This week as I read in Matt 20 and also heard in class the story of the two blind men right before Jesus enters Jerusalem for his final week, something hit me. I am sure there are many interpretations to scripture that the Spirit can use to instruct us according to our needs and questions at the time, and this time I learned something different than was shared in class. As Christ hears that these men are calling for him, He stops and asks something very interesting, he looks at these men and can clearly see what is wrong here. He knows the intent of their hearts and even more obvious He knows that they are blind. He could have healed them but instead he looks at them and asks, "What will ye that I shall do unto thee?"
What I thought of this week reading this, is the fact that Christ is about to end His mortal ministry. His teachings are not unheard, and He has been teaching very clearly every second that He can in all places. So when He asks this question, perhaps He was allowing a test, a chance for them to apply everything He had taught up to this point. He had taught so many incredible attributes we can acquire and how we can truly repent and come to our Heavenly Father. He taught of the Holy Ghost, and He taught of forgiveness of sins over physical healings. Perhaps here in a way Christ wanted to give them a chance to aspire for anything, the same way He asked of the disciples of the Book of Mormon what they wanted. They received according to their desires, even though as we read in modern revelation that John and the three nephite disciples desired something greater. Maybe Christ asks us the same thing, or as Elder Holland once put it, "You can have what you want, or you can have something better."
The men respond with a petition to be healed. Obviously faith was present and I diminish that in no way, but sometimes I ask myself if Christ did not think of the incredible things they could have received had they had greater desires. In verse 34 I like the word used, "compassion". He does not joy in their desires, He does not marvel at their faith. Once again, I know these men are incredible, but I can't help but ask how many times Heavenly Father hears my lesser desires and has compassion on me. He knows what is better, and He can tell us if we ask and listen, but so many times we are so preoccupied with the immediate problem before us that I know I dont consider the greater gifts God has for me. I love Him and know that He loves us, He has compassion with our fragile wills and growing capacity to follow Him. But I want Him to feel that joy He sometimes expresses, I want Him to be proud, I don't want to be one of the ones that He will say to at the last day, "Thy will be done". I want to say those words, and I think these two men are a perfect illustration of that principle. 

This week the scripture that really hit wasn't a particular verse but rather the first few chapters from Acts. Here we have the apostles and they have the incredible charge to teach ALL nations and convert everyone, not just Jerusalem. They are to establish the Lords kingdom here on the earth and do everything they can to move it forward. Thinking about that made me wonder where I would start. If you needed to teach everyone and quickly, what is the fastest way? I don't know the answer but Peter and the others give a response that is very telling. Every time they open their mouths to teach in the first five chapters of Acts that I read this week, they preach Christ. They talk of Him, they testify of Him, they speak of His mission and His divinity. They tell everyone who that man was they saw. They only preach Him, and the results are miraculous. Literally thousands are converted and baptized and join the church and band of followers.
It made me think about the way I not only interact with my fellow human beings and brother and sisters here, it made me think about the way I share the Gospel. It isnt that complicated. We should speak of Christ and strive to know Him on the level that the apostles did, then sharing the Gospel will come naturally. People will feel the knowledge we have of our Savior and will naturally gravitate towards the additional teachings we have for the world. I love Him, and I want to speak of Him more often and come to know Him. Like Elder Andersen taught, if we are ever unsure what to say as we share with those not of our faith (or those that are too) speak of Christ. And as Elder Oaks taught recently, people usually don't want the doctrine, they want the results of the doctrine. Then once they feel those fruits, they will desire to learn the doctrine. 

As I read the scriptures and attended class this week, I was impressed by the story of Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. He gives a powerful sermon centered on Jesus Christ and is able to boldly tell the people of His divinity and glory. I have often repeated the words of the crowd back to Peter to show what conversion sounds like as they say, "Men and Brethren, what shall we do?" to which Peter exhorts them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that they can receive the Holy Ghost all there had experienced. The part that hit me while reading is what comes after, where those new converts then proceed to endure to the end and progress in their testimonies.
Verse 46 really hit me:
"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart"

These new converts really were amazing. They had felt in their hearts this godly sorrow that drives us to bridge the gap and repair the breach between our Savior and us, then with the help of the apostles, they stay on the covenant pathway. Especially with Pres Nelson's address directly following the announcement of his call to be the new president of the church, he talked of staying on the covenant pathway. These converts were careful and deliberate in partaking of the sacrament and attending the temple with we can liken to our Sabbath worship and temple worship. We can liken this to not just attending those meetings, but really renewing our covenants with full purpose of heart acting with no hypocrisy. When I have done so, I have felt that same gladness and singleness of heart. I have felt joy in knowing I am closer to my Savior, and I have felt the humility and purity that comes from a clean conscience. That virtue gives us joy and singular purpose, and allows us to better love others and serve our God. The rest of the surrounding verses talk of other things we can do to persevere to the end of our lives in Christ, but I share this verse feeling that it holds particular weight with the prophetic exhortions of our day. I know that my Savior lives. I love Him so much for what He has done and is doing and will yet do for someone as low as I. I do not always feel worthy of His love but I know my worth, and I know He saves, and that He redeems, and He loves me. I feel joy in that, and pray for a singleness of heart to now serve Him.