"The greatest single lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right."
--President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2005, 22
Lesson 16: “I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 73 Lesson Manual Materials
--President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2005, 22
Lesson 16: “I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 73 Lesson Manual Materials
Purpose: To encourage class members to submit to God’s will without hesitation.
Bible Dictionary for Balaam
Isaiah 20: 13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people adraw near me with their bmouth, and with their lips do chonour me, but have dremoved their eheart far from me, and their ffear toward me is taught by the gprecept of men:
D&C 95: 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I alove I also chasten that their sins may be bforgiven, for with the cchastisement I prepare a way for their ddeliverance in all things out of etemptation, and I have loved you—
Revelations 2: 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of aBalaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit bfornication.
- Elder Bruce R. McConkie said:
- “What a story this is! Here is a prophet of God who is firmly committed to declare only what the Lord of heaven directs. There does not seem to be the slightest doubt in his mind about the course he should pursue. He represents the Lord, and neither a house full of gold and silver nor high honors offered by the king can sway him from his determined course. …
- “But greed for wealth and lust for honor beckon him. How marvelous it would be [for him] to be rich and powerful. … Perhaps the Lord would let him compromise his standards and have some worldly prosperity and power. … I wonder how often some of us get our direction from the Church and then, Balaam-like, plead for some worldly rewards. …
- “Balaam, … inspired and mighty as he once was, lost his soul in the end because he set his heart on the things of this world rather than the riches of eternity” (“The Story of a Prophet’s Madness,” New Era, Apr. 1972, 7).
Conclusion
Testify that if Balaam had humbly submitted to God’s will, much sin and suffering would have been avoided for himself and for Israel. Encourage class members to be steadfast rather than stubborn—to seek and follow the Lord’s will without trying to get around it or change it.
Bruce R. McConkie, “The Story of a Prophet’s Madness,” New Era, Apr 1972, 4
H. Ross Workman, “Breaking the Chains of Sin,” Ensign, Jul 2006, 52–55
Lynette H. Kelley, “Loving the Old Testament throughout My Life,” Ensign, Jan 1990, 15
Neal A. Maxwell, “The Tugs and Pulls of the World,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 35–37
Dallin H. Oaks, “Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct 1994, 11
from Grant Underwood, “The Prophet Joseph Smith’s Use of the Old Testament,” Ensign, Aug 2002, 30
He linked episodes of apostasy during Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness to disaffections among his associates. In the aftermath of the extermination order issued by Governor Boggs to expel the Saints from Missouri, Joseph wrote that the dissenters who aided and abetted the mobbers, “like Balaam being greedy for a reward, sold us into the hands of those who loved them, for the world loves his own.” 4 Singling out W. W. Phelps, the Prophet continued: “This poor man who professes to be much of a prophet has no other dumb ass to ride but David Whitmer to forbid his madness when he goes up to curse Israel. And this ass not being of the same kind of Balaam’s, therefore the angel notwithstanding appeared unto him. Yet he could not penetrate his understanding sufficiently, so but what he brays out cursings instead of blessings.” 5 Referring to all apostates, he also remarked, “We classify them in the error of Balaam and in the gainsaying of Core [Korah].” 6
See this link for part of the story in Legos!
http://www.wga.hu/art/r/rembran/painting/biblic1/balaam.jpg
