Choice 2: Leviticus 16. The Day of Atonement

·         How and what did you do to complete the assignment?  I chose to put my assignment onto my blog at http://scottandkylieyeates.blogspot.com/. 

·         Why did you decide to do the assignment you did?  I thought  that choice 2 was the most interesting out of the choices given. 

·         What do you think is the best thing about your assignment, and how do you think it could it be improved?  Learning about the Atonement is always the best!  Nothing could be improved. 

a.          Leviticus 16 explains the details of what is referred to as the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 23:27-28). Write a definition for the primary purpose of this special day.

On the Day of Atonement we should have a holy meeting, and humble ourselves.  We should not work that day.  It is so we can atone before the Lord.

b.      Read Leviticus 16:1-28 as well as the Institute Student Manual commentary for Leviticus 16, “The Day of Atonement and Israel’s Forgiveness” (pgs. 176-77; see also Bible Dictionary, “Fasts,” 671, which describes the Day of Atonement). Then answer the following questions:

·         Why do you think Aaron needed to make atonement for himself before making atonement for the people?  Aaron had to be worthy to act the officiator for the house of Israel. 

·         Why did Aaron need two goats?  One goat was to be sacrificed to the Lord for the sins of Israel, and the other goat served as a scapegoat. 

·         How could both goats represent Jesus Christ and His Atonement?  The first goat represents Christ and how we died for our sins.  The second goat represents Christ in that both took all the sins upon themselves. 

·         What do Aaron’s responsibilities and the responsibilities of the man who led the scapegoat into the wilderness symbolize?  The scapegoat was brought to the high priest where he symbolically placed the sins of Israel to the goat.  Then it was released in the wilderness where it never would be seen again.  It represented the devil himself.  No evil spirit can be near Jesus, but only near Satan. 

·         Read the Institute Student Manual commentary by Elder James E. Talmage (1862-1933), a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (pg. 177). Define the word vicarious as it applied to the ancient Day of Atonement. Include in your statement the personal factor necessary for an individual’s sins to be forgiven. Explain in writing how the Savior’s work of the Atonement was a vicarious work.

Vicarious atonement is meant the Christ is stepping in to suffer for us.  We need to embrace Christ to be forgiven of our sins because he can take them away from us.  He willingly will take those sins from us.  It was a vicarious work because he had to take our sins and suffer for us. 

Choice 5: Murmuring in the Wilderness

Exodus 33:11 clearly states that Moses spoke with the Lord face-to-face.  There is doubt that Joseph Smith could see God because of Exodus 33:20 and John 1:18.  Exodus 33:20 states that no man could see Him and live.  John 1:18 states that no man has seen God at any time. 

The JST for John 1:19 corrects this verse and states “except he hath born record of the son; for except it is through him no man can be saved”. 

The JST for Exodus 33:20 states “And he said unto Moses, Thou canst not see my face at this time, lest mine anger be kindled against thee also, and I destroy thee, and thy people, f or there shall no man among them see me at this time, and live, for they are exceeding sinful.  And no sinful man hath at any time, neither shall there be any sinful man at any time, that shall see my face and live.

 John 6:46 says “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father”.  

D&C 67:11-12 says “For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.  The foot note states “No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe.  Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind”.  Mosiah 3:19 states “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.   The footnotes say that the natural man is a spirit that has not been reborn.     

The institute manual for Exodus 33:19-23, “Is it possible for anyone to see the face of God and live?”  It is believed that the verse was translated wrong because it was not believed that God could be a personage and therefore could not be seen.  Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said that there are too many scripture versus that declare that God has appeared to men.    We cannot see God if we have not borne record of Christ, and believe in him.  

Choice 4: Exodus 14. Crossing the Red Sea

I wrote my choice on my blog at http://scottandkylieyeates.blogspot.com/.  I chose to do this assignment because I am interested in the miracles seen by the Israelites.  The best thing about this assignment is that I learned some cool things I didn’t know.  I wish I could learn more detail about it. 

Exodus 14:19-30

1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Explain in writing how the children of Israel were symbolically saved by water and fire.

As the Israelites were leaving Egypt Pharaoh’s heart was hardened again.  Pharaoh decided to go after the Israelites and kill them all.  God was with the Israelites to protect them.  There was a cloud that showed light to the Israelites but darkness to the Egyptians.  This cloud brought down fire that separated the Israelites from the Egyptians.  The Israelites were able to cross the Red Sea by the Lord departing them through Moses.    The Israelites traveled through the Red Sea with a wall of water on each side of them.  When the Egyptians came after them in the Sea the Lord made the water fall back into place.  Not one of the Egyptians survived.  The Israelites were saved through these miracles.  The water and fire represents the Israelites being baptized through water and receiving the holy ghost by fire.       

Choice 3: Genesis 29-30, 35, 37, 39-41. Joseph Endured His Trials

1. Read the chapter summaries for Genesis 29-30, 35. List the birth order of Jacob’s 12 sons.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin

2. Read Genesis 37:1-11 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 37:3, “What Was the Coat of Many Colors?” (pg. 93). Write an explanation of possible reasons Joseph’s brothers were envious of him.

The coat of many colors was believed to be a coat with long sleeves reaching to the wrists and ankles.  Joseph’s brothers were envious of him because he was Jacob’s favorite son and they were envious of Joseph’s dreams.  Josephs dreams said that everyone would worship him. 

3. 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?

Joseph was hated by his brothers.  He was sold into slavery by his brothers.  I am sure Joseph was really challenged with these trials.  We definitely don’t get sold in today’s society but we do face hatred towards other people.  In some cases even our families.    

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

·         What did Joseph do in Genesis 39 that allowed the phrase in verses 2-3 to still be true in verses 21, 23? When do you think Joseph made the commitment to be morally clean?

Joseph was faithful towards God and did not lie with Potiphar’s wife.  I think Joseph made the commitment to be morally clean when he was a young boy.  He knew that it was a sin. 

 

·         Give examples from Genesis 40-41 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 39:21-23; 40:1-23 (pg. 95) that illustrate how the Lord remained with Joseph.

Joseph did not blame God for his trials.  He did not give up on God.  He offered interpretations of dreams and always gave God the credit.   

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

What I learned from Joseph is to never give up and never blame God for trials.  Joseph was never at fault but he still was punished.  I learned that I always need to show that I obey the Lord so that people will know that the Lord is with me.  I think it is cool that Potiphar knew that the Lord was with him.  I know that when we follow the Lord we will always be blessed.   

I learned that I always need to keep a good attitude no matter how bad the situation is.  Having a bad attitude will just make the situation worst.  Having a good attitude can help you get through the trials.  Even though we struggle until we die if we follow the Lord we will be blessed.