ANNOUNCING...

This year we will be studying the Old Testament!  Hurrah!!  I imagine that it will take us quite some time to complete it.  But that's OK.  We will be following the CES Institute manual for the Old Testament.  My hope is that it will supplement our Sunday School Curriculum for the year.  Our first group meeting will be January 5th.  So grab your scriptures and let's get started!  I will be handing out the schedule at our meeting.  For now we will begin by reading the introduction to the Old Testament Institute Manual.  Ironically, it's entitled "For Our Profit and Learning". 

A Little Shout Out

OK ladies, let's learn something new today.  Go down to the bottom of this post and click on the comment icon.  It's super easy and I know you can do it.  Some or most of you have never done this before, so we are going to practice.  You don't have to say anything interesting or profound.  Just say hi, or howdy, or Merry Christmas or whatever.  Type whatever little greeting you would like.  Then type in the word verification-you just copy the letters that you see in the box.  Click on "Name/URL" and type in your first name or an alias.  That's it.  It's simple.  I know you can do it!  Do it as many times as you would like or need to feel comfortable.  It will make us both feel better!

In other news.  I apologize for being a little slothful the past week or two.  That's what happens to me during the holidays.  Too many people pulling me in different directions.  But, we are going to meet at my house tomorrow morning for our last discussion of the Doctrine and Covenants.  We are covering sections 133 to the end.  Come and join us it will be a lot of fun!  We are looking into a couple of different options for our study for the new year.  I'll let you know soon!

Section 131

I understood this a lot better when I learned that section 131 was actually received in three distinct parts at different times over two days (March 16-17, 1843).  These three revelations were later combined into one section by Elder Orson Pratt, acting under the direction of Brigham Young. 

Verses 1-4:
Joseph was traveling with William Clayton and staying at the home of the Johnson's.  Before they retired to bed, Joseph gave Brother and Sister Johnson some instructions on the priesthood.  Verses 1-4 were given in response to a conversation he had with William  Clayton that same evening.  We learn from these verses, that the celestial kingdom is divided into three degrees.  We learn that to qualify for the highest degree of the celestial kingdom one must enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage.  We are taught that those who comply with this law will have eternal increase.  What exactly is eternal increase?  According to the institute manual, "Those who comply with the new and everlasting covenant of marriage and endure faithfully to the end gain the right to become eternal parents."

Verses 5-6:
On the morning of March 17th, the Prophet Joseph discoursed on 2 Peter 1.  These two verses were given in that morning meeting.   Peter mentions the doctrine of having your calling and election made sure.  Joseph elaborates in verse 5.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said:
“Those members of the Church who devote themselves wholly to righteousness, living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, make their calling and election sure . That is, they receive the more sure word of prophecy, which means that the Lord seals their exaltation upon them while they are yet in this life. Peter summarized the course of righteousness which the saints must pursue to make their calling and election sure and then (referring to his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration with James and John) said that those three had received this more sure word of prophecy. ( 2 Pet. 1 .) . . .
“Those so favored of the Lord are sealed up against all manner of sin and blasphemy except the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and the shedding of innocent blood. That is, their exaltation is assured; their calling and election is made sure, because they have obeyed the fulness of God’s laws and have overcome the world.” ( Mormon Doctrine, pp. 109–10; see also D&C 132:17, 26 ; Notes and Commentary for D&C 76:53 .)

Verse 6 talks about gaining knowledge.  The manual points out that although this verse is true of all knowledge, it is important to remember that this revelation was given in connection with verse 5.  No man can be saved without having this sure knowledge--the sure word of prophecy.

Verses 7-8:
Joseph attended a lecture given by a Methodist preacher on the evening of May 17th.  These two verses were received afterwards to offer some correction to what had been said.  I don't have a written account of the preacher's lecture.  But apparently he somehow addressed the concept of matter.  Scientists in Joseph's day believed that matter could be created and destroyed.  In more recent times, scientists have proven that matter can not be created and destroyed.  Matter and energy are just different forms of the same thing. Matter is eternal.   
Orson Pratt once said:

The materials out of which this earth was formed are just as eternal as the materials of the glorious personage of the Lord himself.

What a week!

I know that I am really slow at posting this week.  It has been a bit crazy.  I've attended a viewing and funeral of a dear friend and a wedding of another friend.  I've had some great experiences and insights into temple ordinances and service.  I can't wait to share them with you!  I am planning on doing a full post on sections 131-132 tomorrow.  So stay tuned!  I'd really love to hear from you all.  Otherwise it's just me spouting off.  The more ideas and opinions the better.  So, don't be shy.  You can do it!  Go ahead and leave a comment. 

Sections 127-130

Thanks to all that came to scripture class on Tuesday.  We had a good time and a great discussion.  I'm not going to go into detail about each section.  I will just briefly recap some of the ideas and comments.

Section 127-128
These two sections are epistles written by Joseph Smith while he was in hiding.  There had been a serious attempt on Governor Boggs life.  Orrin Porter Rockwell was being charged of the crime and Joseph was being falsely accused of being his accessory.  It was apparently a ploy to bring Joseph back into the hands of the Missouri mobsters.  Although the persecutions were beginning again, Joseph seems to be in good spirits and content with whatever the future holds.  His optimism reminds me of President Hinckley.  Like Joseph, we may live in perilous times, but we have so much to be thankful for!

During these years in Nauvoo, temple ordinances and the work for the dead weighed heavily on Joseph's mind.  These two sections focus primarily on baptisms for the dead.  Verse four seemed to speak to me.  Just like the saints in Nauvoo, our temple work must "continue on and not cease".  We would do well to redouble our efforts in attending and serving in the temples of the Lord.  Joseph also explains the importance of keeping accurate records and the law of witnesses.  We will be judged from the "other books" (our earthly records) and the Book of Life (the records kept in heaven).  It is vital to the Lord's plan that our records (particularly those concerning temple ordinances) are accurate and exact. 

Section 129
This section discusses the keys to discerning between good and evil spirits.  The phrase "spirits of just men made perfect" refers to translated beings.

Section 130
I loved this excerpt from the D&C institute manual about the concept of time (it's probably the scientist in me trying to get out). 

Lael Woodbury, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University, talked about man’s perception of time and God’s perception of time in an address sponsored by the Church Educational System:
“The evidence suggests that God . . . perceives time as we perceive space. That’s why ‘all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things’ [ D&C 88:41 ]. Time, like space, is ‘continually before the Lord.’ . . .
“. . . Right now we perceive music in time as a blind man perceives form in space—sequentially. He explores with his fingers, noting form, texture, contours, rhythms. He holds each perception in his mind, one by one, carefully adding one to the other, until he synthesizes his concept of what that space object must be like. You and I don’t do that. We perceive a space object immediately. We simply look at it, and to a certain degree we ‘know it. We do [not] go through a one-by-one, sequential, additive process. We perceive that it is, and we are able to distinguish it from any other object.
“I’m suggesting that God perceives time as instantaneously as we perceive space. For us, time is difficult. Lacking higher facility, we are as blind about time as a sightless man is about space. We perceive time in the same way that we perceive music—sequentially. We explore rhythm, pitch, amplitude, texture, theme, harmonies, parallels, and contrasts. And from our perceptions we synthesize our concept of the object or event—the musical artwork—that existed in its entirety before we began our examination of it.
“Equally complete now is each of our lives before the Lord. We explore them sequentially because we are time-blind. But the Lord, perceiving time as space, sees us as we are, not as we are becoming. We are, for him, beings without time. We are continually before him—the totality of our psyches, personalities, bodies, choices, and behaviors.” ( Continually before the Lord, Commissioner’s Lecture Series [Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1974], pp. 5–6.)
Einstein’s theory is only a theory, although it is being substantiated again and again as a valid representation of reality. How God operates through the vastness of space and the eternity of time has not been revealed in specific detail, but what information man has been given can be harmonized with what physicists are discovering about the interrelationship of space and time

Obviously these sections are packed full of good stuff.  This is just a sampling.  What impressed you?

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Just a Reminder

We are meeting tomorrow at my home at 10am.  Our assignment for tomorrow is D&C 127-130.  Come prepared to share! 

Doctrine and Covenants Section 124-126 (mostly 124)

(This is Nauvoo around the time this revelation was given)

Brief History:

When this revelation was received the saints were enjoying a moment of peace and prosperity.  They had been previously brutally driven from Missouri.  They were welcomed into Commerce, Illinois which later became known as Nauvoo.  Nauvoo became the headquarters of the church.  Many of the elders that had been preaching abroad returned home.  They experienced great success in their missionary efforts.  Many saints were gathering to Illinois.  At this time, there were about 3000 saints living in Nauvoo.  

What popped out at me:
*The prophet was commanded to send a proclamation to the leaders of nations in verse 3.

...you are now called immediately to make a solemn proclamation of my gospel...This proclamation shall be made to all the kings of the world, to the four corners thereof, to the honorable president-elect, and the high-minded governors of the nation in which you live, and to all the nations of the earth scattered abroad.

This commandment was fulfilled after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum on April 6, 1845 by the Twelve Apostles.  Since that time, modern day prophets and apostles have issued proclamations and declarations to the world from time to time.  I have been able to find a few.  President Benson restated and reaffirmed this very proclamation to the world in a powerful General Conference address in 1975.   Did you know that President Kimball issued a proclamation to the world from the Peter Whitmer Farmhouse in 1980?  Of course, we are most familiar with The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  All of these are in fulfillment of prophecy stated in D&C 35:13.

Wherefore, I call upon the ^aweak things of the world, those who are ^bunlearned and despised, to thrash the ^cnations by the power of my ^dSpirit;

*It occurs to me that section 124 covers all three missions of the church.

     Proclaim the Gospel (v5-10)

(this is a picture of the Nauvoo House)

I loved the thought of building the Nauvoo House as a place of refuge for the weary traveler. (D&C 124:23)  "that he may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord."  I wonder sometimes if we are doing enough to help the weary travelers that find their way to our ward or our homes to feel welcome and safe and secure as they contemplate the things of the Lord.  It's "homemaking" at it's best.  The Lord understood the relationship between temporal and spiritual needs.  When we are clothed and fed and happy and safe, we can feel the things of the spirit more easily.  Isn't that part of our calling as mothers and women?  What a simple and effective way to proclaim the gospel!

  Perfect the Saints (specific instructions to saints by name)

Isn't it wonderful to know that Heavenly Father knows us by name.  He is concerned about us.  He is concerned not only about our spiritual welfare, but our temporal welfare as well.  We can go to him with temporal concerns and questions.  He wants to bless us.

Have you ever wondered what the Lord would have revealed about you if you had lived back in the day?  It's a little frightening to consider.  Would I be in the same class as George Miller or John C Bennett?  David Patten or William Law?  I would hope that he would say something like he did to Hyrum..."blessed is my servant (fill in your name); for I, the Lord love her because of the integrity of her heart and because she loveth that which is right before me." Maybe someday sisters.  Someday.

 Redeem the Dead (v27-42)

This is the first mention in modern revelation about baptisms for the dead.  I love the emphasis on the House of the Lord in this time of church history.  I love the emphasis on temples in our day!  Verse 55 is a favorite:

And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a house to my name, even in this place, that you may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.

So what popped out at you?

A Little More Housekeeping

I am excited to get this site up and running.  It may take a while to find the format that we like.  Please be patient.  I'm sure you will notice many changes over the next coming weeks until we settle into something that is comfortable for all of us.  I have enabled anyone to make comments on these posts.  This is by far the easiest format.  You don't have to log in and you don't have to remember any passwords.  There is an option to comment anonymously--however comments are much more meaningful when we know who made them.  Please leave at least a first name when making a comment.  This blog is public at this point in time.  If we run into problems with inappropriate comments from strangers in the future we may have to go private  Well just see how that goes.  I will be monitoring all of the content on this site.  I will remove anything that is inappropriate or disrespectful.  Thanks for your cooperation!

A New Age

We have been meeting every Tuesday morning as a group of sisters, neighbors, and friends for more than three years now.  Some of you have been there since the beginning.  Some have had to drop out and some have joined in as circumstances permitted.  It has been a tremendous experience for me.  There is something incredible about sharing spiritual feelings with your sisters and friends.  I feel like we have increased in our knowledge and understanding of the scriptures.  My testimony has grown.  I hope that yours has too.  We have completed the Book of Mormon and most of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

As of late, we have been encountering a few stumbling blocks to our weekly scripture study.  I've decided to try something new in the hopes that more sisters will be able to participate.  I understand that this form of communication tends to not be as personal as a face to face meeting.  But I am hopeful that we can still grow spiritually and share our thoughts and feelings openly.  The advantages to this type of venue are many.  You can read and post comments and questions when it is most convenient for you.  This should allow sisters who work or have other scheduling conflicts to participate if they desire.  It should also work better for mothers of young children.  I can link to supplemental resources directly--you can read them for yourselves instead of listening to me quote them.  We can encourage one another to not only read but really study the scriptures regularly.  And I think we will be able to be much more consistent and able to stick to our schedule.  We may even be able to continue through the summer if we desire. It sounds like a win-win situation to me. 

So, let's get started!