Apostleship

[KillerDog]

My wife and I were given the topic of "Apostleship" to speak about in Sacrament meeting. First of all, is that even a word? Second, what kind of topic is that? Talk about lack of specificity! UGH! I don't mind speaking in Church but at least give us different topics!

Anyway, I'm thinking to start with 2 Corinthians 5-6 and see where that leads me. Does anyone have input or thoughts on how to divid the topic and where some great source material is located?

[Senioritis]

My wife and I were given the topic of "Apostleship" to speak about in Sacrament meeting. First of all, is that even a word? Second, what kind of topic is that? Talk about lack of specificity! UGH! I don't mind speaking in Church but at least give us different topics!

Anyway, I'm thinking to start with 2 Corinthians 5-6 and see where that leads me. Does anyone have input or thoughts on how to divid the topic and where some great source material is located?

I think you've got the word wrong. I would diagram it like so:

apostles / hip

Now, a whole world of possibilities opens up, from how playa the apostles are, to the various joint surgeries endured by our oracles.

I can hardly wait! What's the time and address?

[RC Vikings]

You need to work in what an Apostolic witness to Christ is and then explain it to me. Bednar talks about it but I've never really heard how it is different than others.

[UtahDan]

You need to work in what an Apostolic witness to Christ is and then explain it to me. Bednar talks about it but I've never really heard how it is different than others.

It isn't, other than in responsibility. I can't remember the reference but someone not long ago talked about becoming and apostle and said words to the effect that he was asked if he had a testimony of Christ, when he said yes he was more or less told "that is all you need to be a special witness." This was in conference I believe. But no one goes to a special room and meets Jesus (that is what I thought special witness was into some point in my 20s).

[TripletDaddy]

I would go straight to the source....the Apostle of Hustle



I loved this band...Cheap Like Sebastien, Chances Are, National Anthem of nowhere, energy of death. brings back lots of memories.

[wuapinmon]

From the OED:

apostleship, n.

Pronunciation: /əˈpɒs(ə)lʃɪp/
Etymology: < apostle n. + -ship suffix.


The office or position of an apostle; proclamation of a religious system; leadership of a social reform.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts i. 25 This ministracion and apostle~shippe from the which Judas‥fell.
1697 W. Wotton tr. L. E. Du pin New Hist. Eccl. Writers (new ed.) II. 44 St. John‥was called to the Apostleship when he was very young.
1843 ‘L. Mariotti’ Italy, Past & Pres. (1848) I. 29 Italy was to assume the apostleship of civilisation and freedom.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity II. iv. ii. 50 The Mohammedan apostleship of fire and sword.

[LA Ute]

Recognizing that I can be sent to bed without my supper for suggesting the Bible Dictionary as a source, I offer this anyway:

Apostle. The word means “one sent forth.” It was the title Jesus gave (Luke 6:13) to the twelve whom he chose and ordained (John 15:16) to be his closest disciples during his ministry on earth, and whom he sent forth to represent him after his ascension into heaven. The calling of an apostle is to be a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world, particularly of his divinity and of his bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 1:22; D&C 107:23).

Twelve men with this high calling constitute an administrative council in the work of the ministry. When a vacancy occurred with the death of Judas Iscariot, Matthias was divinely appointed to that special office as a member of the council (Acts 1:15–26). Today twelve men with this same divine calling and ordination constitute the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The title was also applied to others who, though not of the number of the original twelve, yet were called to serve as special witnesses of the Lord. Paul repeatedly spoke of himself as an apostle (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1; 9:1; Gal. 1:1). He applied the title to James, the Lord’s brother (Gal. 1:19), and also to Barnabas (1 Cor. 9:5–6; cf. Acts 14:4, 14). The New Testament does not inform us whether these three brethren also served in the council of the Twelve as vacancies occurred therein, or whether they were apostles strictly in the sense of being special witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is referred to as an apostle in Heb. 3:1–2, a designation meaning that he is the personal and select representative of the Father.

That is a pretty narrow topic to give to both speakers. Good luck!

[wuapinmon]

You could always focus it on people who were Apostles who fell from grace. Start with Judas and then keep going on through the 20th Century. Maybe mention how McConkie almost didn't make Apostle because McKay debated releasing him when he was an Assistant over publishing Mormon Doctrine against his will.

[Moliere]

Prince's book on the Preisthood has a section dedicated to the office of "apostle". If you are interested in talking a out it from a early church history perspective, how it evolved, and what some of the early apostles did his book might be helpful. This might not be a great idea for sacrament (looking at it from a scholarly perspective) but if you want I can send you references or excerpts.

His book also discusses why we call Apostles by the title of elder even though they are all high priests.

[jay santos]

My wife and I were given the topic of "Apostleship" to speak about in Sacrament meeting. First of all, is that even a word? Second, what kind of topic is that? Talk about lack of specificity! UGH! I don't mind speaking in Church but at least give us different topics!

Anyway, I'm thinking to start with 2 Corinthians 5-6 and see where that leads me. Does anyone have input or thoughts on how to divid the topic and where some great source material is located?

I would just change the topic from apostleship to discipleship and go with a following Christ theme. If they want to dedicate a sacrament meeting to gushing on the apostles, that's a pretty shitty idea.

[KillerDog]

My wife announced that she has already found the material for her talk and would prepare it by tomorrow at which time I will be allowed to see it and will have to prepare my talk using items she doesn't cover or fully expand on. Procrastination screws me again.

[bluegoose]

I would just change the topic from apostleship to discipleship and go with a following Christ theme. If they want to dedicate a sacrament meeting to gushing on the apostles, that's a pretty shitty idea.

That was my thought as well. I wonder if the Bishopric member just got temporarily confused and in their mind thought the two words were synonymous.

[Jacob]

Sounds like a great topic that is very broad and you could take it in one of many directions. I'd like that topic, if I were ever asked to speak...which I'm not.

[Paperback Writer]

I would just change the topic from apostleship to discipleship and go with a following Christ theme. If they want to dedicate a sacrament meeting to gushing on the apostles, that's a pretty shitty idea.

I agree with Bluegoose wondering if the "real" topic was discipleship. Last week, our assigned HC spoke on discipleship complete with a list of "do's" and "don'ts" for being a true disciple of JC. His first comment was a jab at "Cafeteria Mormons" as they were not true disciples. I then drew a line down the middle of a blank page with the headings "True Disciple" and "BS". I agreed with the HC that not watching reality TV fell under the "True Disciple" column (although my wife disagreed). Had a long list of stuff under the BS column. According to the HC, one must follow the fully correleated church programs and attend all meetings to be a true disciple. Don't recall unconditional love or charity being mentioned unless if fell under the guise of a church program or meeting.

[ERCougar]

If they want to dedicate a sacrament meeting to gushing on the apostles, that's a pretty shitty idea.

In residency, we once had a sacrament meeting themed on "Thou shalt not murder". I think it was part of an overall 10-week series on the ten commandments, but if there were one you could skip, you'd think this would be it.

Of course, we were leading the country in per-capita homicide rate for most of the time I was there, so what do I know?