President Kimball on the example of Abraham
selections from the talk --
"The elect of God! A moment’s reflection ought to convince us that no sacrifice would be too great if a man and woman and their family could qualify to be the elect of God! These promises of great blessings are conditional, however; I know of none that are not—even the resurrection, for each of us had to qualify in the premortal existence to receive the blessing of an immortal body.
All blessings, then, are conditional upon faithfulness. One is ordained to the priesthood with a conditional promise; one is married and sealed in the temple on condition of his faithfulness. And so far as I know there is nothing—no blessing in the world—that anyone can receive except through faithfulness." . . .
"Even though his family had “turned from their righteousness” (Abr. 1:5) and followed the ways of idolatry, Abraham recognized the blessings in store for the faithful and sought earnestly to obey the commandments of God. He thereby qualified himself for godhood through obedience by doing “none other things than that which [he was] commanded.” (D&C 132:37.) Abraham’s obedience, and therefore his blessing, was such that the Lord himself was referred to throughout the scriptures as “the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.” (See, for example, Ex. 3:6, where the Lord so names himself.)" . . .
There are many examples of Abraham’s obedience to the Lord’s will. In Genesis we learn that God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male in his household. Upon receiving that commandment, Abraham did not say, “Yes, I will obey the Lord, but first I must move my sheep to another pasture, and mend my tents. I should be able to obey by the end of the week, or by the first of next week, at the latest.” But instead of so procrastinating his obedience, Abraham went out and complied “in the selfsame day.” (Gen. 17:26.)
A similar, but even more impressive, example is Abraham’s obedience to God’s command that he sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham could have put this abhorrent task aside or even chosen to ignore the commandment entirely, but instead he arose early the next morning and began the journey to the appointed place.
How often do Church members arise early in the morning to do the will of the Lord? How often do we say, “Yes, I will have home evening with my family, but the children are so young now; I will start when they are older”? How often do we say, “Yes, I will obey the commandment to store food and to help others, but just now I have neither the time nor the money to spare; I will obey later”? Oh, foolish people! While we procrastinate, the harvest will be over and we will not be saved. Now is the time to follow Abraham’s example; now is the time to repent; now is the time for prompt obedience to God’s will.
Abraham is a model for us in other important ways. For example, Abraham’s faithfulness in all things qualified him to receive revelation for his family; indeed, he often spoke with the Lord “face to face.” (Abr. 3:11.) The blessing of revelation is one that all should seek for. Righteous men and women find that they have the spirit of revelation to direct their families and to aid them in their other responsibilities. But, like Abraham, we must seek to qualify for such revelation by 1. setting our lives in order and by 2. becoming acquainted with the Lord through frequent and regular conversations with him. . . .
Such peace comes only through integrity. When we make a covenant or agreement with God, we must keep it at whatever cost. Let us not be like the student who agrees to live by certain standards of conduct and who then breaks his oath and tries to see how long he can get away with his deceit. Let us not be like the missionary who agrees to serve the Lord for two years, then wastes his time with laziness and rationalization. Let us not be like the Church member who partakes of the sacrament in the morning, then defiles the Sabbath that afternoon by cleaning the house or by watching television or by choosing an afternoon of sleep over an afternoon of service. Instead, let us have integrity like Abraham did, observing with all soberness the solemn contracts we have made with God. . . .
Act now, before it is too late. Now is the time to chart the course of action you will follow tomorrow and next week and next year. Now is the time to commit yourself to be as Abraham, to follow the Lord, to refuse to procrastinate, to repent of those sins you have committed, to begin to keep those commandments you have been failing to live. Determine now to attend priesthood and sacrament meetings every Sabbath, pay your tithing faithfully, sustain in very deed the General Authorities of the Church, support the programs of the Church, visit the temple often (or whenever possible when one is not near), give service in the organizations, and keep your actions constructive, your attitudes wholesome.
Remember that Abraham sought for his appointment to the priesthood. He did not wait for God to come to him; he sought diligently through prayer and obedient living to learn the will of God. Here then, is the challenge the Lord gives every returned missionary, every single man and woman, every father and mother in the Church: “Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham.” (D&C 132:32.)
As we follow Abraham’s example, we will grow from grace to grace, we will find greater happiness and peace and rest, we will find favor with God and with man. As we follow his example, we will confirm upon ourselves and our families joy and fulfillment in this life and for all eternity.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Abrahamic Covenant
from the Doctrines of the Gospel Manual: http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/doc-gosp/manualindex.asp Chapter 21
B. God reestablished His covenant with Israel in mortality.
■ “Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation); then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase; finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. (Abra. 2:6–11; D. & C. 132:29–50.) Included in the divine promises to Abraham was the assurance that Christ would come through his lineage, and the assurance that Abraham’s posterity would receive certain choice, promised lands as an eternal inheritance. (Abra. 2; Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3.)
“All of these promises lumped together are called the Abrahamic covenant” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 13).
■ “When the Lord called Abraham out of Ur, the land of his fathers, he made certain covenants with him because of his faithfulness. One promise was that through him and his seed after him all nations of the earth should be blessed. This blessing is accomplished in several ways.
“1. Through Jesus Christ who came through the lineage of Abraham;
“2. Through the priesthood which was conferred upon Abraham and his descendants;
“3. Through the scattering of Israel among all nations by which the blood of Israel was sprinkled among the nations, and thus the nations partake of the leaven of righteousness, on condition of their repentance, and are entitled to the promises made to the children of Abraham; and
“4. In the fact that the Lord covenanted with Abraham that after his time all who embraced the gospel should be called by his name, or, should be numbered among his seed, and should receive the Holy Ghost” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:246).
■ “The essence of the covenant thus made with Abraham was the ancient, everlasting one, that those who are obedient to God’s law shall inherit the blessings of the Lord. Because Jesus the Christ replaced the lesser law of Israel by the higher one, we now speak, for the sake of distinction, of the ‘new and everlasting covenant.’ The word ‘new’ seems to have a sense of ‘restored,’ as in the words of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith, ‘. . . this is a new and everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning’ [D&C 22:1].
“This covenant with Abraham was also a call to leadership. Therefore, it has been interpreted to mean that Abraham and his descendants were chosen to conserve in purity and to advance on earth the eternal plan for human salvation. Consequently, the seed of Abraham are often spoken of as the chosen or covenant people” (John A. Widtsoe, “Why Are We Called a Covenant People?” Improvement Era, June 1945, 349; see also “A Covenant People,” New Era, Feb. 1976, 45).
■ “Nor is this covenant confined to mortal life. It extends beyond the grave and into the celestial kingdom. The children of Abraham, if they will keep the covenant as they receive it in the house of the Lord, shall, as Abraham their father, continue on through all eternity to increase, and there shall be no end to their posterity. In this way the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are extended to them, and they become partakers to the fullest extent. For there is to be a continuation of the ‘seeds forever’ among those who receive exaltation in the kingdom of God. This is the promise, and there shall come through Abraham kings and priests and rulers, not only on this earth but in the heavens, and so shall it be worlds without end” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, 96).
C. Covenant Israel today means anyone who covenants to accept and live the gospel.
B. God reestablished His covenant with Israel in mortality.
■ “Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation); then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase; finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. (Abra. 2:6–11; D. & C. 132:29–50.) Included in the divine promises to Abraham was the assurance that Christ would come through his lineage, and the assurance that Abraham’s posterity would receive certain choice, promised lands as an eternal inheritance. (Abra. 2; Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3.)
“All of these promises lumped together are called the Abrahamic covenant” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 13).
■ “When the Lord called Abraham out of Ur, the land of his fathers, he made certain covenants with him because of his faithfulness. One promise was that through him and his seed after him all nations of the earth should be blessed. This blessing is accomplished in several ways.
“1. Through Jesus Christ who came through the lineage of Abraham;
“2. Through the priesthood which was conferred upon Abraham and his descendants;
“3. Through the scattering of Israel among all nations by which the blood of Israel was sprinkled among the nations, and thus the nations partake of the leaven of righteousness, on condition of their repentance, and are entitled to the promises made to the children of Abraham; and
“4. In the fact that the Lord covenanted with Abraham that after his time all who embraced the gospel should be called by his name, or, should be numbered among his seed, and should receive the Holy Ghost” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:246).
■ “The essence of the covenant thus made with Abraham was the ancient, everlasting one, that those who are obedient to God’s law shall inherit the blessings of the Lord. Because Jesus the Christ replaced the lesser law of Israel by the higher one, we now speak, for the sake of distinction, of the ‘new and everlasting covenant.’ The word ‘new’ seems to have a sense of ‘restored,’ as in the words of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith, ‘. . . this is a new and everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning’ [D&C 22:1].
“This covenant with Abraham was also a call to leadership. Therefore, it has been interpreted to mean that Abraham and his descendants were chosen to conserve in purity and to advance on earth the eternal plan for human salvation. Consequently, the seed of Abraham are often spoken of as the chosen or covenant people” (John A. Widtsoe, “Why Are We Called a Covenant People?” Improvement Era, June 1945, 349; see also “A Covenant People,” New Era, Feb. 1976, 45).
■ “Nor is this covenant confined to mortal life. It extends beyond the grave and into the celestial kingdom. The children of Abraham, if they will keep the covenant as they receive it in the house of the Lord, shall, as Abraham their father, continue on through all eternity to increase, and there shall be no end to their posterity. In this way the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are extended to them, and they become partakers to the fullest extent. For there is to be a continuation of the ‘seeds forever’ among those who receive exaltation in the kingdom of God. This is the promise, and there shall come through Abraham kings and priests and rulers, not only on this earth but in the heavens, and so shall it be worlds without end” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, 96).
C. Covenant Israel today means anyone who covenants to accept and live the gospel.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Of Abraham and Stars
Saturday - February 17, 2007 10:28 PM
Mom, I thought you (and Orville and Grandpa, and everyone else who I
share this with) might be interested in knowing that our dinner-fireside
tonight was with a Brother Wilson (can't remember his first name), who
is the project manager for the Spitzer Telescope (one of the "four"
which include Hubble, Chandra, and another one) at JPL (Jet Propulsion
Laboratory - division of NASA's unmanned space program in Pasadena,
Calif.). He was part of the team which sent the 1976 Viking out that
eventually landed on Mars. His wife explained how they and the families
of the scientists were invited to an auditorium to view the first
downloaded images of Viking, and the first pictures of another planet's
surface, and how mind-boggling and spiritual that was and felt. They
were the FiRST in the world to see those pictures of Mars, and now they
are the first seeing what I explain below. Someone in our ward knows him
and/or his wife and he was invited to come. There were a LOT of people
there. It was NEAT, to say the least....
Find MUCH INFO AT:
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/mediaimages/index.shtml
Also See attachment for a neat picture of "The Hunter"
1. He explained to us how Spitzer works with infrared light, not like
Hubble which shows us pictures which we can see visually
2. He and his team have had to "sell" the telescope to NASA and he
showed us how he convinced them by using Orion and the tip of its sword.
Apparently, Hubble could only 'see" darkness there, but with infrared
they were able to see many (tens, hundreds, or thousands, I can't
remember now) of stars never before known to exist. Spitzer (launched in
2003) has shown NASA millions of stars which Hubble showed as being
"dark" or "black' spots when they download its images - those very spots
have thousands (probably more) of stars (maybe that was galaxies, I
can't remember!) which have only been detected through infrared rays.
3. He showed us pictures (with his laptop and a projector) that most
people have never seen and said they were exclusives! They were just
plain amazing. He caused them to have animation, and it was a visual
feast. He would constantly compare visuals from Hubble with those of
Spitzer and show how much more they were able to see that they had
thought wasn't even there. He mentioned there is NO wasted or unused
space in the universe. It is in a constant creative state....
4. Highlight: besides the pictures, he discussed how with Spitzer
they've discovered dust rings around more than half of the new stars
they're discovering. Those "rings" are composed of hydrocarbons,
arsenic, carbon dioxide, etc., key elements in the composition of
PLANETS.
5. They (or another branch of NASA) will be sending in 2008 and 2012
telescopes much bigger than Spritzer with a much greater capacity!!
These will be able to "peek" into the star matter and "debris" to find
the planets or objects that are there.
6. He said much more.... He mentioned that in the Andromeda Nebula
Spritzer showed that there appeared to be a disturbance in one or two of
its "rings" (like those of the Milky Way). Apparently, another MUCH
SMALLER GALAXY HAD COLLIDED WITH IT AND AS THE TWO GALAXIES COLLIDED
CLUSTERS OF STARS WERE BEING CREATED. The scientists could not explain
whether that is a usual phenomenon or not, but they are currently
studying this.
A little info about Spritzer(americanscientist.org): The Spritzer Space
Telescope, NASA's newest orbiting eye, used its unique ability to see
through gas and dust to spy evidence of the youngest planet ever
observed, a doozy of a first discovery. Astronomers believe the gaseous
planet Spritzer saw may be less than one million years old, meaning
"star and planet formation is a very active process in our galaxy," said
lead researcher Edward Churchwell of the University of Wisconsin.
Launched in August, Spritzer follows Earth in orbit around the Sun,
lagging some 5.4 million miles behind. Supercold tools allow it to
reveal the faint infrared heat put out by objects otherwise obscured by
bands of dust and gas.
Spritzer peered into two separate regions rich with young stars and
found in both conditions ripe for the formation of young planets. Within
the constellation Taurus, Spritzer studied the one-million-year-old star
CoKu Tau 4 and found a void in the space dust surrounding it. Because of
the sharpness of the hole in the dust, astronomers believe it to have
been swept clear by a young planet. Elsewhere in Taurus, Spritzer found
evidence of icy water, methanol and carbon dioxide coating the particles
of dust in the planet-forming bands surrounding young stars.
I hope this sounds as interesting to you as it WAS to us. We really
enjoyed the fireside and that this couple took the time to fly out here
and share their thoughts and work with us.
He mentioned the book of Abraham and the "worlds without number" and as innumerable as the sands of the sea....
He discussed Elder Maxwell's Nov. 2003 Ensign article:
Elder Maxwell:
The volume of resulting revelations and translations is enormous, underscoring the words “choice seer.” But it isn’t just the sheer volume of what Joseph received which is now being shared with mankind; it is also the existence of “stunners” in the midst of such abundance.
Through multiple revelations and translations, for example, came a description of a universe far, far exceeding the astrophysics of the 1830s, a cosmos containing “worlds without number” and advising us further that the “inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters [of] God” (Moses 1:33; D&C 76:24).
Anciently, the vastness of Abraham’s eventual posterity was compared to the sand of the sea, a staggering promise (see Gen. 22:17). The Restoration’s revelations and translations accommodate a vast universe; thus it is no surprise to us that scientists’ latest estimate of the number of stars in the universe is approximately 70 sextillion—“more stars in the sky,” scientists say, “than there are grains of sand in every beach and desert on Earth” (Allison M. Heinrichs, “The Stellar Census: 70 Sextillion,” Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2003; see also Carl Sagan, Cosmos [1980], 196).
**Brother Wilson concluded that even though the Lord understands and knows all of these things, he knows each of us (teeny tiny us!) by name and is intimately interested in us! What a testimony....
So interesting!!
Love, Wayne
Mom, I thought you (and Orville and Grandpa, and everyone else who I
share this with) might be interested in knowing that our dinner-fireside
tonight was with a Brother Wilson (can't remember his first name), who
is the project manager for the Spitzer Telescope (one of the "four"
which include Hubble, Chandra, and another one) at JPL (Jet Propulsion
Laboratory - division of NASA's unmanned space program in Pasadena,
Calif.). He was part of the team which sent the 1976 Viking out that
eventually landed on Mars. His wife explained how they and the families
of the scientists were invited to an auditorium to view the first
downloaded images of Viking, and the first pictures of another planet's
surface, and how mind-boggling and spiritual that was and felt. They
were the FiRST in the world to see those pictures of Mars, and now they
are the first seeing what I explain below. Someone in our ward knows him
and/or his wife and he was invited to come. There were a LOT of people
there. It was NEAT, to say the least....
Find MUCH INFO AT:
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/mediaimages/index.shtml
Also See attachment for a neat picture of "The Hunter"
1. He explained to us how Spitzer works with infrared light, not like
Hubble which shows us pictures which we can see visually
2. He and his team have had to "sell" the telescope to NASA and he
showed us how he convinced them by using Orion and the tip of its sword.
Apparently, Hubble could only 'see" darkness there, but with infrared
they were able to see many (tens, hundreds, or thousands, I can't
remember now) of stars never before known to exist. Spitzer (launched in
2003) has shown NASA millions of stars which Hubble showed as being
"dark" or "black' spots when they download its images - those very spots
have thousands (probably more) of stars (maybe that was galaxies, I
can't remember!) which have only been detected through infrared rays.
3. He showed us pictures (with his laptop and a projector) that most
people have never seen and said they were exclusives! They were just
plain amazing. He caused them to have animation, and it was a visual
feast. He would constantly compare visuals from Hubble with those of
Spitzer and show how much more they were able to see that they had
thought wasn't even there. He mentioned there is NO wasted or unused
space in the universe. It is in a constant creative state....
4. Highlight: besides the pictures, he discussed how with Spitzer
they've discovered dust rings around more than half of the new stars
they're discovering. Those "rings" are composed of hydrocarbons,
arsenic, carbon dioxide, etc., key elements in the composition of
PLANETS.
5. They (or another branch of NASA) will be sending in 2008 and 2012
telescopes much bigger than Spritzer with a much greater capacity!!
These will be able to "peek" into the star matter and "debris" to find
the planets or objects that are there.
6. He said much more.... He mentioned that in the Andromeda Nebula
Spritzer showed that there appeared to be a disturbance in one or two of
its "rings" (like those of the Milky Way). Apparently, another MUCH
SMALLER GALAXY HAD COLLIDED WITH IT AND AS THE TWO GALAXIES COLLIDED
CLUSTERS OF STARS WERE BEING CREATED. The scientists could not explain
whether that is a usual phenomenon or not, but they are currently
studying this.
A little info about Spritzer(americanscientist.org): The Spritzer Space
Telescope, NASA's newest orbiting eye, used its unique ability to see
through gas and dust to spy evidence of the youngest planet ever
observed, a doozy of a first discovery. Astronomers believe the gaseous
planet Spritzer saw may be less than one million years old, meaning
"star and planet formation is a very active process in our galaxy," said
lead researcher Edward Churchwell of the University of Wisconsin.
Launched in August, Spritzer follows Earth in orbit around the Sun,
lagging some 5.4 million miles behind. Supercold tools allow it to
reveal the faint infrared heat put out by objects otherwise obscured by
bands of dust and gas.
Spritzer peered into two separate regions rich with young stars and
found in both conditions ripe for the formation of young planets. Within
the constellation Taurus, Spritzer studied the one-million-year-old star
CoKu Tau 4 and found a void in the space dust surrounding it. Because of
the sharpness of the hole in the dust, astronomers believe it to have
been swept clear by a young planet. Elsewhere in Taurus, Spritzer found
evidence of icy water, methanol and carbon dioxide coating the particles
of dust in the planet-forming bands surrounding young stars.
I hope this sounds as interesting to you as it WAS to us. We really
enjoyed the fireside and that this couple took the time to fly out here
and share their thoughts and work with us.
He mentioned the book of Abraham and the "worlds without number" and as innumerable as the sands of the sea....
He discussed Elder Maxwell's Nov. 2003 Ensign article:
Elder Maxwell:
The volume of resulting revelations and translations is enormous, underscoring the words “choice seer.” But it isn’t just the sheer volume of what Joseph received which is now being shared with mankind; it is also the existence of “stunners” in the midst of such abundance.
Through multiple revelations and translations, for example, came a description of a universe far, far exceeding the astrophysics of the 1830s, a cosmos containing “worlds without number” and advising us further that the “inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters [of] God” (Moses 1:33; D&C 76:24).
Anciently, the vastness of Abraham’s eventual posterity was compared to the sand of the sea, a staggering promise (see Gen. 22:17). The Restoration’s revelations and translations accommodate a vast universe; thus it is no surprise to us that scientists’ latest estimate of the number of stars in the universe is approximately 70 sextillion—“more stars in the sky,” scientists say, “than there are grains of sand in every beach and desert on Earth” (Allison M. Heinrichs, “The Stellar Census: 70 Sextillion,” Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2003; see also Carl Sagan, Cosmos [1980], 196).
**Brother Wilson concluded that even though the Lord understands and knows all of these things, he knows each of us (teeny tiny us!) by name and is intimately interested in us! What a testimony....
So interesting!!
Love, Wayne
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Lesson 8: Living Righteously in a Wicked World
Lesson 8: Living Righteously in a Wicked World
Mosiah 13:33
33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even aall the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?
“And it came to pass, that Abram looked forth and saw the days of the Son of Man, and was glad, and his soul found rest, and he believed in the Lord; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness.” (JST, Genesis 15:9–12.)
Abraham provides an example of one who had great wealth (see Genesis 13:2) and yet was a man of great faith and righteousness. The incident between him and Lot provides an excellent insight into Abraham’s Christlike nature. By all rights Lot should have insisted that Abraham choose first. Lot had been nurtured and protected by Abraham, and Abraham was the patriarch of the clan. Abraham could have taken his rights and given Lot what was left. Instead, his concern was only that “there be no strife” between them, so he gave Lot first choice (v. 8; see also vv. 9–10). Lot seems to have chosen the best land—the well-watered plains of Jordan—and yet there is not a trace of resentment in Abraham. In fact, in the next few chapters is recorded Abraham’s intervention to save Lot’s life. Here was a man for whom principles came first and material things second. It is not surprising that the Lord should renew the ancient covenant with him and make him father of the faithful.
In the Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 18:23 states definitely that “the angels . . . were holy men, and were sent forth after the order of God.”
“Look not back to Sodom and the wealth and luxury you are leaving. Stay not in the burning house, in the hope of salvaging your treasures, lest the flame destroy you; but flee, flee to the mountains.
“Seek temporal things and lose eternal life; sacrifice the things of this life and gain eternal life.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:645.)
The implication is that Lot’s wife started back to Sodom, perhaps to save some possessions, and was caught in the destruction.
In the Doctrine and Covenants is a scripture that uses the same terminology as Genesis 19:26. After warning the Saints to flee spiritual Babylon, which is wickedness, the Lord says, “He that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him” (D&C 133:15; emphasis added). Again, the implication is that of a return to wickedness.
Most scholars agree that the most probable site of Sodom is now covered by the southern part of the Dead Sea, a body of water with a high salt content. If Lot’s wife returned to Sodom, she would have been caught in the destruction. Her becoming a pillar of salt could be a figurative way of expressing this outcome.
But whatever it was that happened to Lot’s wife, it is clear that she perished.
Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual Lesson Materials
http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/pgp/manualindex.asp Pearl of Great Price Manual on Abraham
http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/doc-gosp/manualindex.asp The Foreordination of Covenant Israel and Their Responsibilities
http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/ot-in-1/manualindex.asp
Primary Lesson Abraham and Lot
Talk by Elder Faust: "What's in it for Me?"
Seminary lesson on Abraham
President Kimball on the example of Abraham
Mosiah 13:33
33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even aall the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?
“And it came to pass, that Abram looked forth and saw the days of the Son of Man, and was glad, and his soul found rest, and he believed in the Lord; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness.” (JST, Genesis 15:9–12.)
(5-6) Genesis 13:1–13. Abraham Was Very Rich
The scriptures warn of the dangers of wealth so often that occasionally some people assume that wealth in and of itself is evil and that all wealthy people are automatically wicked. Without question, the temptation to set one’s heart upon the things of the world is one to which many people succumb. But Paul taught that the “love of money is the root of all evil,” not the money itself (1 Timothy 6:10; emphasis added).Abraham provides an example of one who had great wealth (see Genesis 13:2) and yet was a man of great faith and righteousness. The incident between him and Lot provides an excellent insight into Abraham’s Christlike nature. By all rights Lot should have insisted that Abraham choose first. Lot had been nurtured and protected by Abraham, and Abraham was the patriarch of the clan. Abraham could have taken his rights and given Lot what was left. Instead, his concern was only that “there be no strife” between them, so he gave Lot first choice (v. 8; see also vv. 9–10). Lot seems to have chosen the best land—the well-watered plains of Jordan—and yet there is not a trace of resentment in Abraham. In fact, in the next few chapters is recorded Abraham’s intervention to save Lot’s life. Here was a man for whom principles came first and material things second. It is not surprising that the Lord should renew the ancient covenant with him and make him father of the faithful.
(6-2) Genesis 18:1–2. Who Visited with Abraham?
“We are not justified in teaching that our Heavenly Father, with other heavenly persons, came down, dusty and weary, and ate with Abraham. This is not taught in the 18th chapter of Genesis. The first verse of that chapter should read as follows: ‘And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre.’ That is a complete thought. The second part of this paragraph has nothing to do with the Lord’s appearing to Abraham . . . : ‘And he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him.’ These three men were mortals. They had bodies and were able to eat, to bathe, and sit and rest from their weariness. Not one of these three was the Lord.” (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:16.)In the Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 18:23 states definitely that “the angels . . . were holy men, and were sent forth after the order of God.”
(6-4) Genesis 18:16–33. The Power of a Righteous Life
It is not uncommon to hear a person say, “Can one person really make a difference?” The answer is a definite yes. Alma told the people of Ammonihah that “if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction” (Alma 10:22). He then warned them, “If ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand” (Alma 10:23). Like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, the people of Ammonihah refused to repent or recognize that the few righteous among them were their only protection, so they killed them and cast them out (see Alma 14:9–11; 15:1). Therefore, a short time later the entire city was destroyed (see Alma 16:1–3, 9–10). The Lord also indicated that the United States would bring judgments upon itself for driving out the Saints (see D&C 136:34–36).(6-8) Genesis 19:26. Lot’s Wife and the Pillar of Salt
The account of Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt has puzzled many commentators. Was this event a literal thing, or was it figurative? There are two indications in the scriptures that the phrase “looked back” was an idiomatic way of saying “she turned back” or “returned to Sodom.” When warning the disciples of the destruction which was going to come upon Jerusalem, the Savior warned them to flee without delay, not even going into the house to get their possessions. Jesus said, “And he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:31–32; emphasis added). He then admonished them that he who seeks to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life will find it. Elder Bruce R. McConkie paraphrased those verses in these words:“Look not back to Sodom and the wealth and luxury you are leaving. Stay not in the burning house, in the hope of salvaging your treasures, lest the flame destroy you; but flee, flee to the mountains.
“Seek temporal things and lose eternal life; sacrifice the things of this life and gain eternal life.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:645.)
The implication is that Lot’s wife started back to Sodom, perhaps to save some possessions, and was caught in the destruction.
In the Doctrine and Covenants is a scripture that uses the same terminology as Genesis 19:26. After warning the Saints to flee spiritual Babylon, which is wickedness, the Lord says, “He that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him” (D&C 133:15; emphasis added). Again, the implication is that of a return to wickedness.
Most scholars agree that the most probable site of Sodom is now covered by the southern part of the Dead Sea, a body of water with a high salt content. If Lot’s wife returned to Sodom, she would have been caught in the destruction. Her becoming a pillar of salt could be a figurative way of expressing this outcome.
But whatever it was that happened to Lot’s wife, it is clear that she perished.
(6-13) Genesis 23:1–2. The Greatness of Sarah
It is often noted that Abraham is the father of the faithful and a tremendous example of faith and righteousness. Yet Sarah stood by his side throughout his life, not often in the limelight, but always as a great example of womanhood, faith, and righteousness. The Doctrine and Covenants speaks of the righteous as being the seed of Abraham (see D&C 84:34), but Peter also suggested that righteous women can be called the daughters of Sarah (see 1 Peter 3:1–6, especially v. 6).Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual Lesson Materials
http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/pgp/manualindex.asp Pearl of Great Price Manual on Abraham
http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/doc-gosp/manualindex.asp The Foreordination of Covenant Israel and Their Responsibilities
http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/ot-in-1/manualindex.asp
Primary Lesson Abraham and Lot
Talk by Elder Faust: "What's in it for Me?"
Seminary lesson on Abraham
President Kimball on the example of Abraham
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Flood -- Questions, Lesson 6
Principle: Work (hard work)
Why clean and unclean animals? Yes, seven of each that would be food and sacrifice, but why were some clean and some unclean?
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Noah's day: Marrying, Giving in Marriage, etc. Our Day: Marrying, Giving in Marriage, etc.
Noah's day: The Gospel is taught Our Day: The Gospel is taught
Warnings are given.
Some heed the warnings though they are called foolish.
Others do not.
Many perish in a flood (of water) (of filth)
Family comes through.
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What was the world like at the time of Noah?
(Enoch's City translated not so long before.) 2900 B.C. ?
Flood 2500 B.C.?
What was being taught?
From Wayne 2007 -
The Jaredite Barges
"The oldest accounts of the ark of Noah, the Sumerian ones, describe it as a 'magur boat,' peaked at the ends, completely covered but for a door, without sails, and completely covered by the waters from time to time, as men and animals rode safe within."34
"The remarkable thing about Jared's boats was their illumination. . . . The Rabbis tell of a mysterious Zohar that illuminated the ark, but for further instruction we must go to much older sources: the Pyrophilus is traced back to the Jalakanta stone of India, which shines in the dark and enables its owner to pass unharmed beneath the waters; this in turn has been traced back through classical and Oriental sources to the Gilgamesh Epic, where Alexander's wonderful Pyrophilus stone turns up as the Plant of Life in the possession of the Babylonian Noah."35
The Flood -- Purpose and Principles, Lesson 6
Purpose
To help class members desire to live worthily and avoid the evils of the world.Principles:
We need to listen to and obey the Lord. (in the small things as well as the large -- plaque)
We can become heirs of rightnessness.
We need to follow and focus on Jesus Christ.
This included being willing to work.
Listening, Obedience, becoming heirs of righteousness, focusing on Jesus Christ,
Moses 8:24 aBelieve and repent of your sins and be bbaptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, that ye may have all things made cmanifest;
Satan is real and seeks to make us miserable
Brother Ladd: According to the Book of Mormon, the devil “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Ne. 2:27).
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Hebrews 11:7
7 By faith aNoah, being bwarned of God of things not seen as yet, cmoved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the drighteousness which is by faith.
7a
Gen. 6: 22.
Commentary: We have been warned of things not seen as yet. Are we preparing? Are we becoming heirs of righteousness?
I wonder about "moved with fear." According to a footnote in the Bible, the Greek word meant "being cautious, reverent."
As we become heirs, we open the way for our children to become heirs
What does it mean to be an heir of righteousness?
Psalm 36
6 Thy arighteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their atrust under the shadow of thy wings.
Proverbs 10
2 aTreasures of wickedness profit nothing: but brighteousness delivereth from death.
Proverbs 12
28 In the way of arighteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Proverbs 21
21 He that followeth after arighteousness and mercy findeth blife, righteousness, and honour.
Isaiah 45
create bevil: I the Lord do all these things.
8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down arighteousness: let the earth open, and let bthem bring forth csalvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.
(Contrast with the flood and its destruction when the skies poured down and the earth opened up.)
(Contrast with the flood and its destruction when the skies poured down and the earth opened up.)
Jeremiah 23
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell asafely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR bRIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 33
15 ¶ In those days, and at that time, will I cause the aBranch of righteousness to grow up unto bDavid; and he shall cexecute judgment and righteousness in the dland.
Matthew 6 -- See Nephi 13:33
33 aBut bseek ye first the ckingdom of God, and his drighteousness; and all these ethings shall be fadded unto you.
How do we show thanks to the Lord?
The Flood and Babel
33 aBut bseek ye first the ckingdom of God, and his drighteousness; and all these ethings shall be fadded unto you.
How do we show thanks to the Lord?
The Flood and Babel
The Flood | The Tower of Babel | |
Satan is real and seeks to make us miserable | ||
We need to listen to and obey the Lord. | ||
We and our children can become heirs of righteousness. | Hebrews 11:7 Jeremiah 23:6 Lord of Righteousness Jeremiah 33:15 branch of righteousness | |
We need to follow and focus on Jesus Christ. | ||
We should show gratitude to the Lord. |
Monday, February 1, 2010
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