12 Days of Christmas

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

In reading about Melchizedek in Alma 13 this last week in class, we read:
" 18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received 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 nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

 40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

 41 No power or influence 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, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

 43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem 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

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 in research 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

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

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

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

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.