Overview: Genesis to 2 Samuel

This post today is a paper that i wrote for my final in my Old Testament class. I just wanted to share this and bear testimony of everything I said in this. I hope you read this and are strengthened or it makes you think about your own testimony. I love my Savior and my God. Merry Christmas and think of the Savior at this time of year! It is because of him, he is the reason to the season. :) I hope you enjoy this post.

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             This semester I have learned a lot. I studied Genesis to 2 Samuel. This was a great opportunity for me because I had wanted to learn the stories of the Bible better. Every week I was enlightened by the principles that I had learned. I grew from reading the viewpoints of others in my class and most importantly through sharing what I was learning through my blog. I found that this strengthened my testimony immensely. There were three principles that really stuck out to me and influenced me throughout all the readings. These three principles I would like to share are; Repentance, God looketh on the heart, and God is our rock and salvation.

            Repentance and forgiveness are very important parts of our lives. We learn that we have the potential to become like our Father in Heaven. The biggest trial that we must overcome to become like him is the fact that he is perfect and we are not. One pathway that He has given us to help us overcome this is through our Saviors atonement and the repentance process. Moses 6:57 says, “…all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence…” This scripture emphasizes that everyone, every man, must repent. Sometimes when we are doing good, and possibly on our way to being a little prideful, it is harder to see our faults and the things to repent for. This reminded me that, even during those times (maybe especially during those times) we need to repent, and we need to repent frequently.

            Repentance is something that we learn constantly, it is something that is stressed in the scriptures and in our church meetings. I have noticed that a day doesn’t go by in my personal scripture study that repentance is not preached.

We learn in Moses 5:10 that when we see our transgressions and when we repent of those transgressions we are not only blessed but we will find joy. We learn in Moses 5:15 that those who choose not to repent should be damned, and Moses 6:29 says, “…they have brought upon themselves death; and a hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not;”

We know that we need to repent and that it is a very important part of our lives. Repentance is a huge part of us becoming clean so that we can live with our Heavenly Father again and become like him. I want more than anything to become like my Heavenly Father, I want to see him again and to embrace him and simply be in his presence. The only way that I can do that is if I am clean, the repentance process is how I can be forgiven for sinning and not being perfect.

There is another side to repentance and that is forgiveness. Exodus 32:32-33 teaches us to forgive others. If we are expecting God to forgive us then we must forgive others.  When we repent our sin is blotted out in his book. We need to also have this state of mind when we are forgiving others, especially when it is hard to forgive them.

            Something that brings me great peace is the second principle I would like to share; God looketh on the heart.  1 Samuel 16:7, “… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” This brings me peace and comfort on many different levels.

 First, it gives me comfort to know that God knows my heart and that when I sin he knows the intent of my heart and actions. This does not excuse my behavior but it makes me happy to know that God knows my heart and my intentions. People make mistakes and sometimes people to things to be malicious, God knows this and will judge them accordingly; He knows where their heart is and has the full perspective. God knows where my heart is and knows that I try my best to do what is right, to avoid sin as much as I can, and he knows that I want to be obedient. He knows that as much as I try to do what is right I will sin sometimes. I am glad that the person who will be judging me knows my heart and see’s the whole perspective.

When I get overwhelmed with life and feel that I am failing at this I think to myself that God knows where my heart is, he knows that I am trying to be my best and when I sit across from him on judgment day he will know that I tried. This is what helps me push through and not get discouraged.

“ The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation” (2 Samuel 22:47). God is my rock and my salvation and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I need him and I want him with me every step of my journey here on earth. 

In 2 Samuel, chapter 22, verse 2, David talks about how God is his rock, his fortress, and his deliverer. I also have a testimony in this. It is just like the primary song says, if we build our foundation on a rock, our savior and God, then we will stand strong in times of tempests. It can be hard sometimes to do this and to live our lives this way, but we will be blessed and our families will be blessed. This can sometimes be hard for us because Satan knows how important having God as our rock is and wants us to falter and fail at this. We need to stand strong and have our eyes single to the Lord and we will be blessed beyond comprehension and we will stand strong in our times of trial and be humble in those times we are blessed.

Satan is trying to tear us down, he is trying to get us to fall, and he doesn’t want us to get back to our Heavenly Father. In Genesis 18:14 we learn that with God all things are possible, nothing is too hard for the Lord. Because I know this I want someone like him to be on my side always, and to be the steadiness in the storm. I want someone who I trust and have faith in to be the foundation that keeps me steady and is rooting for me. Who better to be my rock and my salvation than the person that I am striving to become? If the Lord is my rock and my salvation I can be strong and I can be courageous to stand up for what is right and what I know to be true.

I will keep myself sanctified, pure, and clean so that I can always have my Lord as my rock and my salvation. I will keep myself sanctified, pure, and clean so that he will always be by my side to help me, guide me, and forgive me.

 It is because I love my God that I will “ … keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway,” (Deuteronomy 11:1). It is because I love him that I will, “… rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee…” (Deuteronomy 26:11).

I have learned so much this semester and could have written so much more. I love my Heavenly Father and I need him. I have a testimony of repentance and forgiveness. I have a testimony that ‘God looketh on the heart.’ And I have a testimony that my Lord is my rock and my salvation and though him I can be with God again.

David Anointed King

2 Samuel 1-10

Search 2 Samuel 1-10 and make a list of King David’s accomplishment

 He slayed the Amalekite who claimed to killed Saul. David is anointed King of the house of Judah. His followers defeat Abner and those of Israel. David waxes stronger and stronger in the war between the house of Saul and the house of David. David is anointed king over all of Israel. David did as the Lord commanded him. David brought the ark of God from Obed-edom to the city of David with gladness. David defeats and subjects many nations, while the Lord stays with him. David executes judgment and justice to all of his people. He sought to honor the house of Saul. He found Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, and restored all the Land of Saul. Israel defeats the Ammonites and the Syrians after his (David’s) messengers are abused by the Ammonites.

Read 1 Chronicles 22:7-8 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for 2 Samuel 7:1-17, “Why Was David Not Allowed to Build the Temple?” Write your explanation of why the Lord did not want David to build a temple.

According to 1 Chronicles, David was told not to build a temple because he had shed much blood and had made great wars. According to the student manual, David had good intentions for building the temple, that was not the reason why he could not build the temple, but through the prophet Nathan, David is told that the Lord doesn’t want him to build a temple because of the great bloodshed that war that had happened.

Read 2 Samuel 7:12-17 and describe how you would feel if you were in a situation similar to David’s. Then describe how 2 Samuel 7:16 is a Messianic prophecy. Finally summarize David’s response to the Lord’s message to him found in 2 Samuel 7:18-29?

If I were in the same situation as David I would kind of feel disappointed in myself. I would probably ask why not. I had just asked to build a temple for my Heavenly Father and was told not to. I would most likely be a little hurt. These verses are talking about Jesus Christ coming and say that he will build a house for God and that He will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. It would be disappointing to be told no, but to learn that Jesus will do it instead is pretty cool and makes it better in a sense.

         2 Samuel 7:16 is a Messianic prophecy because it is through the lineage of David that Christ will be born into. The one that can sit upon the throne of David forever is only Christ. It is through this line, David’s line, that Christ is heir to the throne both physically and spiritually. This scripture is prophesying of Christ and how important this lineage is. This scripture is a Messianic prophecy.

         David’s responded to the Lord saying, “Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” David goes on to say that God knows his servants. In 2 Samuel 7:22 it says, “… for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” David says that God redeemed Israel and that these people will be a people unto him forever and is their God. David ultimately says that God is in charge and that He knows best, He knows it all, and His way is the best and ultimately only way to go. 

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Here is a video about Kind David. 

I love the story of Kind David and thought that it would be a good idea to share his story, even though it wasn't necessarily what I focused on in my post above, but it is relevant.  These videos are great for younger kids, especially for scripture study or Family Home Evening.

Ruth

“Whither Thou Goest, I Will Go”

Ruth 1-2

This post is all about Ruth. Ruth is one of the great women in the Bible. She lived in a wicked environment and yet remained faithful and devoted to God. As the world we live in gets more wicked we can learn how to stay strong by the example of Ruth.

Some background before we get started, Elimelech and his family move to Moab from Judah because of famine. Elimelech and his wife Naomi had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. The father, Elimelech ended up dying and the sons then married. Chilion  married Ruth and Mahlon married Orpah.

They lived in Moab for ten years where Naomi’s husband and two sons died. At this time she decided that she would return to Judah. Naomi took her daughters in law, Ruth and Orpah, and told them of her plan. Naomi told Ruth and Orpah to return to their mother’s houses. In Ruth 1:14 it says, “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.” Clave means to hold fast to or to stay with her. Ruth then said that she will go with her and follow her wherever she goes. Ruth tells Naomi that she will always be with her, even until death. So Naomi and Ruth left for Judah.

The trials that Ruth faced in Ruth chapter 1 included loosing her husband and then leaving the land where she lived. She also left her own family behind to go to Judah with Naomi, her mother in law. It would have been hard to leave her family but she chose to go with he mother in law. I asked myself why Ruth chose to go with Naomi instead of staying with her family like Orpah did? I thought that maybe she felt some kind of duty because Naomi didn’t have a husband or her sons to take care of her. More than a sense of duty though, I think that Ruth loved her mother in law and saw this chance to start over somewhere else and be with her mother in law who needed her.

            When Ruth and Naomi got to Judah Ruth went to glean (gleaning was to gather leftover grain after a harvest) the ears of corn and that is when she met Boaz. Boaz was a mighty man of wealth and a kinsman of Naomi’s husband’s, Elimelech. Boaz learned that of what Ruth was doing and he said to her, “Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap.” Ruth was very grateful and bowed down to Boaz and thanked him. She was confused as to why he found grace in her and why he was impressed with her, since they had just barely met. When Ruth asked him why he was impressed with her Boaz said in chapter 2 verse 11 of Ruth, “It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which though knewest not heretofore.”

            When Ruth would glean she gleaned with Boaz’ maidens. This was a blessing and a privilege. Naomi told Ruth how blessed she is and how blessed Boaz was to be so kind to her. Ruth stayed with the maidens of Boaz to glean until the end of barley and wheat harvest and she stayed with her mother in law.

            I think that Boaz was so kind to Ruth because he was impressed with her and her actions. He saw the love that she had for Naomi and the sacrifice that Ruth had to make to be with her mother in law. Her actions could have influenced his admiration for her and maybe thought that Ruth deserved more. I think that Boaz saw that Ruth was special and sensed that something was different about her.

Moving on with our story, Naomi then instructed Ruth to lie down with Boaz. Ruth then told Naomi that whatever she tells her to do, she would do. Naomi wanted to help Ruth secure a husband and a family and she had Boaz in mind for a Levirate marriage. A levirate marriage is when the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow, and the widow is obliged to marry her deceased husband's brother. Now Boaz was not a brother in law but he was considered a kinsman, which is defined as having blood relations.

In this day it was custom, to have the woman propose to the man this way. Ruth lay at his feet while he slept and when Boaz awakened she directly asked him to be her protector. Boaz regarded this as proof that Ruth had feminine virtue and modesty and he was honored that Ruth did not go after a younger man. Boaz agreed but for this to happen the next kinsman had to renounce his rights to Ruth and this next of kinsman did so.

            Boaz and Ruth were married and they had a son who would be famous in Israel. This son gave Naomi a kinsman and she loved him dearly. His name was Obed and Obed is the father of Jesse who is the father of King David. Years later, Jesus would be born into this family.

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We can learn a lot from Ruth and from her story and example. One thing that I learned was facing our challenges. We need to be headstrong and trust in the Lord with the trials and challenges that come our way. We need to trust the Lord and follow the promptings that we get. I bet that Ruth had the prompting to go with Naomi to Judah and she followed that. We need to face our challenges with faith and with the Lord on our side. We need to face our challenges with strength and determination. We have to be actively involved, we cannot expect the Lord to just do it for us because he loves us, we need to do what we can. We never know what the Lord is going to have us do to get us to where we need to be and where he needs us to be. We need to face our challenges with the Lord in mind and with his will leading our way like Ruth did.

Please watch this short, three minute video about Ruth.

“Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve”

Joshua 7-24 

 

 This was one of my favorite post’s so far. It has really touched my heart and strengthened my testimony. This post is very special and I hope that something I said touches your heart and helps you. Thank you for reading! :)

Joshua 10:12-14. Did the sun really stand still in the heavens?

 It may seem contradictory that the sun would stand still in the heavens, but the sun was actually moving like normal, it was the Earth that had stopped. The reason the Lord stopped the rotation of the earth was to lengthen the day for his work, bringing victory to Israel.

 The Lord can do anything; He is all-powerful and mighty. God could move the mountains if he wanted to. The Lord flooded the earth to cleanse it of the wicked during the time of Noah. The Lord parted the Red Sea for Moses and those he was leading to freedom. Before that, He had those 12 plagues that aided and made it possible for Moses and the Israelites to escape from captivity. When Jesus Christ was crucified, the Lord had there be no light for a couple days. When Christ comes again there will be many great signs in the heavens and on the Earth below; we will see the moon turn to blood, we will see the sun be darkened, the stars will fall from the sky, and much more. The Lord can do anything. He made us; his children and He made this Earth with Jesus. Those who don’t believe that God can do anything should look around them and see all the magnificent things he has created and then read our history of what he has done for the righteous and what he has done to the wicked.

I know that God can do anything. We need to have faith in him and his teachings. I know that God knows everything; he knows the why and the how. I know that the only way that I can truly become like him and live with him again someday is by trusting in him and loving him with everything I have. I know that the Lord can stop the rotation of the Earth if he needed to.

Read the chapter summaries of Joshua 7-22. Make two lists—one that identifies Israel’s successes and another that identifies Israel’s failures.

             Successes-

Joshua ambushes, and takes Ai, then slays its inhabitants. Then he builds an alter in Mount Ebal. Joshua makes the Gibeonites servents to Israel. Israel defeats the Amorites and their allies. The Lord fought for Israel. Joshua and Israel conquer the whole land and destroy many cities and nations. They (the children of Israel) are given their inheritances. A tabernacle is set up at Shiloh.

            Failures-

Defeated by the people of Ai. The Lord casts stones from heaven upon them.

Read Joshua 23-24 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Joshua 24:1-28, “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve” (pg. 242). What do you think was the major theme of Joshua’s final address to his people? Based on the lists you created from Joshua 7-22, write a paragraph that explains why Joshua chose to deliver his final address on this particular topic.

           

Joshua starts off telling this people that all they have is because of the Lord, their God. He then tells them that these lots they have inherited are to be an inheritance for their tribes and the Lord will expel their enemies so they can posses the land the Lord had promised them. Joshua then goes on to tell them to be courageous and to keep the commandments. He tells them to turn not away from the Lord. He tells them to not worship false Gods and to cleave unto the Lord as they have done until this day. Joshua tells them to take heed unto themselves and to love the Lord. He teaches them to trust in the Lord to help them and to bless them. He teaches them that if they turn from God then God will destroy them or punish them. Joshua teaches them to make and keep their covenants with the Lord. He teaches them that the Lord has blessed Israel.

The major these and the most important thing that Joshua teaches them is to choose the Lord and to serve him only. In Joshua 24:15 he says, “serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; …but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” If you do not chose to serve the Lord and choose to serve another god “… then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you…” (Joshua 24:20)

 I believe that Joshua chose to deliver his final address on choosing to follow the Lord and only him because these people had so much to be grateful for and they seen the tremendous blessings that come from choosing the Lord and only him. When you look at the journey the Israelites went through you see that when you choose to serve the Lord and only him, that you will always ‘win’ and that you will be blessed. You see through this story how much the Lord loves his people and wants to be there with us, to help us, and to bless us.

We need to make the conscious choice to serve the Lord only. There are examples all around us, in the scriptures and those around us that testify that when we choose to serve the Lord and him only, He will bless us and he will look after us. When we make that choice to serve Him and him only we are on our way to true joy and happiness. The following is a quote from the Institute manual regarding this principle of, “ Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve.”

“I think what we need to learn are the true principles that shall lead us to peace, to wealth and happiness in this world, and glory and exaltation in the world to come. And that if we can learn these principles, and receive them in good and honest hearts, and teach them as our faith, and practice them in our lives, we shall show our manhood, our independence and our agency as creditably before the angels and the Gods, as any wicked man can, in refusing the good and cleaving to the evil, exhibit his before the devil and his angels.”

I just want to bear my testimony and to testify that I know this principle is true. I see it all around me. This scripture is so powerful and is more powerful when you study the journal of the Israelites. I know that when we choose the Lord to follow and seek his guidance, love, and forgiveness that we will be eternally happy. We will be blessed beyond any degree we imagined. I know that God will always be on our side, to fight with us if needed, to comfort us, to counsel with when making hard and life-changing decisions. I know that God is alive and is constantly with us. I know that he loves each and everyone of us. I know that He listens to our prayers, both spoken and thought. Put your trust in Him, let him help you, and let him take away your worries, your pains, and your sins. He is there for us and if we choose to follow and serve Him only, I know that he will bless us tremendously. I love my Heavenly Father and I love my brother Jesus Christ, and I love his gospel and his church.

Obedience Brings Blessings; Disobedience Brings Curses

Deuteronomy 10-11; 13-14; 22-24; 26; 28-29

This post will be in the format of a Q&A. I tried it differently but I feel that it is most influential this way. I hope you learn something new and that you are encouraged to read these chapters on your own with this new insight and possibly answer these questions on your own. 

Deuteronomy is a great book of scripture and you can learn so much from it! Something my teacher, Brother Cluff, shared with us this week was that Deuteronomy is a greek word that means 'second law'. I thought this was interesting and it helped me have a different point of view while reading this book. I hope you all enjoy! If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you and your interpretation or knowledge. 

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Deuteronomy 10:1-5

•       Where did the Lord direct Moses to keep the tablets containing the Ten Commandments?

He directed him to keep the tablets in an ark of wood, a cabinet or chest, according to the footnote for 1b, that the Lord will make.

•       What do you think this instruction teaches us about the value the Lord places on the commandments?

This instruction teaches us that the commandments are very important to the Lord. He wants them to be protected and also wants them to last forever.

•       Notice the Joseph Smith Translation correction in the footnotes for verse 2.

The footnote teaches us about the importance of the commandments. It tells us what had been lost or broken, he has included in these plates again, the everlasting covenant of the holy priesthood.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:14-27. What blessings did the children of Israel deny themselves through their disobedience in the wilderness?

             The children of Israel denied themselves, because of their disobedience, the power of the higher priesthood.  Because they didn’t have the priesthood they denied themselves the power to receive ordinances. Since they were disobedient and were not able to receive the priesthood and ordinances they could not endure the presence of the Lord.

Compare Deuteronomy 11:1, 13-14, 22; 30:6, 16, 19-20 with Matthew 22:36-40. Why do  you think Love is the most important commandment? Love is an emotion; can emotions be commanded? How can a person love someone they don’t even see? How can we learn to love God?

The most important commandment is to love the Lord. When we love the Lord we will obey his commandments, we will treat others right, and we will keep our bodies and souls clean. Love is an emotion that I believe everyone is capable of. To love someone you don’t know can be challenging but it is possible. Our spirits already want to love and obey the Lord, it is our immortal body and the natural man, it is Satan who puts bad feelings into our minds and thoughts. We can love someone that we don’t see by getting to know them, by getting to know their personality and their beliefs. We learn to love God by understanding who he is, by obeying his commandments and learning about his life.

Read Deuteronomy 10:12-13; 11:1, 8-9; 13:4; and 26:17-19. What do these verses have in common? Why you think the Lord places such a strong emphasis on obedience to the commandments.

These verses all teach us to love the Lord with all of our heart and soul. They teach us to obey the commandments, to obey his statutes and ordinances. The Lord places an emphasis on obedience to the commandments because they are very important. We need to follow his commandments to become better sons and daughters and become like him. By keeping the commandments we show our Father in Heaven that we love him. When we consider Mosiah 2:41 we learn that keeping the commandments helps us be happy. Living in the way of the Lord will make us happy. Keeping the commandments will bring temporal and spiritual blessings as well. D&C 130:21 teaches us that when we obtain or receive blessing from God “it is by the obedience to the law upon which it is predicated.”

Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and make a list of the results of obeying the commandments.

The results from obeying the commandments are blessings; some of those blessings are listed next. The Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth, blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee, you shall be blessed in the city and in the field. You shall be blessed in the fruit of they body, the fruit of they ground and the fruit of thy cattle and flocks of sheep. You shall be blessed when you come in and when you leave. The Lord will cause thine enemies to be smitten. He will bless thee in the land and establish thee a holy people unto himself. The people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord and they shall be afraid of thee. The Lord will make thee plenteous in goods. The Lord will give you his good treasure; the heaven will give rain to your land in his season. The Lord will make thee the head, not the tail; you shall only be above not beneath.

Skim through Deuteronomy 28:15-65 and make another list of the consequences of disobeying the commandments. Read Helaman 12:3 and write the purposes the Lord has for sometimes chastening his children with “many afflictions.”

If you do not obey the commandments you will be cursed and these curses will overtake you. Your city and field will be cursed. Your store will be cursed. The fruit of your body and land and cattle/flocks will be cursed. You will be cursed coming in and going out. You will have pestilence cleave unto you. No rain will come. Your enemies will smite you. You will be smote with the botch of Egypt and with madness, blindness and astonishment of heart. Your vineyard will not do well, your cattle and meat will not do well, and your family will suffer. People will be angry with you. You will not be happy and not have an abundance of thins. You will be hungry and thirsty and naked. Your daughters will be given away to another people. You will be in bondage.

We learn the purpose of the Lord chastening his children in Helaman 12:3. The Lord chastens his people so they will remember him, repent and come unto him.

The Lord clearly stated consequences of disobedience, but He does not desire to curse His children. Read Deuteronomy 4:29-31; 26:7-11; Isaiah 55:6-7; Ezekiel 18:21-23; and Mosiah 26:30. Write a paragraph describing the Lord’s mercies and what His greatest desires are. Include in your statement how it makes you feel to know that God is kind, loving, and merciful.

            The Lord wants us to come back to him. He wants us to repent. He doesn’t want us to suffer; he wants us to come unto him, to seek him. He will have mercy on us; he will abundantly pardon our wrongdoings. When we are forgiven the Lord will forget about it. He will ‘erase’ is from our ‘record’, so to speak. It gives the Lord great pleasure when we come unto him, repent, and use the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

 What gives me great comfort is knowing that “…as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me” (Mosiah 26:30). We are all human and will make mistakes and keep making mistakes. We will have to suffer the consequences of those mistakes/sins but the Lord will always forgive us. There is not a certain amount of times that we can repent and he will accept it. He will always accept our apology and our repentance. Just because he will do this doesn’t mean we can slack off, we need to try our very best to live our lives the best that we can. To love the Lord, to love our neighbors and keep all of his commandments the best that we can is how we should live our lives. By living our lives in the ways that the Lord has instructed and by keeping the commandments shows our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that we love them and it shows that we appreciate the sacrifice that our brother, Jesus Christ, made for all of us. It is because of Christ that we can be forgiven, and that we can be forgiven as often as we need it.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my post! I hope you learned something new and that the Spirit of the Lord has touched your heart. Remember that the Lord loves you more than anything and wants you to succeed. He knows what you want and what you need, don't forget to ask him for help. When you do something wrong don't feel helpless, just go to the Lord. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and I hope that whomever reads this knows that and knows how important all of this is for me. 

Remember, God lives and He loves us!!

*** The 10 Commandments ***

The 10 Commandments

 Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments are frequently found in Exodus chapter 20; this is where my study today has come from and focused on.

1.     Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind

2.     Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself

3.     Thou shalt have no other god’s before me

4.     Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (or likeness of anything in heaven or earth- do not serve them)

5.     Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God in vain (footnote: profanity; sacrilege, swearing) the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain

6.     Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (not do any work, or employ people who work, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed (sanctified or consecrated) it.

7.     Honor thy father and thy mother

8.     Thou shalt not steal

9.     Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor

10.   Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house, wife, servants, property, or anything

The two “great” commandments are to love the Lord with all thy heart, soul, and mind and love thy neighbor as thyself. According to Matthew 22:40, “ these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

We show the Lord, our God, our Father who is in Heaven, that we love him. When we obey the commandments of the Lord we are showing our appreciation for all that he has given us. Everything we have is because the God has given that to us. It is easy to justify us when we disobey or break one of God’s commandments, especially when the world say’s it is okay or ‘not that bad’. I also hear the excuse that the specific commandments are ‘old fashioned’ or they don’t apply anymore. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God’s word is truth and will always be true and correct. We are to always obey these commandments.

Lately in this world I feel that no one really cares what God has commanded of us. I agree that not everybody knows God, but those who do neglect to keep commandments given to us. I want to expound on three commandments that are often neglected by the world today.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image

A graven image can be many different things. It is usually something that is very important to the individual. People do not start off thinking that they are going to ‘make unto thee any graven image.’ It usually starts off as something important to you that soon consume your whole life, it becomes the whole purpose of your life and the things that you do. This thing can also become your idol.

Some examples of graven images could include; clothes, homes, businesses, machines, automobiles, pleasure boats, degrees/certificates, school, hunting, sports, and many other things that cause you to deflect from the path to godhood. Really anything can become an idol or a graven image. This is why we need to stay humble; we need to remember what really is important. We need to keep our mind of Heavenly Father and try our best to focus our lives on Him, not on anything else. It really comes down to this question: “Whom do you love and worship—yourself or God?” We need to look at our lives and set our priorities.

We see examples of this everywhere we go, sometimes we do this consciously and other times it develops without us realizing it. When you let something rule your life it turns into an idol and we are neglecting to follow God’s commandments.

Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God in vain

            This is really common in our society. I don’t think that most people realize that we are commanded not to take his name in Vain. If you look at the footnote in the book of Exodus of the Bible, we learn that vain means profanity, sacrilege, and swearing. This has become a habit to so many and I don’t think most people understand what this means. “…the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) Since profanity is so prevalent in our world today, this is a very important principle to know and live by.

            There are two aspects of this commandment that is important. First, the third commandment implies that His children must have a deep and reverential attitude about God and His name. When we take his name in vain it is highly disrespectful. Why would be disrespect the man who truly has given us everything we have, everything we know, and everyone we love and care about?

“Profanity is incompatible with reverence.”

            The second aspect of this commandment is in regards to our baptismal covenants, or the covenants we make at baptism. When we get baptized we promise, or make a covenant, that we will take the name of Christ upon us. If we do not do this or we ‘forget’ to do this, we are taking the Lord’s name in vain. I had not realized this before. I always just thought of this as saying the phrase, “Oh my G**.” But when I do not take the name of Christ upon me, what I promised when I was baptized, I am committed a great sin.  This also is in regards with the covenants and promises we make in the temple. We cannot go to the temple and not have our lives reflect that.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, wife, servants, property, or anything

            We should be happy with what we have. This seems like it would be an easy task, but we all find ourselves jealous of what someone else has. We need to try our best to refrain from this behavior.  The commandments are all intertwined together. When we break commandments we are in one way or another tweaking the other commandments. This commandment is very intertwined with the other commandments.

            I really liked how the scripture study help I use explains this commandment. “It does not mean that we should not have an honest ambition to have more of the better things of life. It does not mean that we may not admire what our neighbor has, and seek by our own industry to earn things of like worth. The earth holds plenty for all—and the urge to acquire for ourselves such good things as other men have is a productive quality of character—provided that we acquire them by honest effort, by lawful means, and by keeping life well-balanced. The danger comes when mere ‘things’ begin to matter too much.”

            This commandment is hard for this generation I believe. We want to have what everyone else has and want to have bigger and better things. We need to be careful and pay attention to why we are doing what we are doing, or getting what we are getting.

How would the world be different if all of God’s children kept the commandments?

I am sure that everyone can image this world, and I guarantee all of us have a different view, because we are all different. This is my opinion. If everyone truly loved the Lord first and loved their neighbors as thyself our world not have murder, stealing, drugs, abuse of any kind and no fighting of any kind. If everyone followed those first two, great commandments, the rest of the commandments would be obeyed without question. We would keep the Sabbath day holy, we would honor our parents, we would be happy with what we have and want to help others out. I think that if all of God’s children kept the commandments this world would find peace, this world be a good place, and most of all this world be heaven in literal 

Murmuring

Murmuring in the Wilderness

Exodus 15:23-27; 16-17

To start this post off I would like to start by defining murmuring. It is a term that is not used as often as it is in the Bible. 

Murmuring is the expression of discontent or dissatisfaction.

            Elder Neil A. Maxwell defines it as “a half-suppressed resentment or muttered complaint.”

In Exodus 15 through 17 we are learning about the children of Israel. They are in the wilderness and they were murmuring. They murmured against Moses saying that they had no water to drink, it was bitter. They murmured because of the lack of water in later verses also. They murmured that they were hungry and that God brought his people on the wilderness to die of hunger. They murmured that God wasn’t with them. We know that this is not true. God led the children of Israel out of captivity through Moses. But these people were hungry and thirsty and were murmuring against Moses and God. 

When the Lord heard their murmurings this is how He responded. He provided them with the water they needed plus some. In the first instance the water came from a tree and in the second instance the water came from a rock. God gave them food, manna, and it fell from the sky everyday. They would gather manna everyday and it would spoil if they tried to save it for future use. On the sixth day they were commanded to take 2 serving per person in preparation for the Sabbath/ seventh day. The Lord knew their needs the whole time, maybe He was waiting for them to ask where to find water instead of them murmuring about it. 

This got me to thinking about why people murmur against God. We have been commanded not to do this but yet we all do it at some point in our lives. Why do we murmur against Him? Why do we murmur against his servants and children? People murmur against God and those He has chosen as His leaders because they (the prophets, friends, bishops, etc) usually are teaching things that are not popular or things that are hard to hear. Especially in the world we live in today, the Lord’s way is not the popular way. Right is turning into wrong, and wrong into right. This is a sin, but it happens. Because of this fact, people do not like to hear about the things they need to change, and therefore, murmur. People tend to want only positive feedback and murmur when someone says something they disagree with.

            Something that I thought was interesting in these chapters was that it mentions, when you murmur against God’s children you are murmuring against Him. I think it is important for us to remember this. When we murmur against our parents, our spouse, our bishop, our leaders, we are murmuring against Him. I know personally I don't want to murmur against my sacred Father in Heaven. Knowing this and putting two and two together, makes me look at murmuring against others in a different light. 

          So what is the big deal about murmuring? Why should this concern us? What does murmuring lead to? Murmuring leads to unrighteousness and unhappiness. When we murmur we are not showing gratitude for what we have. When we murmur we are complaining about the life our God has given to us. When we murmur we are setting ourselves up for failure. When we murmur it can hold us back from receiving guidance and inspiration from our Lord. When we murmur we are focusing on the negative not the positive and in results of that outlook we will miss the tender mercies that the Lord is giving us. 

In 2 Nephi 27:35, Nephi suggested something as an antidote for murmuring. What is this antidote?

            Learn the doctrine is the antidote for murmuring. When we come to an understanding of the doctrine we are more inclined to see the reasons behind things that are making us what to murmur against our God. Education is an important key that we need to have to help us gain a better understanding and therefore hopefully not murmur.

            Another antidote for murmuring is found in this quote from Elder Maxwell, “Instead of murmuring, therefore, being of good cheer is what is needed, and being of good cheer is equally contagious. We have clear obligations to so strengthen each other by doing things “with cheerful hearts and countenances.””

           Murmuring comes very easy to the natural man, however we need to fight this urge with everything we have. To be like Christ we cannot murmur. We often murmur because we have this unreal expectation that life is supposed to flow easily and we are supposed to be happy all of the time. This is simply not possible. We are going to have those days where we are extremely happy and everything is going perfectly. We are also going to have those days where nothing is working out, we are stressed out, and we are unhappy. It is easier not to murmur when we are happy and our lives are going according to our own plans, but when life turns the opposite way we often start to murmur or complain. During these times we need to remember to look at the positive things in our life, we need to remember to find the tender mercies of the Lord. We need to remember the greatness of the Lord, our Father, and try our very best not to murmur against him.

            Something else I would say to my friends and family members who murmur against the commandments of God would be to pray to your Heavenly Father, your God, and ask with a sincere heart the doctrine and principles behind that commandment that you are murmuring about. Once you understand the doctrine behind the commandment you are less likely to murmur against it.

I am going to try to murmur less and recognize when I am murmuring. When i realize that I am doing this I am going to learn more about that doctrine/principle/commandment so I will have a greater understanding of it. I hope that you all can make some goals of your own to murmur less in your lives. I know that if we are working towards that goal we will brome more Christlike and happier. 

Thanks!

Sam

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Here is a link to a talk from Neil A. Maxwell that talks about murmuring. It is very good and I would recommend reading it.