Following the Journey of the Apostles

: by Tim Taggart

For the next two weeks the entire membership of the Church, in our “Come Follow Me” study, will focus on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. During that time we will also watch and listen to General Conference. How appropriate it will be to study: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”, as latter-day prophets testify of Christ.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians “contains many teachings and ideas that are familiar to Latter-day Saints, including foreordination, the dispensation of the fulness of times, the Holy Spirit of Promise, the importance of prophets and apostles, the idea of one true and unified Church, and the various callings and functions within the organization of the Church. This letter also contains some of the most sublime teachings on the family that are found anywhere in scripture. (NT Institute Student Manual, p. 421).

Paul spent three years laboring in Ephesus as a part of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 19:1-41). He converted many, established the church in a profound way, disturbed the pagan worship of Diana, and escaped with his life. Visiting Ephesus today is an incredible experience. It is one of the most beautifully preserved ancient sites in the world. It was an important port city in Paul’s day. When the port silted up, the city was moved to another area, leaving the site of the ancient city to be covered-over in time, only to be rediscovered and uncovered for us to explore in our time. Today we walk on the very streets where Paul walked and taught the Gospel to Jew and Gentile alike. It is a thrill and a spiritual feast to hear the words of Paul in the places he taught and labored.

We thrill to stand on Mars Hill in Athens where Paul declared, “Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” We are impressed to stand on the site in Corinth where Paul stood to be judged. We are overcome with emotion as we visit the jail where he was held prisoner in Rome before his execution. We visit sites sacred to the memory of not only Paul but John, the Beloved who lived and presided over the Church from Ephesus as the only living apostle, and also the President of the Church and chief Apostle Peter, who was crucified upside down in Rome, considering himself unworthy to die on the cross in the same manner as the Savior. Each site and each experience strengthens our resolve to be true to our covenants, learn their teachings and follow their examples.