Sunday, March 21, 2010

Into the Promised Land

How do you feel when you stand on the verge of reaching a long-awaited goal? Are you happy, sad, or relieved that the journey is nearly over? Are you frightened of the tests and trials that still lie ahead, or do you view your future with courage and faith in God?  from CES Materials

Lesson 14: “Ye Shall Be a Peculiar Treasure unto Me”

Lesson 14: “Ye Shall Be a Peculiar Treasure unto Me”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 62
 Purpose
To encourage class members to partake of the Lord’s spiritual water and bread, sustain his chosen leaders, and obey his commandments so he can make of them a “holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).

Lesson Manual Materials for Lesson 14 

See this article from The Ensign that shows parallels between John 6 and the Exodus.

This is a "poster article"  from The Friend about gathering of the manna and the need to remember the Sabbath. It includes cutouts that could be used for a Family Home Evening.

David W. Ferrel, “The Lord Is among Us!,” Ensign, Feb 2002, 34

James E. Faust, “The Lord’s Day,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 33

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Honoring the Priesthood

"May I offer counsel of a general nature, first with comments about General Authorities. We recognize them as instruments in the hand of the Lord, yet realize that they are ordinary human beings. They require haircuts, laundry services, and occasional reminders just like anyone else. President Benson once shared with us a story to illustrate. He said:

" 'Orson F. Whitney . . . was a great man to concentrate. One day when he was traveling by train, he was so preoccupied that he did not notice the train pass the station where he was to get off. So he had to [be driven] back to where he should have been. Meanwhile the stake president waited and waited. . . . Finally when he decided that something had more than likely happened to Brother Whitney and he was not going to make it, they commenced the meeting. As Elder Whitney approached, he was greeted by the opening hymn, which was "Ye Simple Souls Who Stray." '

"We honor such a man because of his extraordinary calling. His official acts are valid on earth and in heaven."
--Russell M. Nelson, "Honoring the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 40


1 Nephi 17
 13 And I will also be your alight in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the bpromised land; and ye shall cknow that it is by me that ye are led. 

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Lesson Planning: 

Partake of the Lord’s spiritual water and bread
Sustain his chosen leaders
Obey his commandments
-- so he can make of us a “holy nation” 

How does what we learn today apply to our daily lives? 

Many of the people lacked faith, complaining to the Lord instead of turning to him. Nevertheless, the Lord provided water for their thirst and manna and quail for their hunger.

From the Topical Guide to the Scriptures:



1 Corinthians 10:4
  4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that aRock was Christ.

  25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the arod of iron, which my father had seen, was the bword of God, which cled to the fountain of dliving waters, or to the etree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never athirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water bspringing up into ceverlasting life.

  23 But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the amysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living bwater, cspringing up unto everlasting life.


 
In addition to satisfying the people’s hunger, what were some other purposes of sending manna?
·         a. It would show the Lord whether his people would obey him (Exodus 16:4, 16–31).
·         b. It would give the people daily reminders of the Lord’s power and love (Exodus 16:12).
·         c. It would teach the people that they do not live “by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
·         d. It would humble the people and help them receive salvation (Deuteronomy 8:16).