Friendship and Honor

This section helped me learn what it means to be a good friend and how to follow our leaders.  David was a wise example of how to respect "the Lord's anointed."

Reading: 1 Samuel 18-26 and coordinating commentary from the Institute Student Manual (1 Samuel 24:10, 1 Samuel 26): 

Traits of each of these men: 

David: wise, selfless, grateful, courageous, confident, leader, considerate, loyal, respect, tender-hearted, people-oriented, cheerful, compassionate, benevolent, merciful.

Jonathan: generous, loyal, prudent, faithful, considerate, kind, perceptive, compassionate, protective

Saul: afraid, jealous, selfish, foolish, tricky, dishonest, skeptical, reactionary

In 1 Samuel 18:1, Jonathan’s and David’s hearts were “knit” and Jonathan “loved [David] as his own soul.”  Jonathan was the son of Saul, the king of Israel and David was to be the next king.  Saul gave one of his daughters to David for a wife and yet became jealous of David.  When Saul sought David’s life, Jonathan helped protect him in 1 Samuel 19: 2-5 by warning him of Saul’s wishes to kill him and promising to help him.  Then he went to his father, Saul and tried to talk him out of it.  Later, Jonathan fled to the fields with David to hide from Saul when he sought to kill David again in chapter 20, verse 11.  Verse four of chapter 20 sums up the willing heart of Jonathan to befriend David and serve him righteously:   Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.  The word desireth has an LDS footnote that leads to a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants.  It says:  123  See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires (D&C 88:123). 

Jonathan was truly committed, I think to serving the Lord and recognized the truth that “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). 

Later, in 1 Samuel 24 and 26, Saul is delivered into David’s hands and he has an opportunity to kill him.  Both times David refuses to kill him. 

Today, the Lord’s anointed are most especially the prophet and his counselors and apostles, but I think also any church leader all the way down to specific ward callings.  The example of David suggests that it is not our job to impeach the Lord’s servants if they are not living up to their calling properly.  It also shows us a tremendous example of mercy and humility to the Lord’s will.  David exhibits an understanding of the fairness in the judgments of God and decided to leave up the judgment between Saul and himself to the Lord.  We can uphold and respect the leaders over us in all capacities by not speaking ill of them or bringing them down, sustaining them, following their righteous heed, and leaving judgments up to the Lord like David did. 

Ruth and Naomi

This assignment answers questions about the story of Ruth and Naomi found in the Old Testament book, Ruth.  I focused on chapters 1 and 2 for it, but 3 and 4 (it's only 4 chapters) have a follow-up that is good too! 

Summary and Personal Application:

Judah was facing a climate that made it hard for crops to grow successfully.  Previous to Naomi’s family traveling to Moab, there was a famine in Judah because the people were struggling to provide by the crop. 

In Ruth 1 Ruth lost her husband, and was facing a decision to stay in her homeland without her new family or go with her mother-in-law to a different land. 

Currently, I face a decision that doesn't necessarily mean a trial but in my case of feeling an urge to go, I feel like preparing to serve a mission is a trial kind of like that.  To prepare to go and go, I would have to say good-bye to all the people I know now and leave them for a time to serve the Lord and get to know new people.

I think that Ruth was very close to Naomi and felt bonded but she also felt compassion for Naomi having lost her husband and two sons all in a relatively short amount of time.  It would have been hard for Ruth to go live with her mother-in-law that might have reminded her of her deceased husband, go to a new and different land, leave her own family of origin behind, and not know exactly how she would be provided for or what kind of future she would have.

Boaz was impressed with Ruth’s meekness and faith in accompanying her mother-in-law back to Judah even though it was unfamiliar and she didn't have any of her own family with her.  She showed great compassion.

I can exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to follow his example and have compassion on my family and neighbors.  Not fearing the world is significant part of this and I think it takes special trust in him to do what’s right today.  Both choices seemed good, but Ruth chose the better part so in addition to making good choices I can try to choose the better, and best choices in a situation.   

  I have made lots of sacrifices that relate to a serious commandment of Chastity.  It’s been difficult at certain times in my life to live virtuously and I have had restraint sometimes and still made poor choices other times, but overall, I would say that my collective righteous choices in effort to stay chaste are huge.  This has become a strength and blessing to me because the more I strive to be chaste, the easier it can be and there is power that comes from consistently trying to do what’s best.  I also recognize that the Lord has helped me realize the blessings ahead and appreciate more of his plan better through the spirit.  This really helps.

 I think Boaz was kind to Ruth because he respected her for her dedication to the Lord and through her actions set a good example. 

Extra:  Hannah and Prayer

 I also ready about Hannah and her devastation over not having a son before she was blessed with a son.  

I was really touched by Hannah’s faith in Heavenly Father when she was sad about not having any children.  She was truly heart-sick and made an effort to call upon Heavenly Father and tell Him how she felt.  I thought that sometimes when I am afflicted I hesitate too much to communicate with Heavenly Father with faith and probably lose potential blessings because I fail to exercise my faith in him.  I think this must be done humbly but I also think my willingness to trust him to bless me can be slacking.  When I am sad or discouraged and I open up to my mom or dad or someone else close to me and tell them how I really feel, I usually feel better and they are in a position to help me more.  I think that Heavenly Father also wants to bless us more than we think sometimes but we have to tell him how we feel and exercise our faith.  I wonder if Hannah would have been blessed with all the children she later had if she had not prayed fervently.

Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve

Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve Joshua 24:15

This section is on the account of Joshua pointing out the successes and blessings of God and encouraging the Israelites to continue to serve God so they can continue to reap the blessings.

Reading: Joshua 10:12-14, Institute Manual Reading for Josh. 10:12-14

These verses talk about the standing still of sun and the moon for the children of Israel to continue their fight against their enemies.  It’s curious that we know the sun is always still and it’s the earth that moves but he commanded the sun to be the one to stand still.  One explanation for this curiosity is possibly that as far as the Israelites knew the sun moved instead of the earth so it was stated according to their understanding of science even though we know that what was really happening was a halt in the rotation of the earth around the sun. 

 Reading: Chapter Summaries of Joshua 7-22 
List of Successes:
Ambush and conquer of Ai, altar built, Israel conquers (Ch. 8), a league with Gibeonites and makes the Gibeonites their servants (Ch.9), Amorites defeated with lots of the Lord’s help, other kings and cities destroyed (Ch.10),  Conquer entire land of many cities and nations (Ch. 11), Two kings east of Jordan and 31 on west side are conquered (Ch. 12),  Emphraim tribe drive out Canannites (Ch. 17)

List of Failures: 
Defeated by people of Ai, Achan and household destroyed (Ch. 7), incomplete expollation of people and possession of lands (Ch. 13), Some Canaanites are still among them in land (Ch. 16)

Reading: Joshua 23-24, Institute Manual Section for Josh. 24:15

The address that Joshua gave to the children of Israel prior to his death was focused on recognizing the Lord’s blessings for them with a grateful heart, ready to serve him in return.  The list of successes for Israel ultimately shows that the hand of the Lord was helping them.  Joshua wanted to bring this to their attention to help them remember him and serve him only so they could continue to reap the blessings in store for them. 

Policies and Perspective

Change in Policy: Numbers 3; 8; 18

Reading: Numbers 3:5-12; 8:5-16; 18:1-2

BibleDictionary, “Aaronic Priesthood” (599-600); “Levites” (724)

In these scriptures there is a description of changes in the order of the priesthood.  The Lord saw fit to consecrate those who were worthy in the tribe of Levi to serve in the tabernacle under Aaron and his sons.  They were called by the Lord through his prophet, Moses.  

Similarities in the wording of Numbers 3:5-12 and Official Declaration—2: 

The wording in Numbers 3:5-12 and Official Declaration is similar in that it describes that revelation changing organization in the church is established from the Lord, by the prophet.  

Reading: Numbers 8:6, 14; Isaiah 52:11; Doctrine and Covenants121:34-36, 41–42 

In order to have the power of the priesthood, a male must be “cleansed” (Numbers 8:6) and qualify by worthiness, upholding a certain standard (Official Declaration).  They are also set apart as Numbers 8:14 refers to by the word ‘separate.’  This means that they are set apart to do the Lord’s will as specified in the scriptures per specific calling and clarified by modern day prophets (such as in the modern day handbook).     

Eternal Perspective: 
It’s important to step back and look at your circumstances from an eternal perspective because you may see blessings ahead that may motivate you to be more diligent in qualifying for them instead of forfeiting them due to shortsightedness.   I was reading in Numbers 14 near the end of the chapter when the Lord rebukes the children of Israel, specifically condemning all those who complained, age 20 and above.  They were blessed to be led by the Lord miraculously out of Egypt and throughout the wilderness towards (even if in a roundabout way sometimes because of their own unpreparedness) but still did not qualify and I just thought it must have been hard for them to endure when they could not appreciate the blessings ahead.  It truly was a trial of faith.  I hope that I can have the courage to look at my trials from an eternal perspective and realize that the Lord in his infinite goodness can help me and I will be okay if I just keep trying my very best to be obedient.

Sanctification

Leviticus 17-25: Sanctification

Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8

Theme of Leviticus: Sanctify the saints so they can be holy even as the Lord is holy. 

Definition of Holiness and Sanctification

Sanctification: To be holy and sanctified means that you are pure, clean, and have high moral character. 

Jehovah was able to command his followers to be holy because he himself was holy in character and example.

We can listen to the spirit to help as we strive to follow Christ to know how to appropriately balance the letter of the law with the spirit of the law in our practices. 

As I have studied the principles in the book of Leviticus, I have a greater appreciation for the why of commandments.  I know now better their purpose and the result if they are kept.  Basically, we want to be like Christ so we have to follow his law.  He teaches us how to become like him so we must trust him.  This is hard, but that’s why we must have our faith firmly founded on him so nothing else can keep us from receiving the blessings he has in store for those who keep the commandments in the letter and spirit becoming clean and pure like him.

Leviticus 18:4-5 

By doing/keeping Christ’s judgments a, keeping his ordinances, and his statutes we are keeping his commandments. 

  Leviticus 19:3-4, 11-20, 28-31; 20:10, 13

Commandments: 

Keep the Sabbath day holy, don’t have idols, or create gods, don’t steal, deal falsely, lie, swear by my name falsely, profane God’s name, defraud or rob thy neighbor; don’t keep your employees’ wages from them, don’t curse the deaf or tease the blind; fear God; don’t judge unrighteously, *don’t respect one person over another, don’t gossip, betray, hate, avenge, or bear any grudge;  love thy neighbor as thyself; don’t mix the cattle, seed, or clothing with a different kind; investigate sexual crimes before killing; don’t commit adultery, or homosexuality. 

*This commandment of not respecting people based on their social status is from Lev. 19:15 and I think that it’s very difficult in our culture and society to avoid it.  Ways that I could work on this are praying for an eye single to the glory of God so I can see all His children like he does or by striving to live complete integrity so my actions are not based on what other people think or do, but on what’s right (this can prevent treating someone unfairly because of their status or any reason). 

Prophets: Moses and the Miracles

Prophets Talk to God Face to Face: 

Scriptures/summaries mainly from: Exodus 14:19-30 and Corinthians 10:1-4 

After the children of Israel finally made an escape from Pharaoh following a series of plagues caused by Pharaoh’s disobedience, they were led by divine help toward the promised land.  In Exodus 14:19, it says an “angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them.”  There was a pillar and an angel watching over them. A footnote in the LDS King James version of the Bible leads to Numbers 9:15 which describes a pillar as fire.  This shows how the children of Israel were protected by fire.

Later, the children of Israel are crossing the sea on dry ground because Moses parted it with the power of God.  The Egyptians followed them but eventually, “the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea” after Moses caused the sea to “return to his strength” (Ex. 14:27).  This shows how they were protected by water also.   

This in interesting to me beause in the Book of Mormon, is says: "Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost" (Ether 12:14).  Besides the importance of baptism by water there is also a spiritual quality to fire of the Holy Ghost that ultimately saves us.  

Importance of a Prophet: Communicating with the prophet specifically

This principle stood out to me when I was reading Exodus 24: 1-3 when the Lord tell the leaders of Israel to come up to the mountain to worship him and then tells Moses specifically to come to him.  He instructs Moses regarding the children of Israel.  This is striking to me because he can talk to his people individually as well as in smaller groups.  He can also talk to the leaders in groups, but this time, he wanted just the prophet.  I think that this shows the importance of having a current prophet and trusting in him to reveal the Lord’s revelations of hope, warnings, instruction, etc. because if there was not a need for this particular communication, the Lord would not have a prophet.  He would just inspire individual men.  It’s important to have a signal mouthpiece at the head of the Lord’s church.  

The Children of Israel

Lesson of God's Patience:

In Exodus 7-10 where the scriptures tell the story of Moses and Aaron trying to convince Pharaoh that he should release the Israelites, there is a long process of agreement.  As Pharaoh requests for each plague to be removed, Moses goes to the Lord as asks of the Lord to remove it.  This process cycles many times while Pharaoh, his servants, and the people of Egypt suffer, sadly.  This is a very historical moment for the Israelites and also very detrimental in a way for the Egyptians.  It’s curious to me that the Lord allows it to be a process and is so willing to comply to Pharaoh’s pleas and yet so firm that Pharaoh must let the people go.  I can see that Heavenly Father’s willingness is there.  He is so patient and wants us to be happy.  Knowing this reminds me of how I can receive so many blessings if I just try my best always to be like Christ and follow his commandments. 

After Moses carefully lead the Children of Israel successfully out of bondage from Pharaoh in Egypt, he found himself a lot of responsibility.  Here is a story about leadership and delegation: 

Taken from this passage: Exodus 18: 13-24

Each day Moses was a judge for the people and helped them learn of God.

He did this morning to evening. Then, his father in law saw this and counseled with him.  He said that it was “not good” to judge for the people all day because it would make him weary and he was not able (vs. 17, 18).    He suggested that he just judge the weightier matters and appoint judges over divisions of the people to be judges over the lesser matters.  

In our day, we have wards, stakes, areas, and the whole world under one president of the church.  This means that each ward calling all the way up to the counselors of the prophet/president of the church helps bear the responsibility that he has to lead and guide his sheep.  Each calling is in charge of just a fraction of the ultimate responsibility but it’s still important because it is a valuable piece of a greater picture.