tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26903614754265867492024-02-19T07:29:13.044-08:00Truth and LightHolden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-6308406582165889542015-02-07T13:08:00.002-08:002015-02-07T13:08:39.387-08:00New Testament Lesson 6: They Straightway Left Their NetsLuke 5:1-11<br />
Imagine the scene. You've put in a long, full, and tiring night shift. It has not been a good shift. It has been one of those shifts where you have worked very hard but things just didn't go to plan. But now you are putting everything away and looking forward to heading home and resting. A friend or a stranger comes along and asks you to extend your hours of work for something that they need. How do you feel? What do you do? Do you do it willingly, begrudgingly?<br />
This is the key message of discipleship. Can you extend yourself for others? Can you put others before yourself. Can you serve even when you feel frustrated and tired?<br />
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Simon Peter runs a fishing business with two partners on the Sea of Galilee. One of the main fish they caught would have been the red-belly Tilapia among 20 other fresh water fish found in the Yam Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). It looks like he and his partners may have 2 boats. The names of Simon Peter's partners are James and John who are brothers. They have been out on the lake all night fishing but their nets have come up empty. The are tired - it is likely early to mid-morning and they are cleaning their nets and tools at the beach now. Suddenly a crowd gathers with Jesus who asks Simon Peter to take him in one of his boats, a little off shore. Just enough where he can teach but not be pressed by the crowd. Simon Peter agrees. That is the first characteristic of discipleship. Be willing to serve.<br />
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Once the people have been taught and leave, the real lesson begins. Simon Peter having proved his ability to serve, and follow the Master's instructions (seemingly without question) is now about to learn of the blessings of discipleship.<br />
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The Lord now tells him to go even further from the shore and go fishing again. Simon Peter and his crew are by now tired, maybe even hungry, but certainly very tired. They've just finished cleaning the nets and the equipment, they already helped Jesus out and now he is trying to tell Simon Peter and his partners to do more? Again, the question Luke asks with his story is - what would we do? When pushed to our limits would we go further, would we do more? Simon Peter tells Jesus of his doubts "we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing" But it is what Simon Peter says next that gives us our second lesson in discipleship, "nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We're tired" or "Nevertheless...I will"</td></tr>
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When faced with that choice in life which path have we chosen? <br />
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How often do we do what is required and then when asked for more we respond that we are tired, we are burnt out, we don't see the logic in what is being asked of us. But Simon Peter recognizes that true discipleship is not about <u><i>our</i></u> will but the will of the Master. In doing as the Saviour asked, they filled both ships with fish, broke their nets and almost sank their ships. This is how the Lord works. He blesses us bounteously IF we not only do our basic job but push beyond duty to discipleship. True discipleship is not convenient and is sometimes not logical. True discipleship is often times not popular. True discipleship means giving up your self and serving the Master.<br />
Seeing the blessings from serving Christ, Peter James and John follow him and they become fisher of men. What happened to the fish they caught? We are told they forsook all. This was likely the biggest catch of their lives and yet they still left it all behind? What are we willing to give up and what are we willing to do to be true disciples of Christ?<br />
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When did the Lord's call come to them to follow him and be fishers of men? It was not immediately after an unsuccessful night when it would have been easy to leave it all. He waited until they had two boats filled with fish, almost sinking, before he asked them to leave it all and follow him. Do you see what it takes to be true disciples? We have to be willing to give it all up in an instant?<br />
How responsive would we be in those circumstances?<br />
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Jeffrey Holland said,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000;">"To launch out into that limitless sea of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Peter brought his craft to shore, turned his back on the most spectatcular single-catch ever taken from Galilee, "forsook all and followed him"" (<b><u><i>However Long and Hard the Road</i></u></b>)</span></blockquote>
Do we leave educations, promising careers, and good lives to preach the gospel uncomfortably to the uncaring masses? Missionaries do.<br />
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Luke 6:12-16<br />
Christ also calls others to follow him including Peter's brother Andrew, Philip and Bartholomew (also known as Nathaniel), Matthew (also known as Levi, a tax collector) and Thomas, Judas or Jude also called Thaddeus and his brother James, Simon Zelotes who was a Canaanite, and one other called Judas Iscariot. This created a quorum of 12 apostles, with Christ as their head. Note the process by which these special witnesses were chosen. He prayed all night in the mountain and then chose 12 from all of his disciples.<br />
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What is the difference between disciples and apostles? <br />
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Matthew 10<br />
These disciples were given authority to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. But they were told not to preach to the Samaritans or Gentiles but instead reclaim the lost sheep of the Jews. <br />
Christ also gives a long list of instructions regarding how they should be, who they should stay with, how to cope with rejection, and how to preach his gospel.<br />
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Today this same gospel of Jesus Christ is taught with the same foundation of a quorum of twelve apostles called to the same task as special witnesses of Jesus Christ:<br />
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We who are disciples are not necessarily called to give up our earthly careers as the apostles are but we are asked to sacrifice at varying levels. Once we learn to go beyond the shallow waters and sacrifice willingly it is then that we find our nets full.Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-75847531538705585592015-01-31T17:26:00.000-08:002015-01-31T18:08:42.799-08:00New Testament Lesson 5: Born AgainThis weeks lesson discusses an interesting contrast of stories from John 3-4.<br />
<b>John 3</b><br />
<b>v.1</b> Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jewish people. That is to say he knew the law and he knew the prophets. He had all the possible help at hand to be able to understand the scriptures and recognize the Messiah like Simeon or Anna or anyone else we have thus far met in our New Testament study.<br />
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<b>v.2 </b>It's not stated clearly here but Nicodemus' seems to be asking who Jesus is and what is his purpose. He asks the question by essentially saying, <span style="color: #38761d;">"Listen Jesus, we know you are a good man because of the way you teach and the miracles you do but who are you, what are you trying to accomplish here?"</span>. This does not seem to be a sincere attempt to establish who Christ is but whether he will be a threat to the Pharisee's teachings and establishment.<br />
Note also the setting. Nicodemus comes to Christ at night. We are not sure if he comes of his own volition or if he was sent by his fellow ruling Pharisees who do not want to be seen approaching Christ during the day. Either way, Christ takes this as an opportunity to teach Nicodemus personally.<br />
<b>v.3 </b>His response to the unasked but implied question is <span style="color: #990000;">"you will never really understand who I am until you are born again."</span> I like the way the dark night adds to the feeling that although Nicodemus can literally see Jesus, he can't see him for who he really is. His spiritual sight is still unable to perceive the Messiah standing in front of him. Nicodemus here foreshadows the entire Jewish people rejecting the Saviour, unable to realize or see him as anything beyond the son of Joseph.<br />
<b>v.4</b> Nicodemus is obviously confused, taking Jesus literally he wonders how someone can be born twice.<br />
<b>v.5-8</b> Christ, possibly recognizing some sincerity in Nicodemus does try to explain that being born twice involves a physical birth AND a spiritual birth. He tries to teach him that not everything is literal or physical. This is a big deal and quite apt for a Pharisee as everything they do is literal and physical. They took the old law and made it a ritualistic hollow series of actions, stripping it of all spirituality. Christ tries to tell Nicodemus that the Spirit is not a physical thing you can see but something that you feel and see the effects of.<br />
<b>v.9</b> Nicodemus does not understand Jesus though.<br />
<b>v.10-13</b> At this stage of the conversation Christ now points out the obvious: <span style="color: #990000;">"how can you have studied the scriptures all your life and miss the actual meaning. This is just the basics of the gospel. I can't even start to discuss deep doctrine with you."</span> How many of us have neglected to study the scriptures with spiritual eyes? How many read it daily and do good actions but miss the whole point and fail to understand the "why" of what we do? How many people today have the scriptures by our bedside or in our bookcase but have not invited Christ into our lives? That is the question Nicodemus is asked.<br />
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<b>v.14-15 </b>Christ continues to try and help Nicodemus understand that he is the Saviour by relating back to a story Nicodemus must have known very well. He compares the brass serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness to himself and tries to point out the symbolism to Nicodemus, prophesying of his own crucifixion. Of course the irony here is that even as then people refused to look at what was right in front of them, even so Nicodemus refuses or is unable to see the Christ who is mighty to save, right in front of him.<br />
<b>v.16</b> And then with the simplest doctrine of all, Christ further explains the great plan to Nicodemus. And all we have to do is believe and see. <br />
<b>v.19-21</b> And then his summary <span style="color: #990000;">"But Nicodemus, this is the problem. Standing in front of you is the Messiah, the Christ, the light of world - but you choose to come to me in darkness and sneak around afraid to be seen with me. Until you accept me and choose to be seen with me in the light you will remain condemned to darkness spiritually."</span><br />
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It is a powerful visit with a man who should have known better and a powerful lesson to all those who profess to be religious.<br />
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Then comes act two of this fascinating contrast that John purposely sets up for us.<br />
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<b>John 4</b><br />
<b>v.5-6 </b>Note the setting here. Despite no longer being the seat of the Jewish people or their laws, there is deep spiritual resonance in this setting. It is here that Jacob settled after returning to the Holy Land. And what was the time? It is the sixth hour. What time is that? The Jews used to measure time by the rising of the sun. So the 6th hour was the 6th hour after sunrise. This was considered high noon! So compared to the visit of Nicodemus at the dead of night this story is happening at the height of the sun. There is more than enough light here.<br />
<b>v.7</b> Note also here the contrast to the previous story: Nicodemus of the chosen people, a teacher of the scriptures and the ruling class compared to a woman of no importance and of a people who were considered unworthy of the covenant blessings. Sometimes we think we know who is righteous by outward appearances. I think John is clearly showing that Christ's judgement is not based on outward appearances at all but on the heart. Being Mormon doesn't save us anymore than being a Pharisee Jew saved Nicodemus. Those that will be saved are those of sincere heart who are born again and accept Jesus as the Christ in thought and in deed.<br />
And Jesus, possibly recognizing the woman's heart and sincerity asks her for some water from the well.<br />
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<b>v.9-11</b> I love how this very human of conversations unfolds. The woman is shocked that a Jew would even speak to her. And Jesus immediately dismisses the enmity between Samaritans and Jews by saying <span style="color: #990000;">"If you knew who I was and what I offer you would have asked me for water, living water!"</span> <b>v.12 </b>She politely responds, questioning how he can give her living water when the well is deep and he doesn't have a pot to collect the water! And then she dares to ask the question that Nicodemus didnt dare ask. <span style="color: #38761d;">"Art thou greater than our father Jacob?"</span> This openness and this sincerity without guile also sets her apart from Nicodemus' more sly and confused approach. <br />
<b>v.13-14 </b>Christ then explains that the water he gives is not from the well but it is water that if drunk will mean she will not thirst again. Christ is obviously, as with Nicodemus, speaking spiritually.<br />
<b>v.15</b> Again another contrast to Nicodemus. I am not sure the woman understands fully what Christ is saying but rather than saying "What? That doesn't make any sense!" Her reaction is more innocent and curious. <span style="color: #38761d;">"Give me this water. So I don't have to come here to this well every day and draw water every day and drink every day." Or in other words, "Please make my life easier!"</span>.<br />
<b>v.16-19</b> Christ perceiving her openness to his message and yet discerning she is not quite getting it yet, proceeds to prove his prophetic spiritual abilities by explaining her personal situation. There is something about this conversation where you get the feeling that the woman is maybe flirting with this stranger. Here is a woman who has had five husbands. We do not know the circumstances of those marriages or their end but she is now instead living with a man but not married. To hear from a stranger that he will take away her work and provide for her living water may have been just what she wanted to hear and so she tells truthfully she has no husband but maybe purposely leaves out the fact that she is living with someone. "This strange but sincere man is offering to look after me forever!" But when Christ shows her that he knows more of her life, she starts to realize that this is not another suitor but the Saviour. She is cautious but again more direct than Nicodemus. <span style="color: #38761d;">"I perceive that thou art a prophet".</span><br />
<b>v.20-24</b> Now Jesus can see that she is ready to be taught of spiritual things and tells her that salvation must come of the Jews but the location of where you worship God is far less important. God just wants people that will worship him in actions and in the desires of their heart. They are those who will be saved.<br />
<b>v.25</b> Now the woman is clearly interested but still cautious, she utters her last statement. One presumes she must have by now, based on the progression of the conversation, had some idea, some hope, that this man was Christ. And she pushes it to that point by declaring she believes in a Messiah and when he arrives he will tell her. In essence she is forcing the Saviour to reveal himself to her.<br />
Notice the gradual progression of her realisation that this man at the well is indeed the Saviour as illustrated by the pointed questions she asks. Unlike Nicodemus who came in darkness and left in darkness, this woman already had a light within and left with more light.<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">"Art thou greater than our father Jacob?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">"Give me this water."</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">"I perceive that thou art a prophet."</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">"I know the Messiah cometh...he will tell us all things"</span><br />
The Saviour cannot leave now without clearly revealing who he is. If he does she will look elsewhere for a Messiah. And so her faith, despite being a lowly woman of Samaria is still stronger than the most learned of the Jews and she is rewarded for her faith.<br />
<b>v.26</b> <span style="color: #990000;">Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.</span><br />
That ranks among the many other scriptural moments I would love to have been present at. This is a powerful declaration and testimony of himself and his divine mission. <br />
Her reaction is a clear foreshadowing of the gospel mission Christ himself preaches - to declare the good news to all and so she goes back to town to tell the men that the Messiah has arrived.<br />
<b>v.39-40</b> Many believe on her words and he is invited to stay and teach them. He stays 2 days and as a result many more believed declaring <span style="color: #38761d;">"this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world"</span>.<br />
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In essence there are two groups of people, those that sincerely are looking for the truth and those that are not. Sometimes those we think are sincerely searching for truth are not and sometimes those we might ordinarily dismiss are in fact the ones that are ready for the gospel. John clearly shows that the gospel will only save those who are sincere in their search for the Christ.<br />
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Additionally if you are sitting at home, lonely, forgotten, worn out, bowed down by life or even heartache doing your best to make ends meet as a single parent, take note. Christ has time for you. He is not a respecter of position or wealth. He is seeking for those who seek the truth. He can provide living water. He can save. Just come to him, be born again.Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-41575102558515203102015-01-24T18:55:00.001-08:002015-01-24T18:55:39.815-08:00New Testament Lesson 4: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Matthew 3:1-12</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>v.1 </b>"in those days" - what days? refer back to Matthew 2:19-23 notice it says "take the <i>young</i> <i>child</i>". So John the Baptist started preaching in the Judaean wilderness in the same days that Jesus' family were back and settled in Nazareth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">v.2 what were the first words of John's ministry as recorded by Matthew? "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">cf. Matthew 4:17 what were the first words of Jesus' ministry as recorded by Matthew? "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why was the message of repentance so central to Christ's gospel? Is it still today?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">"You
may in time of trouble think that you are not worth saving because you
have made mistakes, big or little, and you think you are now lost. That
is </span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">never</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> true! Only </span><span class="highlight" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">repentance</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> can heal what hurts. But </span><span class="highlight" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">repentance </span></span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">can</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;"> heal what hurts, no matter what it is."</span> - President Boyd K. Packer, October 2011, Counsel to Youth, General Conference.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">"Every soul confined in a prison of sin, guilt, or perversion has a key to the gate. The key is labeled “</span><span class="highlight" id="searchQueryTerm" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">REPENTANCE</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;">”
If you know how to use this key, the adversary cannot hold you."</span> -
President Boyd K. Packer, October 2010, Cleaning the Inner Vessel,
General Conference</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I love those thoughts - "only repentance can heal what hurts" and we each hold the key to repentance. No-one else has control. We have the key. We get to choose. We are masters of our own destiny.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What was the message he asked the apostles to share as he left them after his resurrection? see Matthew 28:19-20. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
old gospel of law was
fulfilled, many of the old generation needed turning from it and in most
cases repenting for not living it. Eventually the message emphasis changed ever so
slightly from turning from the old fulfilled gospel to becoming born
again in the new gospel of spirit and love. cf 3 Nephi 15:2-10 </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b>v.3-4 </b>What manner of man was John? Here he stood, literally in the meridian of time, in the wilderness possibly symbolizing the once more lost state of the children of Israel. The one prophet whose duty it was to set the stage for Christ's mortal ministry. He was so important that Isaiah prophesied of him. The Christ himself said in Luke 7:28, "Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist" Why was it important that someone prepare the way for Christ's ministry and why John?</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">John's ministry brought many people out to explore, learn or just to watch what was happening. Luke's account gives us very interesting summary of some of the people that came to John and the things they needed to repent of.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b>v.7-9</b> cf.Luke 3:7-18 </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Pharisees and Sadducees: self righteousness, they felt that their genealogy and position gave them heaven. They were opposites and proud of it. Pharisees regarded themselves as the upholders of the old law - to the letter. Sadducees consider themselves the forward thinking "free will" modern subscribers of the law. To be grouped together must have been a blow to both groups' egos.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Publicans (tax collectors): were taxing more than they should and likely keeping it for themselves</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Soldiers: falsely accused people, used rough and violent tactics and were in constant complaint about their wages</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">The people: were not giving their surplus to the poor and needy.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">What do we have need to repent of? Do we think just being LDS, saves us? Do we keep our surplus from others? Do we steal? Do we lie and complain about our lot in life?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b>v.13-17</b> After all these people in need of repentance then comes The One who has no need of repentance. Why was Christ baptized? What does it mean to fulfill all righteousness? cf 2 Nephi 31:6-7,9,5.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUOC2RXHJoYeFhEmB8YL4da_Sds8gBshxnBUIVzAD5X0LZgQUaOZ0YMaJUvKJoGg_h8f5Bc0BXM4lzrL8K__XdGU0dgNMHwM2F2Rop9mG99VKyfp4RdevLRV-qBzkf-AQ2UxTIOa6b8w/s1600/the-baptism-of-jesus_WCA9001-1800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUOC2RXHJoYeFhEmB8YL4da_Sds8gBshxnBUIVzAD5X0LZgQUaOZ0YMaJUvKJoGg_h8f5Bc0BXM4lzrL8K__XdGU0dgNMHwM2F2Rop9mG99VKyfp4RdevLRV-qBzkf-AQ2UxTIOa6b8w/s1600/the-baptism-of-jesus_WCA9001-1800.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b>v.11</b> John says there was a difference between his baptism and the baptism that Christ would bring. What was that difference? </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Why could John not baptize of the Spirit? Aaronic priesthood is a preparatory priesthood. John's authority extended only to baptism of water, not baptism of fire.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b>Matthew 4:1-11</b> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b>v.1</b> note Christ did not seek temptation. The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies that Jesus actually went up to be with God. Satan, knowing that Christ's ministry was beginning, obviously this would be a good time to try and dissuade him from his important mission. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">The 3 Temptations:</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">1. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">setting: wilderness</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">temptation: "command that these stones be made bread" (v.3)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">response: "IT IS WRITTEN: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">The Lord quotes Deuteronomy 8:2-3 where the children of Israel are told their 40 years in the desert where they sometimes hungered was so that they would remember whom they relied on. Israel forgot. Christ did not. Controlling our physical desires, appetites and passions is a necessary part of our covenant with Christ. He led the way for us with his example.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">2. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">setting: pinnacle of the temple (v.6)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">temptation: "cast thyself down"</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">response: "IT IS WRITTEN: thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God"</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Satan here uses scripture to try to persuade Christ to prove he is the Son of God by performing some miraculous skydive from the temple followed by a heavenly host saving the Saviour. Surely if Christ had followed this path the people at the temple would have more readily accepted him as their Messiah from the beginning. Satan's many temptations may seem logical or fun or even serving a purpose but they always end up with us being lower in spirit than before.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> Ironically the act he chooses is to have Christ go from the highest pinnacle of the temple into the courtyard below. Such is the path Satan always demands of us. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Note also that with both of these temptations, Satan uses the conditional phrase "If thou be the Son of God...". This could serve two purposes. If there is any doubt in Christ's mind as to his origins Satan is definitely pushing those buttons. If on the other hand Christ is sure of who he is Satan is banking on Christ maybe feeling a little prideful and wanting to prove he is. But Christ falls for neither temptation.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">3.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">setting: an exceeding high mountain (v.8)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">temptation: "all these things I will give thee"</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">response: "IT IS WRITTEN: thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve"</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Up to this point, Satan has arrogantly taunted Christ and subtly tried to create doubt in the mind of the potential Saviour of the world. But now he simply begs and bargains trying to use power and wealth to buy the Saviour's loyalty. And when it fails he is banished.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">We too should consider Satan's sinful arc of descent here. So often sin starts off as self-gratification, a lack of self-control, becomes brazen and bold before getting us banished!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">We have all fallen to one temptation or another. The gospel will teach us how to avoid temptations and how to resist temptations but still we all fall from the pinnacle of the temple from time to time.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">But Christ did not. His way was sure.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW3wkIX7YTRBzZ7pU5YsQUy4ctHSSnvG_C2l3OjrA5HtNkuVEbyrWIWfdQdO59oIm68dirJ5jPkzmVP833G98Md226Hw3JnYsOZm-EqByCNIA_y1kjmdzkSIm8KWhxivbwskvXXBrVds/s1600/mormon-third-temptation-of-christ-620x348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW3wkIX7YTRBzZ7pU5YsQUy4ctHSSnvG_C2l3OjrA5HtNkuVEbyrWIWfdQdO59oIm68dirJ5jPkzmVP833G98Md226Hw3JnYsOZm-EqByCNIA_y1kjmdzkSIm8KWhxivbwskvXXBrVds/s1600/mormon-third-temptation-of-christ-620x348.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Satan would have you believe that once you fall to temptation that you are no good and you may as well give up. He makes you feel embarrassed and he makes you feel like you need to hide (just as he did from the very beginning with Adam and Eve).</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">But Christ's gospel is a gospel of repentance and it is for us ordinary folk who make mistakes daily. We have the key. Use it. What a waste to sit in a prison when you yourself hold the key to your escape. Repent. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">"You
may in time of trouble think that you are not worth saving because you
have made mistakes, big or little, and you think you are now lost. That
is </span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">never</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> true! Only </span><span class="highlight" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">repentance</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> can heal what hurts. But </span><span class="highlight" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">repentance </span></span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">can</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;"> heal what hurts, no matter what it is."</span> - President Boyd K. Packer, October 2011, Counsel to Youth, General Conference.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">John 1:35-51</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">"where dwellest thou?" and "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?"</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Both questions are answered the same way "Come and See". Our invitation to all is whether you think you know of this Christ or have no idea where this Christ came from, Come and See. Get to know him, dwell with him for a while, converse with him for a while. The Christ came to us in the most humblest way, willing to live humbly, willing to avoid wealth and power, willing to sink to the darkest of our depths to save us. He knows you. He knows us all. Come and See. </span></span></span></span><br />
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Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-63051113558594952382015-01-17T23:23:00.000-08:002015-01-17T23:23:32.828-08:00New Testament Lesson 3: Unto You is Born...a Saviour<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today's lesson focuses on the scriptures surrounding Christ's birth and the little we know of his youth. We have probably just put away all of the Christmas decorations but I like the idea of revisiting the Christmas spirit just at that point in the New Year when we may have forgotten it. <br />
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The following video has the 3 members of the First Presidency of the Church each speaking of the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke as a story of love, as a time of remembrance, gratitude and of forgiveness, where we should seek the Christ and offer our gifts to him. As you watch the video try to focus on those things that stand out for you in your mind and in your heart.<br />
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There are a number of topics that strike a chord with me from that video segment. <br />
<ol>
<li>Glad tidings of great joy...to all people (Luke 2:9-10)</li>
<li>For unto you is born...a Saviour (Luke 2:11)</li>
<li>The sign of the manger (Luke 2:12)</li>
<li>The testimony of Simeon and Anna who was over 100yrs old (Luke 2:25-38)</li>
<li>No ear may hear his coming but in the world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in. (O Little Town of Bethlehem)</li>
<li>The wise men and the gifts we offer</li>
</ol>
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<u><b>Glad Tidings of Great Joy...to all people </b></u><br />
<span style="color: blue;">What is the meaning and significance of this declaration?</span><br />
For the Jewish people awaiting their Jewish Messiah this declaration might have come as a shock. Clearly the angel Gabriel declares this is good news for all people, not just the chosen people.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Why did the angel choose these shepherds to make his announcement? What symbolism can we see in the angel's visit to the shepherds and what did they do to deserve such an honour?</span> (Luke 2:8)<br />
The hills of Bethlehem were used to pasture the temple flocks. Every day, once at the beginning of the day and once at the end of the day the priest would offer a sacrificial lamb on the altar of the temple, a lamb without blemish. It is most likely that these shepherds were entrusted with safeguarding the ewes and the lambs of the temple flock. These were holy shepherds and a holy flock.<br />
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When the heavenly hosts praise God it is recorded that together they declared "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men". <span style="color: blue;">Why?</span><br />
As people who purport to follow Christ do we consistently feel peace in our lives and good will to others or are we more often stressed, inviting drama into our lives and pointing condemning fingers at others? <br />
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<u><b>For unto you is born...a Saviour</b></u><br />
<span style="color: blue;">What did the people think they needed saving from? <span style="color: black;">The people were looking for a mortal messiah, a warrior, a king to free them from the yoke of subjugation. Remember they have been ruled by the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks and now the Romans. After 400-500 years of this physical rule over them the people were focused on saving their land rather than their souls. They wanted a king who would fight their rulers and drive them away.</span></span><br />
Matthew and Luke both seem to emphasize 3 necessary traits that point to the true Saviour.<br />
<ol>
<li>the babe is of the house of David and thus royalty - a true King</li>
<li>the babe is divine and will be capable of redeeming the world - truly the living son of a God</li>
<li>the babe is holy and was prophesied and foreordained to come - the Anointed One (Christ, Messiah, the Great High Priest)</li>
</ol>
In announcing these three things to the shepherds, Gabriel is declaring fulfillment of prophecy (Luke 2:11).<br />
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<u><b>The Sign of the Manger</b></u><br />
The shepherds were told in verse 12 that the babe would be lying in a manger and that would be a sign to them. Presumably one of the reasons for them needing a sign is to identify the baby who probably looked like any other baby in Bethlehem. <span style="color: blue;">But what other sign might Gabriel be pointing to?</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Sign of the complete condescension of God (God, creator of all born as a mere mortal and laid in the feeding trough of a sheep), sign of the sacrament ( the Great Shepherd himself laid down symbolically as food for the sheep) might be possible answers. </span></span><br />
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<u><b>Simeon and Anna</b></u><br />
Just another day in the temple. <br />
Luke 2:25-26 What if Simeon after his many righteous and devout years just got tired and decided not to go to the temple that day? Do we ever feel tired? Do we ever feel like we earned the right to stop listening to the Lord for a day or two? Maybe this week I wont go to church. I've been good. He wont mind. It's only one week. What if Simeon had said the same thing that day? But he didn't and as a result we get to hear about one of the most personal and patient testimonies in scripture.<br />
v.27 "He came by the Spirit into the temple". <br />
v.29-32 Simeon was obviously aware the Saviour would be a saviour for all mankind not just the chosen people.<br />
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v.36-37 Anna was married 7 years and a widow for 84 years. Logic suggests she was over 100 yrs old on this day in the temple. She never left the temple and fasted and prayed.<br />
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These two elderly examples of righteous waiting and patient living, not only got their reward but became one of the original witnesses of the Saviour's birth. They represent all those righteous who patiently await in faith the coming of the Saviour. I love these passages. They symbolize the reward that awaits us all if we do what is right.<br />
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This video is the classical song "Nunc dimittis". It is the Latin for the first two words of Simeon's wonderful testimony in Luke 2:29 "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace...". Here is the culmination of his life's faith.<br />
It's a beautiful piece of music.<br />
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<u><b>No ear may hear His coming...</b></u><br />
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Philip Brooks was an Episcopal clergyman of the mid-1800's who became the Bishop of Massachusetts. He remained unmarried throughout his life and was seen as a pillar of virtue and man of humility by those that knew him despite his 6'4" frame.<br />
He originally wanted to be a teacher but at age 20 was fired and declared "I wish I were 15 yrs old again. I believe I might become a stunning man: but somehow or other I do not seem in the way to come to much now". I wonder how many others may have felt that way at some point in their lives.<br />
When he died at just age 58 in Boston, one observer of his funeral noted, "They buried him like a king. Harvard students carried his body on their shoulders. All barriers of denominations were down. Roman Catholics and Unitarians felt that a great man had fallen in Israel."<br />
At one point in his life he visited the Holy Land and was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine. It was there he wrote the lyrics to "O Little Town of Bethlehem".<br />
The 3rd verse reads:<br />
"How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessing of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Lord enters in" <br />
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These people we discussed today heard the whisperings of the Spirit in their life and were blessed to witness miraculous events.<br />
These special witnesses were only a few when compared to the rest of the world who continued to live their lives unaware of these great events. Most in Bethlehem were unaware of the significance of the babe born among them. Most did not see the star or the angel Gabriel or witness the heavenly host. Most in the temple that day probably had no idea what the fuss of two old people was over the little child.<br />
"How silently how silently the wondrous gift is given".<br />
Most were not looking for him, they were not listening. And yet silently, wondrously the gift is there for all who will receive it.<br />
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<b>The Wise Men</b><br />
We all know the story of the wise men recorded in Matthew, that came from the east looking for the babe that was born King of the Jews. And we all know they gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh. <span style="color: blue;">But why did they give these gifts? Why not a child's play toy, or some clothes, maybe some cookies (ancient home-baked cookies of course)? <span style="color: black;">The reason is again symbolism. Gold denoted his earthly right to be king as a descendant of David. Frankincense was used in priestly duties in the temple, in burnt offerings and in oil for anointing priests and is symbolic of his pre-ordination as the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Great High Priest. Myrrh represented his partaking of the bitter cup, the atonement, and his breaking of the bitter bands of death that only one of divine birth could do. The wise men gave wise gifts recognizing the infant child as King, Messiah and Son of God.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">What gifts are we asked to give to Christ? <span style="color: black;">A broken heart and a contrite spirit, service, gratitude might all be appropriate answers.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">The scriptures give no indication how many wise men there were and there is also no indication from scripture that these men were royalty as has been suggested in popular modern Christian lyrics and literature.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
Notice the reactions of these witnesses. The shepherds "came with haste", and then "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child". Anna came "in that instant" and then "spake of him to all them that looked for redemption". And the wise men studied the stars and then, when they saw the sign of the star, traveled long distances and for at least many months to worship him.<br />
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<b>Jesus' childhood.</b><br />
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What do we know of his childhood. We know by twelve he had become smart and wise and knowledgeable enough to teach the teachers and the learned men in the temple. How he became that way is discussed by Bruce R McConkie in his book <i>The Mortal Messiah</i>:<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">"He was as much the product of the mother who bare him as were her other children. As a babe he began to grow, normally and naturally, and there was nothing supernatural about it. He learned to crawl, to walk, to run. He spoke his first word, cut his first tooth, took his first step--the same as other children do. He learned to speak; he played with toys like those of his brothers and sisters; and he played with them and with the neighbor children. He went to sleep at night and he</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">awoke with the morning light...He learned to speak, to read, to write; he memorized passages of scripture, and he pondered their deep and hidden meanings. He was taught in the home by Mary, and then by Joseph, as was the custom of the day. Jewish traditions and the provisions of the Torah were discussed daily in his presence. He learned the Schema, reverenced the Mezuzah, and participated in prayers, morning, noon, and night. Beginning at five or six he went to school, and certainly continued to do so until he became a son of the law at twelve years of age...It is also apparent that Jesus learned much from nature--from observing the lilies of the field, the birds of the air, and the foxes that have holes for homes...Further: in his study, and in the learning process, he was guided from on high in a way that none other has ever been." (Bruce R, McConkie:The Mortal Messiah: 1:368-369).</span></div>
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The young boy was schooled by diligent, ponderous parents who were loving and obedient to the Lord. But he was also schooled by the Spirit and presumably other angelic instructors and his Father himself.<br />
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If you ever want a template of how to bring up a young man you won't find any better than Luke 2:52. I have often thought every LDS home and every young men's program in the church should be built on these four pillars.<br />
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man"<br />
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That is a very complete upbringing.<br />
Wisdom is not just education and learning but application and understanding of that knowledge.<br />
Stature is the growth of your body and your character <br />
In favour with God is spiritual growth <br />
In favour with man is social skills and abilities, awareness and empathy.<br />
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We do not have much information on Christ as a boy or a young man but it is clear he had a complete upbringing with care and guidance from both his earthly and his divine parents.<br />
We would not be wrong to strive for the same balance in raising our own children, and in our own lives!Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-17960234707103260782015-01-10T09:30:00.001-08:002015-01-10T09:30:41.351-08:00New Testament Lesson 2: My Soul Doth Magnify The LordHave you ever prayed for something in your life and never received it or had to wait way beyond what you expected, to receive it? Have you possibly given up praying for something thinking maybe it was not the Lord's will, only to be given it at a time when you least expected it?<br />
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How did you feel after such a long time, having not received it? Did it test your patience, your faith? Did you begin to question God? What scriptural examples can we recall of such events - Lehi and family and promised land. Moses, let my people go. Joseph in Liberty Jail? Today we will study another example of patience and faith being tested, with Zacharias and Elisabeth.<br />
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Have you ever received a calling that you felt overwhelmed by or that you felt was way beyond your capacity? Did you say no? Did you accept it but with reservation and doubts? How did you respond? If you accepted it, how did you do? What scriptural examples can we recall of such events? Abraham and Isaac, Samuel in the temple, Joseph Smith? Today we will study how two young teenagers, Mary and Joseph, responded to possibly the most overwhelming calls of all.<br />
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The annunciations of Luke 1 are a story of two impossible births. A birth to a couple too old and beyond hope of new life. And a birth to a couple not yet wed.<br />
Could it be this story also sends a message to the Jews and the Gentiles.<br />
The Jews were the old covenant that were losing faith in ever seeing their promised Messiah and while religiously obeying their duties no longer believed maybe as resolutely in the spoken words of the prophets.<br />
The Gentiles were not part of the promises and covenants and had no right to be expecting a Messiah and yet through their faithfulness and obedience became highly favoured of the Lord and eligible for the new covenant.<br />
As you study this lesson, consider the symbolism that Luke may have been pointing to in the beginning of his testimony.<br />
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<u><b>Zacharias</b></u><br />
Luke 1:5-10<br />
Elizabeth was beyond the years of child-bearing, both her and her husband Zacharias were righteous temple workers. Zacharias off fulfilling his duties at the temple. His duty is to burn the incense in the temple while the people prayed without. The incense was symbolic of prayers ascending to heaven. The Bible Dictionary teaches us that,<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000;">"Live coals were brought from the brazen altar of burnt offering and placed on the golden altar of incense; then the priest entered alone into the Holy Place, carrying in a censer the incense, which he cast on the fire. Then bowing reverently toward the Holy of Holies, he returned to the congregation, who were praying outside and pronounced the blessing in Numbers 6:24-26"</span></blockquote>
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Luke 1:11-13<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">"Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; AND thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son"</span></blockquote>
It is commonly interpreted that the angel Gabriel is answering a prayer that Zacharias has prayed for years and had built up to in this seminal moment of personal prayer in the temple before the veil but all the evidence, including Zacharias' doubting reply, is that the angel Gabriel was indicating the temple prayer on behalf of the people was heard, Zacharias' prayer of a righteous life was answered and that it was his life's deepest desire that was answered as opposed to any specific faithful prayer he was offering in that specific temple trip. How symbolic though that it is at the altar of incense by the veil that the Lord sets in motion the events that would ultimately answer the prayers of the people and the deep desires of this righteous servant and his wife. Why would the Lord choose this setting and this time to make this announcement? What does this teach us of the manner of prayer, the power of prayer, the purpose of prayer?<br />
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v.13-17<br />
What a great blessing! As you read the blessing pronounced by Gabriel regarding the unborn John, what stands out to you? For me, one of the amazing parts of this blessing is that Zacharias is told his son will be "filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb". Was this a gift given to him prior to baptism or just an abundance of the Spirit? I find it a fascinating blessing. What was the purpose or point of such a blessing?<br />
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v18-19<br />
he's righteous, he's prayed for it many times before in his life, it is probably the one thing he desires most in his life and he's in the temple speaking to an angel and he asks "How will I know this is actually true!?" You might say he was dumbfounded? and so Gabriel(Noah) says "Are you kidding me? I am Gabriel, an angel sent from God's presence to answer your prayers with this good news here in the temple in front of the veil before the holy of holies and you dont believe me? You want a sign? OK sure, your sign will be becoming dumb until these prophecies are fulfilled. <br />
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v.23-24<br />
For all his questioning, you cant fault his dedication - he heads home AFTER his duty is done and then Elisabeth conceives. <br />
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<u><b>Mary</b></u> <br />
Luke 1:26-56 <br />
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In the 6th month of Elisabeth' pregnancy, Gabriel visits a young virgin called Mary - you know Gabriel must be loving this role of announcing special births when compared to his mortal ministry where he had to watch so many people die. And now he announces the births of those set to bring about their salvation. God is good. Why do you think Gabriel was selected to be this messenger? What symbolism do we see here in comparison or in conjunction with his mortal ministry as Noah where he was asked to herald the world into a new era?<br />
<br />
v28-29 she was troubled and "cast in her mind" what this greeting meant. Mary is also the one we are told later who at her son's birth and all the events surrounding it, "kept all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). This appears to be a very thoughtful and careful young woman.<br />
<br />
What blessing does Gabriel pronounce regarding Jesus prior to his birth? Luke 1:31-33. That would be very overwhelming for a young woman (similar to the calling of Samuel in the temple or Joseph in the grove of trees). Her response again shows a very studious mind. Her reply is not a doubting reply but the reply of one who wants to understand and learn. How will it happen? I am a virgin and already espoused to Joseph.<br />
<br />
v.35 For those of like mind to Mary the answer is fairly straightforward - "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee". I still don't know what exactly that means but the conclusion is very clear, "therefore [thy son] shall be called the Son of God".<br />
<br />
v.38 Mary is espoused to another man, this certainly means divorce and quite likely death according to the laws and how these events will be interpreted by those around her and yet her response to this is one of humble acceptance.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word"</span></blockquote>
Mary offers full submission to and complete acceptance of this calling no matter the effects on her personal life. How can Mary's example help us to make better choices in fulfilling our callings in life?<br />
<br />
39-55 can you imagine this scene - not only two mothers announcing their news but wow what news!<br />
must have been very exciting and emotional<br />
Note too that even in womb John was filled with the Holy Ghost. One of the roles of the Holy Ghost is to testify of Christ. Is it any wonder the unborn baby John therefore reacts in the presence of his Saviour? That must have been an amazing experience for Elisabeth.<br />
What does it mean "my soul doth magnify the Lord?" How can we magnify the Lord?<br />
<br />
Mary stays with them about 3 months but leaves before John is born. But now consider. She left Joseph for 3 months right at the time of conception and during that first trimester. Why?<br />
<br />
<u><b>Joseph</b></u><br />
Matthew 1:19 he had respect for her and not going to have her stoned or publicly mocked but he was going to quietly divorce her. This must have been a very trying time in their relationship. It must have been tough for Mary and for Joseph for different reasons.<br />
v.20 I wonder at what stage this happened? Was it after Mary returned? the text suggests it was. Certainly Joseph didn't rashly react. He was thinking on these things for a while. Jesus obviously had earthly parents who were slow to wrath and pondered and prayed.<br />
<br />
They too are told to give the child a specific name Y'shua or in Greek (Jesus) means to save.<br />
Joseph's reaction to his angelic visit? Obedience without question and total respect for Mary. This must have been a hard calling for Joseph. To be the adoptive father of the Son of God. To accept a child that is not yours. Yet he responded to the call.<br />
<br />
<strong>Elder Bruce R. McConkie said:</strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000;">“All the spirits of men, while yet in the Eternal Presence, developed
aptitudes, talents, capacities, and abilities of every sort, kind, and
degree. During the long expanse of life which then was, an infinite
variety of talents and abilities came into being. As the ages rolled, no
two spirits remained alike. Mozart became a musician; Einstein centered
his interest in mathematics; Michelangelo turned his attention to
painting. . . . Abraham and Moses and all of the prophets sought and
obtained the talent for spirituality. . . .</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">“. . . When we pass from preexistence to mortality, we bring with us
the traits and talents there developed. True, we forget what went before
because we are here being tested, but the capacities and abilities that
then were ours are yet resident within us. Mozart is still a musician;
Einstein retains his mathematical abilities; Michelangelo his artistic
talent; Abraham, Moses, and the prophets their spiritual talents and
abilities. . . . And all men with their infinitely varied talents and
personalities pick up the course of progression where they left it off
when they left the heavenly realms.”</span></blockquote>
We all have the ability to perform our callings in life. We may have forgotten certain abilities and talents we had previously developed but the Lord our God has not. He knows us, he knows our capabilities and our strengths. It is for this reason many if not all of us were given callings in this life, duties to perform while here.<br />
Like Zacharias and Elisabeth we must do our duty. Like Mary we must be humble and submissive. Like Joseph we must be quick to obey. We must ponder and pray. <br />
If we do people will look at us and our lives and they will see the Lord in us. We will reflect His light. Our souls will magnify the Lord<br />
Are we living the lives we were called to live?Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-82952932806038643012015-01-04T16:22:00.000-08:002015-01-04T16:22:11.723-08:00New Testament Lesson 1: That Ye Might Believe That Jesus is The ChristThe expression "out with the old and in with the new" rarely has more significance than when we start the new year saying good bye to our Old Testament studies and hello to our New Testament studies. <br />
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This lesson helps introduce our New Testament course by exploring why some of the New Testament authors wrote what they wrote. We will touch on 3 testimonies today. Each testimony declares Jesus to be the anointed one, the promised Messiah.<br />
<ol>
<li>The testimony of John</li>
<li>The testimony of Matthew</li>
<li>The testimony of Jesus</li>
</ol>
<u><b>THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN </b></u><br />
In John 20:30-31, the beloved apostle of the beloved Son of God wrote,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="verse">"30 </span>¶And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:</span> <br />
<div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="31"> </a><span class="verse">31 </span>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."</span></div>
</blockquote>
Very clearly John had 3 stated intents in writing his testimony or gospel.<br />
<ol>
<li>That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ </li>
<li>That ye might believe that Jesus is the Son of God</li>
<li>That in believing ye might have life through his name.</li>
</ol>
His gospel was written to those who were already familiar with the basic teachings of Jesus and seemed to be directed more at members of the early church, urging them to recognize Jesus as more than just a great rabbi to follow. He was more than just a prophet. He was the one of whom all the prophets had testified would come into the world. He was the anointed one, The Messiah, The Christ. And he was also the Son of God. John frames his testimony around 7 miracles that Jesus performs building a clear picture for the Saints of a divine being with a divine purpose.<br />
<br />
John begins his testimony with a fascinating discourse on who Jesus really is. Latter-Day Saints will be interested to study the first 14 verses of John Chapter 1 with Joseph Smith's translation, Doctrine and Covenants section 93 and Genesis 1. In John 1:1-2, John declares,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="1"> </a><span class="verse">"1 </span>In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.</span></div>
<div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="2"> </a><span class="verse">2 </span>The same was in the beginning with God."</span></div>
</blockquote>
John starts his testimony boldly stating that Jesus was there from the beginning(the very beginning), was with God from the beginning and was not only part of the godhead but was Jehovah, the God of the Old Covenant. It's hard to see how John could be any more direct with his audience. He clearly feels these were facts that even the Saints needed reminding of. I have always found it fascinating that John took us back to the same literary structure as the opening of Genesis. It is almost like he wants us to go all the way back and realign how it all began. "In the beginning" but instead of a fairly impersonal and general story of creation, John is pleading with us to place Jesus firmly in the centre of that narrative. The beginning of our faith was not the creation nor Adam nor Abraham but rather "In the beginning was the Word"! What an introduction and what a testimony.<br />
<br />
<u><b>THE TESTIMONY OF MATTHEW</b></u><br />
Matthew also wrote a record of his testimony. But instead of writing to the Saints of the church, Matthew wrote his testimony mostly to the Jews, the very people that had just rejected Jesus.<br />
The first 17 verses of Matthew Chapter 1 are probably skipped by a lot of people. It contains a lot of "begats" and a lot of names that are either unfamiliar or hard to pronounce (sometimes both!). It is a genealogy from Abraham to Joseph and quite honestly, at first glance, it can come across as boring. But a closer look will reveal a fascinating opening to Matthew's testimony.<br />
In verse 1 Matthew declares,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="1"> <span style="background-color: yellow;">"</span></a><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="verse">1 </span>The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."</span></blockquote>
It seems like a very typical introductory verse but it is already sending a clear message to the Jewish people. Matthew declares Christ as the son of David and the son of Abraham. To understand the impact of this declaration we must understand a little of the Jewish culture and expectation. Historically the children of Israel had struggled to do as Jehovah had told them. As a result they lost their divine protection and were taken captive by the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Persians. However in their captivity the Lord often had his prophets foretell of a time when the people would be saved by an anointed one, of the seed of David. After the many military captures and their servitude under many empires and regimes the Jews believed this "anointed one" (Messiah in Hebrew, Christ in Greek) would be a king (of the royal lineage, a descendant of their King David) who would free them from the various military captors.<br />
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At the time of Jesus, the Jewish people were under the military rule of the Roman Empire and the Jewish people were looking for a military leader to save them. So when Jesus declared himself the "anointed one" (Messiah/Christ) they could not see how he fit the bill! He wasn't a military leader, he didn't fight the Romans. And eventually they killed him for claiming to be the "anointed one". But Matthew is determined to show them that in fact Jesus was and is the promised Messiah, that Jesus was and is in fact, the Christ. And so Matthew's opening statement of his testimony in verse one makes three claims:<br />
<ol>
<li>Jesus is the Christ (the anointed one)</li>
<li>Jesus is the son of David (rightful heir to the royal throne)</li>
<li>Jesus is the son of Abraham (hold the spiritual/priesthood keys of authority)</li>
</ol>
These apostles keep it pretty simple and direct.<br />
Now the Jewish people loved their genealogy, they took pride in being sons of Abraham and being related to David. In fact they had started getting the attitude that their genealogy saved them, that just merely being a Jew (the chosen people) gave them salvation. And now Matthew does something that gets their attention using their genealogy. In the middle of Jesus genealogy (which is also the genealogy of David and Abraham - two of the most revered people in Jewish tradition) Matthew decides to break with tradition and introduce women, but not only women but Gentile women and not only Gentile women but Gentile women that all needed reclaiming.<br />
<ul>
<li>Tamar</li>
<li>Rachab</li>
<li>Ruth</li>
<li>Her</li>
</ul>
Tamar was the Canaanite daughter in law of Judah, one of the 12 sons of Jacob. When her husband died leaving her without child, she eventually fooled her father in law into laying with her and giving her child.<br />
Rachab was also a Canaanite living in Jericho. She was the prostitute who protected the spies of Israel and as a result was the sole survivor with her family from the destruction of Jericho.<br />
Ruth was a Moabite whose husband also died and needed Boaz to reclaim her.<br />
Her was Bathsheba wife of Uriah the Hittite. It was she whom David committed adultery and murder for.<br />
<br />
Of course the obvious question is why would Matthew put these Gentile women in the most royal of Jewish lineages? I believe he wanted the Jewish people to see that their genealogy alone would not save them. Their genealogy was filled with sinning Jews and saved Gentiles! Matthew's message seems clear. Jesus is that promised Christ, the son of David and of Abraham and the Jews missed him. For all the prophecies and writings of old they, the Chosen people, had rejected their Saviour. And like the Gentiles in their genealogy, the Jewish people also need reclaiming as much as if not more than any Gentile does. Its a bold and stirring testimony and declaration, calling the Jewish people to repentance and asking them to look one more time upon the man they crucified.<br />
<br />
<u><b>THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS</b></u><br />
The third and final testimony in this week's lesson comes from Jesus himself.<br />
In Luke 4:14-32 we find an interesting story. Jesus has just returned from his fasting in the wilderness where Satan approached him and tried to dissuade him from his coming ministry. We believe that Jesus was about 30 years old at this time. We do not know much about his teenage or young adult life but we can presume a few things based on a couple of scriptures.<br />
<br />The last time we really heard of Jesus he was 12 yrs old at the temple, his parents had lost him and eventually he was found teaching the learned men the scriptures. I imagine that reputation continued beyond that one event. If he was teaching in the temple at 12, there is little reason he would have stopped teaching the scriptures after. And Luke chapter 4 finds Jesus doing what we last saw him doing when he was 12, teaching,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">"<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="14"></a><span class="verse">14 </span>¶And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.</span> <br />
<div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="15"> </a><span class="verse">15 </span>And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.</span></div>
<div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="16"> </a><span class="verse">16 </span>¶And
he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom
was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to
read.</span></div>
<div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="17"> </a><span class="verse">17 </span>And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias..." </span></div>
</blockquote>
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Everybody loved his teaching and in returning to his home congregation he is welcomed and given the scrolls of Isaiah to read. But Jesus is not there to just teach basic scriptures and gentle principles. He is now starting his mission and he wants to declare that mission. Instead of expounding on lessons from the lives of the prophets he decides to read what we now know as Isaiah 61:1-2. As Luke describes this is how it happened after receiving the scrolls of Isaiah,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">"...And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,</span> <br />
<div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="18"> </a><span class="verse">18 </span>The Spirit of the Lord <span class="clarityWord">is</span> upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,</span></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> </span><div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="19"> </a><span class="verse">19 </span>To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> </span><div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="20"> </a><span class="verse">20 </span>And he closed the book, and he gave <span class="clarityWord">it</span> again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> </span><div class="">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="21"> </a><span class="verse">21 </span>And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."</span></div>
</blockquote>
Wow! Could you imagine the scene? Oh how I would love to have been there that day! Now all of the Jews knew this scripture was a prophecy of the Messiah to come. They had been taught this scripture since they first entered the synagogues. What they did not understand was how it was to be fulfilled. So when this great teacher reads this scripture their eyes are all fastened on him in the hope that he may be about to give some clue as to when this Messiah will appear. That they could accept. But when this Jesus, who in their minds was the son of Joseph (not of David nor of Abraham and therefore no-one special by their reckoning), declared his testimony that <i><u>He</u></i> was the promised Messiah, his neighbours and friends and maybe even some of his family just could not accept it. That was too much for them and they took him out of the city and tried to kill him for blasphemy. This is an incredible moment in the bible. It is the first time the Lord publicly declares his mission to the world and testifies as to his true identity, as opposed to his adopted identity. It stands, as do the opening verses of John and Matthew, as a powerful opening testimony to his mission and ministry, declaring that he is indeed the promised Messiah.<br />
<br />
I hope this is exciting to you. I hope the testimony of John and Matthew and Jesus himself inspire you to read and study more of the New Testament. There is great power in this record. This year we will study the mortal life and ministry of Jesus, adopted son of Joseph, son of David and Abraham, beloved and only begotten Son of God. I encourage to join me as we learn of the great mission he fulfilled and the life of love he led.<br />
<br />
<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="3"></a>Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-39797761243880025242015-01-04T14:03:00.002-08:002015-01-04T14:03:24.030-08:00Old Testament Lesson 48:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-16002902912567077922015-01-04T14:03:00.000-08:002015-01-04T14:03:08.142-08:00Old Testament Lesson 47:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-84501950794380517072015-01-04T14:02:00.005-08:002015-01-04T14:02:33.738-08:00Old Testament Lesson 46Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-77562903028932929222015-01-04T14:02:00.003-08:002015-01-04T14:02:16.111-08:00Old Testament Lesson 45:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-12972857109228848822015-01-04T14:02:00.001-08:002015-01-04T14:02:03.647-08:00Old Testament Lesson 44:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-67701579340798191582015-01-04T14:01:00.005-08:002015-01-04T14:01:36.101-08:00Old Testament Lesson 43:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-25246510503423628472015-01-04T14:01:00.003-08:002015-01-04T14:01:16.733-08:00Old Testament Lesson 42:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-23122020708368567742015-01-04T14:01:00.001-08:002015-01-04T14:01:03.720-08:00Old Testament Lesson 41:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-15179210410559965702015-01-04T14:00:00.005-08:002015-01-04T14:00:48.479-08:00Old Testament Lesson 40:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-61733625696623716322015-01-04T14:00:00.003-08:002015-01-04T14:00:35.320-08:00Old Testament Lesson 39:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-50221279961367722772015-01-04T14:00:00.001-08:002015-01-04T14:00:15.740-08:00Old Testament Lesson 38:Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-70943322019174238032014-09-27T18:06:00.000-07:002014-09-27T19:25:36.190-07:00Old Testament Lesson 37: Thou Hast Done Wonderful ThingsMuch of Isaiah is treasured for it's allusion to Christ and his life.<br />
Today's study of Isaiah, instead of taking us through each chapter, focuses on several specific Messianic passages in Isaiah highlighting the wonderful things Christ will do and has done.<br />
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Isaiah 22:22 From one perspective Isaiah is discussing a man named El-iakim (which means "one whom God will raise"). In this verse it suggests he will take over the role of treasurer/finance minister from Shebna and have the keys to the city of David and will be a very powerful man. But on another level he is alluding to the Christ. Christ will take on the keys to the spiritual House of David, the priesthood keys and the keys of sealing. What else does Christ have the power to open and shut? (Hell, Spirit World) See also Rev 3:7-8,20 and John 14:6<br />
Christ is the key to getting back to our Father in Heaven.<br />
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Isaiah 24:21-22 Having told the people that there is no escape for the wicked v.17-18. Isaiah repeats this notion but with one extra little detail. What is the other detail he adds. Who are the prisoners Isaiah refers to here? What hope can they cling to? Who will visit them?<br />
v.23 What kind of light can confound the moons light and shame the suns light? As a prisoner left alone in darkness for an extended period of time, what would it be like to suddenly feel this light?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW8W_-0PuJMGDIYQ78HU7xgPDFMGW63pV1N1RBSS2CIkCBDDqRcpvjeQh9J8w6fXl606WVJxjPdEgze5Eej57JO3SbRMdXImqWoRjXWyh7D87Nwz0dtjhKdgqa-57QARJT9XUsKkZE4g/s1600/9580195-ItnJy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW8W_-0PuJMGDIYQ78HU7xgPDFMGW63pV1N1RBSS2CIkCBDDqRcpvjeQh9J8w6fXl606WVJxjPdEgze5Eej57JO3SbRMdXImqWoRjXWyh7D87Nwz0dtjhKdgqa-57QARJT9XUsKkZE4g/s1600/9580195-ItnJy.jpg" /></a>Isaiah 25:1-4; 32:1-2 How does Isaiah describe Christ in these passages:<br />
<ul>
<li>a strength to the poor and needy in his distress</li>
<li>a refuge from the storm</li>
<li>a shadow from the heat</li>
<li>a hiding place from the wind</li>
<li>a covert from the tempest</li>
<li>as rivers of water in a dry place</li>
<li>shadow of a great rock in a dry land</li>
</ul>
What do these passages teach us about times when we are struggling?<br />
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Isaiah 25:6-8 "in this mountain" could refer to the geographical area Isaiah was preaching from but it also alludes to the Lord's kingdom and to the our modern temples. It is here where the chosen and elect will receive the benefits of salvation<br />
a feast of fat things<br />
a feast of wines on the lees<br />
the veil of spiritual darkness and unbelief will be lifted<br />
death will be overcome<br />
all of our tears will be wiped away<br />
rebuke of his people taken from off the earth <br />
The last 3 items definitely have pertinence to the atonement and resurrection.<br />
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How can temple attendance help us receive these blessings? Who does it say will provide these blessings? Revelations 21:3-4 gives us more insight into what causes our tears that the Lord will wipe away. Notice he doesn't just stop us crying - he wipes the tears from our face. This is not just a public and infinite atonement - it is a personal and intimate atonement as well. <br />
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Isaiah 28:16 How is Christ our tried stone and our sure foundation? cf. Heleman 5:12, Doctrine and Covenants 50:44<br />
Why will "he that believeth NOT make haste"? Compare to Isaiah 24:17-19.<br />
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Isaiah 29:4, 10-11,14,18 Bringing forth of the gospel in the latter-days through the restoration and the Book of Mormon is a marvelous work and a wonder that will heal the spiritually deaf and blind.<br />
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Isaiah 30:19-21 such beautiful comforting words of promise to the righteous and to the repentant. Is life meant to be easy?<br />
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From these few passages we see Jesus Christ as the key to returning to our Father in Heaven. It is only through him. He is our light in the darkness, our hope, our protector and our saviour. He loves us. He is our tried and tested and sure foundation and he has restored his gospel in these latter days to bring to pass the purposes of the great plan. If we put our trust in his teachings, following his way and accepting his atonement in our lives we will not only feel the effects in our lives, we will see him.<br />
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<br />Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-83376389723755253732014-09-20T15:54:00.000-07:002014-09-20T15:54:45.673-07:00Old Testament Lesson 36: The Glory of Zion Will be a Defense<br />
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So who was Isaiah? We have few clues. The bible tells us that he was the prophet during the time of 4 Judean kings - Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. He was a prophet for a span of close to 50 years, maybe more. And there is some suggestion that Hezekiah was his son-in-law and that Hezekiah's son Manasseh (Isaiah's grandson) killed Isaiah by putting him in a hollowed out tree trunk and having him sawn in half (cf Heb 11:37). So much for being able to enjoy your grandkids!<br />
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Isaiah's name means "Jehovah is salvation" and it is clear his name, ministry and life were meant to help point to Christ. Now before we start studying Isaiah it might be worth noting that 16 chapters of Isaiah are quoted in the Book of Mormon. For the next 5 lessons we will be studying Isaiah. The Saviour encouraged us to study Isaiah in 3 Nephi 23:1-3 ( I know some of us would prefer he had said the Book of Jarom or Omni) but interestingly although Nephi encourages a study of Isaiah also, he seems to recognize that people not of Isaiah's time and culture would struggle to understand his words. 2 Nephi 25:1-4. According to Nephi what is the key to understanding Isaiah?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Isaiah Scroll of Qumran</td></tr>
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Isaiah 1 we are told is a vision Isaiah had concerning Judah and Jerusalem.<br />
What is the state of the people in v.2-4? rebellious, ignorant, sinful, evildoers, corrupted, gone away backward. Dumber than the dumbest animals - ox and ass.<br />
What does that phrase "gone away backward" suggest?<br />
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How spiritually sick are the people? v.5-6 the whole head and the whole heart (leaders and the people) and notice what ails them - head is sick (unrighteous) hear is faint (weak and unrighteous), from head to toe it is ridden with wounds bruises and putrefying sores that have not been bound and closed or soothed with ointment. Based on that analogy what are the people sorely lacking? A good doctor? (cf Psalms 147:3). Who could heal them? And yet they hadn't even applied a band-aid yet. Why do people avoid repentance and healing?<br />
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What does he tell the people to do that are in this state? v.16-19 Repent, clean up.<br />
v.18 "come now, and let us reason together" When? NOW. Don't delay. <br />
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v.29-30 alludes to the shrines set up and built with oak trees in gardens for idol worship<br />
v.30 tow=tinder<br />
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Then he moves away from them and starts discussing the last days.<br />
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Isaiah 2:2-4 mountain of the Lord house to be established in the tops of the mountains.<br />
It is interesting to note that when the Salt Lake valley was first settled, those that settled there wanted to call the region Deseret. However the US government in granting statehood insisted it be called Utah in common with their practice of naming states after the tribal people common to that area. Little did they realize they were helping fulfil this prophecy in Isaiah. Utah in the Ute language means "the top of the mountains". <br />
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Zion and Jerusalem to be the two centres of the Millenium. One the legal and judicial centre (constitutional) and one the spiritual centre (scriptural).<br />
A world of peace and happiness is shown where there is no more war.<br />
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Why did Isaiah share this vision of the last days after telling people how sick they were? v.5 has the answer but try comparing to 2 Nephi 12:5 it's an invitation. You are wicked and suffering the calamities of your wickedness but there is a better way and one day it will be better. You can experience this if you walk in his light.<br />
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v.6-9 But currently you get your light and replenishment from psychics, eastern philosophies, marrying outside of the temple, your focus is on money, you have more cars and armies than you know what to do with, and you have sports idols, pop idols, movie idols and worship man-made things. Even your poor are proud! You give more credence to your own things than to the things of God. Google and Wikipedia are valued more than scripture. Which did you use more this week? We are far from the simple desire of the Lord's prayer - "give us this day our daily bread!" We chase riches and build armies in our vain efforts to self-preserve and forget the great Deliverer has promised us salvation and preservation if we just trust in Him.<br />
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What is the advice given if that is your state or condition in life - Hide! Crawl under a rock and hide! (cf Alma 12:14)<br />
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v.10. Why?<br />
v.11-17 Because all the mighty and proud will be brought low. Cedars of Lebanon, Oaks of Bashan, Ships of Tarshish. All trees. Trees represent man. No matter how great you are, how powerful, how good-looking, how rich, He will bring you down!<br />
v.10 and v.19 why will they hide? For fear - they will recognize he is greater than anything they put their trust in. Notice also it will be too bright for them..where do they go to hide? In dark places. Will their idols save them? No! v.20 in fact they are thrown to moles and bats. What do moles and bats have to with this? They also live in darkness and are blind!<br />
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And what is the lesson the Lord would have us learn from all of this? v.22 "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils..." We are nothing, we live - carried along by a mere puff of air. Can we save ourselves? NO. Only he who is mighty to save can save mankind, through the great atonement. <br />
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Notice that Isaiah 2 has two great heights that can be reached in life - the tops of the mountains where you will find the Lord's house OR the loftiness of man (pride). Which are you closest to scaling?<br />
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Isaiah 3 is a continuation of the vision Isaiah had and here he is told in vision that the Lord will take away his support from the people. He will no longer feed them, taking away the wise and replacing them with immature leaders v.1-4<br />
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v.16-26 even the women are guilty of pride and being followers of fashion more than faithful followers of their God. They will be shamed and their families torn apart by war.<br />
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How great will be the desolation and destruction according to Isaiah 4? 7 women will ask 1 man to give them his name. Don't feed or clothe us just let us belong. (v.1) Only the righteous will be left in Jerusalem and Zion.<br />
v.5-6 Every home (dwelling place), every congregation of his people (assembly) shall be protected by a pillar of fire at night, and by a cloud and smoke during the day. What else will be there - a tabernacle (temple). How is it described? As a shadow from the sun and heat, a cover from rain and storms and a place of refuge. Could we use a place to get away from the storms and the stresses of our life? Could we do with having a place of refuge and protection for us? Go to the temple!<br />
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Isaiah 5:1-7 The Lord now compares his people to a vineyard. How did he look after it? Built a fence (protection and defence), gathered out the stones (made life a rich place to grow for us) planted the choicest vine (the best, the chosen people were given for their roots Abr. 3:22-23), built a tower in the midst (a place of gathering and a sign of God's presence in our midst - the temple), made a winepress (gave us challenges to bring the best out of us). What was the result - sour grapes! What was the Lord's reaction - take away the protection and stop looking after it.<br />
v.8-24 a expansion on who these sour grapes are.<br />
wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil:<br />
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<strong>Spencer W. Kimball</strong></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Jesus Christ our Lord is under no
obligation to save this world. The people have ignored him, disbelieved
him, failed to follow him. They stand at his mercy which will be
extended only if they repent. But to what extent have we repented?
Another prophet said, "We call evil good, and good evil." Men have
rationalized themselves into thinking that they are "not so bad." Are
they fully ripe? Has the rot of age and flabbiness set in? Can they
change? They see evil in their enemies, but none in themselves. Even in
the true Church numerous of its people fail to attend their meetings, to
tithe their incomes, to have their regular prayers, to keep all the
commandments. We can transform, but will we? It seems that we would
rather tax ourselves into slavery than to pay our tithes; rather build
protections and walls than drop to our knees with our families in solemn
prayers night and morning. (<em>Conference Report</em>, Oct. 1, 1961, p.31)</span></b></div>
</blockquote>
v.25 his hand is still stretched out against them - there is more destruction to come.<br />
v.26 in the last days an ensign will be lifted and people will gather to it swiftly with the aid of young lions (missionaries).<br />
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<div>
<strong>LeGrand</strong><strong> Richards</strong></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Since there were no such things as
trains and airplanes in that day, Isaiah could hardly have mentioned
them by name, but he seems to have described them in unmistakable words.
How better could "their horses hoofs be counted like flint, and their
wheel like a whirlwind" than in the modern train? How better could
"Their roaring...be like a lion" than in the roar of the airplane?
Trains and airplanes do not stop for night. Therefore, was not Isaiah
justified in saying "none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the
girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be
broken"? With this manner of transportation the Lord can really "hiss
unto them from the end of the earth," that "they shall come with speed
swiftly." (<em>A Marvelous Work and a Wonder</em>, p. 236)</b></span></div>
</blockquote>
Isaiah 6<br />
Isaiah is called of God but feels unworthy of his call saying he has unclean lips and lives among people with unclean lips. How was Isaiah made worthy? v.6-7 Where did the coal come from? Why was it hot? What does the coal symbolize?<br />
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Once cleansed and purified Isaiah answered his call saying, "Here am, I send me" alluding to the Saviour's own mission call in the pre-existence.<br />
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Our first study of Isaiah has been a study full of symbols and imagery. But it is clear that the wicked are being called to repentance. The righteous are promised great blessings and all can still be saved through the cleansing power of the great atonement.<br />
As we are cleansed, attend the temple and live the commandments we will find that the Lord's Glory will attend us and will protect us. <br />
<br />Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-37774163581998455752014-09-06T12:24:00.000-07:002014-09-06T12:24:47.117-07:00Old Testament Lesson 34: I Will Betroth Thee Unto Me in RighteousnessHow does God love us? And how do we know God loves us? How do you know God loves you?<br />
John 3:16 He loves us so much he gave his only begotten son<br />
Ezekiel 16:1-14 He loves us so much he has saved us, washed us, cleaned us, dressed and clothed us, adorned us with fine jewellry, entered into a covenant with us, protected us, gave us the very best, fed us the very best, crowned us.<br />
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The scriptures are clear in showing us that God loves us. But I sometimes wonder if we maybe miss the overwhelming depth of that love.<br />
One of the ways that God has tried to explain his love for us is by using marriage as an allegory for his relationship with us. Why would he use marriage to illustrate his love for us?<br />
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What other examples in the scriptures do we have where this allegory is used? (Genesis 2-3, Matthew 25:1-13, Ephesians 5:25-33, Ruth, Revelations )<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAGxbgoCmZRaM5q30Co7KKnymgAvlFNMvkc6GaslGtnEQURaeZR-JYfjjEz8fpHyBD6trL4CCsmOxcsKpbFhIK4uYy8wqtKEG6CkpgCgE-IiUicsIkFzr-LWTVkxVICCEnViO40GEFMQ/s1600/mormon-bread-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAGxbgoCmZRaM5q30Co7KKnymgAvlFNMvkc6GaslGtnEQURaeZR-JYfjjEz8fpHyBD6trL4CCsmOxcsKpbFhIK4uYy8wqtKEG6CkpgCgE-IiUicsIkFzr-LWTVkxVICCEnViO40GEFMQ/s1600/mormon-bread-water.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a>What is a betrothal? Unlike a modern day engagement, a betrothal was as holy and sacred as the final marriage vows. It was a commitment to one another. Do we as latter-day saints enter into betrothal agreements?<br />
Have a look at the sacrament prayers:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">and witness</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are <i><b>willing</b></i> to take upon them the name of thy Son.</span><br />
We take the bread as a reminder to us and a witness to others of the covenants we made at baptism to be willing to take upon us the name of Christ. Taking the bread (symbolic of his body) represents he and us becoming one spiritually.<br />
When we take the water it represents his blood and is symbolic of us remembering and accepting his dowry that pays for us - the Atonement.<br />
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Every Sunday we are renewing our betrothal covenant with the Lord. We promised to become one with Him and our weekly sacrament is our reminder of that covenant and promise. How grateful he must be when he sees us renew that covenant each week.<br />
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It is obvious that the Lord takes marriage and betrothal and these covenants very seriously, that they have great depth of meaning to Him. It is clear he considers this a topic of great sanctity and sacredness. Which makes this next scripture all the more shocking in comparison.<br />
<br />
Read Hosea 1:2, 3-4, 6, 8-9 WOW! I didn't see that one coming. What could possibly have happened that makes God want to order his prophet to marry a harlot and to curse the children of that marriage and to declare "for ye are not my people and I will not be yours"?<br />
<br />
<div>
Several Old Testament prophets lives were used as similitudes or "object lessons" for the children of Israel and indeed, for us also. For example, Abraham was commanded to
offer his son Isaac. Moses delivered his people. Jonah's experience in the belly of the great fish reflected the Lord's period of time in the Spirit World. The period of growth of Isaiah's son was used as a direct illustration of the time period Israel had left before
Assyria would attack Damascus (Isa. 8). One of the most dramatic examples of
such an object lesson was Ezekiel.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Ezekiel was asked to create a model of the city of Jerusalem being besieged by an
invading army complete with a little miniature battering ram to represent the prophesied invasion to come! He was then told to lay down (with bare arms) by this model in public on
his left side for 390 days, representing the number of years that the Northern
Kingdom had been wicked. Next, he was to lay down (with bare arms) by the model on his right side
for 40 days, representing the number of years that the Southern Kingdom of
Judah had been wicked. He was also given specific things to eat and very specific cooking instructions. He was supposed to make bread from a mixture of grains and beans and lentils, but he was to bake it on
a fire made of dried human excrement. For some reason, Ezekiel didn't like that idea too
well and protested to the Lord. The Lord was merciful and allowed Ezekiel to cook his bread with dried cow chips instead of
human ones! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
What was the Lord's point? The Israelites must have been horrified to see
a prophet eating bread cooked over cow chips! The Lord needed to shock them just to get their attention because they had ceased to listen through the normal channels. The
point was to show the people exactly how disgusting and gross their behaviour was to the Lord and how unclean they had become - the whole reason they would soon be invaded and over-run. What an
object lesson!</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
Similarly, Hosea's marriage was to serve as an object lesson. So what was that object lesson with Hosea? </div>
<div>
Hosea's marriage to the unfaithful Gomer symbolized God's covenants with Israel. The children - Jezreel (God scatters), Lo-ruhama (Not having obtained mercy) and Lo-ammi (Not my people) were the fruits of that unfaithful union. Clearly he's telling the people they have been unfaithful and the fruits of their infidelity to him would be that they would be scattered without mercy and would no longer be His people. </div>
<div>
What infidelity were the children of Israel guilty of? How can we avoid these temptations today? When the Lord likens this to marriage what is he suggesting is the key to avoiding temptation? (What is the first and great commandment?) LOVE the Lord they God with all thy heart, might mind and strength. How do you think the Husband feels? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Now compare Hosea 2:1-13 with Hosea 2:14-23. Even though the wife had been unfaithful, the husband still loved her and wanted her back. In today's society that is often seen as weakness. Why would the husband take the unfaithful wife back? What does the Lord promise if his unfaithful wife returns? see also Hosea 2:19-20, 23.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.9149990081787px;">v.14-15 The Valley of Achor is a valley north of the Jezreel Valley. It is the route out of the wilderness into the heart of the land. The word </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.9149990081787px;">Achor</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.9149990081787px;"> means "trouble." So the husband will use the route of trouble to bring Israel back to him, as the Lord often uses trials as a means of encouraging us to return to or to strengthen our relationship with him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.9149990081787px;"><br /></span></span>
<div>
V. 23 is very reminiscent of a renewed marriage vow.</div>
<div>
Why is this promise important and what does it teach us about God's love?</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. ... He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1039317.Dieter_F_Uchtdorf" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Dieter F. Uchtdorf</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In Hosea 3 the husband is instructed to purchase his wife. Her value at this time is the lowest of all values - that of a slave. This might not seem very romantic, it may appear in this time and age to objectify the woman and treat her as nothing more than a piece of property. However this was the law and the culture. And more importantly this man was willing to pay the price literally. Is there any doubt his love for her? When we understand how this purchase symbolizes our own ransom paid by the Saviour, can you see the depth of mercy and love exhibited? Can you feel the redeeming love? </div>
<div>
1 Peter 1:18-19</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Elder Henry B Eyring says of Hosea's story,</div>
<div>
"This was a love story. This was a story of a marriage covenant bound by love, by steadfast love...The Lord, with whom I am blessed to have made covenants, loves me and you...with a steadfastness about which I continually marvel and which I want, with all my heart, to emulate"</div>
<div>
Covenants and Sacrifice (CES Symposium 15 Aug 1995)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know that God loves us. I know that his arms of mercy extend far beyond my faults and my understanding. Like Elder Eyring I wish to and I strive to emulate the love He shows us. It simply stuns me and humbles me and fills my heart with gratitude that despite all of my weaknesses and all of my mistakes he still loves me and still wants me back. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">O to grace how great a debtor</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Daily I'm constrained to be!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Bind my wandering heart to Thee:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Prone to leave the God I love;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Here's my heart, O take and seal it;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Seal it for Thy courts above.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 24.8888893127441px;">Come Thou Fount, v.4</span></blockquote>
For those that feel this love does not extend to them please know that it does. <br />
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<br />Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-7497921889716784462014-08-30T23:44:00.000-07:002014-08-30T23:44:45.559-07:00Old Testament Lesson 33: Sharing the Gospel with the WorldJonah 1-4, Micah 2, 4-7<br />
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Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Fasting Jews gather to worship in their synagogues. Of all the sacred scripture available to them, they read the book of Jonah on this day. Why?<br />
<br />
<div>
The main message of Jonah is that God's gospel is for ALL people and that no matter what your mistakes may be, if you return unto Him there is mercy and forgiveness waiting.<br />
Today's lesson focuses on the Book of Jonah and its relevance to us today. We will also study the words of the prophet Micah.<br />
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<div>
Jonah 1:1-3 it's a fair assumption that Jonah was not singing "I'll Go Where You Want me To Go" when he received his mission call. Why not? What made a prophet of God turn down his mission call?</div>
<div>
Ninevah is right on the banks of the Tigris in Northern Iraq. Ninevah is on the opposite bank from where modern day Mosul is today. Going there, as it is today, would have been fraught with danger. </div>
<div>
From an earthly perspective, it is no surprise that Jonah decided to get on a ship and head in the opposite direction toward Spain. But it was not the danger of the mission that turned Jonah away from his proselyting duties. Rather it was Jonah's worry that these heathens, who had caused his people so much pain, would be forgiven and given the same gospel blessings he had. He wanted to see Ninevah destroyed. Read Jonah 4:2 Why did he flee? Because he knew that God was a "gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness." This is quite amazing from a prophet and shows that Jonah is not really understanding of the true power of the Atonement. The Atonement was not a demonstration of God's love for his chosen people Israel. The Atonement was a demonstration of God's love for EVERYBODY! (cf. John 3:16) Jonah did not understand this. He was angered that those not "chosen" could be shown mercy and salvation. Jonah believes that sinners should be punished. It is a thought prevalent among all religions today including our own. Sinners should be punished. But the Lord believes sinners should be given a chance to repent and shown forgiveness. For all our cries of justice, the Lord ever answers with mercy.<br />
So in fleeing, Jonah is declaring he wants nothing to do with a God who will not punish people. Why was Jonah swallowed by a great fish? Many will suggest it was punishment. NO! The great fish was a means of salvation for Jonah. Rather than a punishment the great fish saved Jonah. Jonah was shown mercy by the Lord and by the sailors who tried everything they could to save him. Jonah 1:17 The Lord had "prepared" the great fish. Jonah sat in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Imagine, being in the belly of a fish in the depths of the sea, trapped. Would you really think you were going to escape? You are waiting to die. You are as good as dead - living but as good as dead. 3 days Jonah experienced this only to be delivered on dry land. What should that teach us about the Atonement? Surely it teaches us that no matter what depths you plunge to, no matter what darkness you become a part of, no matter how long you are gone, you can still be delivered! Jonah got that lesson. At least on a personal basis. He cried unto the Lord in his darkness and he was rescued. The lesson he did not get was no matter who you are...you can be rescued. <br />
As Latter Day Saints I think we are all aware of the saving graces of the Atonement in our own personal lives. But do we sometimes judge and discern for ourselves who is and who isn't worthy of that Atonement? Have you held back from sharing the gospel with a neighbour because they are just not the type? Have we given up on a less-active because they just don't appreciate it or make it difficult for us to do our duty? Do we sometimes react like the elder brother of the prodigal son when the Father's mercy and love enfold the repentant, quietly wishing our consistent righteousness would be noticed more? <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jeffrey Holland speaking of the older brother of the prodigal son said,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"In
the story of the Prodigal Son, we can <span></span>miss,
if we are not careful, the account of an <span></span>elder
son, for the opening line of the Savior’s <span></span>account reads, “A
certain man had <span style="font-style: italic;">two</span> <span></span>sons”—and
He might have added, “both
of whom were lost and both of whom needed to come home.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
[older] son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry
that his parents are so happy about it. …</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">No,
he who has virtually everything, and who has in his hardworking, wonderful way
earned it, lacks the one thing that might make him the complete man of the Lord
he nearly is. He has yet to come to the compassion and mercy, the charitable
breadth of vision to see that <span style="font-style: italic;">this is not a rival returning.</span> It
is his brother. As his father pled with him to see, it is one who was dead and
now is alive. It is one who was lost and now is found.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Who
is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow
diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is
smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I
both know who does this—it is the father of all lies…It is Lucifer, our common
enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, “Give
me thine
honor.”"</span>
</span></span></blockquote>
Jonah, for all his weaknesses was a prophet of God. His record is not here for us to condemn him, but rather as a reminder to ask ourselves whether we are active messengers of this gospel of mercy or whether we withhold it for those whom only we deem prepared and worthy? It stands as a true testimony of God's love for all - a witness that God's mercy and love, his Atonement, covers ALL who are willing to repent.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonah waits hopefully for Ninevah's destruction</td></tr>
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Compare Jonah 3:1-3 with Jonah 1:1-3. Jonah has at least learned enough to go on the mission he is called to. He decides going to Ninevah is not so nearly as bad as rotting in the belly of a fish for 3 days and nights. He preaches repentance but is thoroughly disappointed when the people of Ninevah repent and are saved. <br />
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The book of Jonah finishes in a very odd way. It finishes like no other book of scripture - with a question.<br />
<br />
It also follows chiasm patterns:<br />
A.Go and preach against the wicked Ninevites<br />
B.Jonah sins; not wanting Ninevah to be saved<br />
C.Jonah repents and is delivered by the Lord<br />
C.Ninevah repents and is delivered by the Lord<br />
B.Jonah sins; not wanting Ninevah to be saved<br />
A.The Lord asks "Should not I spare Ninevah?"<br />
<br />
Remember the point of chiasmic literature is to focus the reader on the central point. Interestingly though the end question here is also asking the reader to consider the books central theme of repentance and mercy. Should God cease being God by not offering mercy and salvation? If Ninevah is not to be saved, who else must therefore not be saved, by the same logic?<br />
Jonah's answer is never recorded. It does not matter because the purpose of scripture is to ask the reader the question. Like Jonah, we all must learn that to be worthy of the Lord's mercy we must be able to be merciful.<br />
<br />
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and preached repentance to both the Northern Kingdom of Israel as well as the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Like Isaiah, much of his prophecy has dual meaning, warning the people of his day while also prophesying of latter-day events.<br />
Micah 2:1 describes a time when people eat, sleep and breath evil. Even when they sleep they are devising wicked plans to gain property and wealth and power over other people. Despite those perilous times what promises does the Lord make with his people in Micah 2:12-13? How are these promises being fulfilled today?<br />
<br />
Micah 5:7 How does the Micah describe the Lord's people? How can the image of dew or showers upon the grass be compared to the effects of church members on the world? What does it mean that these dews "tarrieth not for man"?<br />
Micah 5:8 How does Micah describe the Lord's people? What does this image suggest about the strength and power of the Lord's work? Who could stop it? <br />
In 1842 the Prophet Joseph Smith declared,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“No unhallowed hand can stop
the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine,
armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go
forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every
continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in
every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great
Jehovah shall say the work is done” (<span class="emphasis">History of the Church,</span> 4:540).</blockquote>
That seems like a lot to live up to? Does the load seem heavy you are called to bear? How might Micah 6:6-8 be a comfort to those of us who can feel overwhelmed?<br />
<br />Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God. That's it. And in return we have a God who will love us and show mercy to us. Micah 7:18-19.<br />
So today we have discussed how the Atonement and God's mercy covers EVERYONE who wishes to repent and embrace the gospel message, we have spoken of how in the Latter-Days we will be called to help spread this message and gather in those who wish to hear this message. The message is a simple message. Elder Russel M Nelson described it as a message that was announced 194 years ago with just seven words: "This is my Beloved Son, Hear Him". Whatever age we are, whatever we do in life, whatever our circumstances, we can share this message. It does not have to be forced or contrived. We just have to be willing to go where he wants us to go, and do what he wants us to do and say what he wants us to say. His message is a message of love and compassion and mercy and it is a message for everyone.<br />
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Let me finish with a story told by Elder Henry B Eyring,<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"A
family moved into a house near us. The <span> </span>home
was new, so I was part of the crew of <span> </span>Latter-day
Saints who spent a number of <span> </span>nights
putting in landscaping. I remember the <span> </span>last
night, standing next to the husband of <span> </span>the
family as we finished. He surveyed our work and said to us standing nearby, “This
is the third yard you Mormons have put in for us, and I think this is the best.” And
then he quietly but firmly told me of the great satisfaction he got from
membership in his own church, a conversation we had often in the years he lived
there.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
In
all that time, the acts of kindness extended to him and his family never ceased
because the neighbors really came to love them. One evening, I came home to see
a truck in his driveway. I had been told they were moving to another state. I
approached to see if I could help. I didn’t
recognize the man I saw loading household things into the truck. He said
quietly as I drew near, “Hello,
Brother Eyring.” I had<span style="font-family: inherit;">n’</span><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;">t
recognized him because he was the son, now grown older, who had lived there,
married, and moved away. And because of the love of many for him, he was now a
baptized member of the Church. I </span></span>don’t
know the end of that story because it will have no end. But I know that it
begins with love."</span></span>
</blockquote>
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Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-214139498919896832014-08-30T09:18:00.002-07:002014-08-30T09:18:33.694-07:00Old Testament Lesson 32: I know that my Redeemer LivethHolden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-88504467327339632642014-08-16T21:13:00.000-07:002014-08-16T21:13:03.183-07:00Old Testament Lesson 31: Happy is the Man that Findeth Wisdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Book of Proverbs may give the impression that Solomon sat down and wrote a book of his wisdom. More likely is that his wisdom was gathered in snippets and eventually collected together. Proverbs is not even entirely written by Solomon and there are other influences. The book is not considered as revelation from a prophet but is deemed inspired counsel of a wise man under the guidance of the Spirit.<br />
There are many themes found in Proverbs, including our marital relationships, communication with others, avoiding sin, trusting God, finding wisdom, and more. The lesson today will focus on 7 of those themes. However there are many other pearls of wisdom that can be found in Proverbs that may not be covered in these themes (eg. Proverbs 3:27-28; 8:22-31; 17:6; 29:18 and Proverbs 31) Some can even make you smile a little (Proverbs 6:9; 18:9; 21:9; 25:17) Thus while this lesson aims to be informative I hope it serves merely to whet the appetite for a more complete feast of this fascinating book.<br />
<br />
1. Wisdom<br />
Proverbs 1:7; 2:1-6; 4:7<br />
Why is wisdom so important? <br />
How do we gain wisdom? Where did Solomon get his wisdom from?<br />
James 1:5<br />
<br />
"Wisdom to govern the house of Israel was given to Solomon, and the
Judges of Israel; and if he had always been their king, and they subject
to his mandate, and obedient to his laws they would still have been a
great and mighty people-the rulers of the universe, and the wonder of
the world." (<em>Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith</em>, 251)<br />
<br />
2. Trust in The Lord <br />
Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:25<br />
How does the Lord direct our paths?<br />
What experiences have taught you to trust in the Lord?<br />
<br />
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At the funeral services for the five
little angels, I counseled: "There is one phrase which should be erased
from your thinking and from the words you speak aloud. It is the phrase,
'If only.' It is counterproductive and is not conducive to the spirit
of healing and of peace. Rather, recall the words of Proverbs: 'Trust in
the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.' "</div>
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</div>
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Before the closing of the caskets, I
noted that each child held a favorite toy, a soft gift to cuddle. I
reflected on the words of the poet Eugene Field:</div>
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</div>
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<em>The little toy dog is covered with dust,</em></div>
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<em>But sturdy and staunch he stands;</em></div>
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<em>And the little toy soldier is red with rust,</em></div>
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<em>And his musket moulds in his hands.</em></div>
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<em>Time was when the little toy dog was new,</em></div>
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<em>And the soldier was passing fair,</em></div>
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<em>And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue</em></div>
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<em>Kissed them and put them there.</em></div>
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</div>
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<em>"Now, don't you go till I come," he said,</em></div>
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<em>"And don't you make any noise!"</em></div>
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<em>So toddling off to his trundle-bed</em></div>
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<em>He dreamt of the pretty toys.</em></div>
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<em>And as he was dreaming, an angel song</em></div>
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<em>Awakened our Little Boy Blue,-</em></div>
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<em>Oh, the years are many, the years are long,</em></div>
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<em>But the little toy friends are true!</em></div>
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</div>
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<em>Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,</em></div>
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<em>Each in the same old place,</em></div>
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<em>Awaiting the touch of a little hand,</em></div>
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<em>The smile of a little face.</em></div>
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<em>And they wonder, as waiting the long years through,</em></div>
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<em>In the dust of that little chair,</em></div>
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<em>What has become of our Little Boy Blue</em></div>
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<em>Since he kissed them and put them there. </em></div>
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The little toy dog and the soldier fair
may wonder, but God in His infinite mercy has not left grieving loved
ones to wonder. He has provided truth. He will inspire an upward reach,
and His outstretched arms will embrace you. Jesus promises to one and
all who grieve, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."(Thomas S. Monson "Think to Thank," <em>Ensign</em>, Nov. 1998, 19-20)</div>
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3.The Words We Speak</div>
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Proverbs 15:1-2 </div>
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"To men within the sound of my voice, I
say, if you are guilty of demeaning behavior toward your wife, if you
are prone to dictate and exercise authority over her, if you are selfish
and brutal in your actions in the home, then stop it. Repent. Repent
now, while you have the opportunity to do so.
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
</div>
"To you wives who are constantly
complaining and see only the dark side of life, and feel that you are
unloved and unwanted, look into your own hearts and minds. If there is
something wrong, turn about. Put a smile on your faces." (Gordon B. Hinckley News of the Church 1984)</div>
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<br /></div>
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4. Pride</div>
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Proverbs 16:18-19 </div>
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"Contentions result from the prideful power struggle that comes from
pitting ourselves-our possessions or our intellect against others. The
proud are easily offended, hold grudges, withhold forgiveness, and will
not receive counsel or correction" (<em>CR</em>, April 1989, pp. 85-86)" (Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, <em>Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon</em>, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1987-1992], 3: 348)</div>
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I was always taught and I am ever thankful for having learned this teaching. "You are never offend-ED. You CHOOSE to take offence" I have been saved much drama and stress in life with that simple advise. There seem to be people all over society that are easily offended or almost seek to take offence. Life is a lot more peaceful and loving when you choose not to be offended. </div>
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5. Friendship</div>
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Proverbs 17:17 </div>
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"Among life's sweetest blessings is fellowship with men and women whose
ideals and aspirations are high and noble. Next to a sense of a kinship
with God comes the helpfulness, encouragement, and inspiration of
friends. Friendship is a sacred possession. . . . One of the principal
reasons which the Lord had for establishing His Church is to give all
persons high and low, rich and poor, strong and feeble an opportunity to
associate with their fellowmen in an atmosphere of uplifting, religious
fellowship. This [association] may be found in Priesthood quorums,
Auxiliaries, Sacrament meetings. He who neglects these opportunities,
who fails to take advantage of them, to that extent starves his own
soul." </div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
"True friends enrich life. If you would have friends, be one." (David O'McKay <em>Living with Enthusiasm</em> [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1996], 49-50)</div>
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6. Raising Children</div>
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Proverbs 22:6 </div>
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What do you think Lehi or Jacob would say about this and their errant sons? </div>
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How does this scripture give hope to parents and what key element is missing from this equation? </div>
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<br /></div>
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"There is an old and true proverb which
says, "As the twig is bent, so the tree is inclined." May I repeat a
story I have told in general conference. Not long after we were married,
we built our first home. We had little money, and I did a lot of the
work. The landscaping was entirely my responsibility. The first of many
trees that I planted was a thornless honey locust, and I envisioned the
day when its shade would assist in cooling the house in the summer. I
put it in a place at the corner where the wind from the canyon to the
east blew the hardest. I dug a hole, put in the bare root, put soil
around it, poured on water, and largely forgot it. It was only a wisp of
a tree, perhaps three-quarters of an inch in diameter. It was so supple
that I could bend it with ease in any direction. I paid little
attention to it as the years passed. Then one winter day when the tree
was barren of leaves, I chanced to look out the window at it. I noted
that it was leaning to the west, misshapen and out of balance. I could
scarcely believe it. I went out and braced myself against it as if to
push it upright. But the trunk was now nearly a foot in diameter. My
strength was as nothing against it. I took from my toolshed a block and
tackle, attaching one end to the tree and the other to a well-set post. I
pulled the rope. The pulleys moved just a little, and the trunk of the
tree trembled slightly. But that was all. It seemed to say to me, "You
can't straighten me. It's too late. I've grown this way because of your
neglect, and I will not bend."</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Finally in desperation I took my saw and
cut off the great heavy branch on the west side. I stepped back and
surveyed what I had done. I had cut off a major part of the tree,
leaving a huge scar about eight inches across and only one small branch
growing skyward.</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
More than half a century has passed
since I planted that tree. My daughter and her family now live there. I
recently looked again at the tree. It is large, its shape is better, and
it is a great asset to the home. But how serious was the trauma of its
youth and how painful the treatment I had used to straighten it. When
the tree was first planted, a piece of string would have held it against
the forces of the wind. I could have and should have supplied that
string with ever so little effort, but I did not. And it bent to the
forces that came against it.</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Children are like trees. When they are
young, their lives can be shaped and directed, usually with ever so
little effort. Said the writer of Proverbs, "Train up a child in the way
he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov.
22:6). That training finds its roots in the home." ("Four Simple Things
to Help Our Families and Our Nations," <em>Ensign,</em> Sept. 1996, 6-7)</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Elder Richard G. Scott said: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;">“You must be
willing to forgo personal pleasure and self-interest for family-centered activity,
and not turn over to church, school, or society the principal role of fostering
a child’s well-rounded development.<b> It takes time, great effort, and
significant personal sacrifice to ‘train up a child in the way he should go.’</b>
But where can you find greater rewards for a job well done?”</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">(<i>Ensign,</i> May 1993, 34)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<br />7. Happiness and Good Humour</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Proverbs 15:13; 17:22</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
"I dislike very much, and I believe
people generally do, to see a person with a woe begone countenance, and
to see him mourning as though his circumstances were of the most
unpleasant character. There is no pleasure in association with such
persons. In the family it is always a good thing for the parent to be
cheerful in the presence of his wife and children. And out of that
cheerfulness may arise many good gifts. The Lord has not given us the
gospel that we may go around mourning all the days of our lives. He has
not introduced this religion for this purpose at all. We came into the
world for certain purposes, and those purposes are not of a nature that
require much mourning or complaint. Where a person is always complaining
and feeling to find fault, the Spirit of the Lord is not very abundant
in his heart. If a person wants to enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, let
him, when something of a very disagreeable nature comes along, think how
worse the circumstance might be, or think of something worse that he
has experienced in the past. Always cultivate a spirit of gratitude. It
is actually the duty of every Latter-day Saint to cultivate a spirit of
gratitude.
</div>
</blockquote>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
We should enjoy our religion. No
religion has in it such prospects as has the religion of the Latter-day
Saints. Nothing was ever introduced to man equal to it in its grand and
glorious advantages. We ought to enjoy our religion to such an extent as
to be happy most all the time." (<em>The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow</em>, edited by Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1984], 62)</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">President Hugh B. Brown said:</span><i> </i><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span>“I would like to have you
smile because after all <b>we must keep a sense of humor whatever comes</b>. I
think of all the people in the world we should be the happiest. We have the
greatest and most joyous message in the world. I think when we get on the other
side; someone will meet us with a smile (unless we go to the wrong place and
then someone will grin), so let us be happy. <b>But let our happiness be
genuine—let it come from within”</b></span></i> <span>(<i>The Abundant Life</i> [1965], 83)</span>.</span></div>
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</div>
Ecclesiastes is written with the world's view in mind. Thus much of the writings are indicating that from the world's view and living as the world does there is not much hope. The main conclusion is short and sweet and as all conclusions should - comes at the end of the book!</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Ecclesiastes 1:14</div>
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All is vanity and vexation of spirit </div>
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Ecclesiastes 12:13 </div>
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Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: "Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man".</div>
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Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-10242265767241728132014-08-09T05:43:00.002-07:002014-08-09T05:56:07.590-07:00Old Testament Lesson 30: "Come to the House of the Lord"Re-store: 1. to bring back into existence or use; reestablish <br>
Today's lesson focuses on two righteous leaders who had the courage and strength to restore the temple and scriptures to the people. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIfcz_H_pjoMcdxHVDLlhLvaEKof6myx17NsU33kM-0s7Qd_rJAKPBFEwDMxUY9_tngcf_Jv3qLZBsqi2DG-k1RZ-h8xQSPCLdi3fcHEsgA1CSCvRiqB-RJwKc71AfvrEzf3AjzTq7SU/s640/blogger-image--1301547796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIfcz_H_pjoMcdxHVDLlhLvaEKof6myx17NsU33kM-0s7Qd_rJAKPBFEwDMxUY9_tngcf_Jv3qLZBsqi2DG-k1RZ-h8xQSPCLdi3fcHEsgA1CSCvRiqB-RJwKc71AfvrEzf3AjzTq7SU/s640/blogger-image--1301547796.jpg"></a></div><br>
<br>
2 Chronicles 29<br>
v.1-2 Hezekiah righteous Jewish king<br>
v.3 What did Hezekiah make a priority in his life and how do we know it was a priority?<br>
"in the first year of his reign, in the first month" he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them. How is our relationship with the Lord? Do we need to open the doors to Him? Do we need to repair our relationship with Him? Has our relationship been allowed to fall into a little disrepair?<br>
“Members of the Church today face great challenges, both temporal and
spiritual. Have we, on occasion, also ‘turned away [our] faces from the
habitation of the Lord . . . [and] shut up the doors . . . and put out
the lamps.’ Are we also ‘negligent’? Often so many pressures demand our
time and attention. However, considering the times and the forces
arrayed against our families, should we not follow Hezekiah's example
and ‘sanctify the house of the Lord . . . in the<em> first</em> year of the <em>first </em>month?’
(Emphasis added.)” (S. Michael Wilcox, House of Glory: Finding Personal
Meaning in the Temple [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1995], 62)<br>
<br>
v.16 How did Hezekiah mend the people's relationship with the Lord? Cleansed the inner part, brought out all uncleanness from within and it was put into the brook Kidron. Why is that final detail in there? Because it shows a complete and utter abandonment of the uncleanliness. The brook Kidron once crossed was considered to be where you have at that point left Jerusalem. Essentially if you got this far, you were not planning on turning around. Likewise, if you bring your unclean things here, you are not planning on bringing them back with you. Thus taking all that was unclean symbolized the commitment to a complete and full and permanent cleansing.<br>
v.17 We are told it took 8 days to cleanse the temple from within right up to the front porch. The people then took another 8 days of cleansing. What else might they have needed to cleanse other than the temple? Likewise, other than personal cleansing within, what else may we need to cleanse in and around our daily lives? In Hebrew culture, the number 8 symbolizes "new beginnings". That it took them two 8 day periods to fully cleanse again emphasizes their commitment to starting afresh with the Lord. What latter-day new beginning also has the number 8 associated with it? Baptism.<br>
v.20 In our previous studies we have seen how the righteous are always noted in scripture for rising early. Hezekiah is no exception.<br>
v.21-24 Part of the cleansing in former days is the sanctification through blood sacrifice. This practice was set up to foreshadow the ultimate and final, the last and ever-lasting, blood sacrifice, the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Goats were often used as symbolic sacrifices for our sins. Thus the term "scapegoat" originated wherein someone else took the punishment for someone else.<br>
v.24 "for all Israel" Why did Hezekiah make offerings on behalf of the Kingdom of Israel as well as his own kingdom of Judah? Was it just symbolic or did it have some practical use? Is this similar to our vicarious baptisms for the dead? <br>
v.36 "for the thing was done suddenly" How quickly can we change if we truly want to? What delays personal cleansing?<br>
<br>
2 Chronicles 30<br>
Hezekiah invites all of Israel and Judah to cleanse themselves and come to the temple. Some do accept but many reject the invitation with mocking and scorn. Those that do accept are not fully temple worthy but through the righteous desires of their hearts, the prayers of Hezekiah and the sanctification of the offerings, they earn the mercy and healing of the Lord. <br>
<br>
What was the result of Hezekiah's determination and priorities? The temple was restored. Many people repented and were healed. Their prayers were heard. <br>
<br>
Spencer J Condie said,<br>
"From King Hezekiah, as from King Benjamin (see Mosiah 2–5), we can learn
a very positive lesson on leadership: circumstances do not always need
to remain the same. Leaders can make a difference! <em>Faith in the Lord and high expectations</em> <em>can bring about a mighty change of heart among</em> an entire people." (“Some Scriptural Lessons on Leadership,” <em>Ensign</em>, May 1990, 27–28)<br>
<br>
Sadly the great majority of the northern kingdom who mocked the idea of temple attendance and ordinances providing them protection, were (just a short three years later) attacked by Assyria and within three years after that initial attack they were carried away captive. This is the beginning of the lost ten tribes. 2 Kings 18:9-12. Interestingly enough in 1841 Joseph Smith was told to issue a similar invitation to all the world and the saints in Doctrine and Covenants 124:2-4, 10-11, 27-28. How did that turn out?<br>
<br>
2 Chronicles 32<br>
Sennacherib, King of Assyrria decides he wants to invade and sack Jerusalem.<br>
v.3-8 What does Hezekiah do? cuts off anything that might give life to this invader of their sanctified lives. How can we cut off the oxygen or the water supply that feeds sin as it tries to invade our freshly sanctified lives? Notice Hezekiah does not rest on his sanctified laurels, he strengthens himself more. He rebuilds the wall higher and he builds a second wall of defence. He also prepares for a fight, adding more weapons. He organizes his people, appointing leaders and he inspires them, reminding them of who they ultimately look to for protection. How might we learn from this in our own homes and families?<br>
Who are the servants of the Lord? <br>
What is the heritage of the servants of the Lord? See 3 Nephi 22:17<br>
<br>
v.9-20 Did Sennacherib attack them in open battle? No. He could not the defences were too high. So how did he attack them? He himself didn't directly attack them. He sent his servants among them to weaken their faith. He wrote letters to the people to weaken their resolve and even spoke to those on the walls in their own language to frighten them into giving in.<br>
v.21 How did Hezekiah respond? Prayer. What was the result? How powerful can prayer be in our lives? see also 2 Kings 19:35<br>
<br>
2 Chronicles 34<br>
Hezekiah eventually dies, first his son Manasseh and then his grandson, Amon rule unrighteously. But then his great-grandson Josiah begins to reign at the age of 8 years old. Notice the symbolism of a new beginning. Josiah reigns in righteousness refusing to be turned.<br>
v.3 after 8 years of ruling he starts to find his voice and seeks the God of David.In the twelfth year, being 20 years old Josiah begins to purge the land once more of false gods and the high places and altars that housed them<br>
In his 26th year he takes the tithes and offerings that have been collected and uses it to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. As they gathered the tithes and offerings of the temple what else did they find?<br>
v.14 the book of the law of the Lord, as given by Moses.<br>
It condemns the people to death for forsaking the Lord. When Josiah consults the prophetess Huldah, she confirms that future generations will die as a result but that he will be preserved because of his faithfulness and his humility. Josiah might be tempted to retreat within his self-preserved bubble but instead what does he do?<br>
<br>
George Albert Smith remarked,<br>
I am not concerned whether or not you have the books of the great
libraries of the world in your home, provided you do have these books
[the scriptures]. Think of the millions of volumes that there are in our
own Congressional Library at Washington, in the British Library, and in
the libraries of other countries, millions of volumes—and yet all that
God has revealed and published to the children of men that is necessary
to prepare them for a place in the celestial kingdom is contained within
the covers of these sacred books. How many of us know what they
contain? I frequently go into homes where I see all the latest
magazines. I find the books that are advertised as best-sellers on the
bookshelves. If you were to throw them all away and retain only these
sacred scriptures, you wouldn't lose what the Lord has caused to be
written and made available for us all to enjoy. So, brethren and
sisters, among our other blessings let us not forget that the Lord has
made it possible for us to have, enjoy, and understand the scriptures
and to have his word that has been given down through the ages for the
salvation of his children. (<em>The Teachings of George Albert Smith</em>, edited by Robert McIntosh and Susan McIntosh [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], 52)<br>
<br>
v.29-33 Josiah commits the people to live the Law of the Lord. They do all the days of his life.<br>
<br>
Throughout this lesson, the temple's complete restoration to full usage and focus on the scriptures is hailed as the central component of people becoming sanctified and being able to draw upon the powers of heaven. Are those powers available to us today? How might we more fully restore the temple in our lives?<br>
<br>
President Howard W. Hunter encouraged:<br>
“Let us be a
temple-attending people. Attend the temple as frequently as personal
circumstances allow. Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your
children may see it. Teach them about the purposes of the house of the
Lord. Have them plan from their earliest years to go there and to remain
worthy of that blessing.<br>
“If proximity to a temple does not allow
frequent attendance, gather in the history of your family and prepare
the names for the sacred ordinances performed only in the temple. This
family research is essential to the work of the temples, and blessings
surely will come to those who do that work” (in Conference Report, Oct.
1994, 8; or <span class="emphasis">Ensign,</span> Nov. 1994, 8).<br>
<br>
When personal circumstances or proximity do not allow us to attend the temple regularly, what other way, according to President Hunter, can we show the Lord that our hearts are in the right place?<br>
<br>
"Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten
to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances
allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but let us also go for
the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety
which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls. The
temple is a place of beauty, it is a place of revelation, it is a place
of peace. It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It
should be holy unto us." (<em>The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter,</em> edited by Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], 239)<br>
<br>
Brigham Young once said,<br>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
If every one of the Latter day Saints
lived up to their privileges, they would not fear the world, and all
that they can no, any more than they fear that the cranes, that fly
croaking three quarters of a mile above them, will drop their eggs upon
them to dash their brains out. You might as well fear that event, as to
fear all the forces of hell, if the people were sanctified before the
Lord, and would do His will every day.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Are these ideas strange to you? Read and
learn how the Lord protected the children of Israel in former days,
even during their wickedness, and rebellion against Him.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Whenever a good man would say, "Cease
your wickedness, turn from your idols, and seek to the Lord," and they
hearkened to his counsel, then the Lord would fight their battles, and
kill their enemies by scores and hundreds of thousands. And on one
occasion the angel of the Lord slew one hundred and eighty-five thousand
of those who came against His people to destroy them, "and when they
arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." So
reads the Bible. The Lord fought their battles.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Again, Elisha's servant saw that there
was more for them than all who were against them; he saw that the sides
of the mountains were covered with "chariots of fire."</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
When the Lord commands those invisible
beings, shall I say, those who have had their resurrection? yes,
millions and millions more than the inhabitants of this earth, they can
fight your battles.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Now, since one angel could fight their
battles in former times, and overcome the enemies of the people of God,
whom shall we fear? Shall we fear those who can kill the body, and then
have no more that they can do? No, but we will fear Him who is able not
only to destroy the body, but has power to cast both soul and body into
hell fire. (<em>Journal of Discourses</em>, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, <a href="tel:1854-1886" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2">1854-1886</a>], 2: 255 - 256)</div>
<br></div>Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690361475426586749.post-45014202915672605632014-08-08T18:52:00.000-07:002014-08-08T18:52:16.508-07:00Old Testament Lesson 29Holden Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10246533815412054739noreply@blogger.com0