David Anointed King

Student Choice Assignment #2: 2 Samuel 1-10
David Anointed King

1. Search 2 Samuel 1-10 and make a list of King David's accomplishments.

• slays the man who killed King Saul
• anointed King over Judah
• all tribes commit to follow David
• made King over Israel
• defeats Philistines
• brings ark into the city of David
• destroys many nations during war & makes them be under Israel control
• restores lost lands to Saul's grandson Mephibosheth
• defeats children of Ammon & Syrians 

2. Read 1 Chron. 22:7-8 & Institute manual "Why was David not allowed to build a temple?". Write explanation of why the Lord did not want David to build a temple.

The Lord told David through Nathan that he was not to build a temple because of all the wars that he had been involved in and the great bloodshed he had seen.  So even though David was a great leader and did good things for his people and the land, he had seen and done too much to be clean and pure to build a temple unto the Lord.

3. Read 2 Samuel 7:12-17. Write sentences describing how I would feel in a similar situation. Describe how 2 Samuel 7:16 is a Messianic prophecy.  Read 2 Samuel 7:18-29 and summarize David's response to the Lord's message to him.

So the Lord had just told David that he was not to build a temple.  I think in a similar situation I would have felt disappointed and confused wondering why I was not being given the chance to do something wonderful since I am a righteous person.  (Actually I have had these feelings!  When my husband and I were trying so hard to get pregnant, I would question all the time why I was not able to get pregnant and raise a family when I was doing what was right and living correct principles.  I learned a valuable lesson from this time.  I needed to be patient and things would come to me in the Lord's time.)  2 Samuel 7:16 is a Messianic prophecy because it talks about how David's house and kingdom would be established and reign forever.  This was not something that David personally would fulfill but rather Jesus Christ who came through the line of David.  David's response to the Lord telling him not to build a temple was to tell the Lord all that he appreciated and had learned from Him and to tell the Lord to complete those promises He had made.  He said that he understand  that God was God and that he, David, was a servant.  That God was all-knowing and that God had the power to make things great.

Every man did that which was right in his own eyes

Student Choice assignment #2
Judges 17-21

1. Read chapter summaries for Judges 17-21. Read institute manual commentary for "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes".  Write brief summary of events described in these chapters.

*Micah the Levite made graven images to worship and consecrated a priest for himself.
*Danites went in search of an inheritance.
* Rape of concubine at Gibeah
*Tribe of Benjamin almost all killed in a war

It was easy to tell from reading these chapter summaries why the statement is made that "every man did that which was right in his own eyes".  The people did not make the best choices and in doing what they felt was RIGHT, they made grievous mistakes that cost them so much.  Micah thought that having his own priest would make the Lord bless him because he had a priest, but he missed the boat by going about it the wrong way.  The Benjaminites abused a concubine and she died and that essentially started a war which did not help the Benjaminites because they were almost all wiped out and they started out being the smallest tribe anyway.  The Danites went in search of a land to dwell in, an inheritance, and passed by where Micah dwelt and took his priest and his graven images and went to a land that was quiet and peaceful and burnt it and took it over. 

2.  Read Judges 21:25. Explain why this is such an accurate description of this terrible time of Israel's history.  Read John 14:6; 2 Ne 9:28-29; Isaiah 55:8-9.  Write the reasons these verses give for why doing things the Lord's way is so much better than our own.

The people had no king at this time.  They had no leader.  No one who was guiding them and giving them counsel to help them make good choices and be peaceful one with another.  Therefore they acted selfishly and only seemed to care about themselves and how they could get ahead no matter the cost to others.  The scripture in Isaiah spoke about how the "heavens are higher than the earth" and so God knows so much more than we do.  In John it said the Christ is "the way, the truth and the life", the only way for us to know or to get to be with Heavenly Father is through Christ.  And in 2 Nephi it talked about the "cunning plan of the evil one" and how we don't listen to the counsels of God because we think we are wise and already know everything.  Our so called "wisdom" is not true wisdom and it doesn't help us or do us any favors.  We NEED the Lord's help!  We need His guidance because we can not possibly get back to our Father without Him in our lives guiding us.

Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve

Student choice assignment #1 Joshua 7-24

1.  Read Joshua 10:12-14 & Institute manual "Did the sun really stand still in the heavens?".  Did the sun really stand still?  Write paragraph how you could explain these verses to someone who says he or she won't believe the Bible because of contradiction to science.

No, the sun really did not stand still.  Just like in Nephite times when they had a day and a night and a day with no darkness, and also when there was the day and night and day with no sun, God can make anything happen.  He created this earth and can create things to happen to this earth as well as make things change from their normal pattern on this earth.  In this instance, God stopped the earth from moving so that it seemed as though the sun stood still.  People that only look to science should recognize that magnificent events can happen and does not have to be explained by science.  Some things are just miracles.

2.  Read chapter summaries of Joshua 7-22.   Make two lists, one that lists Israel's successes and the other that lists Israel's failures.

Successes                                                                                    Failures
Israel defeats Ai, slays inhabitants                                            Israel defeated by people of Ai
Make servants of the Gibeonites
defeats Amorites and their allies
Conquer the whole land
2 kings on east of Jordan, 31 on west of Jordan defeated by Israel

3. Read Joshua 23-24 & Institute manual "Choose you this day whom ye will serve".  What was the major theme of Joshua's final address to his people?  Why did Joshua choose to deliver his final address on this topic?

I think that the theme of his address to his people was to decide whom they will serve and then to serve faithfully.  Of course he wanted them to serve God and so he reminded them all that God had done for them in helping them to defeat different nations and the blessings they had received as well.  His speech was very motivational and I believe gave the Israelites hope that even though he would be gone, that they could still go on because they had learned the things they needed to know and that living faithful to their covenants they would be able to keep their inheritances and blessings and receive more.

Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

Student Choice #1 : Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

1. The different nations that the Lord identified are: Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites. 
     Israel was commanded to "utterly destroy" them and all things related to them.  They destroyed their places of worship, their idols, etc.  Israel was commanded to do this because of the wickedness of the Canaanite people and the disobedience and sin that they were involved in.  If just their idols were destroyed then they might have tried to rebuild elsewhere and pick up their practices again.  I like how God makes it clear that he doesn't senselessly destroy nations of people.  Everyone is given the chance to choose to be obedient to His commands so the Canaanites also could have chosen differently and saved themselves.

2. These nations were destroyed because of the wicked practices they were involved in like worshipping idols and intermarriage, prostitution and homosexuality.  The manual stated that it was so bad the things they were doing were "kinds of evil...so infectious".  When I read that I thought of the flu bug and how it can literally take over a house and everyone gets sick just because they are near to the first sick person.  Not because they too were sick but simply by proximity.  Israel was commanded to give justice in the way that the Lord wanted it done.  The people had to know that their disobedience violated the law and that they could and should have chosen differently.

3.  I think that many of the sins that the Canaanites were involved in doing are sins that we can sometimes find ourselves close to or exposed to on a daily basis and it is our responsibility to keep our spirits clean and pure by staying as far away from those sins as possible.  Like I already related, sometimes just being close to them makes it easier for us to pick them up.  We need to keep our standards high and  focus on the Lord and on His teachings...align our will and our desires to match His and that sort of focus can help us to stay where we need to be. 

Nazarite Vows

Student Choice assignment #3
Numbers 6: Nazarite Vows

1. Read Numbers 6:2-6, 14, 18; Judges 13:5, 24; 1 Samuel 1:11, 19-20, 28; Luke 1:13-15; Bible Dictionary "Nazarite" and Institute Manual "What was a Nazarite?"

First of all, a Nazarite was a man or woman (even though the scriptures that I read did not mention any women's names that were Nazarites) that consecrates themselves to God for a short period of time or lifelong service.  They vow to separate themselves and serve Him.  The requirements for doing this are that they may not drink any wine or strong drink or partake of anything that comes from the vine.  They are not to shave their hair at all, but to let it grow.  They are to stay away from dead bodies even if it is a member of their own family.

Some of the better known (famous) Nazarites from the scriptures are Samson, Samuel the boy prophet, and John the Baptist.  Now I understand a little more fully why Samson never wanted to have his hair cut. :)

2. Read Alma 5:57.  Write about how the Lord  wants us to live differently from the world today.

This was easy.  I think that the Lord wants us to stay away from things that could tempt us and persuade us to follow the adversary because that will take our hearts away from the Lord.  If we were to act as Nazarites, then we would vow to stay away from unclean things and follow Christ and have our name numbered among the righteous.  How often in our day to day living do we consciously think of what we are doing and if it is in accordance with our Savior's counsels to us?  Are we keeping our vows (covenants)?  There is so much filth in this world and the Lord wants better for us than that.  That is why he asks us to cleave unto the good and leave behind all those things that are not helpful for us or our spirits.

The Ten Commandments

Student Choice Assignment #1 : The Ten Commandments

1. Read Exodus 20:3-17, make a list of 10 commandments.  Read Matthew 22:36-40 and identify what the Lord said were the two "great" commandments.  Place each of the 10 commandments withing the two by writing "Love God" or "Love Neighbor" next to them on the list.

• Have no other Gods before me.                                        Love God
• Not make any graven image.                                              Love God
• Not take name of God in vain.                                           Love God
• Keep Sabbath day holy.                                                      Love God
• Honor thy Father & thy Mother                                        Love Neighbor
• Not kill                                                                                Love Neighbor
• Not commit adultery                                                          Love Neighbor
• Not steal                                                                              Love Neighbor
• Not bear false witness                                                        Love Neighbor
• Not covet                                                                             Love Neighbor

     -The scripture in Matthew said that the two great commandments were to "love the Lord thy God" and to "Love thy neighbor as thyself".

2. List 3 commandments from Exodus 20:3-17 that you feel are most commonly neglected by the world.  Read the Institute Manual for those commandments.  Write a paragraph about the difference it would make in the world if all God's children kept these commandments.

 My list of 3 commandments that I feel are most neglected by mankind are: 1)Not take the name of God in vain, 2) Not commit adultery, and 3) Not bear false witness.

The world would definitely be a different and much better world in which to live if we kept all the commandments, but the 3 that I chose are the ones that I know would be easier to change and would help us to feel safer both spiritually, physically and emotionally.  When we take God's name in vain we show our lack of reverence for Him and as the Institute Manual points out, we are seeming to forget our oath and promise made at our baptism to take His name upon us.  I had not thought of that and that helped me to think that using foul language is such an epidemic in society that we just do and don't even think about or realize we are doing.  We NEED to reverence God and show Him our respect for Him in order to understand who WE are.  The next one I chose was adultery.  With the rise in cohabiting partners and children being born out of wedlock, it's clear that the family and the institute of marriage are under attack.  Committing adultery is just one more stone added upon a rocky pile that will tumble and ruin all beneath it.  It is sad that so many feel they can not trust another to marry them, or they don't want to commit, or it is just "easier" for them to do it this way and then others just give in to the natural man and forget about the laws that are there for our help and safety.  Marriage is a covenant and it is a covenant that if more people were abiding by and keeping, we would be able to trust each other more.  The last commandment that I chose was Bearing false witness.  Oh how sad this one makes me!  I have been on the losing end of gossip too many times and know just how deeply those wounds can go and how long they take to heal, if at all.  Why do we do that?  Why do we talk about others in hurtful ways?  Why do we share information that isn't true?  If we kept this commandment, then people would feel loved by others...by their neighbors, by their friends, by coworkers, etc.  We all would be able to walk with our heads held high and be proud of who we are instead of waiting for the next rumor about us to circulate and destroy our hearts and our self-worth.

Murmuring in the Wilderness

Student choice assignment #5
Exodus 15:23-27, 16-17

• What did the children of Israel murmur about?

They murmured about their living conditions.  They had bitter water to drink, then they didn't want to be in the Wilderness, they were hungry and thirsty again.

• How did the Lord respond to their murmuring?

The Lord gave them water to drink from a tree and the water tasted fresh.  Then he sent manna to feed them each day providing sufficient for their needs and allowing them to not have to collect it on the Sabbath day in order to keep it holy.  He also had Moses smite a rock to make water for them to drink.

• Why do you think people murmur against God and those He has chosen as His leaders? (1Ne 16:1-3)

The Lord asks hard things of us or at least things that may appear hard to us if we are not currently living righteously.  Sometimes we feel guilt if we are not doing as we should, or as quoted in the scriptures "the guilty taketh the truth to be hard".  It's our way of figuring out how we are not doing what we should be doing and venting our frustrations about it.

•  Read 2 Ne 27:35, describe what Nephi suggested as an antidote for murmuring.

Nephi said we need to come to an understanding and learn the doctrine.  I believe what he means is that we need to get our crap together and do what the Lord has asked of us no matter how hard or uncomfortable it may feel to us.  This is a hard thing, especially if the sin or disobedience has gone on for some time.  It is hard to break habits and create new, better ones.  That doesn't mean it is impossible, just that it will take time and effort on our part.  The Lord asks us to have a willing attitude to make the change and therein lies the secret.

• What counsel would you give to a friend/family member who murmurs against the commandments of God?

I would give the same counsel that I give myself everyday...."BUCK UP!"  I would suggest making it a matter of prayer first and study of scriptures and the words of the Latter-day prophets to help me have the strength to do what I need to do without complaint.  I would also suggest that they start small.  Rome wasn't built in a day and so it is with changes we make in our lives.  Not that we need to make the progress so slow that we aren't actually changing, but not put so much added pressure to change overnight that it is impossible or feels impossible for us to manage.  The Lord wants us to succeed and He will bless us but we need to put forth the effort and care about it too.

Joseph Endured His Trials

This week I chose to do Student Choice Assignment #3 : Genesis 29-30, 35, 37, 39-41

" Joseph Endured His Trials"

a. Read the chapter summaries for Genesis 29-30 and 35. List the birth order of Jacob's 12 sons

     Reuben  (from Leah)

     Simeon  (from Leah)

     Levi  (from Leah)

     Judah (from Leah)

     Dan (from Bilhah)

     Naphtali  (from Bilhah)

     Gad  (from Zilpah)

     Asher  (from Zilpah)

     Isaachar  (from Leah)

     Zebulun  (from Leah)

     Joseph  (from Rachel)

     Benjamin  (from Rachel)

b. Read Genesis 37:1-11 & Institute Manual (pg 93) "What was the coat of many colors?".  Write explanation of possible reasons Joseph's brothers were envious of him. 

   In verse 3, it states "Israel loved Joseph more than all his children".  Right there pretty much sums it up.  Of course they were jealous because their father loved Joseph more and gave him the gift of the coat.  None of the rest of them had received such a gift.  Joseph also had dreams that foretell of future events and the brothers were resentful of the fact that at some future time they would be bowing down to their younger brother.  In addition, the Institute Manual talks about how the coat of many colors was actually just a long coat with long sleeves like the kind wore by those in the upper class and may have signified that Joseph held the birthright.  Reuben being the oldest should have been the one to receive the birthright and if he didn't then it would naturally pass to the next in line which was Simeon.  So basically the brothers thought through a series of other events also, that some of them should be the birthright possessors and not Joseph.

c. List the challenges in Genesis 37 that Joseph faced.  How do you think Joseph felt about his challenges?  How are Joseph's challenges like the ones young people face today?

   I gave this one quite a bit of thought.  First, the challenges Joseph faced were his not being accepted by his brothers.  They envied him and conspired to get rid of him.  He was taken and cast into a pit, then sold into slavery, then sold into slavery in a different land where he knew no one and no one shared his common beliefs or values.  He was alone.  

   I feel like the youth of today face these same types of challenges although they may not think they do.  Many youth feel like if they stand up for their beliefs (like Joseph did when he shared his dreams), then they are likely to be bullied or ridiculed.  This makes them essentially feel alone and like no one understands.  

d.  Read Genesis 39:2-3, 21, 23 and find a phrase that is similar in all four verses.  Then answer the following questions:

   1.What did Joseph do in Genesis 39 that allowed the phrase in v. 2-3 to still be true in vs. 21 & 23?  When do you think Joseph made the commitment to be morally clean?

  2.Give examples from Genesis 40-41 & Institute Manual (pg 95) that illustrate how the Lord remained with Joseph.

   3.Write 2 or 3 paragraphs listing lessons you learn you learn from the life of Joseph.  What can you learn from Joseph about turning bad experiences and circumstances into good ones?

   The phrase that I saw repeated was "the Lord was with Joseph".  

   1.Joseph refused the advances of Potiphar's wife.  I think that Joseph must have made a commitment to be morally clean from an early age because when he was faced with this temptation he didn't even have to think about what to choose...he just chose to go away from  it.  

   2.Even when Joseph was falsely accused of wrongdoing and sent to prison, he was blessed by the Lord.  Sure he was in prison, but he had a position of power and took care of other prisoners.  He could've blamed the Lord for not protecting him from that fate, but he never did.  He just kept carrying on and being righteous.  He helped other prisoners by interpreting their dreams and just bided his time until it was the time when he was released.  

  3.I learned from Joseph that life is hard.  Things happen to us but that doesn't have to define us.  There is a quote that I heard some years ago that I try hard to remember in my everyday life.  I don't know who said it but it goes like this..."Attitude is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it".  I think that shows exactly how Joseph turned his bad experiences into good ones.  He didn't let what was happening in his life or to his life be how he lived.  He made the best of it and kept on being obedient to the Lord. 

  This is what I need to work on in my life.  So often I get down in the dumps when something doesn't go my way and start to place blame.  I don't want to be like that which is why I try to follow the advice given in the quote I shared, but I will admit that it is hard.  It is a daily choice.

A Contrast in Choices

Genesis 13-14, 19 : A Contrast in Choices

a. Read Genesis 13:10-12; 14:1-12; 19:1

•   Why do you think Lot chose to live where he did?

It says that he looked around and saw that it was "well watered" and would be good fertile area.

•  What do you think it meant that Lot pitched his tent "toward" Sodom?

He faced it in the direction of Sodom.  When I first read it, I thought of King Benjamin's people who pitched their tents towards the temple so they could hear his words and I thought how different and opposite of a choice was Lot making.  I think it shows where his interest lay at that time.

• At first Lot lived outside the city of Sodom with his tent pitched towards it, and then he later lived in the city of Sodom itself.  In what ways today do people "pitch their tents toward Sodom"?

Well I think it is shown how people pitch their tents towards Sodom today by the way they live their lives.  A common saying that describes it well to me is "Being OF the world".  We can live in this world that is full of evil and enticings of the devil, but not be partakers and the problem is that so often we do not disconnect ourselves from the evil...instead we walk the fence and are far closer to it than we should be.

• Explain in writing the sins of Sodom & Gomorrah.  Write list of words from the scriptures and Institute Manual describing how the Lord feels about homosexuality.

Sins of Sodom & Gomorrah: homosexuality, bi-sexuality, masterbation, rejection of those who were poor and in need.

List of words used by Lord to describe His feelings about homosexuality: evil, depraved, abomination, immorality, filthiness, wickedness.

b. Contrast Lot's choices with Abraham's choices (Genesis 13:7-9, 18; 14:13-16, 21-23)

• Where did Abraham choose to live?

Abraham dwelt in the plain of Mamre and built an altar unto God.

• What did he do when he heard Lot had been captured?

He armed his servants and pursued them; they split up and went in at night and smote them and chased them away and brought Lot and his people and goods back.

• What does Genesis 14:22-23 reveal about Abraham's values and commitment to God?

It says that he worshipped and obeyed God first and would not take anything that wasn't his or given to him from God.

• The city of Sodom was known for wealth, worldly pleasures, and great wickedness.  What could Abraham have gained from the King of Sodom?  How does Moroni 10:30 relate to Abraham's actions?

The King offered him wealth and he could have had all that.  Abraham knew that what the King offered him was unclean and evil and he wanted to stay clean, therefore he could not and would not touch or possess it.

• What can I do to be more like Abraham, who did not even desire a "thread" of what the King of Sodom had to offer?

This whole lesson I have read many things about Abraham and learned more about him than I knew before and I feel like to be more like him means I need to be more obedient and closer to God.  That I feel is the secret.  Abraham was so close to God that he heard when God spoke to him and he obeyed without questioning.  If I want to live a life more like his, then I need to cultivate in myself the same traits and habits.  I need to make sure that my tent is pitched towards the Lord and the temple and not towards the modern-day Sodoms that look so enticing.  I need to be more clean and pure and I need to be unwavering in my dedication to the gospel and the commandments.

Whom God Calls, He Qualifies

This week the student choice homework that I have chose to do is Choice #2: Genesis 4-6 & Moses 6-7 "Whom God Calls, He Qualifies"

a. How did the Lord describe the people of Enoch's day?

• hearts have waxed hard
• ears are dull of hearing
• eyes cannot see far off
• have gone astray
• have denied me (God)
• sought their own counsels in the dark
• have not kept the commandments given to Adam
• have devised murder
• have foresworn themselves
• brought upon themselves death

b. Describe how the Lord strengthened and sustained Enoch and how the Lord has done similar things for me (Moses 6:32-39, 47 ; 7:13-18, 69)

• The Lord told Enoch that if he would just open his mouth that "it shall be filled".  He told him that the "Spirit is upon you", that "all they words will I justify", and to me, the most important, that "thou shalt abide in me and I in you".  When Enoch then went among the people and preached repentance unto them, the "earth trembled" because he "spoke the word of the Lord" and there was power in him.  It also said that he [Enoch] "walked with God".  

I sat and pondered this for some time.  I think that Enoch was trying so hard to do what was right and he doubted his abilities to do great things, but with God's help he was able to change the lives of these people.  He was literally strengthened beyond his capacities and given gifts from God to work miracles.  I think of the times in my life when I have been strengthened by the Lord and there ARE similarities.  Not to the degree of what Enoch experienced but to a degree that was amazing to me.  When I served my mission I was so afraid to open my mouth.  I didn't want people to yell at me, or ignore me.  I was afraid that I wouldn't know how to teach or what to say.  I can testify that there were many times when I had no plans of what to say and I had no idea what I was saying, but the Lord was filling my mind with the information I needed and my mouth with the words to say that would touch the heart of the person we were contacting or teaching.  He does loves us and is there to help us!  A few years ago, I was called in with my husband to talk to our Bishop and he was telling me that the YW Pres in our ward was moving and he had prayed and would like to give me a calling and I said "as long as it isn't YW Pres!"  He laughed a little and told me that it was and asked me why I had said that.  I told him that I felt very incapable of teaching and leading the young women of our ward...there were far more capable women that would do a better job.  Long story short....I accepted the call and served for 3 1/2 years and it was amazing!  I loved every second with those beautiful young women!  It wasn't me that led and directed the young women program during that time, it was the Lord.  He blessed me to know the path to go down and the direction and counsel to give to each and every young woman.  He truly strengthened me to be able to fulfill a calling that I had felt sorely incapable of doing.  I am so grateful that the Lord is always there for us and when we utilize his power in our lives, we can do great things!

c. Summarize from the reading what I learned about Enoch and his people

Enoch lived a very long time.  He had many children.  He was called to prophesy unto the people and call them to repentance.  It is written that "when he spoke, people trembled" and could not stand in his presence.  He had great power given to him by God to lead the people.  He spoke face to face with God!  He was commanded to baptize the people and in time of war, he led them.  The Lord "dwelt with this people, and they dwelt in righteousness".  Enoch built a city and called it City of Holiness or Zion.  The Lord spoke to him and told him that "Zion is blessed and the residue of the people are cursed".  Zion (the city of Enoch) was then taken up to Heaven to be with God.

This is absolutely one of my most favorite Bible stories of all time.  I love it.  I love that the people became so righteous and so obedient to God that they were taken up to be with Him.  I loved the whole thought and concept of Zion.  I think that this world would be so different if we could even be 50% of a Zion-like world.

Okay, so bear with me on this....

I have to do these weekly assignments for my Old Testament class and there were different ways we could choose to DO the assignments.  Since I am already a blogger, albeit a HORRIBLE one (for reals...my family blog is soooo behind), I felt like this would be the best way for me to express the things I am learning from my class.


Stay tuned!