INTRODUCTION
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that our salvation is made possible because of “three divine events—the three pillars of eternity.
HOW LUCIFER BECAME THE DEVIL - Moses 4:1-6
...here am I send me
What question was posed in the premortal council?
Elder Neal A. Maxwell said that it is “extremely important to get straight what happened in that premortal council. It was not an unstructured meeting, nor was it a discussion between plans, nor an idea-producing session, as to how to formulate the plan for salvation and carry it out. Our Father’s plan was known, and the actual question put was whom the Father should send to carry out the plan.
What was Satan attempting to do?
What made His plan wrong?
How did he make it seem like a good plan?
What can we take away from this knowledge?
President Joseph F. Smith taught: “Let it not be forgotten that the evil one has great power in the earth, and that by every possible means he seeks to darken the minds of men and then offers them falsehood and deception in the guise of truth. Satan is a skillful imitator, and as genuine gospel truth is given the world in ever-increasing abundance, so he spreads the counterfeit coin of false doctrine. Beware of his spurious currency, it will purchase for you nothing but disappointment, misery and spiritual death”.
President Brigham Young said: “Every person who desires and strives to be a Saint is closely watched by fallen spirits that came here when Lucifur fell, and by the spirits of wicked persons who have been here in tabernacles and departed from them. … Those spirits are never idle; they are watching every person who wishes to do right, and are continually prompting them to do wrong
...he became Satan
see also Isaiah 14:12 and D&C 76:25–27
In the premortal existence, Satan was called “Lucifer,” which means “the Shining One” or “Lightbringer.” He was a “son of the morning” and had potential to do much good. But Lucifer sought to obtain the throne, honor, power, and glory of Heavenly Father.
Why did the heavens weep?
Have you known anyone that has left the church?
How did it affect you?
How do we ensure that this doesn't happen to us?
...he sought to beguile Eve
...he knew not the mind of God
What does the account of the Fall teach us about Satan’s ability to frustrate the purposes of God?
Satan's plan was to thwart the Lord's plan by getting Eve to partake of the fruit, yet it furthered the purposes of the Creator and contributed to man's eternal progression. Even the transgressions of men may be turned to the accomplishment of high purposes.
THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE - Moses 4:7-19
...ye shall not sure die
...you shall be as Gods
Satan attempted to show God as a liar. But God is a God of truth and cannot lie.
Soon after Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they were forced to leave the garden and the presence of the Lord, thus suffering a spiritual death. Additionally, when they fell, their bodies changed from a non-mortal state to a mortal state and thus became subject to physical death.
Satan implied that God’s forbidding them to partake of the fruit was because God did not want them to become as the Gods, trying to make it appear that God’s motives were selfish
...he did eat
Elder Dallin H. Oaks said that the “contrast between a sin and a transgression reminds us of the careful wording in the second article of faith: ‘We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression’. It also echoes a familiar distinction in the law. Some acts, like murder, are crimes because they are inherently wrong. Other acts, like operating without a license, are crimes only because they are legally prohibited. Under these distinctions, the act that produced the Fall was not a sin—inherently wrong—but a transgression—wrong because it was formally prohibited. These words are not always used to denote something different, but this distinction seems meaningful in the circumstances of the Fall.
Another meaning of the word transgress is “to go beyond established limits or conditions.” Adam and Eve went beyond the limits that would have kept them in the Garden of Eden forever, and in so doing helped provide the opportunity of mortality for all of us
Adam chose to obey the more important commandment to fall to a state of mortality and be with Eve.
Moses 4:15-19
...where goest thou? ...who told thee thou was naked?
Why did the Lord ask these questions if he already knows the answer?
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught, “personal accountability for all of one’s acts underlies the whole gospel plan and is the natural outgrowth of the law of free agency”
What were the results of the Fall for Adam and Eve—and for us?
-Adam and Eve were able to have children, which allowed us to come to earth and receive mortal bodies (Moses 5:11; 6:48; 2 Nephi 2:23, 25).
-We experience physical death, or separation of the physical body from the spirit (Moses 4:25; 6:48; 2 Nephi 9:6).
-We experience spiritual death, or separation from God’s presence (Moses 4:29; 6:49; 2 Nephi 9:6).
-We are partakers of misery and woe (Moses 6:48; Genesis 3:16–17).
-We are capable of sinning (Moses 6:49, 55; 2 Nephi 2:22–23).
-The ground is cursed, causing us to need to work (Moses 4:23–25; Genesis 3:17–19).
-We can learn to recognize good and evil (Moses 4:28; 6:55–56; 2 Nephi 2:23; Genesis 3:22).
-We can have joy in mortality (Moses 5:10; 2 Nephi 2:23, 25).
-We can know the joy of our redemption (Moses 5:11).
-We can obtain eternal life (Moses 5:11).
How can a correct understanding of the Fall help us during mortality?
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The plan of redemption must start with the account of the fall of Adam. In the words of Moroni, ‘By Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, … and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man’. Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ. No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL - Moses 4:20-32
...cursed above all cattle
Being cursed is the very opposite of being blessed; God’s blessing graciously invokes good, whereas his curse justly invokes evil upon one deserving it. Thus Satan was informed through symbolic terms that he would not have the privilege of earth life that even cattle and beasts have
...enmity
President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “Enmity means ‘hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition
Summary Points
- Three pillars of eternity are Creation, Fall, Atonement
- Satan doesn't know the mind of God
- Satan tried to thwart the plan but it furthered the plan of salvation
- Understanding the fall is critical to understanding the Atonement and why we need Christ
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Moses 2,3 - The Creation
Introduction
Telephone Charades - Jump out of a ski lift, ski down a mountain, narrowly escaping an avalance, go into a lodge and drink hot chocolate
How are these examples like the Lord’s revelations about the Creation?
The Lord has revealed only that portion of eternal truth that our mortal minds can understand and that we need to know to gain salvation. We don't know all the intricate details.
Demonstrate Faith
Background (Moses 2:1)
...God spoke to Moses
...concerning this heaven, and this earth
We learned in the previous lessons that there are multiple heavens and earths.
What has God revealed about the purpose of the Creation?
1st Day (Moses 2:2-5) - Light, Darkness, Day, Night
How long was each day?
One of the details that we don't know.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that a day, in the Creation accounts, “is a specified time period; it is an age, an eon, a division of eternity; it is the time between two identifiable events. And each day, of whatever length, has the duration needed for its purposes. … There is no revealed recitation specifying that each of the ‘six days’ involved in the Creation was of the same duration”
...let there be light and there was light
...it was done as I spake
By what means were the Lord's words fulfilled?
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “When a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith. God said, ‘Let there be light: and there was light.’ … And the Saviour says: ‘If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, say to this mountain, “Remove,” and it will remove; or say to that sycamore tree, “Be ye plucked up, and planted in the midst of the sea,” and it shall obey you.’ Faith, then, works by words; and with these its mightiest works have been, and will be, performed. The whole visible creation, as it now exists, is the effect of faith. It was faith by which it was framed, and it is by the power of faith that it continues in its organized form, and by which the planets move round their orbits and sparkle forth their glory.
Sister Porter talked about this faith in her talk last week.
What other examples do we have that are similar to this concept?
I've found it fascinating that when sealing a couple/family together, there are no hands laid upon them. The words by the power of the Priesthood are powerful enough to bind families together for eternity.
2nd Day (Moses 2:6-8) - Heaven
3rd Day (Moses 2:9-13) - Dry Land, Earth, Grass, Herbs, Fruit Tree
..after it's kind
What is the significance of the phrase after it's kind?
Elder Boyd K. Packer taught: “No lesson is more manifest in nature than that all living things do as the Lord commanded in the Creation. They reproduce ‘after their own kind.’ They follow the pattern of their parentage. … A bird will not become an animal nor a fish. A mammal will not beget reptiles, nor ‘do men gather … figs of thistles’
4th Day (Moses 2:14-19) - Light in firmamanet, Sun, Moon, Stars
Elder John Taylor, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained that God “caused light to shine upon [the earth] before the sun appeared in the firmament; for God is light, and in him there is no darkness. He is the light of the sun and the power thereof by which it was made; he is also the light of the moon and the power by which it was made; he is the light of the stars and the power by which they are made.
5th Day (Moses 2:20-23) - Every living creature that moveth
6th Day (Moses 2:24-31) - Man, Woman
...Multiply and replenish the earth
In 1942 the First Presidency taught: “The Lord has told us that it is the duty of every husband and wife to obey the command given to Adam to multiply and replenish the earth, so that the legions of choice spirits waiting for their tabernacles of flesh may come here and move forward under God’s great design to become perfect souls, for without these fleshly tabernacles they cannot progress to their God-planned destiny. Thus, every husband and wife should become a father and mother in Israel to children born under the holy, eternal covenant.
We are fulfilling our duties become God-like when we have children and we are allowing them to fulfill their progression towards that same goal.
...have dominion
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, wrote that to have “dominion” means to have responsibility. To have dominion over all living things is a sacred responsibility and should not be misused.
How can we better fulfill our responsibility to have dominion over the creations?
Elder Sterling W. Sill taught: “One of the most inspiring messages in all sacred scripture is the story of the sixth day of creation when God made man in his own image. He also endowed him with a set of his own attributes. Then, as the very climax of creation, God gave man dominion over everything upon the earth, including himself. The dictionary says that ‘dominion’ means control or the power to govern. The most important part of the dominion given to man was self-dominion.
7th Day (Moses 3:2-3)
...I rested on the seventh day
Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught: “The Sabbath was blessed and sanctified as a holy day, a day of rest. But this sanctification and commandment of rest was for a purpose—not that man should refrain from work in order to pursue his own pleasure, but that man should serve God and worship him.
Moses 3:5
...For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.
Some of the significant events that occurred in the premortal existence were:
1. All mankind were born as spirit sons and daughters of God the Father (see D&C 93:29, 38; Moses 6:51).
2. Heavenly Father’s children participated in a council and chose to follow His plan or to rebel with Lucifer (see D&C 29:36; Moses 4:1–3).
3. Those who chose to follow Heavenly Father’s plan chose to follow Christ and continued to grow and progress; some of them participated in the Creation of the earth (see D&C 138:55–56; Abraham 3:22–24; 4:1).
4. A paradisical earth was created and immortal, paradisical bodies were prepared for Adam and Eve, the first of all of God’s spirit sons and daughters to come to this earth.
Moses 3:18,22,24
...it is not good for man to be alone
see D&C 49:15-16
God joined Adam and Eve together in marriage before the Fall.
President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “Marriage as established in the beginning was an eternal covenant. The first man and the first woman were not married until death should part them, for at that time death had not come into the world. The ceremony on that occasion was performed by the Eternal Father himself whose work endures forever. It is the will of the Lord that all marriages should be of like character, and in becoming ‘one flesh’ the man and the woman are to continue in the married status, according to the Lord’s plan, throughout all eternity as well as in this mortal life.
President Spencer W. Kimball taught that Eve was not literally created from Adam’s rib. He said: “The story of the rib, of course, is figurative
Moses 3:24
...cleave unto his wife
The word cleave means to be closely united. Adam and Eve were commanded to be “one flesh,” meaning to be one mentally, socially, sexually, and spiritually. This oneness was a command with which they could not fully comply until after the Fall.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained: “Human intimacy is reserved for a married couple because it is the ultimate symbol of total union, a totality and a union ordained and defined by God. From the Garden of Eden onward, marriage was intended to mean the complete merger of a man and a woman—their hearts, hopes, lives, love, family, future, everything. Adam said of Eve that she was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, and that they were to be ‘one flesh’ in their life together. This is a union of such completeness that we use the word seal to convey its eternal promise. The Prophet Joseph Smith once said we perhaps could render such a sacred bond as being ‘welded’ one to another. “But such a total union, such an unyielding commitment between a man and a woman, can only come with the proximity and permanence afforded in a marriage covenant, with solemn promises and the pledge of all they possess—their very hearts and minds, all their days and all their dreams.
Referring to the charge for a man to leave his parents and cleave to his wife, President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Do you note that? She, the woman, occupies the first place. She is preeminent, even above the parents who are so dear to all of us. Even the children must take their proper but significant place.
Moses 3:25
Adam and Eve were innocent in the Garden of Eden, not knowing good and evil and not feeling any shame or embarrassment over their nakedness. These are emotions that came after the Fall. Adam and Eve were much like little children who are naturally naive and trusting and lacking self-consciousness and knowledge of good and evil because they are innocent.
Thought Questions
Which of God’s creations are especially beautiful to you?
Why would we be benefited by noticing the beauties of creation more carefully each day?
How does the account of the Creation affect your feelings toward Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
In what ways does earth life prepare us for eternal life?
Summary Points
-The Lord has revealed only that portion of eternal truth that our mortal minds can understand and that we need to know to gain salvation. We don't know all of the intricate details.
-The purpose of the Creation is to provide a place where Heavenly Father’s spirit children can come to obtain a physical body and be tested or proven to see if they will obey him when they are away from his presence. Those who are faithful will receive eternal life.
-God works by the Power of Faith
-All living things do as the Lord commands
-Men and women are created in the image of God.
-The 7th day was blessed and sanctified.
-All living things were first created spiritually.
-We are to cleave unto our spouses and multiple and replenish the earth.
Telephone Charades - Jump out of a ski lift, ski down a mountain, narrowly escaping an avalance, go into a lodge and drink hot chocolate
How are these examples like the Lord’s revelations about the Creation?
The Lord has revealed only that portion of eternal truth that our mortal minds can understand and that we need to know to gain salvation. We don't know all the intricate details.
Demonstrate Faith
Background (Moses 2:1)
...God spoke to Moses
...concerning this heaven, and this earth
We learned in the previous lessons that there are multiple heavens and earths.
What has God revealed about the purpose of the Creation?
1st Day (Moses 2:2-5) - Light, Darkness, Day, Night
How long was each day?
One of the details that we don't know.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that a day, in the Creation accounts, “is a specified time period; it is an age, an eon, a division of eternity; it is the time between two identifiable events. And each day, of whatever length, has the duration needed for its purposes. … There is no revealed recitation specifying that each of the ‘six days’ involved in the Creation was of the same duration”
...let there be light and there was light
...it was done as I spake
By what means were the Lord's words fulfilled?
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “When a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith. God said, ‘Let there be light: and there was light.’ … And the Saviour says: ‘If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, say to this mountain, “Remove,” and it will remove; or say to that sycamore tree, “Be ye plucked up, and planted in the midst of the sea,” and it shall obey you.’ Faith, then, works by words; and with these its mightiest works have been, and will be, performed. The whole visible creation, as it now exists, is the effect of faith. It was faith by which it was framed, and it is by the power of faith that it continues in its organized form, and by which the planets move round their orbits and sparkle forth their glory.
Sister Porter talked about this faith in her talk last week.
What other examples do we have that are similar to this concept?
I've found it fascinating that when sealing a couple/family together, there are no hands laid upon them. The words by the power of the Priesthood are powerful enough to bind families together for eternity.
2nd Day (Moses 2:6-8) - Heaven
3rd Day (Moses 2:9-13) - Dry Land, Earth, Grass, Herbs, Fruit Tree
..after it's kind
What is the significance of the phrase after it's kind?
Elder Boyd K. Packer taught: “No lesson is more manifest in nature than that all living things do as the Lord commanded in the Creation. They reproduce ‘after their own kind.’ They follow the pattern of their parentage. … A bird will not become an animal nor a fish. A mammal will not beget reptiles, nor ‘do men gather … figs of thistles’
4th Day (Moses 2:14-19) - Light in firmamanet, Sun, Moon, Stars
Elder John Taylor, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained that God “caused light to shine upon [the earth] before the sun appeared in the firmament; for God is light, and in him there is no darkness. He is the light of the sun and the power thereof by which it was made; he is also the light of the moon and the power by which it was made; he is the light of the stars and the power by which they are made.
5th Day (Moses 2:20-23) - Every living creature that moveth
6th Day (Moses 2:24-31) - Man, Woman
...Multiply and replenish the earth
In 1942 the First Presidency taught: “The Lord has told us that it is the duty of every husband and wife to obey the command given to Adam to multiply and replenish the earth, so that the legions of choice spirits waiting for their tabernacles of flesh may come here and move forward under God’s great design to become perfect souls, for without these fleshly tabernacles they cannot progress to their God-planned destiny. Thus, every husband and wife should become a father and mother in Israel to children born under the holy, eternal covenant.
We are fulfilling our duties become God-like when we have children and we are allowing them to fulfill their progression towards that same goal.
...have dominion
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, wrote that to have “dominion” means to have responsibility. To have dominion over all living things is a sacred responsibility and should not be misused.
How can we better fulfill our responsibility to have dominion over the creations?
Elder Sterling W. Sill taught: “One of the most inspiring messages in all sacred scripture is the story of the sixth day of creation when God made man in his own image. He also endowed him with a set of his own attributes. Then, as the very climax of creation, God gave man dominion over everything upon the earth, including himself. The dictionary says that ‘dominion’ means control or the power to govern. The most important part of the dominion given to man was self-dominion.
7th Day (Moses 3:2-3)
...I rested on the seventh day
Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught: “The Sabbath was blessed and sanctified as a holy day, a day of rest. But this sanctification and commandment of rest was for a purpose—not that man should refrain from work in order to pursue his own pleasure, but that man should serve God and worship him.
Moses 3:5
...For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.
Some of the significant events that occurred in the premortal existence were:
1. All mankind were born as spirit sons and daughters of God the Father (see D&C 93:29, 38; Moses 6:51).
2. Heavenly Father’s children participated in a council and chose to follow His plan or to rebel with Lucifer (see D&C 29:36; Moses 4:1–3).
3. Those who chose to follow Heavenly Father’s plan chose to follow Christ and continued to grow and progress; some of them participated in the Creation of the earth (see D&C 138:55–56; Abraham 3:22–24; 4:1).
4. A paradisical earth was created and immortal, paradisical bodies were prepared for Adam and Eve, the first of all of God’s spirit sons and daughters to come to this earth.
Moses 3:18,22,24
...it is not good for man to be alone
see D&C 49:15-16
God joined Adam and Eve together in marriage before the Fall.
President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “Marriage as established in the beginning was an eternal covenant. The first man and the first woman were not married until death should part them, for at that time death had not come into the world. The ceremony on that occasion was performed by the Eternal Father himself whose work endures forever. It is the will of the Lord that all marriages should be of like character, and in becoming ‘one flesh’ the man and the woman are to continue in the married status, according to the Lord’s plan, throughout all eternity as well as in this mortal life.
President Spencer W. Kimball taught that Eve was not literally created from Adam’s rib. He said: “The story of the rib, of course, is figurative
Moses 3:24
...cleave unto his wife
The word cleave means to be closely united. Adam and Eve were commanded to be “one flesh,” meaning to be one mentally, socially, sexually, and spiritually. This oneness was a command with which they could not fully comply until after the Fall.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained: “Human intimacy is reserved for a married couple because it is the ultimate symbol of total union, a totality and a union ordained and defined by God. From the Garden of Eden onward, marriage was intended to mean the complete merger of a man and a woman—their hearts, hopes, lives, love, family, future, everything. Adam said of Eve that she was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, and that they were to be ‘one flesh’ in their life together. This is a union of such completeness that we use the word seal to convey its eternal promise. The Prophet Joseph Smith once said we perhaps could render such a sacred bond as being ‘welded’ one to another. “But such a total union, such an unyielding commitment between a man and a woman, can only come with the proximity and permanence afforded in a marriage covenant, with solemn promises and the pledge of all they possess—their very hearts and minds, all their days and all their dreams.
Referring to the charge for a man to leave his parents and cleave to his wife, President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Do you note that? She, the woman, occupies the first place. She is preeminent, even above the parents who are so dear to all of us. Even the children must take their proper but significant place.
Moses 3:25
Adam and Eve were innocent in the Garden of Eden, not knowing good and evil and not feeling any shame or embarrassment over their nakedness. These are emotions that came after the Fall. Adam and Eve were much like little children who are naturally naive and trusting and lacking self-consciousness and knowledge of good and evil because they are innocent.
Thought Questions
Which of God’s creations are especially beautiful to you?
Why would we be benefited by noticing the beauties of creation more carefully each day?
How does the account of the Creation affect your feelings toward Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
In what ways does earth life prepare us for eternal life?
Summary Points
-The Lord has revealed only that portion of eternal truth that our mortal minds can understand and that we need to know to gain salvation. We don't know all of the intricate details.
-The purpose of the Creation is to provide a place where Heavenly Father’s spirit children can come to obtain a physical body and be tested or proven to see if they will obey him when they are away from his presence. Those who are faithful will receive eternal life.
-God works by the Power of Faith
-All living things do as the Lord commands
-Men and women are created in the image of God.
-The 7th day was blessed and sanctified.
-All living things were first created spiritually.
-We are to cleave unto our spouses and multiple and replenish the earth.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Abraham 3 - Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born
Who was Abraham?
Abraham, who was born in about 2000 B.C., was the father of Isaac and the grandfather of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.
Book of Abraham Introduction
On 3 July 1835 a man named Michael Chandler brought four Egyptian mummies and several papyrus scrolls of ancient Egyptian writings to Kirtland, Ohio. The mummies and papyri had been discovered in Egypt several years earlier by Antonio Lebolo. Kirtland was one of many stops in the eastern United States for Chandler’s mummy exhibition. Chandler was offering the mummies and rolls of papyrus for sale and, at the urging of the Prophet Joseph Smith, several members of the Church donated money to purchase them. In a statement dated 5 July 1835, Joseph Smith, declaring the importance of these ancient Egyptian writings, recorded: “I commenced the translation of some of the characters or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham. … Truly we can say, the Lord is beginning to reveal the abundance of peace and truth.
The Prophet Joseph Smith never communicated his method of translating these records. As with all other scriptures, a testimony of the truthfulness of these writings is primarily a matter of faith. The greatest evidence of the truthfulness of the book of Abraham is not found in an analysis of physical evidence nor historical background, but in prayerful consideration of its content and power.
The book of Abraham reveals truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ that were previously unknown to Church members of Joseph Smith’s day. It also casts a bright light upon difficult passages found in other scriptural texts.
Abraham 1-2 Background
Abraham was born in Ur, generally identified with the modern town of Mugheir in present-day Iraq. Abraham’s father, Terah, had given himself to the worship of false gods and was willing to offer his own son as a sacrifice. The family of Abraham had turned from righteousness and had become idolators. Jehovah destroyed the wicked priests and saved Abraham. There was a famine in the land. The Lord commanded Abraham to leave the land. The Lord visited Abraham again and promised blessings to him and his seed. Abraham eventually went into Egypt. The Lord told him to tell everyone that his wife Sarai was his sister otherwise they would kill Abraham.
Abraham 3:1
Urim and thummim come from Hebrew words meaning “lights” and “perfections.” The title Urim and Thummim was given to an instrument the Lord prepared to assist man in obtaining revelation and in translating languages.
The scriptures reveal that there were more than one Urim and Thummim. While the prophets of the Book of Mormon were using one set of stones, the prophets of the Old Testament were using another.
Abraham 3:2-5,9,16
2 - One star is nearest unto the throne of God.
3,9 - Kolob is the name of the great one It governs all the stars which belong to the same order.
4 - One revolution on Kolob (1 day) is equal to 1,000 years of time on our earth.
5 - Lesser planets move more slow.
16 - When there are two stars, one will be greater than other, and there are other starts greater than those two, until Kolob which is the greatest of all.
Abraham learned that bodies in space have different periods of revolution and that they move in their own time frames of reference. Each planet, or star, operates according to a time base which is set by its location from a central, governing body. (Fred Holmstrom "Astronomy and the book of Abraham")
What makes a planet great?
Abraham learned that wherever there are two stars one will be greater than the other, and that there are other stars greater than those two, until Kolob, which is the greatest of all. He learned that it is not size that makes one star or planet greater than another, but rather its proximity to Kolob. So it is with the children of God—their greatness and glory will depend upon their proximity to the Creator, Jesus Christ, who is “nearest unto the throne of God,” “the great one,” “the first creation,” and is “set to govern all those which belong to the same order.” Thus the great star, Kolob, is a symbol of Jesus Christ.
Abraham 3:14
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “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
Abraham 3:17
God sees to completion the actual accomplishment of everything that He takes into His heart.
How different is this from the nature of mankind?
see Isaiah 55:8–9
Abraham 3:19
There are varying degrees of intelligence among Heavenly Father’s spirit children.
(Abraham called the spirit children of our Heavenly Father “spirits” in Abraham 3:18–19, “intelligences” in verse 22, and “souls” in verse 23.)
God dwelled in the midst of all the spirits or intelligences and he is more intelligent than they all.
Abraham 3:22,23
The Prophet Joseph Smith stated: “God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with Himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.
What does it mean to be more intelligent?
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “We know they were all innocent in the beginning; but the right of free agency which was given to them enabled some to outstrip others, and thus, through the eons of immortal existence, to become more intelligent, more faithful, for they were free to act for themselves, to think for themselves, to receive the truth or rebel against it.
see D&C 138:53-57
Did foreordination guarantee that Abraham, Joseph Smith, and others would become prophets?
What is the relationship between foreordination and agency?
(Even though a person is foreordained to a calling, that calling is dependent on the person’s worthiness and willingness to accept it.)
In addition to foreordaining the prophets to their callings, God foreordained many “other choice spirits” to help build up his kingdom in different ways.
What might we have been foreordained to do?
see D&C 138:56
President Ezra Taft Benson taught “God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord. Some individuals will fall away; but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its head—even Jesus Christ. While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. …Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us”
How can we be sure that we are fulfilling our foreordained callings?
Abraham 3:25
President Ezra Taft Benson succinctly restated the message of Abraham 3:25 when he said: “The great test of life is obedience to God” We are not here to test or “prove” God, but to be tested and proved ourselves. We are on trial, not God.
Elder Rex C. Reeve Sr., who was a member of the Seventy, said: “This life is a time of testing. It is not the reward time. That will come later. We are here being tested. The test is going on now.
Abraham 3:26
If we kept our first estate should we feel safe about our second estate?
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine. For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and adversities to be experienced, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed. Just because we were chosen ‘there and then,’ surely does not mean we can be indifferent ‘here and now. In fact, adequacy in the first estate may merely have ensured a stern, second estate with more duties and no immunities!"
Abraham 3:27,28
How does it help you to know that you chose to follow Jesus Christ in the Council in Heaven?
Summary Points
-There is more than one Urim and Thummim
-Kolob is the name of the great star. It is nearest unto the throne of God. It governs all the stars which belong to the same order.
-Kolob is a symbol of Jesus Christ.
-One revolution on Kolob (1 day) is equal to 1,000 years of time on our earth.
-It is not size that makes one star or planet greater than another, but rather its proximity to Kolob.
-God sees to completion the actual accomplishment of everything that He takes into His heart.
-There are varying degrees of intelligence among Heavenly Father’s spirit children.
-Foreordination is God’s premortal ordination of his spirit children to fulfill certain missions during their mortal life.
-Foreordination does not guarantee it will happen. We still have our free agency.
-The great test of life is obedience to God.
Abraham, who was born in about 2000 B.C., was the father of Isaac and the grandfather of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.
Book of Abraham Introduction
On 3 July 1835 a man named Michael Chandler brought four Egyptian mummies and several papyrus scrolls of ancient Egyptian writings to Kirtland, Ohio. The mummies and papyri had been discovered in Egypt several years earlier by Antonio Lebolo. Kirtland was one of many stops in the eastern United States for Chandler’s mummy exhibition. Chandler was offering the mummies and rolls of papyrus for sale and, at the urging of the Prophet Joseph Smith, several members of the Church donated money to purchase them. In a statement dated 5 July 1835, Joseph Smith, declaring the importance of these ancient Egyptian writings, recorded: “I commenced the translation of some of the characters or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham. … Truly we can say, the Lord is beginning to reveal the abundance of peace and truth.
The Prophet Joseph Smith never communicated his method of translating these records. As with all other scriptures, a testimony of the truthfulness of these writings is primarily a matter of faith. The greatest evidence of the truthfulness of the book of Abraham is not found in an analysis of physical evidence nor historical background, but in prayerful consideration of its content and power.
The book of Abraham reveals truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ that were previously unknown to Church members of Joseph Smith’s day. It also casts a bright light upon difficult passages found in other scriptural texts.
Abraham 1-2 Background
Abraham was born in Ur, generally identified with the modern town of Mugheir in present-day Iraq. Abraham’s father, Terah, had given himself to the worship of false gods and was willing to offer his own son as a sacrifice. The family of Abraham had turned from righteousness and had become idolators. Jehovah destroyed the wicked priests and saved Abraham. There was a famine in the land. The Lord commanded Abraham to leave the land. The Lord visited Abraham again and promised blessings to him and his seed. Abraham eventually went into Egypt. The Lord told him to tell everyone that his wife Sarai was his sister otherwise they would kill Abraham.
Abraham 3:1
Urim and thummim come from Hebrew words meaning “lights” and “perfections.” The title Urim and Thummim was given to an instrument the Lord prepared to assist man in obtaining revelation and in translating languages.
The scriptures reveal that there were more than one Urim and Thummim. While the prophets of the Book of Mormon were using one set of stones, the prophets of the Old Testament were using another.
Abraham 3:2-5,9,16
2 - One star is nearest unto the throne of God.
3,9 - Kolob is the name of the great one It governs all the stars which belong to the same order.
4 - One revolution on Kolob (1 day) is equal to 1,000 years of time on our earth.
5 - Lesser planets move more slow.
16 - When there are two stars, one will be greater than other, and there are other starts greater than those two, until Kolob which is the greatest of all.
Abraham learned that bodies in space have different periods of revolution and that they move in their own time frames of reference. Each planet, or star, operates according to a time base which is set by its location from a central, governing body. (Fred Holmstrom "Astronomy and the book of Abraham")
What makes a planet great?
Abraham learned that wherever there are two stars one will be greater than the other, and that there are other stars greater than those two, until Kolob, which is the greatest of all. He learned that it is not size that makes one star or planet greater than another, but rather its proximity to Kolob. So it is with the children of God—their greatness and glory will depend upon their proximity to the Creator, Jesus Christ, who is “nearest unto the throne of God,” “the great one,” “the first creation,” and is “set to govern all those which belong to the same order.” Thus the great star, Kolob, is a symbol of Jesus Christ.
Abraham 3:14
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “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
Abraham 3:17
God sees to completion the actual accomplishment of everything that He takes into His heart.
How different is this from the nature of mankind?
see Isaiah 55:8–9
Abraham 3:19
There are varying degrees of intelligence among Heavenly Father’s spirit children.
(Abraham called the spirit children of our Heavenly Father “spirits” in Abraham 3:18–19, “intelligences” in verse 22, and “souls” in verse 23.)
God dwelled in the midst of all the spirits or intelligences and he is more intelligent than they all.
Abraham 3:22,23
The Prophet Joseph Smith stated: “God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with Himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.
What does it mean to be more intelligent?
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “We know they were all innocent in the beginning; but the right of free agency which was given to them enabled some to outstrip others, and thus, through the eons of immortal existence, to become more intelligent, more faithful, for they were free to act for themselves, to think for themselves, to receive the truth or rebel against it.
see D&C 138:53-57
Did foreordination guarantee that Abraham, Joseph Smith, and others would become prophets?
What is the relationship between foreordination and agency?
(Even though a person is foreordained to a calling, that calling is dependent on the person’s worthiness and willingness to accept it.)
In addition to foreordaining the prophets to their callings, God foreordained many “other choice spirits” to help build up his kingdom in different ways.
What might we have been foreordained to do?
see D&C 138:56
President Ezra Taft Benson taught “God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord. Some individuals will fall away; but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its head—even Jesus Christ. While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. …Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us”
How can we be sure that we are fulfilling our foreordained callings?
Abraham 3:25
President Ezra Taft Benson succinctly restated the message of Abraham 3:25 when he said: “The great test of life is obedience to God” We are not here to test or “prove” God, but to be tested and proved ourselves. We are on trial, not God.
Elder Rex C. Reeve Sr., who was a member of the Seventy, said: “This life is a time of testing. It is not the reward time. That will come later. We are here being tested. The test is going on now.
Abraham 3:26
If we kept our first estate should we feel safe about our second estate?
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine. For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and adversities to be experienced, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed. Just because we were chosen ‘there and then,’ surely does not mean we can be indifferent ‘here and now. In fact, adequacy in the first estate may merely have ensured a stern, second estate with more duties and no immunities!"
Abraham 3:27,28
How does it help you to know that you chose to follow Jesus Christ in the Council in Heaven?
Summary Points
-There is more than one Urim and Thummim
-Kolob is the name of the great star. It is nearest unto the throne of God. It governs all the stars which belong to the same order.
-Kolob is a symbol of Jesus Christ.
-One revolution on Kolob (1 day) is equal to 1,000 years of time on our earth.
-It is not size that makes one star or planet greater than another, but rather its proximity to Kolob.
-God sees to completion the actual accomplishment of everything that He takes into His heart.
-There are varying degrees of intelligence among Heavenly Father’s spirit children.
-Foreordination is God’s premortal ordination of his spirit children to fulfill certain missions during their mortal life.
-Foreordination does not guarantee it will happen. We still have our free agency.
-The great test of life is obedience to God.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Moses 1 - This is My Work and My Glory
Pearl of Great Price Introduction
Elder
Milton R. Hunter said "the Pearl
of Great Price is a pearl indeed. The writings are compacted in approximately sixty pages, but every page is dynamic and powerful. It is a wonderful book. It contains revelations on certain subjects
superior to any other scriptures or writings on those subjects found in
the world; for example, Abraham’s vision of pre-mortal life in which he
learned of the eternal nature of things; of the grand council in heaven;
and of the plan of salvation as presented there constitutes one of the
greatest of God’s revelations to his holy prophets. And the knowledge
obtained by Moses
in his vision of Lucifer and the part he played at the grand council,
added to Abraham’s vision, gives us the most complete understanding
found in any literature regarding man’s pre-mortal life and God’s
purposes for the good of man.
The
Pearl of Great Price also helps to clarify some of the difficult
passages in the other scriptures” - in Conference Report, Oct. 1955.
Book of Moses Introduction
Soon after the Church was organized on 6 April 1830, the Lord commanded the Prophet Joseph Smith
to begin an inspired translation, or revision, of the King James
Version of the Bible. Today this inspired revision, which the Prophet
worked on until the time of his death, is known as the Joseph Smith
Translation.
The Prophet Joseph Smith restored to the Bible “many parts
which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord
[which were] taken away” (1 Nephi 13:26; see also 1 Nephi 13:39–40). Between June 1830 and February 1831, the Prophet completed Genesis 1:1 through 6:13, which is now contained in the Pearl of Great Price as Moses 1–8.
The book of Moses may be divided into two major sections: Moses 1, which relates experiences from Moses’ life that are not found in the book of Genesis, and Moses 2–8,
which contains the inspired and restored account of events described in
the Bible, including the Creation of the earth; the Fall of Adam and
Eve; the story of Cain and Abel; the ministry, teachings, and visions of
Enoch; and the story of Noah up to the time the Lord decreed the
destruction of all flesh by the Flood. At this point, one must return to
Genesis 6:14 for a continuation of the scriptural record.
In an introduction to Moses 1,
the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote: “The Lord, who well knew our infantile
and delicate situation, vouchsafed for us a supply of strength, and
granted us ‘line upon line of knowledge—here a little and there a
little,’ of which the following was a precious morsel” (History of the Church, 1:98).
Moses Chapter 1 Breakdown
verses 24-42 - Moses learned more about the work of God.
Moses Chapter 1 Breakdown
verses 1-11 - God reveals himself to Moses.
verses 12-23 - Satan commanded Moses to worship him.verses 24-42 - Moses learned more about the work of God.
Moses 1:1
The vision recorded in Moses 1 took place after Jehovah spoke to Moses at the burning bush but before Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.
Moses 1:2,5,11
...the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.
...no man can behold all my glory and remain in the flesh
...for I was transfigured before him.
see also D&C 67:10-12
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: "Transfiguration
is a special change in appearance and nature which is wrought upon a
person or thing by the power of God. This divine transformation is from a
lower to a higher state; it results in a more exalted, impressive, and
glorious condition. …
“By the power of the Holy Ghost many prophets have been transfigured so as to stand in the presence of God and view the visions of eternity” - Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 803
Why is this important to know that we couldn't endure his presence?
How remarkable is the glory of God? What kind of feeling does that give you?
Moses 1:4,42
...my works and my words are endless. They never cease.
...in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught.
...and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write, behold, I will raise up another.
What gospel truth does this teach us about?
Yet
another example of the wisdom God has and how is work never ceases and
we constantly have revelation. All of the scriptures that we have
compliment each other and help us gain more understanding of gospel
truths. We could still have more scriptures and receive even more
revelation if we truly read, understood, and study the ones that we have
now. What gospel truth does this teach us about?
see 3 Nephi 26:10-11
Moses 1:6
...all things are present before me.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained: “God does not live in the dimension of time as do we. We are
not only hampered by our finiteness (experiential and intellectual), but
also by being in the dimension of time. Moreover, God, since ‘all
things are present with him, is not simply predicting based solely on
the past. In ways that are not clear to us, he sees rather than foresees the future, because all things are at once present before him.
Joseph Smith taught: "Without the knowledge of all things God would not be able to save any portion of his creatures; for it is by reason of the knowledge which he has of all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures by which they are made partakers of eternal life; and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him"
Joseph Smith taught: "Without the knowledge of all things God would not be able to save any portion of his creatures; for it is by reason of the knowledge which he has of all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures by which they are made partakers of eternal life; and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him"
Moses 1:3-8
Who spoke to Moses?
President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: “All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. … He is the God of Israel, the Holy One of Israel; the one who led that nation out of Egyptian bondage, and who gave and fulfilled the Law of Moses. The Father has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son”
Moses 1:9
...Moses fell to the earth.
There are other accounts in the scriptures of people becoming weak after such spiritual experiences.
Have any of you experienced anything comparable?
Moses 1:10
...man is nothing
What do you think is meant by man is nothing?
Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote that Moses’ statement “surely was not a reflection on man, ‘God’s greatest miracle,’ but a placing of man in the vast perspective of God’s creations and a realizing, even so, that we are God’s exclusive work and his greatest glory”
Moses 1:14
...I couldn't look upon God, except his glory come upon me, but I look upon thee in the natural man
The glory of God trumps Satan's glory.
The glory of God trumps Satan's glory.
If we all know this to be true, why do we still have such a hard time keeping the commandments?
Moses 1:20
...Moses began to fear but received strength from calling upon the Lord.
How has prayer helped you overcome fear?
Moses 1:21
...depart hence Satan
He tells Satan to depart in verses 16,18,20, and 21
What does this teach us about resisting Satan's efforts?
Moses 1:21
...depart hence Satan
He tells Satan to depart in verses 16,18,20, and 21
What does this teach us about resisting Satan's efforts?
Moses 1:29,32,33,37
...He beheld many lands and each land was called Earth
...by the word of my power, have I created them
...by the word of my power, have I created them
...worlds without number have I created
...the heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man
I have a testimony of the scriptures and the truth that is in them. Science can't catch up to the truths and knowledge we get from the scriptures. I read an article the other day on KSL.com saying that scientists say there are 8.8 billion earth-size, just-right planets, meaning the right climate that could possibly have human life. While all of the detailed numbers in the article are hard to comprehend, none of the information blew me away. I already knew there are more worlds out there than just ours that house Heavenly Father's children. Science is finally starting to catch up to the idea.
Here is the link to the article http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27504671
Here is another fascinating link that give perspective as to the sizes of different things in the universe. http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/525347
I have a testimony of the scriptures and the truth that is in them. Science can't catch up to the truths and knowledge we get from the scriptures. I read an article the other day on KSL.com saying that scientists say there are 8.8 billion earth-size, just-right planets, meaning the right climate that could possibly have human life. While all of the detailed numbers in the article are hard to comprehend, none of the information blew me away. I already knew there are more worlds out there than just ours that house Heavenly Father's children. Science is finally starting to catch up to the idea.
Here is the link to the article http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27504671
Here is another fascinating link that give perspective as to the sizes of different things in the universe. http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/525347
Moses 1:39
...this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “Immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state with body and spirit inseparably connected”
All of God’s children who obtain mortal bodies will eventually be resurrected and obtain immortal physical bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:22).
President
Joseph Fielding Smith said: “Eternal life is to have the kind of life
that God has. All those who become servants will have immortality, but
they who become sons and daughters of God will have the additional gift
of eternal life, which is the greatest gift of God” (Doctrines of Salvation,
2:8).
President Spencer W. Kimball taught that “eternal life is to gain exaltation in the highest heaven” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1978, 109; or Ensign, Nov. 1978, 72).
President Spencer W. Kimball taught that “eternal life is to gain exaltation in the highest heaven” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1978, 109; or Ensign, Nov. 1978, 72).
Do you doubt God that that is the greatest gift you can ever receive?
Believing it's true, how does that change your behavior in life?
How do you picture eternal life with God?
If we could fully comprehend what that life is like, do you think we would live a little different here?
President Marion G. Romney said: “Hence, we see the complete unselfishness of our Father in Heaven. His whole work and glory is to bring eternal life and happiness to his children. Should not our whole purpose in this life, therefore, be made up of righteous service one to another? If not, how can we ever hope to be as he is?
What incredible insight. Heavenly Father is so unselfish that is whole purpose and existence is to bring happiness to his children. That if we want to become like him we have to get to that same level. Our purpose in this life should be of the same caliber service and unselfishness.
Have any of you ever had this focus in life? Describe the emotions that you have felt when only thinking of others?
Believing it's true, how does that change your behavior in life?
How do you picture eternal life with God?
If we could fully comprehend what that life is like, do you think we would live a little different here?
President Marion G. Romney said: “Hence, we see the complete unselfishness of our Father in Heaven. His whole work and glory is to bring eternal life and happiness to his children. Should not our whole purpose in this life, therefore, be made up of righteous service one to another? If not, how can we ever hope to be as he is?
What incredible insight. Heavenly Father is so unselfish that is whole purpose and existence is to bring happiness to his children. That if we want to become like him we have to get to that same level. Our purpose in this life should be of the same caliber service and unselfishness.
Have any of you ever had this focus in life? Describe the emotions that you have felt when only thinking of others?
Summary Points
-Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible from Genesis 1:1 - 6:13 is found in the book of Moses.
-Moses 1 contains experiences from Moses' life that is not found in the book of Genesis.
-We have to be transfigured from a mortal state to endure God's presence.
-God works and words are endless. They never cease.
-All things are present before God. He knows all things.
-Spiritual experiences can be physically draining.
-We are sons and daughters of God and have the potential to become just like him.
-The glory of God trumps Satan's glory.
-We can receive the strength of God through prayer.
-God has created many worlds.
-God's whole purpose is to bring happiness to his children.
-Immortality is given to all as our bodies will be resurrected.
-Eternal life is the greatest gift of God and means gaining exaltation with God in the highest heaven
-God has created many worlds.
-God's whole purpose is to bring happiness to his children.
-Immortality is given to all as our bodies will be resurrected.
-Eternal life is the greatest gift of God and means gaining exaltation with God in the highest heaven
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Bert Blogs?
I've decided to create a blog for a personal reference as I study and prepare lessons for my Sunday School Gospel Doctrine class. I may even use it as a scripture journal with quotes that I like and comments of my own. I will give every lesson post a label of 'Lesson' for ease of finding.
I'm going to try and keep it somewhat organized too. Here you go me!!!
In green I will post my own comments.
In red I will have my questions to think about or discuss.
In purple will be additional scriptures.
In gold prefaced with... will be highlights of a scripture.
In black will be the rest.
I'm going to try and keep it somewhat organized too. Here you go me!!!
In green I will post my own comments.
In red I will have my questions to think about or discuss.
In purple will be additional scriptures.
In gold prefaced with... will be highlights of a scripture.
In black will be the rest.
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