“The Reign of the Judges”
Lesson 17, Compiled by Maren Hale
Scriptures: Judges 2; 4; 6-7; 13-16
Board: The historical cycle in Judges:
1. Apostasy
2. Bondage and oppression
3. Humility and repentance
4. Deliverance by the judges
INTRODUCTION
Today we’ll talk about the historical cycle of apostasy and how we can strengthen our children. Deborah teaches us of the importance of friendship and how we can be good leaders. In the example of Gideon and Samson we see the power of faith, strength gained through honored covenants, and the sorrow of sin through temptation.
QUOTE #1 President John Taylor tells why were are here on earth.
President John Taylor: “We are here to cooperate with God in the salvation of the living, in the redemption of the dead, in the blessings of our ancestors, in the pouring out [of] blessings upon our children; we are here for the purpose of redeeming and generating the earth on which we live, and God has placed His authority and His counsels here upon the earth for that purpose, that men may learn to do the will of God on the earth as it is done in heaven. This is the object of our existence.” (Journal of Discourses, 21:94)
“The 200-year period of the judges – between Joshua and Samuel – was a time of great turmoil in Israel…[At times we hear]…encouragement and inspiration, at other times they sound the warning voice. The message is clear; when we remember the Lord and His commandments, all will be well. But when we venture into forbidden pathways, we relinquish peace, harmony, and the favor of God.
“To guide us along the way, the Lord provides beacons of light in the form of angels, prophets, teachers, mentors, and leaders of all kinds (in this case judges). To exemplify courage and strength, He raises up individuals of uncommon stature, such as Deborah, Gideon, and even the controversial Samson. All of this serves to bring about His divine mission of perfecting the Saints.” (Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, pp. 413-414)
BODY
The Tests of Time
In Judges chapter 2, we learn that the Lord gives us our agency, and allows us to be tested and tried through various influences “That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not (Judges 2:22).”
Some say the story of the Book of Judges is that history repeats itself
because no one listened the first time.
We see in Judges the historical cycle of:
1. APOSTASY
2. BONDAGE AND OPPRESSION
3. HUMILITY AND REPENTANCE
4. and then DELIVERANCE BY THE JUDGES
The writer of Judges begins each cycle of APOSTASY with the same words, which he repeats 7 times in 13 chapters, “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.”
SCRIPTURE: Judges 2:10-13
10. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
11. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:
12. And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.
13. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
Here we see that Israel forsakes the Lord and turns to other gods.
QUESTION: Why was Israel attracted to the worship of these false Gods?
● Similar to their 1st religion. There were prophets, temples, priest’s,
sacrifices and burnt offerings, and prayers.
● Shows, pageants, and parades that appeal to the natural man.
The natural man often fails to perceive unseen spiritual realities.
-- Consider the TV evangelists today. Many put on an attractive show.
-- Some flock to churches to hear a preacher, a special choir, or a band.
● The Old Testament Student Manual states:
The worship, appealing to every sensual passion, joined with the attractions of wealth and fashion and luxury, naturally was a great temptation to a simple, restrained, agricultural people, whose worship and laws demanded the greatest purity of heart and of life.” (p. 247)
BONDAGE AND OPPRESSION is part 2 of the historical cycle.
According to Judges, the Lord allowed neighboring nations to attack and oppress Israel. Listen to how long these countries oppressed Israel:
● Mesopotamia – 8 years
● Moab – 18 years
● Canaan – 20 years
● Midian – 7 years
● Abimelech—3 years
● Philistines – 40 years
Part 3 of the historical cycle is HUMILTY AND REPENTANCE.
QUESTION: How did Israel respond to the bondage and oppression? [with repentance]
SCRIPTURE: Judges 10:10, 15-16.
10. And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
15. And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
16. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
The moral and spiritual decline of the Israelites was not arrested until they were brought into bondage and oppression.
Part 4 of the historical cycle is DELIVERANCE BY THE JUDGES.
● The Lord was infinitely patient with Israel.
● The Lord raised up judges to deliver Israel from their foreign domination and interceded with his power.
We see this same cycle or pattern in the Book of Mormon. The main difference is the Old Testament Israelites turned to the worship of false gods. The Book of Mormon Israelites were caught up in wealth and pride. The result was the same – APOSTASY.
QUESTION: Where do we stand today? Do we fall into similar circumstances?
[history repeats itself].
Judges 2:10 and 12 could have been written for today’s youth. “…and there arose another generation…which knew not the Lord…And they forsook the Lord…and followed… the gods of the people that were round about them…”
QUESTION: Why do children sometimes forsake the righteous ways of their parents?
● We have agency (Heavenly Father lost 1/3 of His children)
● They are lured away by the attractions of the world – success, media,
learning, easy life.
● Parents neglect teaching their children in ways of truth and righteousness.
President Hugh B. Brown tells us how we can help our children remain faithful and avoid entry into this deadly cycle.
QUOTE #2
President Hugh B. Brown: “I think we older ones need to be reminded of our duty! I think we need to be reminded that we who are older are in a very large measure responsible for what might happen to those who are younger.” (The Abundant Life, p. 166)
Lets talk about what we can to strengthen our children – our youth
1. As adults, we are responsible for the young.
In his conference talk last month, “Help Them on Their Way Home,” President Henry B. Eyring said:
“The family has an advantage in the first eight years of a child’s life. In those protected years, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Satan’s use of the mists of darkness to hide the path to return home is blocked.” (“Help Them on Their Way Home,” Ensign, May 2010)
So we need to take advantage of our children’s formative years when Satan lacks power over them.
In our last general conference, Sister Cheryl C. Lant said:
“Now, I would ask you to look around you at those you love. This is what matters most—our families. I am sure that more than anything, you want this family to be yours eternally.
“Following this pattern to bring our children to the Savior is a process…we must learn how to love the Lord and our families. This takes time, experience, and faith. It requires selfless service. Then, as we are filled with the love of the Lord, we can love. He might weep over what we do, but He loves us and is always there to help us. That is how we must learn to love our children.
“We can direct them toward the Spirit so that they can receive their own witness of the truths they are learning. We can help them find the joy of living the gospel. This will build a firm foundation of faith and obedience in their lives that will strengthen them. (“That Our Children Might See the Face of the Savior,” Ensign, May 2010)
It is so important that we teach our children to recognize the Spirit in their lives.
2. We strengthen our children when we are a good example. Our children will mimic our actions. Children are observant and they know hypocrisy when they
see it.
Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke about a mother’s example in their daughters’ lives in his general conference address last month:
“Now may I share a few thoughts with you mothers about the special role you play in your daughters’ lives. We have a family friend who travels often with members of her extended family. Her primary observation after each trip is how much the young women behave like their mothers. If the mothers are thrifty, so are their daughters. If the mothers are modest, so are the girls…Mothers, your example is extremely important to your daughters—even if they don’t acknowledge it.
“…Show them how to make good choices. As mothers in Israel, you are your daughters’ first line of defense against the wiles of the world.
“Let me assure you that even when you think your daughter is not listening to a thing you say, she is still learning from you as she watches you to see if your actions match your words.” (“Mother’s and Daughters,” Ensign, May 2010)
3. We strengthen our children when we teach them the ways of truth and righteousness. [family home evening and other activities are wonderful, but cannot take precedence over unique teaching opportunities that happen on a daily basis.]
In his general conference address last month entitled “Mothers Teaching Children in the Home,” Elder L. Tom Perry said:
“Please allow me to reminisce for a few moments and share a few of the lessons I learned from my mother about teaching the gospel in the home. My mother understood the value of teaching her children about standards, values, and doctrine while they were young.
“While she was grateful to others who taught her children outside the home at either school or church, she recognized that parents are entrusted with the education of their children and, ultimately, parents must ensure that their children are being taught what their Heavenly Father would have them learn. My siblings and I were quizzed very carefully by our mother after we had been taught away from the home to be certain the correct lessons were reaching our ears and shaping our minds.
“The scope of Mother’s teaching included both secular and spiritual lessons. She made sure none of us were falling behind in our schoolwork, which she would often supplement. She also would practice her Relief Society lessons with us.
“Part of our learning at home also involved memorizing scriptures, including the Articles of Faith, and the words of prophets, seers, and revelators.
“…A parent’s teaching must never be devalued. Many activities link the values of one generation to the next, but perhaps the most central of these activities is parents teaching children in the home. This is especially true when we consider the teaching of values, moral and ethical standards, and faith.” (“Mothers Teaching Children in the Home,” Ensign, May 2010)
QUESTION: What kind of a learning environment do you now have, or did you, set up for your children in your home? [basket of Books of Mormons, dictionary and stand, learning center near the heart of the home, maps on the walls, the gospel and news discussed at the dinner table]
In President Gordon B. Hinckley’s biography, President Hinckley tells us that his parents “had converted one of the large rooms in their home to a library that could be closed off for studying. Its bookshelves were filled with more that a thousand volumes…In the center of the room stood a large, solid oak table with comfortable chairs and…reference works. Statuettes of Joseph Smith and Abraham Lincoln graced the room…the library was inviting.” (Sheri L. Dew, The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley, Go Forward with Faith, p. 300)
4. We strengthen our children when we listen and talk with them – have regular occasions where you meet together as a family or with a child individually.
We need to have gathering places for our family on a regular basis in addition to family home evenings and family councils.
EXPERIENCE: Visiting at dinnertime – President Hinckley
I recently viewed a talk on BYU TV given by 3 of President Hinckley’s children at a BYU Women’s Conference in 2002. The children mentioned that one place their parents taught them about life and the gospel was around the dinner table each night. Sister Hinckley would prepare and present a lovely meal and the family would gather to eat and visit. Whenever their father was in town, they always knew he would be at the dinner table with them.
One of his sons answered a question from the audience: “Did your father have formal interviews with you?” He answered, “no. My parents visited with me around the table and my father listened to me and taught me many lessons while we were driving together in the car.” (BYU 2002 Women’s Conference, President Hinckley’s Children, BYU TV)
5. We strengthen our children when we have faith in them as we raise them – the thoughts and ideas we implant in our children’s minds will come back to bless our children.
President Hugh B. Brown talked of his mother’s great faith.
"More than half a century ago, I was standing on a little railway station platform in Cardston, Canada. I was leaving for England on a mission. My saintly mother stood there with me and held my hand. This is what she said.
“'Hugh, my son, do you remember when you were a little boy you often had bad dreams, nightmares, and you called out to me as I was sleeping in the next room: "Mother, Mother, are you there?" Do you remember I always said, "Yes, my son, I'm here. Just turn over and go to sleep. Everything is all right".'
She said, 'My boy, five thousand miles must now separate us, across a continent and an ocean. You are not going to have bad dreams only at night, but many times, in the daytime, you are going to want to call for help and comfort. Son, when you are beset with difficulties, when you meet temptation, when you are confused and don't know where to go, call out and say, "Father, are you there?"' She said, 'My boy, I promise you He will always answer and you need not fear.'
"...through the intervening years, countless occasions have arisen where men could not help me much, when I felt alone, where I had a nightmare with my eyes wide open. I have taken the advice of my mother and have said, 'Father, are you there?' Now He has not spoken to me audibly; He has not appeared to me personally; but He has always answered me. There has come into my heart a quiet peace which enabled me to know that I could, figuratively, turn over and go to sleep." (The Abundant Life, pp202-203)
Brigham Young gives us a good summary of how we can and must strengthen our youth.
QUOTE #3
Brigham Young: “If we do not take the pains to train our children, to teach and instruct them concerning these revealed truths, the condemnation will be upon us, as parents, or at least in a measure.
“Teach your children from their youth, never to set their hearts immoderately upon an object of this world. Parents, teach your children by precept and example, the importance of addressing the Throne of grace; teach them how to live, how to draw from the elements the necessaries of life; and teach them the laws of life that they may know how to preserve themselves in health and be able to minister to others.
“Bring up your children in the love and fear of the Lord. Teach your children honesty and uprightness, and teach them also never to injure others. If parents will continually set before their children examples worthy of their imitation and the approval of our Father in Heaven, they will turn the current, and the tide of feelings of their children and they, eventually, will desire righteousness more than evil.” (Discourses, 207-8)
We must never give up on our children. Consider the story of Alma the younger’s conversion. When the angel appeared to Alma he said, "Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth" (Mosiah 27:14).
QUOTE #4 I love this quote by Elder Orson F. Whitney.
Elder Orson F. Whitney: “You parents of the willful and the wayward: Don’t give them up. Don’t cast them off. They are not utterly lost. The shepherd will find his sheep. They were his before they were yours – long before he entrusted them to your care; and you cannot begin to love them as he loves them.
“They have but strayed in ignorance from the Path of Right, and God is merciful to ignorance. Only the fullness of knowledge brings the fullness of accountability.
“Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting gospel is mightier in power to save than our narrow finite minds can comprehend.” (Conference Report, April 1929)
We need to pray to our Heavenly Father in behalf of our youth and have faith.
QUESTION: What are some appropriate ways we can help a family member or friend who seems to be falling away from the truth? [Tell them how you feel. Enlist the added help of family, Church leaders, and friends (remembering to be confidential) Realize that an intervention from us is better than losing them eternally.]
EXPERIENCE: A mother afraid to confront her daughter’s choice
Recently my daughter told me of her visiting teacher whose husband has passed away. She has one daughter in college who is seriously dating a young man she doesn’t feel good about and who is also not a member of the Church. This mother has decided that she doesn’t want to take a chance on offending her daughter and severing a relationship with her by voicing her concerns.
This is a real life situation. How do you feel about this mother’s decision?
I worry that this mother is sacrificing a more important eternal relationship with her daughter. My daughter and I discussed how this mother could tell her daughter how she feels, using phrases like, “I worry that, I’m concerned that, I feel that, I wonder if you’ve considered that?” ---- rather than parenting her adult child with phrases like, “Don’t do that, you shouldn’t, that’s wrong, you’re making a terrible choice!”
EXPERIENCE: Worry for our son’s serious dating
Our family had a similar experience. One of our returned missionary sons was dating a very pretty young woman who was an active member of the Church. We recognized signs of a severe eating disorder in her and an evasiveness that worried us. She would never join our son in any of our family activities. Over the long period they dated, she was only in our home once. Other of our adult children came to us voicing concerns for their brother. We confidentially discussed together what we should do as a family.
We decided to hold a family council and invited this son to attend. We each told him of our love for him and of our concern for things we noticed in the young woman he was seriously dating. Our son recognized our great love and genuine concern for him. During our meeting, he opened up and told us of worries that he had in some of the same areas about her, but he didn’t want to hurt her.
As parents we taught again a principle we have constantly shared with our older children: the choice of your eternal companion is one of the selfish decisions you must make. It is not a time to take on a project. If you marry a functional, other-centered mate, you can raise healthy children, have an eternal family, and go out to serve others. Our meeting gave him courage and he broke things off the next day. He is now happily married with 5 lovely children.
Deborah, the strength of a righteous friend
The story of Deborah in the Book of Judges, is the story of the strength of a righteous friend.
In Judges 4:1-2 we read that “…the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord.” As a consequence of their apostasy, “the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan.” And they were oppressed for 20 years.
Deborah, a prophetess, judged Israel at this time. She called upon Barak to take 10,000 men and go up against the army of Jabin, led by Sisera.
SCRIPTURE: Judges 4:8
8. And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
Barak was willing to face Sisera if Deborah would go with him.
Deborah was a true friend to Barak:
● She entrusted him with a difficult assignment.
● She had faith in him that he could be successful in carrying out this
assignment.
● She did not just send him, but was willing to go with him.
● She inspired him.
These are wonderful qualities of leadership we can use with our children, in our Church callings, and in our work experiences: 1. delegate responsibility, 2. have faith, 3. to train, teach and help, and 4. to inspire.
SCRIPTURE: Judges 4:14
14. And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.”
The right friends are import to support us, give us a good example, and make us happy.
QUOTE #5 Elder L. Tom Perry gives us counsel that will help us develop better friendships.
Elder L. Tom Perry: “I have found that the right friends have a powerful influence on our lives. Choose your friends wisely! Make certain they will complement your life goals and help to build within you the right values and standards…How do we develop better friendships?...1. Be sincere. 2. Become thoroughly acquainted by learning their names and other important things about them, being a good listener, and discussing their interests. Show interest in them, their hobbies, their work, their children. 3. Be unselfish. 4. Show brotherly love and concern for them. Meet their needs by giving them helpful service. 5. Graciously let them be of service to you when they offer. 6. Smile and be positive. (Living with Enthusiasm, p. 54)
Gideon and Samson: Instruments of God
We want to be useful to our Father in Heaven and serve Him.
“To be worthy instruments in the hands of God, we must honor our covenant promises and be true to the principles of righteousness. Once committed, Gideon was a faithful servant of God.
“Gideon became an instrument in the hands of the Lord. The Lord used him and directed him to do things the Lord’s way. When Gideon realized the Lord was not only with him but would insure the victory, he was full of faith. His men shared that faith, and also became instruments in the hand of the Lord.
“Samson, on the other hand, presents a mixed portrait of great promise and power as well as weakness and appetite. As long as the Spirit of the Lord remained with him, he was poised to be a productive instrument in the hand of God. When he deviated from the course, however, then carnal desire, rancor, anger, and the spirit of vengeance flourished and overcame his spiritual motivation.
“We can learn great lessons from the example of Samson as we strive to cultivate harmony, balance, humility, and spirituality in our lives. (Ed J. Pingegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 419)
We must strive to be productive instruments in the hands of God. Listen to President Ezra Taft Benson’s council.
QUOTE #6
President Ezra Taft Benson: “Ours is a gospel of work – purposeful, unselfish and rendered in the spirit of the true love of Christ. Only thus may we grow in godly attributes. Only thus may we become worthy instruments in the hands of the Lord for blessing others through that power which can lead to changing the lives of men and women for the better.” (Teaching of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 484)
Elder Russel M. Nelson tells us of the need for strong commitment in working toward eternal covenants.
QUOTE #7
Elder Russell M. Nelson: “Without a strong commitment to the Lord, an individual is more prone to have a low level of commitment to a spouse. Weak commitments to eternal covenants lead to losses of eternal consequence. Laments later in life are laced with remorse – as expressed in these lines: For all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’ (John Greenleaf Whittier,“Maud Muller”).” (Perfection Pending, and Other Favorite Discourses, p. 131)
“The stories of Gideon and Samson are known by all. We recognize the faith and exact obedience of Gideon. We are saddened as Samson yielded to temptation, yet he returned in a sense to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord.
“The Lord wants all of us to be willing, faithful, pure, prepared, and devoted instruments in His hands.” (Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teaching and Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 420)
Our joy and glory is to be used in the service of our God to bless our fellowmen.
CONCLUSION
We can count our blessings when we discern the hand of the Lord in our everyday lives. He has given us:
● The inspiration of the Spirit,
● Scriptures,
● Living prophets,
● and other devoted teachers – the beacons of light and instruments of God who are placed along our pathway as guides and mentors.
If we are faithful, the Lord’s message to Gideon will be His message to us:
“Surely I will be with thee.” (Judges 6:16)
It is my prayer that we will be worthy of His spirit as we:
● serve Him,
● raise our children,
● and work out our salvation.
References:
The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley, Go Forward with Faith, Sheri L. Dew, p. 30
BYU Women’s Conference Address, 2002, Hinckley children talk about their life with President Gordon B. Hinckley
Gospel Doctrine Class, Bob Beardall
Old Testament Student Manual, p. 247
Old Testament Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 19
Personal experiences, Maren Hardy Hale
Quotes from General Authorities as noted in lesson
Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Pp. 413-421
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
"Be Strong and of a Good Courage"
Be Strong and of a Good Courage
Old Testament: Lesson 18
by Ted L. Gibbons
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The points covered in the lesson manual are here in part. Please remember that your first line of preparation must be the scriptures, then the lesson manual prepared by the Church. This lesson is only provided to be a resource for your study and preparation.
Introduction
When the Lord announced that Israel would cross the Jordan as they had crossed the Red Sea 40 years earlier, he gave special instructions about what was to happen during the crossing:
Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night (Josh. 4:2,3)
That lodging place was Gilgal (4:20). What was the purpose of making a heap of 12 stones from the midst of Jordan?
That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever (Josh. 4:6,7).
The stones were to be a monument and a memorial, providing an opportunity for Israelites to teach their children what great things God had done for them at the Red Sea and at Jordan (4:7,23).
We all ought to leave such a memorial—a record of some kind that will encourage our children to ask us about the great things the Lord has done for us in our lives. Sometimes those memorials might be something like the pile of stones. But the clearest way to leave such encouragement is to leave a record. We ought to have a history in our journals of what God has done for us, one that our children can review and cherish, one that will bring them to us in their longing to hear the stories and feel the power of our testimonies.
Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 19821, p. 349).
Oliver B. Huntington wrote:
Many times have I wished that my father had kept an account of his life, that I might look over it, and see his by-gone days, deed and fortune; and never did he make the scratch of a pen towards it, until he had seen sixty cold winters; and as yet I know but very little of his life, not enough to make any record of, although I have a very short account written, but which is beyond my reach at present, if not forever. Like men in general I presume to suppose, that I shall have a posterity; and that may; like me; wish to know of their father's life, that they might view it, and perhaps profit thereby, or at least, have the satisfaction of knowing it. This is one object that induces me to write; that my nearest kindred, might know of their kinsman. I write also for a satisfaction to myself, to look over my past life, dates and events, and to comply with a requirement, oft repeated by the prophet Joseph Smith, "That every man should keep a daily journal" (Oliver Huntington Autobiography, BYU-S, p.26).
As we review the stories of Joshua, I will suggest 12 things (one for each stone) that might be worthy of an entry in the inventory of blessings that we ought to leave for our posterity.
ROCK #1: Be strong and courageous. Turn to Deuteronomy 30 and read verses 6,7, and 23. What did the Lord command Joshua to do? Now turn to Joshua 1:6,7,18. Then look at Joshua 10:25. The same instruction is given here. Why do you suppose the Lord said this thing to Joshua so many times? What need have we of courage and strength as we confront the challenges of life? Joshua had nearly impossible things to do. God advised him:
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).
What a blessing you will be to your children as you tell them of the times when you went forward with nothing but your faith in God to sustain you.
ROCK #2: God will qualify you: How many prophets had the Israelites known personally before Joshua? For 40 years they had followed Moses and marveled at his power. Now he was going and Joshua was to take his place. How would the people respond? Would they follow him? Brigham Young might have had such concerns as he stepped forward to take the place Joseph had held. You will remember that he was transfigured before the saints, and appeared to them and spoke to them as though he were the prophet Joseph Smith.
A similar thing happened with President Kimball:
The story really begins on the 26th of December, 1973. President Harold B. Lee passed away suddenly on that day. His death was completely unexpected. It is necessary to remember that over a period of twenty-five years, members of the Church had awaited the time when Harold B. Lee would become the president. There had been every reason to think that this would eventually happen, due to his relative youthfulness and because he occupied a position in seniority following Joseph Fielding Smith and David O. McKay, both of whom were of advanced age. In addition, Harold B. Lee had gained more than average prominence. His leadership in the welfare and priesthood programs of the Church, his forceful nature, and his sound judgment had made him one of the apostles most listened to and one whose influence and advice were most respected. He had an evident spiritual stature which commended him to the members of the Church as one of the great men of our time. He possessed an unusual ability to relate as a personal friend to countless people. It was expected that when he became president he would preside for twenty years or more.
Suddenly he was gone!—called elsewhere after only 1-1/2 years. It was the first time since the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith when the president had died before it was time for him to die. In deep sorrow and concern the surging questions arose in the minds of the people, much as they did at the time when Joseph Smith was killed in Carthage, Illinois. "What will we do now? How can we carry on without the prophet? Our great leader has gone. Can the Church survive this emergency?"
Of course we knew that the Church would survive, but it could not possibly be the same. We had never expected Spencer W. Kimball to become the president, and we had not looked to him for the same leadership evident in the life of Harold B. Lee. We knew, of course, that he would manage somehow, until the next great leader arose, but it would not be easy for him, and things would not be the same. "O Lord," we prayed, "please bless President Kimball. He needs all the help you can give him." Such seemed to be the attitude in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints during those days of mourning.
We return to the 4th of April, 1974. There were gathered that morning in the Church Office Building, all of the General Authorities as well as the Regional Representatives and other leaders from around the world. We were to be instructed once again, as we had been periodically during the past seven years. On each preceding occasion Harold B. Lee had given us our direction and sounded the trump of leadership. Now he was no longer there, and we all felt his absence deeply. Again came the questions: "How can we proceed without our great leader?" "How can President Kimball fill the empty space?" And again the prayers went forth: "Please bless President Kimball."
The moment came when President Kimball arose to address the assembled leadership. He noted that he also had never expected to occupy this position and that he missed President Lee equally with the rest of us. Then he reviewed much of the instruction which President Lee had given over the past years, and our prayers in behalf of President Kimball continued.
As he proceeded with his address, however, he had not spoken very long when a new awareness seemed suddenly to fall on the congregation. We became alert to an astonishing spiritual presence, and we realized that we were listening to something unusual, powerful, different from any of our previous meetings. It was as if, spiritually speaking, our hair began to stand on end. Our minds were suddenly vibrant and marveling at the transcendent message that was coming to our ears. With a new perceptiveness we realized that President Kimball was opening spiritual windows and beckoning to us to come and gaze with him on the plans of eternity. It was as if he were drawing back the curtains which covered the purpose of the Almighty and inviting us to view with him the destiny of the gospel and the vision of its ministry.
I doubt that any person present that day will ever forget the occasion. I, myself, have scarcely reread President Kimball's address since, but the substance of what he said was so vividly impressed upon my mind that I could repeat most of it at this moment from memory.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon President Kimball and it proceeded from him to us as a tangible presence, which was at once both moving and shocking. He unrolled to our view a glorious vision (W. Grant Bangerter, "Special Moment in Church History," Ensign, Nov. 1977, pp. 26,27).
What promise did the Lord make to Joshua?
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee (Josh. 3:7).
How did he keep that promise?
And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho (Joshua 3:15,16)
How did Israel respond?
On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life (Josh. 4:14).
When Joshua led the Israelites against Jericho, God once again showed his support for his prophet and his people. Joshua's battle plan was bizarre. But in those seven days of marching around the city, the people had ample time to reflect on just how they felt about this new leader. And when the trumpets sounded and the people shouted and the walls fell down flat, their testimonies of divine leadership must have multiplied a hundred fold.
ROCK #3: Walk to the edge of the light: God had promised to divide the Jordan, but when did he do it?
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap . . . And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan (Josh. 3:13, 15-17).
I wonder if there were any who stood beside the river thinking, "I'm not moving till I see the dry land where now I am seeing a river at flood stage." This reminds me of the command through Moses to the Israelites at the edge of the Red Sea. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward . . ." (Exodus 14:15). Sometimes we must move forward when the end is invisible and all that we can see is the next step.
Shortly after I was called to be a General Authority, I went to see Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he had counseled me.
I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, "The trouble with you is that you want to see the end from the beginning." I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime. "You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness, then the light will appear and show you the way before you."
. . . During the next 29 years following that experience, I have learned over and over again that all of us must walk by faith—near the edge of the light" (BYU Today, March 1991, pp. 22,23).
Your journal should contain stories of the times you moved forward in faith, waiting for the waters to part before you.
ROCK #4: Blessings come as needed: What happened after Israel crossed the Jordan and ate the food of the Promised Land?
And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year (Josh 5:12).
Take a quick look at Deut 8:4. What other miraculous things did the Lord do for Israel In the wilderness? Can you imagine wearing the same clothing for 40 years? But once other options were available, those miracles ceased. Hyrum M. Smith told a wonderful story about this principle. Here it is
[Gerald Quinn told the following story]
I was raised in San Bernardino . . . during the depression. I was taught a marvelous lesson in faith when I was about nine years old. We were living in what could best be described as a converted chicken coop. We owned a piece of ground that bordered a very busy highway. On one occasion our father called us together and said, "I have been impressed that we should spend a day fasting and praying to see if the Lord can't direct us in a path that will help us have enough money to build a home."
His father had a job and all that job paid during the depression was enough for food and clothing for the family and that was all. At the end of this day of fasting, Bro. Quinn approached his children again. Remember Gerald Quinn at this point was about nine. And he said, "I have been impressed that if we will go out in front of our house on this busy street, that we'll be able to find enough change dropped from passing motorists to feed our family." And he said, "then I can take the money I get at work, buy the materials for the house and we can build the house ourselves." Sister Quinn was very supportive and she said, "if that's what you think is right, we'll do it."
Gerald and his young sister were assigned the task of going out and searching the highway. The next morning they went out and spent about 45 minutes walking up and down this highway about 600 yards on either side of the house. They came back with $.75 that they had found. Those of you that remember the depression, $.75 was a lot of money. It bought food for the day. The next day they went out and did the same thing and brought back about $1.23. This was in nickels, dimes and pennies. Brothers and sisters, this went on for four years. Every day they would come back with anywhere from $.25 to $1.50 in change.
Bro. Quinn did exactly what he committed to the Lord he would do; took his money from work, bought the materials and they built a home. It was not a palatial place, but it was home. Bro. Quinn said, "I'll never forget the day we finished the home. We had a ceremonial burning of the chicken coop out back. Mom fixed a really neat meal and we all had just kind of a special day."
He said, "the next day, because it had become our habit, my sister and I went out to the street to collect our "daily manna". We spent an hour and didn't find one penny. We came back to the house frantic, approached our mother and said, "Mother, there is no money out there today.""
Mom sat them down and taught them a powerful lesson and said, "You didn't expect there to be any money today, did you?" And Jerry, not really understanding this whole process, said, "well, it's been there for four years, why not today?" And then his gracious mother said, "Because we don't need it anymore. And there won't be any money anymore. The Lord provided that while we were building our home. Our home is completed. There won't be any money anymore."
Jerry Quinn had to prove that. For the next three weeks he went out every day and never found another dime.
[From an audio recording by Hyrum M. Smith, "A Testimony of the Principles of Faith"]
ROCK #5: One man matters: What did Achan do that caused such difficulty for Israel?
BUT the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel (Josh. 7:1).
Notice the language of this verse and verse 11. "Israel committed a trespass . . . the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." Even though Achan was the only one who sinned, the judgements fell on his family and his fellow-Israelites. They were defeated at the city of Ai (7:2-5), and "the hearts of the people melted, and became as water" (7:5).
This matter came up again later, with some interesting observations.
Seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel . . . Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity (Josh 22:18,20).
Can you think of modern illustrations of this principle. Why couldn't a transgressor say "I'm only hurting myself"? Even if there are no literal consequences, what kind of pain do you feel when someone you know and love commits sin? How much difference did it make to the Nephites when Amalickiah rebelled and joined the Nephites? (see Alma 46-52)
And this principle works with the principles of righteousness as well. Just how much difference can one man make when that one man is a Moses or a Jeremiah or a Nephi or a Gordon B. Hinckley?
ROCK #6: We can learn lessons from our enemies: Israel was unstoppable. Cities and kings fell before them like grain before the reaper. The people of Gibeon were terrified. They took old sacks and old clothes and old food and made the short journey to Gilgal. What did they say to Joshua? (9:6-13).
The Lord had commanded Israel, "And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land." What mistake did Joshua and his leaders make?
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them (Josh. 9:14,15).
This is the first lesson. It is the lesson of Alma: "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good . . ." (Alma 37:37). But there is a second lesson. What did the Israelites do when they learned that they had been induced to make an agreement under false pretenses?
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them (Josh. 9:19,20).
This second lesson—keep your word—is one that must be highlighted by the first one. Seek the counsel of the Lord before you make important promises. But when you make them, keep them!
ROCK #7: I will fight your battles:
I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil--I will fight your battles (D&C 105:14).
A confederation of five kings undertook to destroy Gibeon because the city had made peace with Israel (see Josh. 10:2-5). The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua for help and he came, leading his army in forced march that lasted all night (10:9). What happened as these armies and their kings fled from the army of Israel?
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword (Josh. 10:11).
These great hailstones make me think of a prophecy in Revelation 16:21: "And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent . . ." A talent is probably about 75 pounds according to the Bible Dictionary. We do not know how large the stones were in Joshua tent, but if they were at all like the ones mentioned in Revelation, they were great stones indeed!
And the story reminds me of this promise:
Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed (D&C 123:17).
Have you made a record of those times in your life when, after you have done all that you could do, God has stepped in and made up the difference?
ROCK #8: Nothing is too hard for the Lord:
There is a miracle recorded in Joshua 10 that in scope and implication eclipses nearly every other miracle in the scriptures.
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies . . . So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel (Josh, 10:12-14).
The messenger of Isaac's birth said, when Sarah laughed, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:13, JST). To Mary, Gabriel said, "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:27). We need to have greater faith in this reality.
ROCK #9: Characteristics of a faithful servant: When enough of the conquest of the Promised Land was completed, Joshua sent the tribes to their inheritances. But first he praised them for their faithfulness. Note the things he said they had done and should do:
(Josh 22:2) "Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you"
(22:3) "Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day"
(22:3) "[Ye] have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God."
(22:5) "But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law"
(22:5) "love the LORD your God"
(22:5) "walk in all his ways"
(22:5) "keep his commandments"
(22:5) "cleave unto him"
(22:5) "serve him"
ROCK #10: Ed: When the three tribes who had received an inheritance on the other side of Jordan returned to their homes, they "built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to" (22:10). The other Israelites assumed that this altar was evidence of apostasy, "the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them" (22:12). The only authorized altar for priesthood service was at the tabernacle. But those who had build the altar explained that they had not built the altar in rebellion nor to offer burnt offerings thereon. Their purpose was to provide a reminder for their children and the children of the Israelites across the river, "But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD" (22:27) In fact, the altar was much like the pile of stones mentioned in Joshua 4.
Even the pattern was different from the temple altar. "Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made . . . it is a witness between us and you" (22:28). Notice what name they gave the altar in Joshua 22:34. The word in this context actually means witness. Are your home life and your work ethic and your interpersonal relationships witnesses of your love for the Lord?
ROCK #11: Remember: As Joshua dismisses Israel from the battlefields, he also charges them to remember how the Lord has blessed them:
(24:3) Remember what I did for Abraham
(24:5) Remember that I sent you Moses and Aaron
(24:5) Remember that I freed you from Egypt
(24:7) Remember that I save you and destroyed your enemies in the Red Sea
(24:8) I gave you victory over the Amorites
(24:11) Remember how you crossed Jordan
(24:11) Remember how I delivered the people of this land to your hand
(24:12) I sent the hornet before you (nature fought for you)
(24:13) I gave you a land and cities and crops for which you did not have to labor
Poor memories are a major problem in the standard works, where the word Remember appears 12,899 times! One of the blessings of a journal is that it helps us and our children to remember what the Lord has done for us.
ROCK #12: Choose you this day: Joshua invited Israel to "Incline [their] heart unto the Lord God of Israel" (24:23). It was time to make a choice.
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods (Josh. 24:14-16)
Conclusion
This matter of writing a journal (making a memorial) has received a great deal of emphasis. I have always been intrigued by the things which are included in the scriptural history. I believe the book of Joshua gives us a wonderful patter for the kinds of things we ought to record.
We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives (Spencer W. Kimball, "President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals," Ensign, Dec. 1980, 61)
Old Testament: Lesson 18
by Ted L. Gibbons
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The points covered in the lesson manual are here in part. Please remember that your first line of preparation must be the scriptures, then the lesson manual prepared by the Church. This lesson is only provided to be a resource for your study and preparation.
Introduction
When the Lord announced that Israel would cross the Jordan as they had crossed the Red Sea 40 years earlier, he gave special instructions about what was to happen during the crossing:
Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night (Josh. 4:2,3)
That lodging place was Gilgal (4:20). What was the purpose of making a heap of 12 stones from the midst of Jordan?
That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever (Josh. 4:6,7).
The stones were to be a monument and a memorial, providing an opportunity for Israelites to teach their children what great things God had done for them at the Red Sea and at Jordan (4:7,23).
We all ought to leave such a memorial—a record of some kind that will encourage our children to ask us about the great things the Lord has done for us in our lives. Sometimes those memorials might be something like the pile of stones. But the clearest way to leave such encouragement is to leave a record. We ought to have a history in our journals of what God has done for us, one that our children can review and cherish, one that will bring them to us in their longing to hear the stories and feel the power of our testimonies.
Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 19821, p. 349).
Oliver B. Huntington wrote:
Many times have I wished that my father had kept an account of his life, that I might look over it, and see his by-gone days, deed and fortune; and never did he make the scratch of a pen towards it, until he had seen sixty cold winters; and as yet I know but very little of his life, not enough to make any record of, although I have a very short account written, but which is beyond my reach at present, if not forever. Like men in general I presume to suppose, that I shall have a posterity; and that may; like me; wish to know of their father's life, that they might view it, and perhaps profit thereby, or at least, have the satisfaction of knowing it. This is one object that induces me to write; that my nearest kindred, might know of their kinsman. I write also for a satisfaction to myself, to look over my past life, dates and events, and to comply with a requirement, oft repeated by the prophet Joseph Smith, "That every man should keep a daily journal" (Oliver Huntington Autobiography, BYU-S, p.26).
As we review the stories of Joshua, I will suggest 12 things (one for each stone) that might be worthy of an entry in the inventory of blessings that we ought to leave for our posterity.
ROCK #1: Be strong and courageous. Turn to Deuteronomy 30 and read verses 6,7, and 23. What did the Lord command Joshua to do? Now turn to Joshua 1:6,7,18. Then look at Joshua 10:25. The same instruction is given here. Why do you suppose the Lord said this thing to Joshua so many times? What need have we of courage and strength as we confront the challenges of life? Joshua had nearly impossible things to do. God advised him:
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).
What a blessing you will be to your children as you tell them of the times when you went forward with nothing but your faith in God to sustain you.
ROCK #2: God will qualify you: How many prophets had the Israelites known personally before Joshua? For 40 years they had followed Moses and marveled at his power. Now he was going and Joshua was to take his place. How would the people respond? Would they follow him? Brigham Young might have had such concerns as he stepped forward to take the place Joseph had held. You will remember that he was transfigured before the saints, and appeared to them and spoke to them as though he were the prophet Joseph Smith.
A similar thing happened with President Kimball:
The story really begins on the 26th of December, 1973. President Harold B. Lee passed away suddenly on that day. His death was completely unexpected. It is necessary to remember that over a period of twenty-five years, members of the Church had awaited the time when Harold B. Lee would become the president. There had been every reason to think that this would eventually happen, due to his relative youthfulness and because he occupied a position in seniority following Joseph Fielding Smith and David O. McKay, both of whom were of advanced age. In addition, Harold B. Lee had gained more than average prominence. His leadership in the welfare and priesthood programs of the Church, his forceful nature, and his sound judgment had made him one of the apostles most listened to and one whose influence and advice were most respected. He had an evident spiritual stature which commended him to the members of the Church as one of the great men of our time. He possessed an unusual ability to relate as a personal friend to countless people. It was expected that when he became president he would preside for twenty years or more.
Suddenly he was gone!—called elsewhere after only 1-1/2 years. It was the first time since the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith when the president had died before it was time for him to die. In deep sorrow and concern the surging questions arose in the minds of the people, much as they did at the time when Joseph Smith was killed in Carthage, Illinois. "What will we do now? How can we carry on without the prophet? Our great leader has gone. Can the Church survive this emergency?"
Of course we knew that the Church would survive, but it could not possibly be the same. We had never expected Spencer W. Kimball to become the president, and we had not looked to him for the same leadership evident in the life of Harold B. Lee. We knew, of course, that he would manage somehow, until the next great leader arose, but it would not be easy for him, and things would not be the same. "O Lord," we prayed, "please bless President Kimball. He needs all the help you can give him." Such seemed to be the attitude in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints during those days of mourning.
We return to the 4th of April, 1974. There were gathered that morning in the Church Office Building, all of the General Authorities as well as the Regional Representatives and other leaders from around the world. We were to be instructed once again, as we had been periodically during the past seven years. On each preceding occasion Harold B. Lee had given us our direction and sounded the trump of leadership. Now he was no longer there, and we all felt his absence deeply. Again came the questions: "How can we proceed without our great leader?" "How can President Kimball fill the empty space?" And again the prayers went forth: "Please bless President Kimball."
The moment came when President Kimball arose to address the assembled leadership. He noted that he also had never expected to occupy this position and that he missed President Lee equally with the rest of us. Then he reviewed much of the instruction which President Lee had given over the past years, and our prayers in behalf of President Kimball continued.
As he proceeded with his address, however, he had not spoken very long when a new awareness seemed suddenly to fall on the congregation. We became alert to an astonishing spiritual presence, and we realized that we were listening to something unusual, powerful, different from any of our previous meetings. It was as if, spiritually speaking, our hair began to stand on end. Our minds were suddenly vibrant and marveling at the transcendent message that was coming to our ears. With a new perceptiveness we realized that President Kimball was opening spiritual windows and beckoning to us to come and gaze with him on the plans of eternity. It was as if he were drawing back the curtains which covered the purpose of the Almighty and inviting us to view with him the destiny of the gospel and the vision of its ministry.
I doubt that any person present that day will ever forget the occasion. I, myself, have scarcely reread President Kimball's address since, but the substance of what he said was so vividly impressed upon my mind that I could repeat most of it at this moment from memory.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon President Kimball and it proceeded from him to us as a tangible presence, which was at once both moving and shocking. He unrolled to our view a glorious vision (W. Grant Bangerter, "Special Moment in Church History," Ensign, Nov. 1977, pp. 26,27).
What promise did the Lord make to Joshua?
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee (Josh. 3:7).
How did he keep that promise?
And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho (Joshua 3:15,16)
How did Israel respond?
On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life (Josh. 4:14).
When Joshua led the Israelites against Jericho, God once again showed his support for his prophet and his people. Joshua's battle plan was bizarre. But in those seven days of marching around the city, the people had ample time to reflect on just how they felt about this new leader. And when the trumpets sounded and the people shouted and the walls fell down flat, their testimonies of divine leadership must have multiplied a hundred fold.
ROCK #3: Walk to the edge of the light: God had promised to divide the Jordan, but when did he do it?
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap . . . And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan (Josh. 3:13, 15-17).
I wonder if there were any who stood beside the river thinking, "I'm not moving till I see the dry land where now I am seeing a river at flood stage." This reminds me of the command through Moses to the Israelites at the edge of the Red Sea. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward . . ." (Exodus 14:15). Sometimes we must move forward when the end is invisible and all that we can see is the next step.
Shortly after I was called to be a General Authority, I went to see Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he had counseled me.
I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, "The trouble with you is that you want to see the end from the beginning." I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime. "You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness, then the light will appear and show you the way before you."
. . . During the next 29 years following that experience, I have learned over and over again that all of us must walk by faith—near the edge of the light" (BYU Today, March 1991, pp. 22,23).
Your journal should contain stories of the times you moved forward in faith, waiting for the waters to part before you.
ROCK #4: Blessings come as needed: What happened after Israel crossed the Jordan and ate the food of the Promised Land?
And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year (Josh 5:12).
Take a quick look at Deut 8:4. What other miraculous things did the Lord do for Israel In the wilderness? Can you imagine wearing the same clothing for 40 years? But once other options were available, those miracles ceased. Hyrum M. Smith told a wonderful story about this principle. Here it is
[Gerald Quinn told the following story]
I was raised in San Bernardino . . . during the depression. I was taught a marvelous lesson in faith when I was about nine years old. We were living in what could best be described as a converted chicken coop. We owned a piece of ground that bordered a very busy highway. On one occasion our father called us together and said, "I have been impressed that we should spend a day fasting and praying to see if the Lord can't direct us in a path that will help us have enough money to build a home."
His father had a job and all that job paid during the depression was enough for food and clothing for the family and that was all. At the end of this day of fasting, Bro. Quinn approached his children again. Remember Gerald Quinn at this point was about nine. And he said, "I have been impressed that if we will go out in front of our house on this busy street, that we'll be able to find enough change dropped from passing motorists to feed our family." And he said, "then I can take the money I get at work, buy the materials for the house and we can build the house ourselves." Sister Quinn was very supportive and she said, "if that's what you think is right, we'll do it."
Gerald and his young sister were assigned the task of going out and searching the highway. The next morning they went out and spent about 45 minutes walking up and down this highway about 600 yards on either side of the house. They came back with $.75 that they had found. Those of you that remember the depression, $.75 was a lot of money. It bought food for the day. The next day they went out and did the same thing and brought back about $1.23. This was in nickels, dimes and pennies. Brothers and sisters, this went on for four years. Every day they would come back with anywhere from $.25 to $1.50 in change.
Bro. Quinn did exactly what he committed to the Lord he would do; took his money from work, bought the materials and they built a home. It was not a palatial place, but it was home. Bro. Quinn said, "I'll never forget the day we finished the home. We had a ceremonial burning of the chicken coop out back. Mom fixed a really neat meal and we all had just kind of a special day."
He said, "the next day, because it had become our habit, my sister and I went out to the street to collect our "daily manna". We spent an hour and didn't find one penny. We came back to the house frantic, approached our mother and said, "Mother, there is no money out there today.""
Mom sat them down and taught them a powerful lesson and said, "You didn't expect there to be any money today, did you?" And Jerry, not really understanding this whole process, said, "well, it's been there for four years, why not today?" And then his gracious mother said, "Because we don't need it anymore. And there won't be any money anymore. The Lord provided that while we were building our home. Our home is completed. There won't be any money anymore."
Jerry Quinn had to prove that. For the next three weeks he went out every day and never found another dime.
[From an audio recording by Hyrum M. Smith, "A Testimony of the Principles of Faith"]
ROCK #5: One man matters: What did Achan do that caused such difficulty for Israel?
BUT the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel (Josh. 7:1).
Notice the language of this verse and verse 11. "Israel committed a trespass . . . the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." Even though Achan was the only one who sinned, the judgements fell on his family and his fellow-Israelites. They were defeated at the city of Ai (7:2-5), and "the hearts of the people melted, and became as water" (7:5).
This matter came up again later, with some interesting observations.
Seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel . . . Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity (Josh 22:18,20).
Can you think of modern illustrations of this principle. Why couldn't a transgressor say "I'm only hurting myself"? Even if there are no literal consequences, what kind of pain do you feel when someone you know and love commits sin? How much difference did it make to the Nephites when Amalickiah rebelled and joined the Nephites? (see Alma 46-52)
And this principle works with the principles of righteousness as well. Just how much difference can one man make when that one man is a Moses or a Jeremiah or a Nephi or a Gordon B. Hinckley?
ROCK #6: We can learn lessons from our enemies: Israel was unstoppable. Cities and kings fell before them like grain before the reaper. The people of Gibeon were terrified. They took old sacks and old clothes and old food and made the short journey to Gilgal. What did they say to Joshua? (9:6-13).
The Lord had commanded Israel, "And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land." What mistake did Joshua and his leaders make?
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them (Josh. 9:14,15).
This is the first lesson. It is the lesson of Alma: "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good . . ." (Alma 37:37). But there is a second lesson. What did the Israelites do when they learned that they had been induced to make an agreement under false pretenses?
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them (Josh. 9:19,20).
This second lesson—keep your word—is one that must be highlighted by the first one. Seek the counsel of the Lord before you make important promises. But when you make them, keep them!
ROCK #7: I will fight your battles:
I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil--I will fight your battles (D&C 105:14).
A confederation of five kings undertook to destroy Gibeon because the city had made peace with Israel (see Josh. 10:2-5). The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua for help and he came, leading his army in forced march that lasted all night (10:9). What happened as these armies and their kings fled from the army of Israel?
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword (Josh. 10:11).
These great hailstones make me think of a prophecy in Revelation 16:21: "And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent . . ." A talent is probably about 75 pounds according to the Bible Dictionary. We do not know how large the stones were in Joshua tent, but if they were at all like the ones mentioned in Revelation, they were great stones indeed!
And the story reminds me of this promise:
Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed (D&C 123:17).
Have you made a record of those times in your life when, after you have done all that you could do, God has stepped in and made up the difference?
ROCK #8: Nothing is too hard for the Lord:
There is a miracle recorded in Joshua 10 that in scope and implication eclipses nearly every other miracle in the scriptures.
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies . . . So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel (Josh, 10:12-14).
The messenger of Isaac's birth said, when Sarah laughed, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:13, JST). To Mary, Gabriel said, "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:27). We need to have greater faith in this reality.
ROCK #9: Characteristics of a faithful servant: When enough of the conquest of the Promised Land was completed, Joshua sent the tribes to their inheritances. But first he praised them for their faithfulness. Note the things he said they had done and should do:
(Josh 22:2) "Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you"
(22:3) "Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day"
(22:3) "[Ye] have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God."
(22:5) "But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law"
(22:5) "love the LORD your God"
(22:5) "walk in all his ways"
(22:5) "keep his commandments"
(22:5) "cleave unto him"
(22:5) "serve him"
ROCK #10: Ed: When the three tribes who had received an inheritance on the other side of Jordan returned to their homes, they "built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to" (22:10). The other Israelites assumed that this altar was evidence of apostasy, "the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them" (22:12). The only authorized altar for priesthood service was at the tabernacle. But those who had build the altar explained that they had not built the altar in rebellion nor to offer burnt offerings thereon. Their purpose was to provide a reminder for their children and the children of the Israelites across the river, "But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD" (22:27) In fact, the altar was much like the pile of stones mentioned in Joshua 4.
Even the pattern was different from the temple altar. "Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made . . . it is a witness between us and you" (22:28). Notice what name they gave the altar in Joshua 22:34. The word in this context actually means witness. Are your home life and your work ethic and your interpersonal relationships witnesses of your love for the Lord?
ROCK #11: Remember: As Joshua dismisses Israel from the battlefields, he also charges them to remember how the Lord has blessed them:
(24:3) Remember what I did for Abraham
(24:5) Remember that I sent you Moses and Aaron
(24:5) Remember that I freed you from Egypt
(24:7) Remember that I save you and destroyed your enemies in the Red Sea
(24:8) I gave you victory over the Amorites
(24:11) Remember how you crossed Jordan
(24:11) Remember how I delivered the people of this land to your hand
(24:12) I sent the hornet before you (nature fought for you)
(24:13) I gave you a land and cities and crops for which you did not have to labor
Poor memories are a major problem in the standard works, where the word Remember appears 12,899 times! One of the blessings of a journal is that it helps us and our children to remember what the Lord has done for us.
ROCK #12: Choose you this day: Joshua invited Israel to "Incline [their] heart unto the Lord God of Israel" (24:23). It was time to make a choice.
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods (Josh. 24:14-16)
Conclusion
This matter of writing a journal (making a memorial) has received a great deal of emphasis. I have always been intrigued by the things which are included in the scriptural history. I believe the book of Joshua gives us a wonderful patter for the kinds of things we ought to record.
We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives (Spencer W. Kimball, "President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals," Ensign, Dec. 1980, 61)
Monday, May 10, 2010
“Beware Lest Thou Forget”
“Beware Lest Thou Forget”
Lesson 17,Compiled by Maren Hale
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6; 8; 11; 32
Board: OUR GOAL IS, AS WAS THAT OF ANCENT ISRAEL, TO PUT GOD AND CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIFE.
INTRODUCTION
EXPERIENCE: Reminders in my home of the covenants I have made.
Here are some important objects that I love to look at in my home that remind me of the Lord and the covenants I have made with Him:
● Family pictures – We love our children and feel a responsibility to guide them back to their Heavenly Father – they are our stewardship and we want to be with them and other loved ones eternally.
● Genealogy books – Hardy Heritage, John R. Winder, David Eccles…
I feel blessed to have ancestors who loved the Lord. They sacrificed in many ways so that their posterity could have the blessings of the gospel.
● Music that invites the Spirit – Reid Nibley’s “Quiet Classics”
For me, music such as Reid’s CD sooths my soul and gives me joy.
● Scriptures and Church books – Elder F. Enzio Busche’s book, Yearning for the living God These books light the way for me. They help me feel
the spirit and give me direction in my life.
● Plaques – “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
This plaque reminds me daily to do what is right and hold on to the iron rod through my actions and through prayer.
● Temple picture – Salt Lake Temple
I am reminded of where I made sacred covenants and where I can go to serve, receive peace, and commune with the Lord.
QUESTION: Is there something special you have in your home that reminds you and your family of your devotion to the gospel and to the covenants you have made? [I love religious art, so I have chosen prints that remind me of things of the spirit:”
● Adam and Eve grieving for their son, Abel
● Christ in the temple as a boy
● Missionaries teaching a Danish family
● The resurrection of Christ
● The Vienna Opera House (my grandfather was the missionary who opened up the Church in Vienna).
● “The First Grief” (a young woman listening to another woman who is sad – it shows compassion)
● The well-know Christ by Heinrich Hoffman
I always put prints in my children’s rooms that made them reflect on their testimonies and the gospel – “The Sacred Grove,” “Adam-Ondi-Ahman.” “Liberty Jail,” “the Kirtland Temple,” “The Armor of God,” photographs of ancestors who lived the gospel.]
Part of our lesson today is about the physical objects that the ancient Israelites used to remind themselves of the Lord and their covenants with him. Physical objects can be powerful reminders for us, also.
BODY
In the Book of Deuteronomy there are 3 sermons or discourses given by Moses prior to his departure from Israel in which he summarized the Mosaic code. At this time, Israel was camped in Moab, across the Jordan from the promised land. Joshua would soon lead them in their battle against the Canaanites to posses the promised land.
Imagine with me the setting for this event:
● A great congregation or conference of tens of thousands, possibly millions.
● A nomadic people that had lived in the desert for decades.
● A aged prophet of 120 years about to deliver his final admonition to a
people he has loved as a father.
The Old Testament Student Manual states:
“Moses speaks like a dying father to his children. The words are earnest, inspired, impressive. He looks back over the whole of the 40 years of their wandering in the desert, reminds the people of all the blessings they have received, of the ingratitude with which they have so often repaid Him, and of the judgments of God, and the love that continually broke forth behind them; he explains the laws again and again, and adds what is necessary to complete them, and is never weary of urging obedience to them in the warmest and most emphatic words, because the very life of the nation was bound up with this; he surveys all the storms and conflicts which they have passed through, and beholding the future in the past, takes a survey also of the future history of the nation, and sees, with mingled sorrow and joy, how the three great features of the past – apostasy, punishment, and pardon – continue to repeat themselves in the future also.” (Keil and Kelitzsch, commentary quoted in Old Testament Student Manual, p. 216)
QUESTION: How do we talk to our children, our posterity, about the direction of their lives?
EXPERIENCE: Gary Norton at his father’s funeral
As I visited with Gary Norton last week at his father’s viewing. He mentioned to me the recent temple trip he had been on where his siblings and father had drawn closely together to share things of the Spirit. He told me how poignant those experiences with his father had been to him.
EXPERIENCE: Sister Julie G. Beck at her father’s funeral.
Elder William Grant Bangerter recently passed away. His daughter, Relief Society general president, “Julie Beck, spoke of a recent conversation she had with him where he asked her what her mission in life is. He asked what his purpose was and why individuals are here on earth. She then recalled her father’s answers – responding very powerfully to his own questions. He said:
‘We are here to develop ourselves and build the kingdom of God. A high level of employment is an interesting thing. But serving as a bishop and leader is something very special. …I was not sent on earth to be a farmer or a carpenter, I was sent to serve and respond where I was sent and be carried around the world in the Lord’s service.” (“A light to all who knew him,” Church News, May 1, 2010, p. 13)
We, like the prophet Moses, should talk to our children and grandchildren about the direction of their lives.
In Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, Moses instructs the people to keep the commandments.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:1-5
1. Now these are the commandments, the statues, and the judgements, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to posses it:
2. That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statues and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of they life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
4. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
These verses contain the core message of the Book of Deuteronomy:
● To love the Lord with “all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (v.5)
● To keep the commanments “all the days of thy life.” (vs. 2)
● And that the Lord requires thee, “but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy hear and with all thy soul.” (Deut. 10:12).
The reasons Moses gives for these instructions are that:
● “That thy days may be prolonged.” (vs. 2)
● “that it may be well with thee,” (vs. 3)
● “that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath
promised thee.” (vs. 3)
QUESTION: Is the message any different in our day? [Some laws and ordinances may be different, but the message stays the same – Word of Wisdom]
OUR GOAL IS, AS WAS THAT OF ANCENT ISRAEL, TO PUT GOD AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIFE.
Our study of the Old Testament reveals that ancient Israel struggled to follow these instructions.
QUESTION: What challenges do we face in attempting to live a God-centered life?
[People we are with have different standards (work, school, media)]
EXPERIENCE: Paddling against the current
When I was a young girl, I attended a camp in Canada where we went on long 5-day canoe trips. We paddled down lakes to rivers, and that repeated itself. When our direction on a river was against the current, we would sometimes encounter terrific rapids and currents along a stretch of a river. If we worked hard paddling in very strong rapids, we could only slow our rate of passage with the current. There was no way, floating along in our canoe that we could paddle upstream. We would usually find ourselves quite a way from where we started. The only way to stop our progress down stream was to paddle over to the side, get out, and portage past the strong rapids.
Living in the world is much like trying to resist the current in a river. Though the flow in the river may seem gentle, it can have great power in certain areas. If we are not careful, the flow of the current of different thoughts and standards can sweep us far from our destination before we realize what is happening. At times like this, we need to get away and walk past temptations.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:6-7
6. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
These verses reminded me of something my mother wrote. She states:
“The principal lessons a parent must teach are those of spiritual values. Elder Boyd K. Packer has suggested that when children are interested or teachable, parents need to ‘seize the moment.’ (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, p.110) “When they are spiritually hungry, feed them. Unknowingly, I followed this precept. We discussed gospel concepts freely while preparing salad, driving to a music lesson, or sitting around the dinner table. It was as commonplace to talk about the Atonement or the Second Coming as to converse about what was happening in Congress or in the fourth-grade math class.
“President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., has said that Latter-day Saint children have a spiritual maturity that must not be underestimated. ‘They are eager to learn the Gospel,’ he said,’ and they want it straight, undiluted (J. Reuben Clark Selected Papers, ed. David H. Yarn, Jr., p. 246).’” (Maren Eccles Hardy, “You Can’t Afford Not To,” Ensign, March 1989, pp. 24-25)
“Do our children know what we know?” asked Elder Robert D. Hales during April General Conference.
“Our duty to God as parents and leaders begins with leading by example – consistently and diligently living gospel principles at home.”
Elder Hales said that parents lead by understanding the hearts of their children and by walking alongside them on the gospel path.
He said, “To truly understand their hearts, we must do more than just be in the same room or attend the same family and Church activities. We must plan and take advantage of teaching moments that make a deep and lasting impression upon their minds and hearts.”
“The greatest influence on a child does not come from an interview with the bishop or some other leader, “but from the regular, warm, friendly, caring interaction with parents.”
Most important in these interactions with youth is “asking them questions, letting them talk, and then being willing to listen, yes listen, and then listen some more, even hearken with spiritual ears!” (“Our Duty to God,” Church News, April 10, 2010, p. 21)
QUOTE #1
Elder Robert D. Hales: “It is our imperative duty to help youth understand and believe the gospel in a deeply personal way. We can teach them to walk in the light, but that light cannot be borrowed. They must earn it for themselves. They must obtain their own light of testimony directly from the source of spiritual light—God Himself—through prayer and study and pondering. They must understand who they are and who Heavenly Father wants them to become. How do we help them?”
(“Our Duty to God: The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation,” April 2010 General Conference)
EXAMPLE: Ada Taylor’s funeral yesterday. Her daughters said, “We were taught at her feet. She was our example in prayer, scripture study, and listening.”
In General Conference, Elder Francisco J. Viñas said, “In order to more effectively teach the things pertaining to righteousness, it is important to understand that, in addition to imparting information, we must facilitate revelation. This way, the person being taught can feel the desire to know these principles for himself or herself.” (Things Pertaining to Righteousness, April 2010 General Conference)
We need to teach our children to recognize when they feel the Spirit.
QUOTE #2 He continues his council in Quote #2.
Elder Francisco J. Viñas: “In a time when the family is under attack from the forces of evil and when the conditions in which we live are not so very different from those that Alma experienced, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have set forth in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” that “parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness” (November 1995, 102).
“This includes nurturing, supporting, and teaching children in all things pertaining to righteousness so that they may remain firm, with their “loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and [their] feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (D&C 27:16). (“Things Pertaining to Righteousness,” April 2010 General Conference)
And finally, from April General Conference – Elder David A. Bednar spoke of parents’ sacred responsibility to help children act and to seek learning by faith. “The spiritual understanding you and I have been blessed to receive, and which has been confirmed as true in our hearts, simply cannot be given to our children. The tuition of diligence and of learning by study and also by faith must be paid to obtain and personally “own” such knowledge. Only in this way can what is known in the mind also be felt in the heart. Only in this way can a child move beyond relying upon the spiritual knowledge and experiences of parents and adults and claim those blessings for himself or herself. Only in this way can our children be prepared spiritually for the challenges of mortality.” (“Watching with All Perseverance,” April 2010 General Conference)
We are being told again to prepare our children spiritually.
QUOTE #3: He give us a promise at the close of his talk:
Elder David A. Bednar: “I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act
and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families – “watching . . . with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18) – to the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. (“Watching with All Perseverance,” April 2010 General Conference)
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:8-9 [speaking of the words of God – covenants]
8. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
“The Jews took these verses literally, inscribing scriptural passages on tiny pieces of parchment, folding them, and putting them into tiny leather boxes about 1 ½” square. These boxes were then tied to the head to be over the forehead, or on the left biceps, suggesting that the wearer would ‘fulfill the law with the head and heart’…
“The mezuzah (Hebrew for ‘doorpost’) was a parchment with a scriptural passage on it inserted into a tiny, cylindrical box. It was attached to the door frame. It became customary for Jews to touch or kiss the mezuzah each time they left or entered the home.” (Old Testament Student Manual, p. 218)
QUESTION: What objects or things to we wear to signify a reminder of our covenants?
● Temple garments
● Tradition of deacons wearing white shirts to pass the sacrament
● Respectful, church attire to Sunday meetings
● Modest clothing
● CTR rings
THE THINGS WE DO IN OUR HOMES SHOULD REMIND US OF THE LORD, HIS WORDS, AND OUR COVENANTS WITH HIM.
Some choose to spend hours watching television, surfing the internet, playing video games, or talking on their cell phones; while others choose to interact with family members, read books, study, develop musical talents, prepare a healthy meal, serve someone, or work keeping up the home and yard.
“Recent studies conducted by a Stanford University research team have revealed that ‘what we watch’ does have an effect on our imaginations, our learning patterns, and our behaviors.
First, we are exposed to new behaviors and characters. Next, we learn or acquire these new behaviors. The last and most crucial step is that we adopt these behaviors as our own.
One of the most critical aspects of human development that we need to understand is the influence of ‘repeated viewing’ and ‘repeated verbalizing’ in shaping our future. The information goes in, ‘harmlessly, almost unnoticed,’ on a daily basis, but we don’t react to it until later, when we aren’t able to realize the basis for our reactions.
In other words, our value system is being formed without any conscious awareness on our part of what is happening!” (Denis Waitley, Seeds of Greatness, p. 55)
This research team discovered that all that we see and hear around us has a dramatic effect on the way we live our lives.
QUOTE #4: President Ezra Taft Benson tells us that we must counteract the negative influences we encounter.
President Ezra Taft Benson: “[People who are] captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ….Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians,” (Ensign, November 1985, pp. 6-7)
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 8:2-3
2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
3. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
During the forty years in the wilderness Israel learned:
● To be humble
● To be obedient
● And that man lives not by bread alone, but by the word of God.
Deuteronomy 8: 11-14
11. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statues, which I command thee this day:
12. Yet when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13. And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14. Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
In the wilderness Israel also learned gratitude.
QUOTE #5
Elder Robert D. Hales: “Gratitude is a state of appreciation, an act of thanksgiving, which causes us to be humble because we recognize an act of kindness, service, or caring from someone else which lifts us and strengthens us.
“In some quiet way, the expression and feelings of gratitude have a wonderful cleansing or healing nature. Gratitude brings warmth to the giver and the receiver alike.” (“Gratitude for the Goodness of God,” Ensign, May 1992)
Deuteronomy 8:18-20
18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
19. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
20. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.
We learn here the importance of realizing that all our blessings come from the Lord. We are nothing without Him.
QUOTE # 6
President Harold B. Lee: “[Brigham Young said, ‘The worst fear I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty and all manner of persecution and be true. But my greatest fear is that they cannot stand wealth; and yet they have to be tried with riches, for they will become the richest people of this earth.’
“Many years of experience have proved that statement to be a prophecy that has been fulfilled.” (Decisions for Successful Living, p. 212)
Moses tells us that prosperity and freedom might cause the people to forget God, yet, that same prosperity and freedom can further the Lord’s work.
QUOTE #7
President Spencer W. Kimball: “The Lord has blessed us as a people with a prosperity unequaled in times past. The resources that have been placed in our power are good, and necessary to our work here on the earth. But I am afraid that many of us have been surfeited with flocks and herds and acres and barns and wealth and have begun to worship them as false gods, and they have power over us. Do we have more of these good things than our faith can stand?
“Many people spend most of their time working in the service of a self-image that includes sufficient money, stocks, bonds, investment portfolios, property, credit cards, furnishings, automobiles, and the like to guarantee carnal security throughout, it is hoped, a long and happy life.
“Forgotten is the fact that our assignment is to use these many resources in our families and quorums to build up the kingdom of God – to further the missionary effort and the genealogical and temple work; to raise our children up as fruitful servants unto the Lord; to bless others in every way, that they may also be fruitful.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 357)
A GREAT PART OF OUR CHALLENGE HERE ON EARTH IS TO LEARN TO MANAGE OUR STEWARDSHIPS AND RESOURCES WELL.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 11:26-28
26. Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27. A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:
28. And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
QUESTION: What other gods are we tempted to go after?
● Material goods
● Physical vanity
● Intellectual superiority
● Constant recreation
● And a host of other ills
QUOTE #8: President Monson spoke in Conference about those ills.
President Thomas S. Monson: “Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, dishonesty and a host of other ills cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings and shattered dreams.
“My counsel for all of us is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing.” (“A Word at Closing,” 180th General Conference, April 2010)
CONCLUSION
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 32:1-4
1. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
3. Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a god of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
QUESTION: Why is Jesus Christ called the Rock? [He is our sure foundation]
SCRIPTURE: Helaman 5:12
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
Brothers and sisters, I’m grateful for my firm testimony that Christ is our Rock and our Redeemer. May we reverence Him, love Him, and remember our covenants with Him.
References:
Bob Beardall Gospel Doctrine Lesson
Church News
Denis Waitley, Seeds of Greatness
Ed Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentaries n the Old Testament
Ensign Magazine
General Conference talks
Maren Hale, personal experiences
Old Testament Student Manual
Quotes as noted in lesson
Lesson 17,Compiled by Maren Hale
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6; 8; 11; 32
Board: OUR GOAL IS, AS WAS THAT OF ANCENT ISRAEL, TO PUT GOD AND CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIFE.
INTRODUCTION
EXPERIENCE: Reminders in my home of the covenants I have made.
Here are some important objects that I love to look at in my home that remind me of the Lord and the covenants I have made with Him:
● Family pictures – We love our children and feel a responsibility to guide them back to their Heavenly Father – they are our stewardship and we want to be with them and other loved ones eternally.
● Genealogy books – Hardy Heritage, John R. Winder, David Eccles…
I feel blessed to have ancestors who loved the Lord. They sacrificed in many ways so that their posterity could have the blessings of the gospel.
● Music that invites the Spirit – Reid Nibley’s “Quiet Classics”
For me, music such as Reid’s CD sooths my soul and gives me joy.
● Scriptures and Church books – Elder F. Enzio Busche’s book, Yearning for the living God These books light the way for me. They help me feel
the spirit and give me direction in my life.
● Plaques – “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
This plaque reminds me daily to do what is right and hold on to the iron rod through my actions and through prayer.
● Temple picture – Salt Lake Temple
I am reminded of where I made sacred covenants and where I can go to serve, receive peace, and commune with the Lord.
QUESTION: Is there something special you have in your home that reminds you and your family of your devotion to the gospel and to the covenants you have made? [I love religious art, so I have chosen prints that remind me of things of the spirit:”
● Adam and Eve grieving for their son, Abel
● Christ in the temple as a boy
● Missionaries teaching a Danish family
● The resurrection of Christ
● The Vienna Opera House (my grandfather was the missionary who opened up the Church in Vienna).
● “The First Grief” (a young woman listening to another woman who is sad – it shows compassion)
● The well-know Christ by Heinrich Hoffman
I always put prints in my children’s rooms that made them reflect on their testimonies and the gospel – “The Sacred Grove,” “Adam-Ondi-Ahman.” “Liberty Jail,” “the Kirtland Temple,” “The Armor of God,” photographs of ancestors who lived the gospel.]
Part of our lesson today is about the physical objects that the ancient Israelites used to remind themselves of the Lord and their covenants with him. Physical objects can be powerful reminders for us, also.
BODY
In the Book of Deuteronomy there are 3 sermons or discourses given by Moses prior to his departure from Israel in which he summarized the Mosaic code. At this time, Israel was camped in Moab, across the Jordan from the promised land. Joshua would soon lead them in their battle against the Canaanites to posses the promised land.
Imagine with me the setting for this event:
● A great congregation or conference of tens of thousands, possibly millions.
● A nomadic people that had lived in the desert for decades.
● A aged prophet of 120 years about to deliver his final admonition to a
people he has loved as a father.
The Old Testament Student Manual states:
“Moses speaks like a dying father to his children. The words are earnest, inspired, impressive. He looks back over the whole of the 40 years of their wandering in the desert, reminds the people of all the blessings they have received, of the ingratitude with which they have so often repaid Him, and of the judgments of God, and the love that continually broke forth behind them; he explains the laws again and again, and adds what is necessary to complete them, and is never weary of urging obedience to them in the warmest and most emphatic words, because the very life of the nation was bound up with this; he surveys all the storms and conflicts which they have passed through, and beholding the future in the past, takes a survey also of the future history of the nation, and sees, with mingled sorrow and joy, how the three great features of the past – apostasy, punishment, and pardon – continue to repeat themselves in the future also.” (Keil and Kelitzsch, commentary quoted in Old Testament Student Manual, p. 216)
QUESTION: How do we talk to our children, our posterity, about the direction of their lives?
EXPERIENCE: Gary Norton at his father’s funeral
As I visited with Gary Norton last week at his father’s viewing. He mentioned to me the recent temple trip he had been on where his siblings and father had drawn closely together to share things of the Spirit. He told me how poignant those experiences with his father had been to him.
EXPERIENCE: Sister Julie G. Beck at her father’s funeral.
Elder William Grant Bangerter recently passed away. His daughter, Relief Society general president, “Julie Beck, spoke of a recent conversation she had with him where he asked her what her mission in life is. He asked what his purpose was and why individuals are here on earth. She then recalled her father’s answers – responding very powerfully to his own questions. He said:
‘We are here to develop ourselves and build the kingdom of God. A high level of employment is an interesting thing. But serving as a bishop and leader is something very special. …I was not sent on earth to be a farmer or a carpenter, I was sent to serve and respond where I was sent and be carried around the world in the Lord’s service.” (“A light to all who knew him,” Church News, May 1, 2010, p. 13)
We, like the prophet Moses, should talk to our children and grandchildren about the direction of their lives.
In Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, Moses instructs the people to keep the commandments.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:1-5
1. Now these are the commandments, the statues, and the judgements, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to posses it:
2. That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statues and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of they life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
4. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
These verses contain the core message of the Book of Deuteronomy:
● To love the Lord with “all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (v.5)
● To keep the commanments “all the days of thy life.” (vs. 2)
● And that the Lord requires thee, “but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy hear and with all thy soul.” (Deut. 10:12).
The reasons Moses gives for these instructions are that:
● “That thy days may be prolonged.” (vs. 2)
● “that it may be well with thee,” (vs. 3)
● “that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath
promised thee.” (vs. 3)
QUESTION: Is the message any different in our day? [Some laws and ordinances may be different, but the message stays the same – Word of Wisdom]
OUR GOAL IS, AS WAS THAT OF ANCENT ISRAEL, TO PUT GOD AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIFE.
Our study of the Old Testament reveals that ancient Israel struggled to follow these instructions.
QUESTION: What challenges do we face in attempting to live a God-centered life?
[People we are with have different standards (work, school, media)]
EXPERIENCE: Paddling against the current
When I was a young girl, I attended a camp in Canada where we went on long 5-day canoe trips. We paddled down lakes to rivers, and that repeated itself. When our direction on a river was against the current, we would sometimes encounter terrific rapids and currents along a stretch of a river. If we worked hard paddling in very strong rapids, we could only slow our rate of passage with the current. There was no way, floating along in our canoe that we could paddle upstream. We would usually find ourselves quite a way from where we started. The only way to stop our progress down stream was to paddle over to the side, get out, and portage past the strong rapids.
Living in the world is much like trying to resist the current in a river. Though the flow in the river may seem gentle, it can have great power in certain areas. If we are not careful, the flow of the current of different thoughts and standards can sweep us far from our destination before we realize what is happening. At times like this, we need to get away and walk past temptations.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:6-7
6. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
These verses reminded me of something my mother wrote. She states:
“The principal lessons a parent must teach are those of spiritual values. Elder Boyd K. Packer has suggested that when children are interested or teachable, parents need to ‘seize the moment.’ (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, p.110) “When they are spiritually hungry, feed them. Unknowingly, I followed this precept. We discussed gospel concepts freely while preparing salad, driving to a music lesson, or sitting around the dinner table. It was as commonplace to talk about the Atonement or the Second Coming as to converse about what was happening in Congress or in the fourth-grade math class.
“President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., has said that Latter-day Saint children have a spiritual maturity that must not be underestimated. ‘They are eager to learn the Gospel,’ he said,’ and they want it straight, undiluted (J. Reuben Clark Selected Papers, ed. David H. Yarn, Jr., p. 246).’” (Maren Eccles Hardy, “You Can’t Afford Not To,” Ensign, March 1989, pp. 24-25)
“Do our children know what we know?” asked Elder Robert D. Hales during April General Conference.
“Our duty to God as parents and leaders begins with leading by example – consistently and diligently living gospel principles at home.”
Elder Hales said that parents lead by understanding the hearts of their children and by walking alongside them on the gospel path.
He said, “To truly understand their hearts, we must do more than just be in the same room or attend the same family and Church activities. We must plan and take advantage of teaching moments that make a deep and lasting impression upon their minds and hearts.”
“The greatest influence on a child does not come from an interview with the bishop or some other leader, “but from the regular, warm, friendly, caring interaction with parents.”
Most important in these interactions with youth is “asking them questions, letting them talk, and then being willing to listen, yes listen, and then listen some more, even hearken with spiritual ears!” (“Our Duty to God,” Church News, April 10, 2010, p. 21)
QUOTE #1
Elder Robert D. Hales: “It is our imperative duty to help youth understand and believe the gospel in a deeply personal way. We can teach them to walk in the light, but that light cannot be borrowed. They must earn it for themselves. They must obtain their own light of testimony directly from the source of spiritual light—God Himself—through prayer and study and pondering. They must understand who they are and who Heavenly Father wants them to become. How do we help them?”
(“Our Duty to God: The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation,” April 2010 General Conference)
EXAMPLE: Ada Taylor’s funeral yesterday. Her daughters said, “We were taught at her feet. She was our example in prayer, scripture study, and listening.”
In General Conference, Elder Francisco J. Viñas said, “In order to more effectively teach the things pertaining to righteousness, it is important to understand that, in addition to imparting information, we must facilitate revelation. This way, the person being taught can feel the desire to know these principles for himself or herself.” (Things Pertaining to Righteousness, April 2010 General Conference)
We need to teach our children to recognize when they feel the Spirit.
QUOTE #2 He continues his council in Quote #2.
Elder Francisco J. Viñas: “In a time when the family is under attack from the forces of evil and when the conditions in which we live are not so very different from those that Alma experienced, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have set forth in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” that “parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness” (November 1995, 102).
“This includes nurturing, supporting, and teaching children in all things pertaining to righteousness so that they may remain firm, with their “loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and [their] feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (D&C 27:16). (“Things Pertaining to Righteousness,” April 2010 General Conference)
And finally, from April General Conference – Elder David A. Bednar spoke of parents’ sacred responsibility to help children act and to seek learning by faith. “The spiritual understanding you and I have been blessed to receive, and which has been confirmed as true in our hearts, simply cannot be given to our children. The tuition of diligence and of learning by study and also by faith must be paid to obtain and personally “own” such knowledge. Only in this way can what is known in the mind also be felt in the heart. Only in this way can a child move beyond relying upon the spiritual knowledge and experiences of parents and adults and claim those blessings for himself or herself. Only in this way can our children be prepared spiritually for the challenges of mortality.” (“Watching with All Perseverance,” April 2010 General Conference)
We are being told again to prepare our children spiritually.
QUOTE #3: He give us a promise at the close of his talk:
Elder David A. Bednar: “I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act
and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families – “watching . . . with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18) – to the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. (“Watching with All Perseverance,” April 2010 General Conference)
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:8-9 [speaking of the words of God – covenants]
8. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
“The Jews took these verses literally, inscribing scriptural passages on tiny pieces of parchment, folding them, and putting them into tiny leather boxes about 1 ½” square. These boxes were then tied to the head to be over the forehead, or on the left biceps, suggesting that the wearer would ‘fulfill the law with the head and heart’…
“The mezuzah (Hebrew for ‘doorpost’) was a parchment with a scriptural passage on it inserted into a tiny, cylindrical box. It was attached to the door frame. It became customary for Jews to touch or kiss the mezuzah each time they left or entered the home.” (Old Testament Student Manual, p. 218)
QUESTION: What objects or things to we wear to signify a reminder of our covenants?
● Temple garments
● Tradition of deacons wearing white shirts to pass the sacrament
● Respectful, church attire to Sunday meetings
● Modest clothing
● CTR rings
THE THINGS WE DO IN OUR HOMES SHOULD REMIND US OF THE LORD, HIS WORDS, AND OUR COVENANTS WITH HIM.
Some choose to spend hours watching television, surfing the internet, playing video games, or talking on their cell phones; while others choose to interact with family members, read books, study, develop musical talents, prepare a healthy meal, serve someone, or work keeping up the home and yard.
“Recent studies conducted by a Stanford University research team have revealed that ‘what we watch’ does have an effect on our imaginations, our learning patterns, and our behaviors.
First, we are exposed to new behaviors and characters. Next, we learn or acquire these new behaviors. The last and most crucial step is that we adopt these behaviors as our own.
One of the most critical aspects of human development that we need to understand is the influence of ‘repeated viewing’ and ‘repeated verbalizing’ in shaping our future. The information goes in, ‘harmlessly, almost unnoticed,’ on a daily basis, but we don’t react to it until later, when we aren’t able to realize the basis for our reactions.
In other words, our value system is being formed without any conscious awareness on our part of what is happening!” (Denis Waitley, Seeds of Greatness, p. 55)
This research team discovered that all that we see and hear around us has a dramatic effect on the way we live our lives.
QUOTE #4: President Ezra Taft Benson tells us that we must counteract the negative influences we encounter.
President Ezra Taft Benson: “[People who are] captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ….Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians,” (Ensign, November 1985, pp. 6-7)
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 8:2-3
2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
3. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
During the forty years in the wilderness Israel learned:
● To be humble
● To be obedient
● And that man lives not by bread alone, but by the word of God.
Deuteronomy 8: 11-14
11. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statues, which I command thee this day:
12. Yet when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13. And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14. Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
In the wilderness Israel also learned gratitude.
QUOTE #5
Elder Robert D. Hales: “Gratitude is a state of appreciation, an act of thanksgiving, which causes us to be humble because we recognize an act of kindness, service, or caring from someone else which lifts us and strengthens us.
“In some quiet way, the expression and feelings of gratitude have a wonderful cleansing or healing nature. Gratitude brings warmth to the giver and the receiver alike.” (“Gratitude for the Goodness of God,” Ensign, May 1992)
Deuteronomy 8:18-20
18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
19. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
20. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.
We learn here the importance of realizing that all our blessings come from the Lord. We are nothing without Him.
QUOTE # 6
President Harold B. Lee: “[Brigham Young said, ‘The worst fear I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty and all manner of persecution and be true. But my greatest fear is that they cannot stand wealth; and yet they have to be tried with riches, for they will become the richest people of this earth.’
“Many years of experience have proved that statement to be a prophecy that has been fulfilled.” (Decisions for Successful Living, p. 212)
Moses tells us that prosperity and freedom might cause the people to forget God, yet, that same prosperity and freedom can further the Lord’s work.
QUOTE #7
President Spencer W. Kimball: “The Lord has blessed us as a people with a prosperity unequaled in times past. The resources that have been placed in our power are good, and necessary to our work here on the earth. But I am afraid that many of us have been surfeited with flocks and herds and acres and barns and wealth and have begun to worship them as false gods, and they have power over us. Do we have more of these good things than our faith can stand?
“Many people spend most of their time working in the service of a self-image that includes sufficient money, stocks, bonds, investment portfolios, property, credit cards, furnishings, automobiles, and the like to guarantee carnal security throughout, it is hoped, a long and happy life.
“Forgotten is the fact that our assignment is to use these many resources in our families and quorums to build up the kingdom of God – to further the missionary effort and the genealogical and temple work; to raise our children up as fruitful servants unto the Lord; to bless others in every way, that they may also be fruitful.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 357)
A GREAT PART OF OUR CHALLENGE HERE ON EARTH IS TO LEARN TO MANAGE OUR STEWARDSHIPS AND RESOURCES WELL.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 11:26-28
26. Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27. A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:
28. And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
QUESTION: What other gods are we tempted to go after?
● Material goods
● Physical vanity
● Intellectual superiority
● Constant recreation
● And a host of other ills
QUOTE #8: President Monson spoke in Conference about those ills.
President Thomas S. Monson: “Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, dishonesty and a host of other ills cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings and shattered dreams.
“My counsel for all of us is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing.” (“A Word at Closing,” 180th General Conference, April 2010)
CONCLUSION
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 32:1-4
1. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
3. Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a god of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
QUESTION: Why is Jesus Christ called the Rock? [He is our sure foundation]
SCRIPTURE: Helaman 5:12
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
Brothers and sisters, I’m grateful for my firm testimony that Christ is our Rock and our Redeemer. May we reverence Him, love Him, and remember our covenants with Him.
References:
Bob Beardall Gospel Doctrine Lesson
Church News
Denis Waitley, Seeds of Greatness
Ed Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentaries n the Old Testament
Ensign Magazine
General Conference talks
Maren Hale, personal experiences
Old Testament Student Manual
Quotes as noted in lesson
Sunday, May 2, 2010
"I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord"
I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord
Old Testament: Lesson 16 (Numbers 22-24; 31; 1-16)
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
I am going to include an article written by Elder McConkie here as an introduction. I recommend that you read it along with these materials. It is wonderful. Some of the concepts will be repeated in the lesson I have written, but the "second witness" will be worth the double exposure.
Let me tell you the story of a prophet, in some respects a very great prophet, but one "who loved the wages of unrighteousness," who "was rebuked for his iniquity" in a most strange and unusual way, and whose actions (which included the uttering of great and true prophecies) were described by another prophet in another day as "madness."
This is a true story, a dramatic story; one with a great lesson for all members of the Church; one that involves seeing God, receiving revelation, and facing a destroying angel in whose hand was the sword of vengeance. It includes the account of how the Lord delivered a message to the prophet in a way that, as far as we know, has never been duplicated in the entire history of the world.
As we study the events involved, suppose we seek answers to these questions: Why did the Lord permit (or did he direct?) the strange series of events? What are "the wages of unrighteousness"? And how could a prophet who sought such remain in tune with "the spirit of God" and proclaim great truths, including one of our most marvelous Messianic prophecies?
But even more important: What lesson are we expected to learn from the intermixture of both good and bad conduct shown forth by this ancient representative of the Lord?
Now let us turn to the story, with an open mind, seeking the lesson it teaches us. And as we do so, please keep in mind that everything I have so far or shall hereafter put in quote marks is copied from the Bible, except in one instance where help is sought from a passage of latter-day revelation.
Our story took place on the plains of Moab near Jericho; the time was 1451 B.C.; the chief participants were Balak, king of the Moabites, and Balaam, a prophet from the land of Midian. Israel's hosts, numbering in the millions, had just devastated the land of the Amorites and were camped on the borders of Moab. Fear and anxiety filled the hearts of the people of Moab and Balak their king. Would they also be overrun and slaughtered by these warriors of Jehovah.
So Balak sent the elders and princes of his nation to Balaam, "with the rewards of divination in their hand," to hire him to come and curse Israel. In Balak's name they said: "Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed."
Anxious to gain the riches they offered him, Balaam invited them to lodge with him that night while he inquired of the Lord and sought permission to curse Israel. That night "God came unto Balaam" and said: "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed."
Next morning Balaam said to the princes of Balak: "Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you."
Thereupon Balak sent more honorable and noble princes than the first and they said to Balaam: "Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants [page 5] of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more."
And yet, still anxious to receive the riches and honors offered by the king, Balaam lodged his visitors and importuned the Lord for permission to go with them and curse Israel.
"And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do."
After gaining this permission Balaam "saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab."
Now note: The Lord had given Balaam permission to go, and yet the scripture says: "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him."
As Balaam rode along, "the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand." Three times the dumb beast turned aside, crushing Balaam's foot against a wall and falling down under him. In anger the prophet "smote the ass with a staff."
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face."
After rebuking and counseling Balaam, the angel yet said: "Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak."
When they met, Balak renewed his promise "to promote" Balaam "to honour," and the prophet responded: "Have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak."
Balak then offered sacrifices, and at the visiting prophet's request built seven altars upon which Balaam also sacrificed, obviously pleading with the Lord for [page 6] permission to curse Israel and receive the honors offered by the king of the Moabites. But with it all Balaam promised that if "the Lord will come to meet me," then "whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee."
"And God met Balaam," and told him what to say, which he then proclaimed in the presence of all the princes of Moab: "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!"
Balak was angry, but Balaam remained true to his trust, saying, "Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?"
Then they went through the whole process again. Sacrifices were offered; the Lord was importuned; but the result was the same.
"God is not a man," Balaam said, "that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."
Then he continued, "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"
When Balak yet complained, Balaam replied: "Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?"
And yet at the King's request the prophet still sought to curse Israel. Further sacrifices were offered; again pleading entreaties ascended to the Lord; and again the answer was the same. "The spirit of God came upon him," and he prophesied with power and force of the greatness of Israel, concluding with the statement, "Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
"Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour."
But Balaam, fixed in his purpose to deliver only "that message that the Lord revealed to him", said: "Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?"
Then, while the Spirit still rested upon him, Balaam gave this great Messianic prophecy: "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."
In spite of all this, the record recites that Balaam "taught" Balak "to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication," and shortly thereafter, while aligned against Israel in the camps of the Midianites, he was "slain with the sword."
The full account of these events is found in Numbers 22:23; 24; 25; 31:8; 2 Peter 2:15—16; Jude 1:11; and Revelations 2:14. [Num. 22:23; Num. 24; Num. 25; Num. 31:8; 2 Pet. 2:15—16; Rev. 2:14]
What a story this is! Here is a prophet of God who is firmly committed to declare only what the Lord of heaven directs. There does not seem to be the slightest doubt in his mind about the course he should pursue. He represents the Lord, and neither a house full of gold and silver nor high honors offered by the king can sway him from his determined course, which has been charted for him by that God whom he serves.
But greed for wealth and lust for honor beckon him. How marvelous it would be to be rich and powerful—as well as having the prophetic powers that already are his.
Perhaps the Lord would let him compromise his standards and have some worldly prosperity and power as well as a testimony of the gospel. Of course he knew the gospel was true, as it were, but why should he be denied the things his political file leader could confer?
I wonder how often some of us get our direction from the Church and then, Balaam&madsh;like, plead for some worldly rewards and finally receive an answer which says, in effect, If you are determined to be a millionaire or to gain this or that worldly honor, go ahead, with the understanding that you will continue to serve the Lord. Then we wonder why things don't work out for us as well as they would have done if we had put first in our lives the things of God's kingdom?
What are the rewards of unrighteousness? Do they not include seeking for worldly things when these run counter to the interests of the Church?
And don't we all know people who, though they were once firm and steadfast in testimony, are now opposing the Lord's purposes and interests on earth because money and power have twisted their judgment of what should or should not be?
Balaam, the prophet, inspired and mighty as he once was, lost his soul in the end because he set his heart on the things of this world rather than the riches of eternity.
What a wealth of meaning there is in these inspired words of Joseph Smith, words addressed to people who have testimonies but want to mingle the things of this world with them: "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their heads are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
Hence many are called, but few are chosen." (D&C 121:34—38, 40.)
(Bruce R. McConkie, "The Story of a Prophet's Madness," New Era, Apr. 1972, pp. 4-7)
I. BALAAM REFUSES BALAK'S OFFER OF REWARDS IN EXCHANGE FOR CURSING ISRAEL.
Israel arrived at the plains of Moab after having stomped the stuffing out of Arad and his Canaanites (Numbers 21:1-3), Sihon and his Amorites (Numbers 21:21—24), and Og and the people of Bashan (Numbers 21:33—35). The Moabites were terrified ("sore afraid"), according to the record (Numbers 22:3).
Balak, the king, knew a serious threat when he saw one, and he knew that his armies and gods were no match for the armies and God of the Israelites. He had no doubt heard the stories of the plagues in Egypt and the dividing of the Red Sea and the rivers of water in the desert. In desperation he sent for a man who worshiped the same God as the Israelites but who was not a part of the nation of Israel then on the move. He sent for a man whose power and accomplishments had captured even the king's attention. He sent messengers to bring Balaam to him, "for," he said, "I wot [know] that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." (Numbers 22:6).
Messengers delivered Balak's message and offered the "rewards of divination" to this man whom Bruce R. McConkie tells us was a Prophet of Jehovah. Balaam invited them to stay the night while he enquired to know the will of the Lord in this matter. During the night "God came to Balaam" and, after a brief discussion, said, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed." (Num. 22:12.)
Next morning Balaam told his visitors, "the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian," to go home. He could do nothing for them. But Balak faced the utter destruction of his nation from the threat within his borders, and he had no other option. He was desperate. He sent again, this time princes, and more of them, and more honorable that the lowly elders sent the first time. And they came with a better offer as well. Balak promised Balaam that he would "promote [him] unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me." (Num. 22:17)
Balaam's response was magnificent. "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can not go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more." (Num. 22:18). This is where the story ought to end. The messengers of Moab ought to depart and the Prophet Balaam ought to pass into obscurity, probably without a single verse of recognition in the scriptures.
II. THE LORD SHOWS THE DANGER OF BALAAM'S STUBBORN INSISTENCE ON HIS OWN WILL.
But the story does not end here. Balaam adds a calamitous postscript to his declaration of loyalty to the Lord, and the result is that he gets two or three chapters in Numbers and a mention in several other books in the Bible. This postscript is the first inkling we have that all is not exactly right in his heart. "I pray you, tarry here also this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more." (Num. 22:19, emphasis added) I have a hard time finding any ambiguity in what the Lord has already said. Balaam's desire to ask again for permission to make the journey to Moab suggests that he is hoping for a different answer than the one he already received.
It is difficult not to think of Martin Harris and Joseph Smith and the 116 pages at this point. And as might be expected, the Lord gives Balaam permission to make the trip. "Rise up, and go with them, if thou wilt" [the JST adds the part in italics]. But the conditions are explicit: "But yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." (Numbers 20:20)
Balaam departs then for Moab, riding on the back of a most remarkable donkey. But something was terribly wrong. Jude tells us that Balaam "ran greedily after . . . reward" (Jude 1:11). The Lord was evidently concerned by the desire he could see in Balaam's heart to find a way to curse Israel and get the dough. He sent an angel to block the way. Three times the donkey saw the angel and Balaam did not. This is some indication that Balaam's concern with his own desires had already eroded his spirituality to some degree. Three times the donkey saw the angel in the roadway with a drawn sword. Three times the donkey took evasive action. Three times Balaam was furious. Three times he beat the animal. Then the Lord opened the donkey's mouth.
There is no comment here about the reaction of Balaam. The story focuses on the content of the message, not its impact. But it would delightful to have even one verse describing what Balaam thought when the donkey said, "What have I ever done unto thee?" (Num. 22:28) Just imagine your own pet Dalmatian complaining, "Why do I always have to eat this dry dog food. Get me some Friskies!"
I cannot help feeling that there is a lesson here in the fact that Balaam is on a donkey. Donkeys are renowned for their stubbornness, and Balaam beats his for refusing to go the way his master wants him to go. But this is precisely what Balaam is doing. This is a thing all of us have a tendency to do. How often do we insist on our own way, our own conclusions, our own desires, even when the word of the Lord has come to us in perfect clarity. It is not that we ride a donkey to do evil, but that we are the donkey!
But to continue, the Lord opens Balaam's eyes and he sees the angel who says, "I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse" before the Lord. (22:32). Balaam, now flat on his tummy and humble enough to obey any command (an angel with a sword will have that effect) offers to return home at once. Again comes the instruction: "Go . . . but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went. . ." ( 22:35)
III. BALAAM REFUSES TO CURSE ISRAEL.
Balaam seems to have gotten the message clearly this time. As he views Israel, he three times offers sacrifices, and three times gives Israel, instead of cursings, blessings. Balak watches all of this (23:8-24:9).
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam . . . and he said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou has altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor, but lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. (24:10, emphasis added)
"The Lord hath kept thee back from honor." Would the Lord really do that? Of course he would, and as often and as emphatically as necessary to protect us from our own folly.
I read this phrase and thought of my friend Eli Herring, a math teacher and a part-time coach at a nearby high school. He had a chance for millions. His place in the NFL draft was a certainty. Experts predicted that he would be the first offensive lineman taken in the draft and that he would get a signing bonus worth millions. "But Herring, a devout Mormon, turned down a possible multimillion-dollar deal with the Oakland Raiders" because he would not play on the Sabbath. "He announced to the NFL that if he were drafted, he wouldn't serve" (Reader's Digest, April 1996, p. 185). His love for the Lord kept him back from a certain kind of honor.
A second example: In the move A Man for All Seasons (my all-time favorite movie), Richard Rich asked Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, for a position at the court of England. More, sensing an inherent weakness in Rich's character, told him no. More said, "A man should go where he won't be tempted." Later he offered Rich a position teaching. "Be a teacher Rich. You could be a good teacher. Perhaps a great one."
"And if I was, who would know?" asked the young man.
More's response is one of my favorite lines from all of literature. "Yourself. Your students. God. Not a bad public, really."
It was More's intent to keep Rich "back from honor," because he knew that it would (as it eventually did) destroy him. This was also the intent of the Lord. But Balaam would not be kept back. (Here comes the donkey again, at a gallop.) His heart was "set so much upon the things of this world," and he "aspired to the honors of men." (D&C 121:35) and he would not be denied. For the rest of this story we must look in other chapters and other verses of scripture in the Bible, but taken all together, these passages give a pretty clear picture of what happened. And they deliver a sobering warning.
IV. THE ISRAELITES DESTROY THE MIDIANITES AND SLAY BALAAM.
2 Peter 2:15 says that Balaam "loved the wages of unrighteousness." I mentioned that Jude says he "ran greedily after . . . reward." Revelation 2:14 says it best.
"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."
Balaam taught Balak. He must have said something like this: "I am prevented by my Lord and my covenants from cursing Israel. But I can tell you how to get their God to curse them. Involve them in the immoral practices associated with idol worship in your country." Thus we read in Numbers 25:1 that "the people began to commit whoredoms with the daughters of Moab," and that they learned to do so "through the counsel of Balaam." (Num. 31:16)
Conclusion
We cannot be too careful about this. The desire for honor from the world, the lure of leadership, even in the mission field, is a minefield. I remember an Elder from my mission fretting and grumbling about his lack of opportunities for leadership in the mission. "It is all politics!" he claimed. The desire for riches, the attraction of physical gratification, the need for public recognition—they can all be subtle and pernicious evils. We must remember that the only true evidence of our worth comes from the Lord, and it comes only in one way: by the presence and the gifts of the Spirit in our lives. Everything else is, as John Taylor said, "fried froth."
Old Testament: Lesson 16 (Numbers 22-24; 31; 1-16)
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
I am going to include an article written by Elder McConkie here as an introduction. I recommend that you read it along with these materials. It is wonderful. Some of the concepts will be repeated in the lesson I have written, but the "second witness" will be worth the double exposure.
Let me tell you the story of a prophet, in some respects a very great prophet, but one "who loved the wages of unrighteousness," who "was rebuked for his iniquity" in a most strange and unusual way, and whose actions (which included the uttering of great and true prophecies) were described by another prophet in another day as "madness."
This is a true story, a dramatic story; one with a great lesson for all members of the Church; one that involves seeing God, receiving revelation, and facing a destroying angel in whose hand was the sword of vengeance. It includes the account of how the Lord delivered a message to the prophet in a way that, as far as we know, has never been duplicated in the entire history of the world.
As we study the events involved, suppose we seek answers to these questions: Why did the Lord permit (or did he direct?) the strange series of events? What are "the wages of unrighteousness"? And how could a prophet who sought such remain in tune with "the spirit of God" and proclaim great truths, including one of our most marvelous Messianic prophecies?
But even more important: What lesson are we expected to learn from the intermixture of both good and bad conduct shown forth by this ancient representative of the Lord?
Now let us turn to the story, with an open mind, seeking the lesson it teaches us. And as we do so, please keep in mind that everything I have so far or shall hereafter put in quote marks is copied from the Bible, except in one instance where help is sought from a passage of latter-day revelation.
Our story took place on the plains of Moab near Jericho; the time was 1451 B.C.; the chief participants were Balak, king of the Moabites, and Balaam, a prophet from the land of Midian. Israel's hosts, numbering in the millions, had just devastated the land of the Amorites and were camped on the borders of Moab. Fear and anxiety filled the hearts of the people of Moab and Balak their king. Would they also be overrun and slaughtered by these warriors of Jehovah.
So Balak sent the elders and princes of his nation to Balaam, "with the rewards of divination in their hand," to hire him to come and curse Israel. In Balak's name they said: "Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed."
Anxious to gain the riches they offered him, Balaam invited them to lodge with him that night while he inquired of the Lord and sought permission to curse Israel. That night "God came unto Balaam" and said: "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed."
Next morning Balaam said to the princes of Balak: "Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you."
Thereupon Balak sent more honorable and noble princes than the first and they said to Balaam: "Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants [page 5] of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more."
And yet, still anxious to receive the riches and honors offered by the king, Balaam lodged his visitors and importuned the Lord for permission to go with them and curse Israel.
"And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do."
After gaining this permission Balaam "saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab."
Now note: The Lord had given Balaam permission to go, and yet the scripture says: "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him."
As Balaam rode along, "the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand." Three times the dumb beast turned aside, crushing Balaam's foot against a wall and falling down under him. In anger the prophet "smote the ass with a staff."
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face."
After rebuking and counseling Balaam, the angel yet said: "Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak."
When they met, Balak renewed his promise "to promote" Balaam "to honour," and the prophet responded: "Have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak."
Balak then offered sacrifices, and at the visiting prophet's request built seven altars upon which Balaam also sacrificed, obviously pleading with the Lord for [page 6] permission to curse Israel and receive the honors offered by the king of the Moabites. But with it all Balaam promised that if "the Lord will come to meet me," then "whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee."
"And God met Balaam," and told him what to say, which he then proclaimed in the presence of all the princes of Moab: "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!"
Balak was angry, but Balaam remained true to his trust, saying, "Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?"
Then they went through the whole process again. Sacrifices were offered; the Lord was importuned; but the result was the same.
"God is not a man," Balaam said, "that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."
Then he continued, "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"
When Balak yet complained, Balaam replied: "Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?"
And yet at the King's request the prophet still sought to curse Israel. Further sacrifices were offered; again pleading entreaties ascended to the Lord; and again the answer was the same. "The spirit of God came upon him," and he prophesied with power and force of the greatness of Israel, concluding with the statement, "Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
"Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour."
But Balaam, fixed in his purpose to deliver only "that message that the Lord revealed to him", said: "Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?"
Then, while the Spirit still rested upon him, Balaam gave this great Messianic prophecy: "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."
In spite of all this, the record recites that Balaam "taught" Balak "to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication," and shortly thereafter, while aligned against Israel in the camps of the Midianites, he was "slain with the sword."
The full account of these events is found in Numbers 22:23; 24; 25; 31:8; 2 Peter 2:15—16; Jude 1:11; and Revelations 2:14. [Num. 22:23; Num. 24; Num. 25; Num. 31:8; 2 Pet. 2:15—16; Rev. 2:14]
What a story this is! Here is a prophet of God who is firmly committed to declare only what the Lord of heaven directs. There does not seem to be the slightest doubt in his mind about the course he should pursue. He represents the Lord, and neither a house full of gold and silver nor high honors offered by the king can sway him from his determined course, which has been charted for him by that God whom he serves.
But greed for wealth and lust for honor beckon him. How marvelous it would be to be rich and powerful—as well as having the prophetic powers that already are his.
Perhaps the Lord would let him compromise his standards and have some worldly prosperity and power as well as a testimony of the gospel. Of course he knew the gospel was true, as it were, but why should he be denied the things his political file leader could confer?
I wonder how often some of us get our direction from the Church and then, Balaam&madsh;like, plead for some worldly rewards and finally receive an answer which says, in effect, If you are determined to be a millionaire or to gain this or that worldly honor, go ahead, with the understanding that you will continue to serve the Lord. Then we wonder why things don't work out for us as well as they would have done if we had put first in our lives the things of God's kingdom?
What are the rewards of unrighteousness? Do they not include seeking for worldly things when these run counter to the interests of the Church?
And don't we all know people who, though they were once firm and steadfast in testimony, are now opposing the Lord's purposes and interests on earth because money and power have twisted their judgment of what should or should not be?
Balaam, the prophet, inspired and mighty as he once was, lost his soul in the end because he set his heart on the things of this world rather than the riches of eternity.
What a wealth of meaning there is in these inspired words of Joseph Smith, words addressed to people who have testimonies but want to mingle the things of this world with them: "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their heads are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
Hence many are called, but few are chosen." (D&C 121:34—38, 40.)
(Bruce R. McConkie, "The Story of a Prophet's Madness," New Era, Apr. 1972, pp. 4-7)
I. BALAAM REFUSES BALAK'S OFFER OF REWARDS IN EXCHANGE FOR CURSING ISRAEL.
Israel arrived at the plains of Moab after having stomped the stuffing out of Arad and his Canaanites (Numbers 21:1-3), Sihon and his Amorites (Numbers 21:21—24), and Og and the people of Bashan (Numbers 21:33—35). The Moabites were terrified ("sore afraid"), according to the record (Numbers 22:3).
Balak, the king, knew a serious threat when he saw one, and he knew that his armies and gods were no match for the armies and God of the Israelites. He had no doubt heard the stories of the plagues in Egypt and the dividing of the Red Sea and the rivers of water in the desert. In desperation he sent for a man who worshiped the same God as the Israelites but who was not a part of the nation of Israel then on the move. He sent for a man whose power and accomplishments had captured even the king's attention. He sent messengers to bring Balaam to him, "for," he said, "I wot [know] that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." (Numbers 22:6).
Messengers delivered Balak's message and offered the "rewards of divination" to this man whom Bruce R. McConkie tells us was a Prophet of Jehovah. Balaam invited them to stay the night while he enquired to know the will of the Lord in this matter. During the night "God came to Balaam" and, after a brief discussion, said, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed." (Num. 22:12.)
Next morning Balaam told his visitors, "the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian," to go home. He could do nothing for them. But Balak faced the utter destruction of his nation from the threat within his borders, and he had no other option. He was desperate. He sent again, this time princes, and more of them, and more honorable that the lowly elders sent the first time. And they came with a better offer as well. Balak promised Balaam that he would "promote [him] unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me." (Num. 22:17)
Balaam's response was magnificent. "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can not go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more." (Num. 22:18). This is where the story ought to end. The messengers of Moab ought to depart and the Prophet Balaam ought to pass into obscurity, probably without a single verse of recognition in the scriptures.
II. THE LORD SHOWS THE DANGER OF BALAAM'S STUBBORN INSISTENCE ON HIS OWN WILL.
But the story does not end here. Balaam adds a calamitous postscript to his declaration of loyalty to the Lord, and the result is that he gets two or three chapters in Numbers and a mention in several other books in the Bible. This postscript is the first inkling we have that all is not exactly right in his heart. "I pray you, tarry here also this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more." (Num. 22:19, emphasis added) I have a hard time finding any ambiguity in what the Lord has already said. Balaam's desire to ask again for permission to make the journey to Moab suggests that he is hoping for a different answer than the one he already received.
It is difficult not to think of Martin Harris and Joseph Smith and the 116 pages at this point. And as might be expected, the Lord gives Balaam permission to make the trip. "Rise up, and go with them, if thou wilt" [the JST adds the part in italics]. But the conditions are explicit: "But yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." (Numbers 20:20)
Balaam departs then for Moab, riding on the back of a most remarkable donkey. But something was terribly wrong. Jude tells us that Balaam "ran greedily after . . . reward" (Jude 1:11). The Lord was evidently concerned by the desire he could see in Balaam's heart to find a way to curse Israel and get the dough. He sent an angel to block the way. Three times the donkey saw the angel and Balaam did not. This is some indication that Balaam's concern with his own desires had already eroded his spirituality to some degree. Three times the donkey saw the angel in the roadway with a drawn sword. Three times the donkey took evasive action. Three times Balaam was furious. Three times he beat the animal. Then the Lord opened the donkey's mouth.
There is no comment here about the reaction of Balaam. The story focuses on the content of the message, not its impact. But it would delightful to have even one verse describing what Balaam thought when the donkey said, "What have I ever done unto thee?" (Num. 22:28) Just imagine your own pet Dalmatian complaining, "Why do I always have to eat this dry dog food. Get me some Friskies!"
I cannot help feeling that there is a lesson here in the fact that Balaam is on a donkey. Donkeys are renowned for their stubbornness, and Balaam beats his for refusing to go the way his master wants him to go. But this is precisely what Balaam is doing. This is a thing all of us have a tendency to do. How often do we insist on our own way, our own conclusions, our own desires, even when the word of the Lord has come to us in perfect clarity. It is not that we ride a donkey to do evil, but that we are the donkey!
But to continue, the Lord opens Balaam's eyes and he sees the angel who says, "I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse" before the Lord. (22:32). Balaam, now flat on his tummy and humble enough to obey any command (an angel with a sword will have that effect) offers to return home at once. Again comes the instruction: "Go . . . but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went. . ." ( 22:35)
III. BALAAM REFUSES TO CURSE ISRAEL.
Balaam seems to have gotten the message clearly this time. As he views Israel, he three times offers sacrifices, and three times gives Israel, instead of cursings, blessings. Balak watches all of this (23:8-24:9).
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam . . . and he said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou has altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor, but lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. (24:10, emphasis added)
"The Lord hath kept thee back from honor." Would the Lord really do that? Of course he would, and as often and as emphatically as necessary to protect us from our own folly.
I read this phrase and thought of my friend Eli Herring, a math teacher and a part-time coach at a nearby high school. He had a chance for millions. His place in the NFL draft was a certainty. Experts predicted that he would be the first offensive lineman taken in the draft and that he would get a signing bonus worth millions. "But Herring, a devout Mormon, turned down a possible multimillion-dollar deal with the Oakland Raiders" because he would not play on the Sabbath. "He announced to the NFL that if he were drafted, he wouldn't serve" (Reader's Digest, April 1996, p. 185). His love for the Lord kept him back from a certain kind of honor.
A second example: In the move A Man for All Seasons (my all-time favorite movie), Richard Rich asked Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, for a position at the court of England. More, sensing an inherent weakness in Rich's character, told him no. More said, "A man should go where he won't be tempted." Later he offered Rich a position teaching. "Be a teacher Rich. You could be a good teacher. Perhaps a great one."
"And if I was, who would know?" asked the young man.
More's response is one of my favorite lines from all of literature. "Yourself. Your students. God. Not a bad public, really."
It was More's intent to keep Rich "back from honor," because he knew that it would (as it eventually did) destroy him. This was also the intent of the Lord. But Balaam would not be kept back. (Here comes the donkey again, at a gallop.) His heart was "set so much upon the things of this world," and he "aspired to the honors of men." (D&C 121:35) and he would not be denied. For the rest of this story we must look in other chapters and other verses of scripture in the Bible, but taken all together, these passages give a pretty clear picture of what happened. And they deliver a sobering warning.
IV. THE ISRAELITES DESTROY THE MIDIANITES AND SLAY BALAAM.
2 Peter 2:15 says that Balaam "loved the wages of unrighteousness." I mentioned that Jude says he "ran greedily after . . . reward." Revelation 2:14 says it best.
"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."
Balaam taught Balak. He must have said something like this: "I am prevented by my Lord and my covenants from cursing Israel. But I can tell you how to get their God to curse them. Involve them in the immoral practices associated with idol worship in your country." Thus we read in Numbers 25:1 that "the people began to commit whoredoms with the daughters of Moab," and that they learned to do so "through the counsel of Balaam." (Num. 31:16)
Conclusion
We cannot be too careful about this. The desire for honor from the world, the lure of leadership, even in the mission field, is a minefield. I remember an Elder from my mission fretting and grumbling about his lack of opportunities for leadership in the mission. "It is all politics!" he claimed. The desire for riches, the attraction of physical gratification, the need for public recognition—they can all be subtle and pernicious evils. We must remember that the only true evidence of our worth comes from the Lord, and it comes only in one way: by the presence and the gifts of the Spirit in our lives. Everything else is, as John Taylor said, "fried froth."
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