Finding Christ in the Old Testament

Covenants : Suzerain Vassal Land Grants

2012-02-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

Throughout the Near East there are many secular documents that follow the same form as the covenant-making between God and man.

In Biblical scholarship, these are called Suzerain-Vassal treaties. A suzerain is a lord or king; a vassal is someone inferior who pays tribute to him or fights in his army. These treaties (or covenants) follow a standard form.

1)The identification of the Suzerain by his name and titles (Genesis 15:1, 17:1).

2) The historical survey of theSuzerain's dealings with the vassal. The purpose is to illustrate to thevassal how much the Suzerain has done to protect and establish the vassal whotherefore owes submission and allegiance to the Suzerain (['what great things the LORD has done for His people' : I Nephi 17:23-42).

3) The next section of these treatieslist the "stipulations," what the vassal is required to do and what the lord offers in return (Genesis 17:1-14).

4) There may be a requirement that the vassal deposit his copy of the treaty in his temple,where he is to occasionally read and study it to refresh his memory concerninghis duties (Deuteronomy 17:17-20)

5) Witnesses to the treaty (Isaiah 1:2)

6) The last section of these treatiescontains the blessings (if the vassal obeys) and curses (if the vassal is unfaithful) of the Suzerain (Leviticus 26).

The treaties are written on a variety of surfaces : embossed on clay tablets, carved in stone, or engraven on metal (see above).

The British Museum has many examples of these treaties carved on stones, which were then placed at the boundaries of the land given to the vassal by the lord. Often, the sun, moon or stars are called as witnesses to the treaty and are carved over the heads of the parties involved.

You can read more about these by Googling 'Suzerain-Vassal treaties.' There are interesting discussions here, here and here.

The Ten Famines

2012-02-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

According to the rabbis, there are 10 famines named in the Hebrew Bible:

1. Genesis3:17 - Adam

2. Genesis5:29 - Lamech

3. Genesis12:10 - Abraham

4. Genesis26:1 - Isaac

5. Genesis41:54-57 -Jacob

6. Ruth1:1 - Naomi goes to Moab in the days of the Judges

7. 2Samuel 21:1 - David (see also 2 Samuel 24:13)

8. 1Kings 18:2- Elijah

9. 2Kings 4:25, 6:25 - Elisha

10. Amos 8:11 - a spiritual famine which willoccur in the Messianic Age

The Ten Trials of Abraham

2012-02-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

1. King tries to kill Abraham at his birth.
2. Abraham is locked in a prison for 10 years, then thrown into a fire.
3. Abraham is commanded to leave his home.
4. Famine in the land.
5. Sarah is taken by Pharaoh.
6. The battle of the kings.
7. The vision between the pieces.
8. Circumcision.
9. Ishmael and Hagar sent away.
10. Abraham is commanded to sacrifice Isaac.

This list of the ten trials of Abraham comes from a really old book called, "Pirke de Rabbi Eliezer."
To read the full text of this book, go here.
"We should learn from this story that receiving the promises does not entail being protected from moments when those promises seem to be called into question."
-Terence Fretheim (in the New Interpreter's Bible, 1994).

Seven Terms of the Covenant : Genesis 12

2012-02-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

There are seven statements in the covenant God offers Abraham
in Genesis 12: 2-3 :

1. And I will make of thee a great nation,

2. and Iwill bless thee,

3. and make thy name great;

4. and thou shaltbe a blessing:

5. AndI will bless them that bless thee,

6. and curse him that curseth thee:

7. and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

This is the first occurence in Torah of the Hebrew word barak, to bless and it is used five times in these two verses.

12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-13T21:02:00.000-08:00

Last year, with the help of my daughter, Karen, I wrote 12 posts on my other blog, one for each of the 12 Days of Christmas. Some of what I teach in my annual "Christmas in the Old Testament" lesson is summarized there. There are also some great pictures, YouTube videos and cut and color activities for children for each day.

Personal Power vs Position Power

2011-12-11T15:41:00.001-08:00

In reading about Melchizedek in Alma 13 this last week in class, we read:
" 18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, andreceived the office of the high priesthood according to theaholy order of God,did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent;. . ."
I suggested (quoting from Bro. Robert Norman) that Melchizedek influenced his people through the power of his personal righteousness rather than by virtue of his position.

I found the same story on a Jewish website :
There was once a boy who wanted to be king. At first he bullied and yelled. He instilled fear into the hearts of all those around him, and got everyone to do what he wanted. But the moment that the king went away, no one followed his orders or obeyed his rules. The boy, now king, realized that obtaining power through fear doesn’t work in the long run. He decided to try a different way. He treated everyone with respect and kindness. He was sincere, giving, caring and kindhearted. They honored him and performed his will. Even away from his presence, they continued to follow his orders and obeyed his laws.

This same article also said that "one must first approach each situation from the right side, the side of chesed [HB for mercy], and then it can be approached with the left [the side of din, or judgment]. We start with chesed and end with chesed."

This is saying the same thing as D&C 121

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the natureand disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, asthey suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many arecalled, but few are chosen.

41 No power orinfluence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion,by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, andpure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, andwithout guile—

43 Reproving betimeswith sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forthafterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest heesteem thee to be his enemy;

You can read the rest of the article here.

[The mosaic of Melchizedek meeting Abraham with bread and wine is from Santa Maria Maggiadore.]

Christmas in the Book of Isaiah: Prophecy Fulfilled

2011-12-06T14:06:00.001-08:00

For the South Jordan Stake class only (11 AM Thursday, Dec 15): your Christmas lesson will look at imagery in Isaiah which is used in the traditional telling of the Christmas story. Below is a list of verses I will refer to. You might want to print out this list to make note taking easier. (the painting is by J Kirk Richards)

Here is a list of the verses without my comments.They are written the way you do it inresearch papers, with a . instead of a : [that saves having to shift :)]

1.3

6.1-3

7.14

9.6-7

10.27

11.1-2

12.4-6

13.14

13.15-18

14.7-8

41.19-20

55.12-13

40.1-3

26.3-5

61.1,2,5

19.1

43.10-11

44.8

35.4

41.27

42.10-13

44.23

49.13

18.1-2,7

41.1-6

45.14-15

49.6-7

54.4-8

62.5

49.1-3,5

66.7-13

48.10

44.1-2,5-6

46.3-5

49.21

54.5

63.16

64.8

65.9

60.1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,14,13,22

(you need to know Hebrew for verse 22)

54.13 (age 12)

Christmas in the Old Testament

2011-12-02T19:09:00.000-08:00

Next week we will have a special Christmas Lesson at each building : this is a special, stand-alone class. Feel free to bring friends : there is no charge.

1. Tuesday evening, December 13
Springville Hobble Creek Stake
6:30-8:00 PM
Canyon Chapel
1965 East Canyon Road, Springville UT 84663.

NEW! This will be our first class at this new location in downtown Salt Lake: come and see what you think.
2. Wednesday morning, December 14
Salt Lake Ensign Stake
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Ensign Stake Center
135 A Street, Salt Lake City, Utah

3. Wednesday evening, December 14
Salt Lake Sugar House
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Salt Lake Sugar House Stake Center
1681 South 11th East (17th South at 11th East), Salt Lake City.

4. Thursday morning, December 15
Sandy Utah Granite South Stake
9:00-10:30a.m.
Sandy Utah Granite South Stake Center
2126 Gyrfalcon Drive (10000 South), Sandy, Utah 84092

5. Thursday mid-morning, December 15
South Jordan Stake
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
South Jordan Stake Center
2450 W 10400 S. (South Jordan Parkway) South Jordan, Utah 84095.

Winter Classes

2011-11-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

It's time to make your plans for our 2012 classes.
I am excited to announce a new class starting. It is right downtown near the Church Office Building and used to be taught by Lee Donaldson.

The NEW CLASS starting on Wednesday mornings in the Ensign Stake Center will begin at the beginning of Genesis with the creation and Adam and Eve, repeating what the other 4 classes studied in 2011.

NEW! 1. Salt Lake Ensign Stake
Wednesday mornings, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
January 25–April 18, 2012 (Class will not be held on April 4.)
Ensign Stake Center
135 A Street, Salt Lake City, Utah
Register online at ce.byu.edu/re/ or at the door.

The four already existing classes will all be continuing our study of Genesis : Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and the Exodus.

2. Springville Hobble Creek Stake
Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:00 PM
January 24 - April 17, 2012 (Class will not be held on April 3.)
Canyon Chapel
1965 East Canyon Road, Springville UT 84663.
Register at the door.

3.Salt Lake Sugar House
Wednesday Evening, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
January 25–April 18, 2012 (Class will not be held on April 4.)
Salt Lake Sugar House Stake Center
1681 South 11th East (17th South at 11th East), Salt Lake City.
Register at the door.

4. Sandy Utah Granite South Stake
Thursday morning, 9:00-10:30a.m.
January 26–April 19, 2012 (Class will not be held on April 5.)
Sandy Utah Granite South Stake Center
2126 Gyrfalcon Drive (10000 South), Sandy, Utah 84092
Register at the door.

5. South Jordan : Thursday mid-morning, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
January 26–April 19, 2012 (Class will not be held on April 5.)
South Jordan Stake Center
2450 W 10400 S. (South Jordan Parkway) South Jordan, Utah 84095.
Register online at ce.byu.edu/re/ or at the door.

If you sign up for ONE class, you are welcome to attend ANY class (or ALL of them if you want to) at no additional cost.

Seals and Bows

2011-11-15T10:47:00.000-08:00

In class last week we talked about being "sealed" in the covenant. I passed around a book with images of ancient seals - often cut into stone - from the British Museum. Here are some of those images.

I also pointed out that the 'rainbow' - sign of the covenant with Noah - is actually the weapon BOW. Here are images from cylinder seals and ancient Assyrian, Egyptian, Hittite and Greek carvings showing the King in his chariot with his bow. In virtually all of these images, the king is said to be the son of god.

And, finally, here is information on seals from the website thesealmaker.com :

One of the earliest examples of Seal Engraving has been found in the form of Babylonian cylinder seals which were engraved around 3200BC. The seals were cut into a wide variety of hard stones using wheels in very much the same way that stones are engraved today. The seals were used as personal imprint signatures or symbols of officials and important families for edicts and contractual agreements. The seal was pressed and rolled into the inscribed clay tablets to produce an easily recognisable impression. Since each seal had been uniquely engraved it was virtually impossible to forge. The use of the seals spread throughout Mesopotamia, Egypt and Asia.
In the reign of Edward III, figures of every kind, architectural, heraldic and other devices were introduced into seals. The use of seals in England became general within a few years of the Norman Conquest, and early in the 12th century they were universally adopted for the purpose of authenticating documents. Signet rings were made either by engraving the design on gems, agates and other hard stones, or by cutting into the metal of the ring. Larger seals, desk seals etc., were engraved on gold, silver, brass or steel. The seal was pressed into coloured wax, the wax impression was then attached to the document, but not stamped directly on to it.
Early heralds adopted the use of seals and due to their tremendous detail we are able to follow the history of heraldry with accuracy. The Royalty of England had the various Royal Arms as a seal. Each subsequent monarch changed their Royal Arms and doing so changed their seal.
Every seal is hand cut, preserving the unique quality of the completed article.
After a seal was cut into a ring, the seal engraver made many wax impressions which were given to the owner of the seal along with the signet ring. The owner then distributed the waxes among family, friends and officials, so that when an important document was sent the recipient could check the unbroken seal against the wax impression to ensure that the document was genuine. After the death of the owner of the seal, the signet ring used to produce the seal was cracked to prevent further use.
neil@thesealmaker.com
thesealmaker.com

No Classes Next Week

2011-10-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

So sorry.

After our classes this week, I am off to Missouri to meet my new granddaughter, Amelia Jane, who decided to come 5 weeks earlier than expected.

So, NO CLASSES on NOVEMBER 1 (Springville), NOVEMBER 2 (Sugar House), or NOVEMBER 3 (Sandy and South Jordan).

Please call your friends and share this information with them!

Thanks.

See you next month.

My favorite internet read in a long time

2011-10-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

Who says Mormons aren't Christians?

By Dean Obeidallah, Special to CNN

updated 11:19 AM EST, Wed October 12, 2011

The Rev. Robert Jeffress of the Texas megachurch First Baptist Dallas called the Mormon faith a "cult."

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Rev. Robert Jeffress recently called Mormonism "a cult"
Jeffress has a long history of hateful proclamations, Obeidallah says
Many Mormons are caring, compassionate people, Obeidallah says
Obeidallah: Isn't compassion what Christianity is supposed to be about?

Editor's note: Dean Obeidallah is an award-winning comedian who has appeared on TV shows such as Comedy Central's "Axis of Evil" special, ABC's "The View," CNN's "What the Week" and HLN's "The Joy Behar Show." He is executive producer of the annual New York Arab-American Comedy Festival and the Amman Stand Up Comedy Festival. Follow him on Twitter.

(CNN) -- The Rev. Robert Jeffress, a leading evangelical minister,claimed last Friday that Mormons are not Christians. Jeffress went on to declare that Mormonism is "a cult," meaning it's not a "real" religion, and he implored his followers to reject Mitt Romney, a Mormon, as a candidate for president because as Jeffress sees it: "As Christians, we have the duty to prefer and select Christians as our leaders."

Jeffress is infamous for his past "Christian" comments such as: Jews, gays, Muslims and Mormons are all going to hell; Islamencourages pedophilia; and that gays should be banned from the military because 70% of the gay population has AIDS.

At the time of Jeffress' comments about Mormons, I happened to be in Utah, the state with the largest percentage of Mormons in the nation. I'm not Mormon, meaning I'm not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And prior to this trip, I had met only a few members of the LDS Church.

I was in Salt Lake City because I'm performing as part of a stand-up comedy tour called "The Muslims Are Coming," featuring American-Muslim comedians performing free comedy shows across the country as a way, we hope, to counter misinformation and build bridges with our fellow Americans.

There we were -- Muslims and Mormons -- bonding on some level because we were both the subject of attacks from people on the far right. Earlier in this presidential campaign it was our time, withHerman Cain essentially arguing for discrimination against American Muslims simply because of our faith. Now the voices of hate had turned their focus to Mormons.

Over the last four days I have spent a great deal of time with members of the LDS Church. I'm not saying that I'm an expert on their teachings and, to be honest, I had some apprehension about Mormons because the LDS Church had publicly funded opposition to marriage equality in California, which I disagree with because I oppose discrimination against any American.

But I can now say without hesitation that the LDS Church members we met represented the best of Christianity. They were truly caring and compassionate people.

And perhaps it's overly simplistic to define an entire religion by the few hundred we met, but let's be honest: many define religions, races and ethnicities by a few of their worst examples. I prefer instead to define minority groups by their best examples.

While it probably doesn't matter to a person like Jeffress, the LDS members we met proudly consider themselves Christians. After all, the full name of their religion is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." If your religion has the words "Jesus Christ" in its name, it's kind of a tip off that Christ's teachings are important to you.

In contrast to the hate spewed by Jeffress, we found that the Mormons we met truly represent the Christian ideal of loving your neighbor. One of the best examples we found of a true Christian was Andrew Kosorok, a proud member of the LDS Church and a talented glassmaker who created an awe-inspiring glass exhibit called "99 Most Beautiful Names: A Sculptural Presentation of the Names of God from the Quran." Kosorok had sacrificed hundreds of hours of time from his family and friends and spent more than $7,000 of his own money to create this exhibit.

Why did Kosorok do this? Because he believed that fostering understanding and countering negative misconceptions about another faith -- in this case Islam -- was part of his duty as a Christian.

This passage from the New Testament is often cited as one that articulates Jesus' philosophy: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

In comparing the hate-filled language of Jeffress with the words and good deeds of the Mormons we met, it is clear to me who is best following the teachings of Jesus Christ and truly deserves to be called a Christian.

Please go vote for FAIR LDS podcasts: they are great!

2011-10-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

THE FAIR JOURNAL SPECIAL EDITION October 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research
----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a SPECIAL EDITION of the FAIR Journal. We are sending out this
special edition to notify you of something that cannot wait until the
next FAIR Journal is readied and sent out--it will be too late by that
point.

The People's Choice Podcast Awards, better known simply as the Podcast
Awards, are an annual set of awards given to the best podcasts as
voted on by listeners. This year, 1,441,712 listeners nominated 2,698
shows. Ten shows were chosen as nominees in each of 22 different
categories.

Our Mormon FAIR-Cast, which is located at www.fairblog.org, has been
nominated to receive a Podcast Award in the "Religion Inspiration"
category. We consider this nomination a great honor.

How We Were Nominated
------------------------------
Nominations were open for 15 days in September. Podcasts that received
votes were reviewed by a 22-member committee that took a variety of
factors into account. The total number of votes a podcast received
accounted for only 40% of the grading, with the quality of the
website's design (15%), quality of sound (15%), quality of deliverance
and show format (10%), and relevance of content (20%) also being
considered.

What We Would Like You To Do
------------------------------
Final voting for the awards began today, October 12th, and will end on
October 27th at 11:59pm HST. Each person (verified by IP address) may
vote ONCE EACH DAY during the 15 days that voting is open. In other
words, a single person can cast 15 votes if he or she votes once each
day.

Please support the Mormon FAIR-Cast by casting your vote at this
address:

http://www.podcastawards.com

Remember, you can vote once each day for the 15 days voting is open,
and voting only takes a moment.

To vote, go to the podcastawards.com and find the Mormon FAIR-Cast
entry. It is listed under the Religion Inspiration category, which is
near the bottom of the page on the right. It is the third category up
from the bottom. Click on the Mormon FAIR-Cast entry. Then scroll down
and enter your name and email address. Click on the button that
describes you best (Listener, Podcaster, or Both.) For most of you
that will be "Listener." Then click on the submit button on the right.

Please spread the word by telling your friends. Even if we don't win
the voting, we hope this will raise awareness of the great resources
we have. If we do win, it is even better. You can post a link with
instructions on Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus. Remind your friends
to vote each day, and thank you for your continued support of FAIR.

-Allen Wyatt
FAIR, VP Operations

The Intertestamental Period

2011-09-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

In class as we drew Margot Butler's Timeline into the Chronology section of the Bible Dictionary, I mentioned a book covering the time between the Old and the New Testaments : the Intertestamental period. These are both versions of that book. The newer one, "The Lost 500 Years", has more pictures, but the text of the two books is very much the same. Both are written by S. Kent Brown and Richard N Holzapfel.

Here is the official blurb from Amazon.com:

"You’ve studied the Old Testament. You’ve studied the New Testament. But what do you know about the nearly five hundred years of history between those sacred books? Now, in The Lost 500 Years (a special illustrated edition of the book formerly titled Between the Testaments), Kent Brown and Richard Holzapfel illuminate this little-understood but vital era. The book discusses the Dead Sea Scrolls; the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha; key political, religious, and cultural groups mentioned in the New Testament; Jewish feasts and festivals; Jewish law; and the hope for a Messiah. Understanding this watershed period of history will set the stage for you to fully appreciate the events and teachings of the New Testament!"

2011 Fall Review

2011-09-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

I recommend that all students go back and reread all of the posts on this blog from February 2011 as a review of what I taught this week in class.

All of the handouts are there in pdf form for you to download.

"Sacred Geometry" : Lectures and Workshop in Springville

2011-09-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

From their website:

"If you ever took a class on geometry, you might wonder what was so sacred about it. It’s just a lot of angles and equations–or is it? Without even know it, everyone speaks the language of geometry. Geometry, ‘geo’ meaning world, and ‘metre’, meaning measure, can be construed as the measure of the earth. But it is much more.

Sacred Geometry entices the mathematician, the artist, the architect, the musician, the physician and the common man. It encompasses numbers, shapes, sounds, colors, and everything growing. It gives the explanation for purpose, function and the endless potential of man on the earth. And that’s only the beginning.

All over the world sacred space is filled with all things geometrical. The human body is a lifelong study of proportional relationships to PHI. And books continue to be churned out to explain what has seemed like the unexplainable. But not any longer.

The answers are available today. For the first time in this millennium, answers to questions centuries old are here for those who are truly seeking. Connections to lighthouses, whether they be temples or the human body will be explored and explained. Distinct spiritual connections with science and the universe will be unfolded. Join us for this illuminating event and come understand secrets known by Da Vinci, Euclid, Abraham, and Joseph.

October, 14, 3-5 Free hands on workshop using compass and right angle. Pre-registration is required. Contact yvonne@thehomeuniversity.com to save a seat. Free panel discussion from 6 – 9 P.M.

October, 15 8 – 5 P.M. Lectures featuring Wulf Barsch, Dr. C. Lance Harding, Garth Norman, Val Brinkerhoff and Yvonne Bent.

Seating is limited. Don’t wait to reserve yourself a place at this once in a lifetime event.

Tickets are $45.00 at Tix.com

Questions? call 510 685-8288."

aboutsacredgeometry.com/

New Fall Classes

2011-09-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching classes at 5 locations this fall. Perhaps one of the new ones will fit your schedule better.

1. Springville : Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:00 PM, beginning September 20th.
Finding Christ in the Old Testament.
1965 East Canyon Road, Springville UT 84663.
Register at the door.

2. Sandy : Thursday morning, 9:00-10:30 AM, beginning September 22nd.
Finding Christ in the Old Testament.
Sandy Utah Granite South Stake Center
2126 Gyrfalcon Drive (10000 South), Sandy, Utah 84092
Register at the door

3. South Jordan : Thursday mid-morning, 11:00-12:30 AM, beginning September 22nd.

Finding Christ in the Old Testament.
2450 W 10400 S. (South Jordan Parkway) South Jordan, Utah 84095.
Register thru BYU Cont. Ed

NEW 4. Sugarhouse : Wednesday Evening, 7:00 pm to 8:30 PM, starting September 21st.

Finding Christ in the Old Testament.

Salt Lake Sugar House Stake Center

1681 South 11th East (17th South at 11th East), Salt Lake City.

The topic appears to be the same, but the Springville and South Jordan classes are already a full semester into the Old Testament. I will be starting at the beginning of Genesis in the Sandy and Sugarhouse classes but teaching a more condensed version. All 4 adult classes should be on the same subject during the same week by Thanksgiving (at least, that is the plan). So, if you missed some of the early classes last year, you are welcome to come to one of the new locations. Or, come for a review. If you are registered for ANY one class, you can come to any you want.

NEW 5. Orem Institute at UVU : for Young Single Adults only :Thursday Evening, 7:00 PM.

Finding Christ in the Old Testament.

Email me or comment on this post if you have any questions.

Symposium Honoring Richard L Bushman on Saturday

2011-06-13T22:08:00.000-07:00

SPRINGVILLE, Utah — Mormonism in Cultural Contexts will be a symposium on June 18 in honor of Richard Lyman Bushman's 80th birthday.

The symposium will be at the Springville Museum of Art in Springville. Bushman is one of the general editors on the Joseph Smith Papers Project.

Terryl L. Givens, a professor of literature and religion at the University of Richmond, will be the opening plenary session speaker. Claudia Bushman is scheduled to speak at the luncheon. Philip L. Barlow, the Leonard J. Arrington professor of Mormon history and culture at Utah State University, and Richard Bushman will speak at the concluding plenary session.

Five other concurrent sessions with four classes for each session are planned. The symposium runs 8 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. and is free.

Dates and Addresses for Fall Classes

2011-06-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

1. Springville : Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:00 PM, beginning September 20th.
Finding Christ in the Old Testament.
1965 East Canyon Road, Springville UT 84663.
Register at the door.

2. Sandy : Thursday morning, 9:00-10:30 AM, beginning September 22nd.
Finding Christ in the Old Testament.
Sandy Utah Granite South Stake Center
2126 Gyrfalcon Drive (10000 South), Sandy, Utah 84092
Register thru BYU Cont. Ed

3. South Jordan : Thursday mid-morning, 11:00-12:30 AM, beginning September 22nd. Finding Christ in the Old Testament.
2450 W 10400 S. (South Jordan Parkway) South Jordan, Utah 84095.
Register thru BYU Cont. Ed

Current Plans for Fall Classes

2011-05-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

I currently have 4 classes scheduled for the 2011 fall semester, starting the THIRD week of September.

1. Springville : Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:00 PM. Finding Christ in the Old Testament. 1965 East Canyon Road, Springville UT 84663.

2. Sandy : Thursday morning, 9:00-10:30 AM. Finding Christ in the Old Testament. (no address yet, but check the BYU Continuing Ed website in early July for details and to register.)

3. South Jordan : Thursday mid-morning, 11:00-12:30 AM. Finding Christ in the Old Testament. 2450 W 10400 S. (South Jordan Parkway) South Jordan, Utah 84095. Register thru BYU Cont. Ed

All of these OT classes will begin where we left off in May, in Genesis 5.

4. Orem University Institute at UVU : for students and YSA only. Thursday evening, 7:00-8:30 PM. Doctrine and Covenants (324). Room 186. Register online.

If you live in Salt Lake City and want a class near the city center or by the University of Utah, then contact me by commenting on this blogpost. Wednesday evening is still available.

(The awesome painting in this post is from J Kirk Richards. )

Books Worth Buying

2011-05-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

I am often asked where I learn what I teach and what books I would recommend. I have two I would suggest for people who like my teaching style. Both are by Mark A Shields, a lawyer living in Mesa, AZ. The books are Your Endowment and Gospel Symbols: Finding the Creator in His Creations. Both are published by Cedar Fort. Mark has a website where you can order his books.

Springville Area Single Adult Cluster Fireside

2011-05-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

I will be speaking on Sunday, May 29th, at 7:00 pm at the chapel on 400 N. 400 E. Springville, Utah at a Single Adult Fireside. The topic will be Adam and Eve, the temple and the plan of salvation.

Reminders of Symposia

2011-05-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

The Expound Symposium will be held on Saturday, May 14 in the Provo Public Library. The all-day event is free, but please 'register' at their website so they will set up enough chairs.

The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR) is
pleased to announce the Thirteenth Annual Mormon Apologetics
Conference, August 4-5, 2011, and for a limited time you can
register at the discounted Early Bird price.

A lot of interesting papers, videos and podcasts are available on their website, YouTube and blog.

Last Class for Spring 2011

2011-05-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 3 will be the last class for the Springville Institute class.

Thurday, May 5 will be the last class for the South Jordan class.

BOTH classes will begin again in the fall. We will begin with the City of Enoch and then talk about Noah, Melchizedek and Abraham. Covenants will be our major focus.

Tuesday, September 13 will be the first class for the Springville Institute group. Class is held from 6:30-8 Tuesday evenings at the Canyon Chapel (1965 East Canyon Road, Springville UT 84663). Registration will be done in class.

Thurday, September 15 will be the first class for the South Jordan group, which meets mid-day from 11 to 12:30 at the stake center at 2450 W 10400 S. (South Jordan Parkway) South Jordan, Utah 84095. You will be able to register for this class online at the BYU Religious Enrichment Programs website.

Some other days and times are being considered for fall. I will publish information on any additional classes here.

Leaving, Cleaving and Being One

2011-05-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a good article from the Ensign on this subject.

Dress and Keep the Garden

2011-05-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden and was commanded "to dress (aved) it and to keep (shomer) it" (Gen 2:15).

These same Hebrew words are used by the LORD in Deuteronomy 10 :12-13 : "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve (aved) the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep (shomer) the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"

There is a definite temple connection with these two words : avodah (from aved) is the Hebrew word for worship, service, or temple work (see Numbers 7:5); the Cherubim keep (shomer) the way back to the Tree and we have to keep (shomer) the commandments to be allowed past them back into the temple.

Jeffery Bradshaw has written about this in an article entitled "The Temple Work of Adam and Eve."

Passover

2011-04-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

Passover begins this evening. Last week a friend asked me for resources to use in putting together a Seder, or Passover meal. This is what I suggested:

I have never done a complete Seder: I doubt that they did the whole 4 hour tour de force in Jesus' day either. So, I usually serve small amounts of the traditional foods and talk about what they symbolize, what Jesus reinterpreted them as and what Passover means to us. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_Seder_Plate

I made up my own charoset recipe using canned apple pie filling, walnuts and raisins. It is delicious. Email me if you want the recipe.

I serve lamb (rather than just a bone) because Jesus would have eaten lamb and most students I've had have never tasted lamb. I like lamb chops cut into small chunks and grilled. Eat them hot with kosher salt.

Baking the eggs sometimes causes them to explode. You can just hard-cook them most of the way and then just brown the shells for a few minutes in an oven to get the right look.

The booklet that each dinner guest has at a Passover seder is called a haggadah. They are available at most bookstores. Many are available free online: there are links below.

If you want Christian interpretation at your Seder, look for a Messianic Passover Haggadah, like these http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html

http://www.godonthe.net/passover/messianic_haggadah.html http://www.devotedtoyahveh.com/haggadah.htm

There are a LOT of good Jewish sources for Passover information

http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm http://www.ou.org/chagim/pesach/pesachguide/maze/basic9.htm

A simplified Haggadah to print out : http://scheinerman.net/judaism/pesach/haggadah.pdf

A complete Haggadah, English and Hebrew

http://judaism.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=judaism&cdn=religion&tm=9&f=10&tt=14&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.jewishfreeware.org/downloads/folder.2006-01-07.0640323187/

Here is a pretty silly songbook : tunes you know (like "Maria" and "A Spoonful of Sugar") with Passover lyrics http://judaism.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=judaism&cdn=religion&tm=9&f=10&tt=14&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.jewishfreeware.org/downloads/folder.2006-01-07.0640323187/

Have a good time. Rebecca Stay

Easter and the Sacrament

2011-04-18T20:05:00.001-07:00

In Ohio I gave a talk on the Sacrament. My friend Jocelyn posted it Sunday as part of her month of Easter ideas. You might enjoy her blog.

Easter All Week Booklet

2011-04-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

Years ago I created a booklet for reading all the scriptures from the week leading up to Easter.

The idea came from the Ensign magazine (April 1999 'Random Sampler') and the pictures from Margo Butler's New Testament Timeline, art by Richard Deland.

My friend and Seminary student, Jocelyn Hatch Christensen posted it on her blog last year. You can go there to download it.

One correction: The first scripture reference for Tuesday should be Mark 11:20-13:37. The blank front page of the booklet is just the right size for a picture from a pass-a-long card: I like Mary in the Garden Easter morning.

Easter Ideas

2011-03-31T21:15:00.001-07:00

One of my seminary students from years ago has a lovely blog which is featuring Easter ideas from many of her friends all this month. Go on over to Jocelyn's blog and have a look. One post has a coloring book based on the Proclamation to the World on the Family. You might want to print it out for your children or grandchildren or little friends for Conference this weekend.

Week 8 : Plan of Salvation in the Old Testament

2011-03-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Last week we looked at the imagery of Adam and Eve walking eastward through the "temple," turning (or repenting) at the altar of sacrifice and then returning back into the holy place and holy of holies. This can be seen as a circular path, returning to one's beginning place. "Circular" is very Eastern or Hebraic.

If you draw that out in a linear (or Western) way, you end up with a straight path:
Let's label each of the rooms in the temple.
Next, we'll add which part of our lives each room now represents.
Then we add labels for which of the kingdoms or degrees of glory (see D&C 76) these rooms represent.
And, finally, change the upper labels to show how each of our lives follow the pattern or plan of salvation.

I hope that you can see that the pattern is CHIASTIC : [A B C D C' B' A']. The whole plan of salvation is a beautiful Hebrew chiastic poem, with the central focus on the most important event, the atonement of Jesus Christ, which makes repentance possible.

Week 7 : Moving Eastward in Genesis 2-4

2011-03-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Robert Norman has an excellent blog post showing the Old Testament Tabernacle / Temple, its furnishings and some things they symbolize. It is an excellent follow-up to our discussion of moving EASTWARD in Genesis 2-4.

Another illustration of this same idea from a chapter in "Temples of the Ancient World" (FARMS) by Donald W Parry is available here.

Plan of Salvation

2011-03-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

Elder Packer challenged all Seminary and Institute classes to study the Plan of Salvation EVERY YEAR. Here's the outline Elder Packer gave us.

Premortal Existence
Spiritual Creation
Agency
War in Heaven
Physical Creation
Fall/Mortality
First Principles & Ordinances of the Gospel
Faith in the Lord
Repentance
Baptism
Gift of the Holy Ghost
Enduring to the End
The Atonement
Life Beyond the Grave
Spirit World
Judgment
Resurrection

I suggest that you find scriptures to support each concept USING ONLY THE OLD TESTAMENT. Good luck!

"A scripture is not limited to what it meant when it was written... it may lead to current revelation on whatever else the Lord wishes to communicate to us." (Elder Dallin H. Oaks)

Genesis 1 : Hebrew Poetry

2011-03-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

In class we went through the 6 days of creation and found significant ORDER in them.
This (the commentary posted below) is typical of how this idea is presented in Jewish publications.

The JPS (Jewish Publication Society) Torah Commentary : Genesis
The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation (1989)
Commentary by Nahum M. Sarna

(Page 4) Notes on Creation : Be-re'shit [the Hebrew name for the book of Genesis] (1:1-2:3)

Then there is the literary structure, which presents the creative process with bilateral symmetry. The systematic progression from chaos to cosmos unfolds in an orderly and harmonious manner through a series of six successive and equal units of time. The series is divided into two parallel groups, each of which comprises four creative acts performed in three days. The third day in each group is distinguished by two productions. In each group the movement is from heaven to terrestrial water to dry land. Moreover, the arrangement is such that each creation in the first group furnishes the resource that is to be utilized by the corresponding creature in the second group. The chart below illustrates the schematization.
The principle of order, deliberation, and direction is further inculcated by means of the progression from inorganic matter to the lowest forms of organic life to four categories of living creatures: fish and fowl, reptiles, the higher animals, and finally humankind. In addition, the entire narrative adheres to a uniform literary pattern. Each of the literary units begins with a declaration formula, "God said," followed by a command, a statement recording its fulfillment, a notice of divine approbation, and a closing formula, 'There was evening and there was morning," with the accompanying numbered day.
Finally, the Narrator employs the device of number symbolism, the heptad, to emphasize the basic idea of design, completion, and perfection. The opening proclamation contains seven words; the description of primal chaos is set forth in twice seven words; the narrative's seven literary units feature seven times the formula for the effectuation of the divine will and the statement of divine approval; and the six days of creation culminate in the climactic seventh.
This seven-day typology is widely attested in the ancient world. As early as the twenty-second century B.C.E., King Gudea of Lagash, in southern Mesopotamia, dedicated a temple with a seven-day feast. The literatures of Mesopotamia and Ugarit are replete with examples of seven-day units of time. Most common is a state of affairs that lasts for six days with a climactic change taking place on the seventh. While the Creation narrative conforms to this literary convention, it is unique in that a different action occurs each day, with no activity at all on the seventh.
THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION

Group I The Resource	Group II The Utilizer
Day Creative Act	Day Creative Act
1 Light	4 The luminaries
2 Sky, leaving terrestrial waters	5 Fish and fowl
3 Dry land	6 Land creatures
Vegetation	Humankind
(Lowest form of organic life)	(Highest form of organic life)

"The Ballad of the Goodly Fere" by Ezra Pound

2011-03-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

As promised to the South Jordan class, here is the poem: I love the imagery and language. Note the use of 'tree' for 'cross' in several stanzas. We connected this with Genesis 1, Day 3 : Trees.

Ballad of the Goodly Fere
by Ezra Pound

Ha' we lost the goodliest fere o' all
For the priests and the gallows tree?
Aye lover he was of brawny men,
O' ships and the open sea.

When they came wi' a host to take Our Man
His smile was good to see,
"First let these go!" quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Or I'll see ye damned," says he.

Aye he sent us out through the crossed high spears
And the scorn of his laugh rang free,
"Why took ye not me when I walked about
Alone in the town?" says he.

Oh we drank his "Hale" in the good red wine
When we last made company,
No capon priest was the Goodly Fere
But a man o' men was he.

I ha' seen him drive a hundred men
Wi' a bundle o' cords swung free,
That they took the high and holy house
For their pawn and treasury.

They'll no' get him a' in a book I think
Though they write it cunningly;
No mouse of the scrolls was the Goodly Fere
But aye loved the open sea.

If they think they ha' snared our Goodly Fere
They are fools to the last degree.
"I'll go to the feast," quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Though I go to the gallows tree."

"Ye ha' seen me heal the lame and blind,
And wake the dead," says he,
"Ye shall see one thing to master all:
'Tis how a brave man dies on the tree."

A son of God was the Goodly Fere
That bade us his brothers be.
I ha' seen him cow a thousand men.
I have seen him upon the tree.

He cried no cry when they drave the nails
And the blood gushed hot and free,
The hounds of the crimson sky gave tongue
But never a cry cried he.

I ha' seen him cow a thousand men
On the hills o' Galilee,
They whined as he walked out calm between,
Wi' his eyes like the grey o' the sea,

Like the sea that brooks no voyaging
With the winds unleashed and free,
Like the sea that he cowed at Genseret
Wi' twey words spoke' suddently.

A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea,
If they think they ha' slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.

I ha' seen him eat o' the honey-comb
Sin' they nailed him to the tree.

Week Six : Creation

2011-02-28T13:40:00.001-08:00

The LDS Church has only one official statement of doctrine on the creation of man. In 1909, the First Presidency issued a statement entitled "The Origin of Man." It was republished in the Ensign, February 2002, pg. 26.

How to Read Jewish Commentary

2011-02-22T16:31:00.000-08:00

[NOTE: everything written inside of brackets [ ] is MY OWN or explanations selected by ME to clarify what someone else has written

[This commentary is taken from a Hillel website. Hillel is the international Jewish college student organization, like LDS Institute. It is named for Hillel, a rabbi from the time of Jesus. Born in Babylon traditionally c.110 BC , died 10 AD in Jerusalem, Hillel was a famous Jewish religious leader, one of the most important figures in Jewish history. He is associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud. Renowned within Judaism as a sage and scholar, he was the founder of the House of Hillel school. Hillel lived in Jerusalem during the time of King Herod and the Roman Emperor Augustus.]

Parshat Bereshit
[ a parsha is the weekly portion of Torah to be read: Bereshit is the name of this first portion : it is the first word of the parsha ]

All Beginnings are Hard
Jewish tradition teaches that "kol hatchalot kashot/all beginnings are hard" (Midrash Mechilta [ a rabbinic commentary from the 3rd-4th cent AD]). We might well then expect that the Torah's first weekly section, (Parshat Bereshit) would recount the difficulties of the beginning of beginnings, the first beginning, the act of creation. This week's text is filled with mystery and challenges, especially on a campus environment. The parsha raises as many questions as it gives answers and often seems to teach us by what it chooses not to reveal rather than by what it does reveal. It is a parsha that speaks to and about people who are at the junction of faith and history, of science and future promise. The Hebrew text is so pregnant with meaning that it can fill whole libraries dedicated to speculation, Midrashic [midrash is commentary on scripture] thought and interpretation.

It seems only fitting that in a section dealing with beginnings we address the text's very beginning. The first verse in Parshat Bereshit appears to be straightforward. It reads:

Genesis 1:1
"Bereshit bara Elokim et ha'shmayim v'et ha'aretz".

This verse contains no more than 6 (or if you count the conjunctive vet as a word, 7) words. Yet once again the beginning is hard. Scholars have long argued over how to translate the first word of the first verse. The text is often translated as "In the beginning G-d [Remember, many Jews will not write or erase or even say "God" so instead they write 'G-d'] created the heaven(s) and the earth" or even "when G-d began to create the heavens and the earth". What then appears to be a simple phrase may not be so simple. The word "bereshit" is commonly assumed to be in the "smichut" or genitive case: thus we would translate it as "In the beginning of - what? The absence of a noun has forced Bible scholars to ask: What was there before creation? If there were nothing, from what would G-d have formed the something? Why is the verb "barah" (to create out of nothing) in the past tense rather than in some other tense? Does this mean that G-d finished creation? Some Kabbalists [Kabbalah is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the mystical aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It is a set of esoteric teachings meant to explain the relationship between an eternal and mysterious Creator and the mortal and finite universe (His creation)]. found a way around this problem by seeing the nothing as the "ayin" or verbal gerund form of "there-being-nothingness" and the something as the "yesh" or gerundive form of "there being-ness". These are concepts best understood in quantum mechanics or higher forms of physical mathematics.

Your Genesis Navigator
1. The rabbis teach us that the letter bet, which is open on one side and closed on the other side, is the first letter in the Torah as a reminder that we should not look up nor down nor back, but only forward, from creation onward. What scared them?
2. Is creation an ongoing process or a completed process? If it is completed, might the discoveries of creation be ongoing?
3. Might God have created several worlds in several dimensions at the same time? Thus we who live in a three dimensional world are unaware of other creations that may be for example, four of five dimensional?
4. If the statement "All beginnings are hard" is true? How was creation hard for God? What does our view of creation tell us about ourselves?

A Word
Many of these same questions intrigued our classical commentators. For example, "Sefer Ha'Agadah" [Sefer Ha-Aggadah (The Book of Legends) is a classic compilation of aggadah from the Mishnah, the two Talmuds and the Midrash literature. It was edited by Bialik and Ravnitky and was first published in 1908-11 in Odessa, Russia] quotes Rabbi Samuel be Rabbi Isaac as saying that the "thought of creating Israel preceded all else". In other words, thought precedes action. As such, we are forced to ask the question "how does G-d think?" Does thinking define life? If so, how does a baby think without the gift of language? How do animals think?

When seen from this perspective, Bereshit becomes a series of challenges. Each act of creation forces us to join faith to philosophy. It is a text, like the new academic year that teaches us to question and to believe.

In next week's parsha, Noah, we see that even G-d wondered if creation had been such a good idea, when God brings the flood that nearly destroys the entire world. The message then may be, that none of us should ever be too sure of ourselves, that creation once done can be a double-edged sword. All beginnings are hard, but as Pirke Avot teaches: "It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task, but neither are you free to desist from doing it."

Prepared by Rabbi Peter Tarlow, Director, Texas A&M Hillel. http://www.hillel.org/jewish/archives/bereshit/bereshit/2002_bereshit.htm

Week Five : Jewish Footnotes on Genesis 1 (Bereshit)

2011-02-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

sea monsters
Or 'whales,' or 'dragons.' Taninim in Hebrew; see Exodus 7:9. The Midrash states that it alludes to a pair of particularly great sea creatures, the Leviathan and its mate. See Isaiah 27:1, Psalms 74:14, 104:26, Job 3:8, 40:25.

with our image and likeness
Moreover, of all creation, only man resembles God in having free will (Maimonides, Yad, Teshuvah 5:1).

Be fertile...
Some say that this is a commandment (cf. Chinukh), while others maintain that it is a blessing (see Tosafoth, Yevamoth 65b, s.v. VeLo; Maharsha, Sanhedrin 59b, s.v. VeHarey).

God
For the rest of chapter 2-4, the Torah uses two names, Adonoy Elohim, usually translated as 'the Lord God.' In the earlier chapter, only the name Elohim (usually translated 'God') was used. According to tradition, Elohim denoted a creation with unmitigated justice, whereas the name Adonoy denotes an admixture of mercy. Since there is no simple, contemporary way to translate Adonoy Elohim, we translate it as 'God'.

Notes selected from http://bible.ort.org/ , an online bar/bat mitzvah tutor

Week Four : Genesis 1

2011-02-13T18:18:00.000-08:00

Some Jews have found an interesting pattern in the Genesis 1 creation account. You can find this pattern described in both the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) and Jewish Theological Society (JTS) footnotes and in the writings of Friedrich Weinreb, especially "The Roots of the Bible."

Here is a handy form to use in studying this pattern.

A clean PDF of this form is available here. You will need to add a vertical line down the middle.

An understanding of the mythical Hebrew idea of the universe helps you to understand some of the language of Genesis 1. Here is a drawing of that mythological world.

Week Three : the Hebrew Bible

2011-02-08T21:23:00.000-08:00

The Hebrew Bible is also known as Tanak. This is an acronym made by taking the first letter from each of the three subdivisions of the Bible mentioned by Jesus in Luke 24:44 :

And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me.

T = Torah (Law)
N = Nevi'im (Prophets)
K = Ketuvim (Writings)

This is a list of the books of the Hebrew Bible in order. You can download a PDF of this list here.
Torah : the Law
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

Nevi'im : The Prophets
The Former Prophets
Joshua
Judges
Samuel
Kings

The Latter Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel

The Twelve
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

Ketuvim : The Writings
Psalms
Proverbs
Job
Song of Solomon
Ruth
Lamentations
Ecclesiastes
Esther
Daniel
Ezra-Nehemiah
Chronicles

Week Two : Types and Shadows

2011-02-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE

These ten 'rules' are from Robert J. Norman's excellent blog : "Contemplations"

I have added some comments and some scriptures as examples.

1. All things given by God to man from the beginning of the world typify Christ.
2 Nephi 11:4

2. All things are in a likeness and bear record of Christ.
Moses 6:63

3. All prophets are of Christ and testify of Him.
Jacob 4:4-7
3 Nephi 15:6,10; 20:24
Luke 24:44

4. Look for Patterns : The first shall be last, and the last shall be first in all things that the Lord creates by the power of his spirit.
D&C 29:30
D&C 45:7
Look for 3-fold patterns
2 Cor 12:2

5. The Covenant is the Standard or the Ensign to which the Lord will gather the elect.
D&C 45:9-10

It has always been the 'Everlasting Covenant.'
Gen 9:16

The blessings and curses of the covenant are always contingent upon faith, obedience and repentance.
D&C 29: 42, 49
Alma 12:28-34

6. Once the elect are gathered to the covenant, they are tested in the covenant. The model for this testing is Abraham.
D&C 101:3-4-5

7. Scriptures are a history of the covenant. God makes covenants with people one on one.
Ex 2:24
Lev 26;42
Abraham Gen 12, 15
Isaac Gen 26:1-5
Jacob Gen 28: 10-22

8. The Temple and other sacred places designated by the Lord are where the Covenant is administered. The rituals for covenant making may change over time, but the promises are constant : Land and Seed :
Gen 15

9. The Plan of Salvation is the same, but it is administered according to the conditions of the children of men.
D&C 46:15

10. The lives of the Prophets are both real and allegorical or typical, at the same time.
Is.8:18

Week One : Old Testament Story Line

2011-02-08T21:07:00.000-08:00

The second handout for Week One was written by Margot J. Butler for a Church Education Symposium held at BYU in August, 1991.

I recommend drawing the images in this story line in the left hand margins of the "Chronology" section of your LDS Bible Dictionary next to the events they represent.

Week One : Names of God

2011-02-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

There are two handouts for Week One.

The first introduces the problem of why it is so hard to find Christ in the Old Testament.

It also lists some Hebrew and Greek names for God used in the King James Translation (KJV).

You can download a PDF of this handout by clicking here.