands!

17. LUKE 1:59-6359 And it came to pass, that on the
eighth day they came to circumcise
the child; and they called him
Zacharias, after the name of his
father.
60 And his mother answered and
said, Not so; but he shall be called
John.
61 And they said unto her, There is
none of thy kindred that is called by
this name.
62 And they made signs to his
father, how he would have him
called.
63 And he asked for a writing table,
and wrote, saying, His name is
Why is it significant
that named him
John?

18. How did Zacharias’s actions after John’s birth
show his renewed faith?
He and Elisabeth named their son John, thus
obeying God’s command rather than following
local traditions.
What happened next?
64 And his mouth was opened immediately,
and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and
praised God.

19. JOHN THE BAPTIST
80 And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit, and was in the
deserts till the day of his shewing
unto Israel.
Why do you think John needed to
wax strong in spirit to be able to
fulfill his mission?
What can we do to wax strong in
spirit?

20. WHAT IS THE
ANNUNCIATION?
The Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary

22. What did Mary learn from the angel
Gabriel? (See Luke 1:26–33.)
Why did the Savior need to be the son of a
mortal mother and an immortal Father?

23. ELDER BRUCE R.
MCCONKIE “God was his Father, from which Immortal
Personage … he inherited the power of
immortality, which is the power to live forever; or,
having chosen to die, it is the power to rise again
in immortality, thereafter to live forever without
again seeing corruption. …
“… Mary was his mother, from which mortal
woman … he inherited the power of mortality,
which is the power to die. …
“It was because of this … intermixture of the
divine and the mortal in one person, that our Lord
was able to work out the infinite and eternal
atonement. Because God was his Father and
Mary was his mother, he had power to live or to
die, as he chose, and having laid down his life, he
had power to take it again, and then, in a way
incomprehensible to us, to pass on the effects of
that resurrection to all men so that all shall rise
from the tomb” (The Promised Messiah [1978],
470–71).

24. MARY, THE MOTHER OF
JESUS

25. MARY AND ELISABETH REJOICE
TOGETHER

26. Why did Elisabeth and her unborn son rejoice when Mary
came to visit? (See Luke 1:39–44)
One of the Holy Ghost’s principal roles is to testify of
Jesus Christ.

27. What can we learn about Mary from her
conversations with the angel and with Elisabeth?
Mary had found favor with God (Luke 1:28, 30).
To what other sources do some people look
for favor?
How might looking for favor from these
other sources make it difficult to find favor
with God?
Mary was humble and submissive to the will of
the Lord (Luke 1:38, 47, 48).
Why is it important for us to submit to the
Lord’s will? How can we become more humble
and submissive?

28. JOSEPH
How was Joseph’s love for Mary
tested? (Matthew 1:18.)
How did Joseph react when he
learned that Mary was with child?
(Matthew 1:19.)
According to the law, Joseph could
have accused Mary of violating the
marriage covenant and brought her
to a public trial. Such a trial could
have resulted in a death sentence.
Rather than do this, he decided to
release her privately from the
marriage contract.

29. JOSEPHHow did Heavenly Father help Joseph accept Mary’s
condition and prepare for his own responsibilities? (See
Matthew 1:20–23.)
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the
angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,
saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto
thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is
of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call
his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from
their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us.

30. JOSEPH
What did Joseph do in response to this
dream?
24 Then Joseph being raised from
sleep did as the angel of the Lord
had bidden him, and took unto him
his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had
brought forth her firstborn son: and
he called his name JESUS.
What does this response reveal
about his character?