What does it mean to have the patriarch declare our lineage in a patriarchal blessing?
When a patriarch declares our lineage, he reveals to us that we are
descendants of the prophet Abraham through Ephraim, Manasseh, or another
of Abraham’s descendants.
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said: “The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.
Abraham 1:1-4
What blessings did Abraham desire?
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “The true disciple has an inborn questioning to know, personally, all that God is willing to teach us. Nephi could have accepted gladly the vision of his father, Lehi. But Nephi ‘desired to know the things that [his] father had seen.’ (1 Nephi 11:1.) Abraham sought, even though he had a father who had turned from the faith, ‘for greater happiness and peace’ and ‘for mine appointment unto the Priesthood.’ (Abraham 1:2, 4.) Abraham described himself as desiring ‘great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness’ (Abraham 1:2), questing for the word of Christ. Divine discontent in the form of promptings can move us to feast because we know that by feasting we can increase our knowledge, effectiveness, and joy”.
President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: “The order of this priesthood which was established in the beginning was patriarchal. The authority descended from father to son, and those who held it were high priests. This order of descent from Adam to Noah is given in the Doctrine and Covenants. Noah, who stands next to Adam in authority, brought this priesthood through the flood, and it continued from generation to generation. Abraham, the 10th from Noah, received special blessings from the Lord, and the priesthood continued through him and his seed with the promise that all who received the gospel should be counted as Abraham’s seed and partake of his blessings”
Who Conferred the Priesthood upon Abraham?
see D&C 84:14–16
Bible Dictionary - Abraham, covenant of
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 (D&C 132:29–50; Abr. 2:6–11). Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that (1) Christ would come through his lineage, and that (2) Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance (Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3; Abr. 2). These promises taken together are called the “Abrahamic covenant.” It was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob (Gen. 28; 35:9–13; 48:3–4).
The portions of the covenant that pertain to personal salvation and eternal increase are renewed with each individual who receives the ordinance of celestial marriage (see D&C 132:29–33). Those of non-Israelite lineage, commonly known as Gentiles, are adopted into the house of Israel and become heirs of the covenant and the seed of Abraham through the ordinances of the gospel (Gal. 3:26–29).
Being an heir to the Abrahamic covenant does not make one a “chosen person” per se but does signify that such are chosen to responsibly carry the gospel to all the peoples of the earth. Abraham’s seed have carried out the missionary activity in all the nations since Abraham’s day. (Matt. 3:9; Abr. 2:9–11.)
To fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham—having particular reference to the fact that the literal seed of his body would be entitled to all of the blessings of the gospel (Abr. 2:10–11)—a number of specific and particular things must take place in the last days. The gospel must be restored, the priesthood must be conferred again upon man, the keys of the sealing power must be given again to mortals, Israel must be gathered, and the Holy Ghost must be poured out upon the Gentiles. All this has already taken place or is in process of fulfillment.
Abraham 2:6-11, Genesis 12:1-8, Genesis 17:1-9
What blessings did God promise Abraham in this covenant?
GOD'S PROMISE CHART
Land - 2:6
Posterity 2:9
Priesthood 1:18
Salvation and Exaltation 2:10
What, then, is the Abrahamic covenant? It is that Abraham and his seed (including those adopted into his family) shall have all of the blessings of the gospel, of the priesthood, and of eternal life. The gate to eternal life is celestial marriage, which holy order of matrimony enables the family unit to continue in eternity, so that the participating parties may have posterity as numerous as the sands upon the seashore or the stars in heaven. The Abrahamic covenant enables men to create for themselves eternal family units that are patterned after the family of God our Heavenly Father. A lesser part of the covenant is that the seed of Abraham have the Millennial destiny of inheriting as an everlasting possession the very land of Canaan whereon the feet of the righteous have trod in days gone by.
What blessings can we receive through the Abrahamic covenant?
see D&C 132:29-33
What are our responsibilities as heirs of the Abrahamic covenant?
President Ezra Taft Benson said, “The responsibility of the seed of Abraham, which we are, is to be missionaries to ‘bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations’
Elder Boyd K. Packer made the following analogy to emphasize our responsibility to share the gospel with others: Imagine that our bishop has appointed us to plan a picnic for ward members. It is to be the best social in the history of the ward, and we are to spare no expense. We reserve a beautiful picnic ground in the country. We are to have it all to ourselves. The day arrives and everything is perfect. The tables are set and the feast is spectacular. Then, just as the blessing is being said, an old car turns into the picnic grounds and sputters to a stop. A worried man lifts the hood, and a spout of steam comes out. Several children climb out of the car. An anxious mother takes a box to a nearby table. She puts a few leftovers on the table, trying to make them look like a meal for her hungry children. But there is not enough. Then one of the little girls sees our table. She pulls her little brother over to us and pushes her head between you and me. We move aside. The little girl says, “Look at that; I wonder what that tastes like.”What would we do? Would we ignore the people or ask them to be quiet? Would we show them back to their table and give them some of the food we don’t really need? Or would we invite them to come and join us, to sit between us and share the feast, and to let us help fix their car and give them something for their journey? “Could there be more pure enjoyment than seeing how much we could get those hungry children to eat? Could there be more satisfaction than to interrupt our festivities to help [them] fix their car? …
“… There are people across the world and about us—our neighbors, our friends, some in our own families—who, spiritually speaking, are undernourished. Some of them are starving to death! If we keep all this to ourselves, it is not unlike feasting before those who are hungry”
How is the declaration of lineage in our patriarchal blessings like a call to fulfill our responsibilities as heirs to the Abrahamic covenant?
By declaring that we are the seed of Abraham, our patriarchal blessings reemphasize our privilege to receive the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant and our obligation to fulfill its responsibilities.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Moses 5,6,7 - If Thou Doest Well, Thou Shalt Be Accepted
Background
v5...Adam was obedient unto the Lord. They were commanded to offer their firstlings of their flocks as an offering unto the Lord.
v12...Adam and Eve blessed the name of God and made all things known unto their children.
v16,17...Cain was a tiller of the ground; Abel was a keeper of sheep.
...firstling of the flock
The word ‘firstlings’ puts certain qualifications and restrictions and even determines the quality of faith that is used in offering the sacrifice. ‘Firstling’ does not necessarily denote the oldest of the flock, but the firstborn of its particular mother. A ‘firstling’ is a male, the ‘first to open the matrix’ of its mother. Each mother in her lifetime could produce only one firstling, but a flock of sheep could have several firstlings born each year. In order to know which lambs were acceptable for sacrifice, the owner would have to know his flock. Some notice would have to be made of mothers and of young. Otherwise, how could anyone know which mothers had produced offspring for the first time? There is no way that a man, Adam or anyone else, could know which males were firstlings unless a record and some identification of mothers and offspring were kept. This requirement removes the element of chance and of haphazard obedience, or sometime obedience. Not only is one’s faith shown in the willingness to offer a sacrifice but also in the care required and the preparation needed beforehand in making the selection of the proper animal.
This particular passage of scripture illustrates the concept that the commandments of God require the intelligent and deliberate attention of those who are seeking salvation. It gives a reason for Paul’s observation that ‘without faith it is impossible to please’ God. For without faith one would not have kept a record and marked (at least mentally) which animals were proper for sacrifice'
Moses 5:18-20
Who did Cain love the most?
...Cain loved Satan more than God
What did Satan command Cain to do unto the Lord?
...Satan commanded him saying: Make an offering unto the Lord
What did Cain offer unto the Lord?
...Cain brought of the fruit of the ground
What did Abel offer unto the Lord?
...Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock
Whose offering did the Lord respect?
...The Lord had respect unto Abel
Why was it important to make sacrifices in the way the Lord had commanded?
Moses 5:21,26
How did Cain react when the Lord rejected his sacrifice and called him to repentance?
...Cain was wroth, his countenance fell, he rejected the greater counsel, he listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, who walked in holiness.
Why is sometimes hard for us to be called to repentance?
How can we develop more repentant hearts?
Moses 5:32
...Cain slew Abel
How could the Lord allow something like this to happen?
In 1885 the First Presidency made the following statement, speaking about the righteous who are afflicted by the wicked: “For a wise purpose in [God’s] providence He permits the wicked, in the exercise of their agency, from time to time to afflict His followers. Since the days of our father Adam this has always been the case, and it will continue to be, so long as Satan has any power over the hearts of the children of men”.
Moses 5:33
...I Am Free
What do you think Cain believed he was free of?
How does disobedience actually decrease our freedom?
How does obedience increase our freedom?
Moses 5:34
...Am I my brother’s keeper?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: "Are we our brothers’ keepers? In other words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors as we seek to earn our daily bread? The Savior’s Golden Rule says we are. Satan says we are not. Tempted of Satan, some have followed the example of Cain. They covet property and then sin to obtain it. The sin may be murder, robbery, or theft. It may be fraud or deception. It may even be some clever but legal manipulation of facts or influence to take unfair advantage of another. Always the excuse is the same: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’".
Bishop Robert L. Simpson said: “The world today tells you to leave your friend alone. He has the right to come and go as he pleases. The world tells you that persuasion to attend church or priesthood meeting or to discard a bad habit might lead to frustration and undue pressures; but again I repeat the word of the Lord: You are your brother’s keeper, and when you are converted, you have an obligation to strengthen your brother.
Moses 5:36
What happened to Cain as a result of choosing to follow Satan instead of God?
...thou shalt be cursed
How did Cain's choices affect his descendants as well as himself?
How can our righteous or unrighteous choices affect our family members?
Elder Richard G. Scott counseled: "Many of you have heavy hearts because a son or daughter, husband or wife, has turned from righteousness to pursue evil. My message is for you. Your life is filled with anguish, pain, and, at times, despair. I will tell you how you can be comforted by the Lord. First, you must recognize two foundation principles:
1. While there are many things you can do to help a loved one in need, there are some things that must be done by the Lord.
2. Also, no enduring improvement can occur without righteous exercise of agency. Do not attempt to override agency. The Lord himself would not do that. Forced obedience yields no blessings (see D&C 58:26–33).
I will suggest seven ways you can help. First, love without limitations. … Second, do not condone the transgressions, but extend every hope and support to the transgressor. … Third, teach truth. … Fourth, honestly forgive as often as is required. … Fifth, pray trustingly. ‘The … fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ (James 5:16). …Sixth, keep perspective. … When the things you realistically can do to help are done, leave the matter in the hands of the Lord and worry no more. Do not feel guilty because you cannot do more. Do not waste your energy on useless worry. … In time, you will feel impressions and know how to give further help. You will find more peace and happiness, will not neglect others that need you, and will be able to give greater help because of that eternal perspective. …“One last suggestion—Never give up on a loved one, never!"
Moses 6:27
...thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people
Do you think the Lord is pretty much at that point the way the world is now?
Moses 6:31-32
How did Enoch react when he was called by the Lord to preach repentance to the people?
...wherefore am I thy servant
Elder James E. Faust, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “Most of us who are called to leadership in the Church feel that we are inadequate because of inexperience, lack of ability, or meager learning and education
What can we learn from Enoch about serving the Lord even when we do not feel capable?
Moses 6:35-36
...A seer hath the Lord raised up
Elder John A. Widtsoe stated: “A seer is one who sees with spiritual eyes. He perceives the meaning of that which seems obscure to others; therefore he is an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truth. He foresees the future from the past and the present. This he does by the power of the Lord operating through him directly, or indirectly with the aid of divine instruments such as the Urim and Thummim
Moses 6:37
Why were people offended when Enoch began to preach?
Why did they continue to listen to him even though they were offended?
Moses 7:18
...one heart, one mind
What does it mean to be of one heart and one mind?
What can we do to become of one heart and one mind with the Lord?
Moses 7:21
...Zion was taken up into heaven
Moses 7:26-28
...Satan laughed at the wickedness
...God wept
Elder Marion D. Hanks, a former member of the Seventy, explained: "God, from whom all blessings come, asked of his children only that they should love each other and choose him, their Father. But as in our day, many neither sought the Lord nor had love for each other, and when God foresaw the suffering that would inevitably follow this self-willed, rebellious course of sin, he wept. That, he told Enoch, was what he had to cry about."
Summary Points
- The commandments of God require the intelligent and deliberate attention of those who are seeking salvation. It took a lot of faith to make an offering of the firstlings of the flock.
- It is important make an offering in the way that the Lord wants
- We should be slow to anger and humble ourselves to repentance
- God permits the wicked to afflict the righteous in exercise of their agency
- Obedience increases our freedom not disobedience
- We are responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors
- The choices we make to follow Jesus Christ will help draw us closer to him and lead us to liberty, happiness, and eternal life.
v5...Adam was obedient unto the Lord. They were commanded to offer their firstlings of their flocks as an offering unto the Lord.
v12...Adam and Eve blessed the name of God and made all things known unto their children.
v16,17...Cain was a tiller of the ground; Abel was a keeper of sheep.
...firstling of the flock
The word ‘firstlings’ puts certain qualifications and restrictions and even determines the quality of faith that is used in offering the sacrifice. ‘Firstling’ does not necessarily denote the oldest of the flock, but the firstborn of its particular mother. A ‘firstling’ is a male, the ‘first to open the matrix’ of its mother. Each mother in her lifetime could produce only one firstling, but a flock of sheep could have several firstlings born each year. In order to know which lambs were acceptable for sacrifice, the owner would have to know his flock. Some notice would have to be made of mothers and of young. Otherwise, how could anyone know which mothers had produced offspring for the first time? There is no way that a man, Adam or anyone else, could know which males were firstlings unless a record and some identification of mothers and offspring were kept. This requirement removes the element of chance and of haphazard obedience, or sometime obedience. Not only is one’s faith shown in the willingness to offer a sacrifice but also in the care required and the preparation needed beforehand in making the selection of the proper animal.
This particular passage of scripture illustrates the concept that the commandments of God require the intelligent and deliberate attention of those who are seeking salvation. It gives a reason for Paul’s observation that ‘without faith it is impossible to please’ God. For without faith one would not have kept a record and marked (at least mentally) which animals were proper for sacrifice'
Moses 5:18-20
Who did Cain love the most?
...Cain loved Satan more than God
What did Satan command Cain to do unto the Lord?
...Satan commanded him saying: Make an offering unto the Lord
What did Cain offer unto the Lord?
...Cain brought of the fruit of the ground
What did Abel offer unto the Lord?
...Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock
Whose offering did the Lord respect?
...The Lord had respect unto Abel
Why was it important to make sacrifices in the way the Lord had commanded?
Moses 5:21,26
How did Cain react when the Lord rejected his sacrifice and called him to repentance?
...Cain was wroth, his countenance fell, he rejected the greater counsel, he listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, who walked in holiness.
Why is sometimes hard for us to be called to repentance?
How can we develop more repentant hearts?
Moses 5:32
...Cain slew Abel
How could the Lord allow something like this to happen?
In 1885 the First Presidency made the following statement, speaking about the righteous who are afflicted by the wicked: “For a wise purpose in [God’s] providence He permits the wicked, in the exercise of their agency, from time to time to afflict His followers. Since the days of our father Adam this has always been the case, and it will continue to be, so long as Satan has any power over the hearts of the children of men”.
Moses 5:33
...I Am Free
What do you think Cain believed he was free of?
How does disobedience actually decrease our freedom?
How does obedience increase our freedom?
Moses 5:34
...Am I my brother’s keeper?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: "Are we our brothers’ keepers? In other words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors as we seek to earn our daily bread? The Savior’s Golden Rule says we are. Satan says we are not. Tempted of Satan, some have followed the example of Cain. They covet property and then sin to obtain it. The sin may be murder, robbery, or theft. It may be fraud or deception. It may even be some clever but legal manipulation of facts or influence to take unfair advantage of another. Always the excuse is the same: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’".
Bishop Robert L. Simpson said: “The world today tells you to leave your friend alone. He has the right to come and go as he pleases. The world tells you that persuasion to attend church or priesthood meeting or to discard a bad habit might lead to frustration and undue pressures; but again I repeat the word of the Lord: You are your brother’s keeper, and when you are converted, you have an obligation to strengthen your brother.
Moses 5:36
What happened to Cain as a result of choosing to follow Satan instead of God?
...thou shalt be cursed
How did Cain's choices affect his descendants as well as himself?
How can our righteous or unrighteous choices affect our family members?
Elder Richard G. Scott counseled: "Many of you have heavy hearts because a son or daughter, husband or wife, has turned from righteousness to pursue evil. My message is for you. Your life is filled with anguish, pain, and, at times, despair. I will tell you how you can be comforted by the Lord. First, you must recognize two foundation principles:
1. While there are many things you can do to help a loved one in need, there are some things that must be done by the Lord.
2. Also, no enduring improvement can occur without righteous exercise of agency. Do not attempt to override agency. The Lord himself would not do that. Forced obedience yields no blessings (see D&C 58:26–33).
I will suggest seven ways you can help. First, love without limitations. … Second, do not condone the transgressions, but extend every hope and support to the transgressor. … Third, teach truth. … Fourth, honestly forgive as often as is required. … Fifth, pray trustingly. ‘The … fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ (James 5:16). …Sixth, keep perspective. … When the things you realistically can do to help are done, leave the matter in the hands of the Lord and worry no more. Do not feel guilty because you cannot do more. Do not waste your energy on useless worry. … In time, you will feel impressions and know how to give further help. You will find more peace and happiness, will not neglect others that need you, and will be able to give greater help because of that eternal perspective. …“One last suggestion—Never give up on a loved one, never!"
Moses 6:27
...thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people
Do you think the Lord is pretty much at that point the way the world is now?
Moses 6:31-32
How did Enoch react when he was called by the Lord to preach repentance to the people?
...wherefore am I thy servant
Elder James E. Faust, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “Most of us who are called to leadership in the Church feel that we are inadequate because of inexperience, lack of ability, or meager learning and education
What can we learn from Enoch about serving the Lord even when we do not feel capable?
Moses 6:35-36
...A seer hath the Lord raised up
Elder John A. Widtsoe stated: “A seer is one who sees with spiritual eyes. He perceives the meaning of that which seems obscure to others; therefore he is an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truth. He foresees the future from the past and the present. This he does by the power of the Lord operating through him directly, or indirectly with the aid of divine instruments such as the Urim and Thummim
Moses 6:37
Why were people offended when Enoch began to preach?
Why did they continue to listen to him even though they were offended?
Moses 7:18
...one heart, one mind
What does it mean to be of one heart and one mind?
What can we do to become of one heart and one mind with the Lord?
Moses 7:21
...Zion was taken up into heaven
Moses 7:26-28
...Satan laughed at the wickedness
...God wept
Elder Marion D. Hanks, a former member of the Seventy, explained: "God, from whom all blessings come, asked of his children only that they should love each other and choose him, their Father. But as in our day, many neither sought the Lord nor had love for each other, and when God foresaw the suffering that would inevitably follow this self-willed, rebellious course of sin, he wept. That, he told Enoch, was what he had to cry about."
Summary Points
- The commandments of God require the intelligent and deliberate attention of those who are seeking salvation. It took a lot of faith to make an offering of the firstlings of the flock.
- It is important make an offering in the way that the Lord wants
- We should be slow to anger and humble ourselves to repentance
- God permits the wicked to afflict the righteous in exercise of their agency
- Obedience increases our freedom not disobedience
- We are responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors
- The choices we make to follow Jesus Christ will help draw us closer to him and lead us to liberty, happiness, and eternal life.
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