Lesson 5: Unit 1: Choice 5: The Widows Mite

1. Review Mark 12:41–44 and the institute student manual commentary for Mark 12:41- 44, “What Was the Significance of the Widow’s Gift?” (p. 149). Write an explanation of how the widow lived what the Savior taught in Mark 12:28–30. 

 This is one of my favorite scripture stories of all time, and especially one of my favorites that occur in Christ’s teachings during his life. In Mark 12:28-30 it talks about how we must love God with everything that we have, our hearts, our minds, all our strength and ours souls. This to me encompasses everything that we are in our lives and not just a portion of who we are but EVERYTHING that we have to give. This to me is what the widow gave in this story in Mark. She did not have very much but she wanted to give everything she had to our Heavenly Father in her offering. I am sure that once she gave that small amount that she gave, she would not know how she would pay to eat or survive until she was able to work again. I am sure she knew though that our Lord and Savior would somehow supply her with whatever she needed. She truly did as the Lord asked and turned over everything that she had to our Heavenly Father, even if it was a small amount.

2. Even though the widow gave less money than wealthier people gave, according to Mark 12:44, how much of what she had did she give? Write a paragraph describing what this teaches about what constitutes an acceptable offering to the Lord. How does 2 Nephi 25:23 apply to what the widow did?

According the verse 44, she gave all that she had, even all of her living. This brings to mind for me the principle that the only acceptable offering that we can give to our Father in Heaven is ALL that we have. He has given us everything that we have in the first place so the only thing that we have left to give him is our will. I know that as we turn this over to him completely then we will have done what it talks about in 2 Nephi that we have done ALL that we can do. Not just part of what we can do or a portion or a section of what we can do, but all that we can do. There is not doubt that even though that widow gave everything that she had, she would be provided for and saved by the grace of God alone and nothing else.

3. Write two or three sentences describing a way, aside from the donation of money, that you could better follow the widow’s example of sacrifice and obedience.

There are many ways in our own lives that we can be like the widow but there are a few that I specifically thought of how I could apply those into my own life. The first is by getting up just 10-15 minutes earlier every morning so that I can not just pray in the morning but read in the morning as well instead of reading at the end of my day when I am tired and ready to be done with the day. Another way that I can better follow the widows example in my life is by praying for a way every week to donate a few hours of my time to serving someone else or doing something for a good cause. This could be anything from donating my time to someplace for free or doing something nice for a friend or a family member.