Choice 2: Isaiah 1–4. Isaiah’s Teachings about the Last Days

(a)  Read Isaiah 1:2–14, 21–23, 30–31. List the images or symbols Isaiah used to describe the people of Judah and their sins. Read Isaiah 1:16–20 and explain in writing what Isaiah charged them to do to be forgiven of their sins. What does Isaiah 3:9–11 teach concerning the consequences of sin?

The children have rebelled.  Israel does not know or does not consider God.  They are a sinful nation.  They are a people laden with iniquity and a people of evildoers.  They are corrupt and have forsaken the Lord.  God is angry with them.  The country is desolate and taken over by others.  They worshipped graven images.  Israel is destroyed and scattered.  Israel will be gathered and blessed temporally and spiritually when the Lord comes.  The wicked will be destroyed.  The Lord will defend and preserve his people.  The children of Israel need to make themselves clean by putting away the evil doings, learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow, be willing and obedient.  The wicked will get the reward of his hands. 

(b)  Read Isaiah 2:1–5; institute student manual commentary for Isaiah 2:1–5, “In the Last Days ... the Mountain of the Lord’s House Shall Be Established” (pg. 138); commentary for Isaiah 2:3, “Out of Zion Shall Go Forth the Law ... the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (pgs. 138–39). Briefly summarize the significance of these verses as they deal with the Restoration and the last days.

The mountain of the Lord refers to the last dispensation when the church was restored.  The establishment of the Church headquarters in Salt Lake City was a fulfillment of the declaration in Isaiah 2:3.   In verse three it suggests that eventually other world centers will also be established.  The founding fathers were blessed by God in creating the Constitution of the United States.  We are blessed to have the freedom that the Constitution gives to us.  Now it is up to us to spread the law to all nations. 

(c) Read Isaiah 2:6–9 and answer the following questions:

·         What is the divine invitation to the family of Jacob?  Humble themselves   

·         Note or list the wickedness that interferes with the divine invitation  Idol Worship

·         What word in 2 Nephi 12:9 is added to Isaiah 2:9 to bring more clarity to the verse? Boweth

(c)   After reading Isaiah 2:6–22, select words or phrases that indicate among the people.

 

Idol Worship

Humble

Soothsayers

Please Themselves

 

(d)  Read Isaiah 4:5–6 and the first paragraph in the Bible Dictionary for “Temple” (pg. 780–81). After you study these verses and the footnotes, explain in writing what Isaiah taught about the potential of our homes. What do you feel a family must do to receive these promises?

The temple should be a place of refuge.  Only our homes can compare with the temple in sacredness.  We need to act in righteousness so that our homes can also be a place of refuge. 

Choice 2: Ecclesiastes. Seeing Life Clearly

(a) Read the Bible Dictionary for “Ecclesiastes,” (pg. 659), and complete the following statements:

·    The book of Ecclesiastes consists of _ reflections on some of the deepest problems of life, as they present themselves to the thoughtful observer.

·    The author describes himself as “son of David, king in Jerusalem”.

·    Ecclesiastes is written from the point of view of the world.

·    Ecclesiastes should not be construed as theological pronouncements on the condition of the soul after death; rather, they are observations by the Preacher about how things appear to men on the earth “under the sun.”.

(b) Read Ecclesiastes 1–2 and list five ways the author sought happiness but couldn’t find it. After each item on your list, write the reference of the verse where you found it.

Built houses and vineyards (Ecclesiastes 2: 4)

Planted gardens and orchards (Ecclesiastes 2: 5)

He made pools of water (Ecclesiastes 2:  6)

He got servants and maidens (Ecclesiastes 2: 7)

He had great possessions (Ecclesiastes 2: 7)

He gathered riches (Ecclesiastes 2: 8)

He had singers and musicians (Ecclesiastes 2: 8)

He got everything that his eyes desired (Ecclesiastes 2: 10).

(c) Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 and compare it with the principles that are taught in Mosiah 4:27; Doctrine and Covenants 10:4; 111:11; Luke 10:38–42. Write a paragraph describing why the timing and order of our activities are so important. Note some examples of how major events of life when done at the wrong time or out of order could seriously hurt an individual’s eternal progress. What do you think the Lord wants you to accomplish during this “time and season” of your life?

Everything that happens comes at a certain time in wisdom and order so that we have the strength to bare it.  Trials come at a time when we are able to bare them and will be for our own good. 

(d) As you read Ecclesiastes 4–5, choose two principles to incorporate into your life. Write about them.

It is better to me like a poor and wide child than a foolish king who is not teachable.  (Ecclesiastes 4: 13)  I love this principle because it shows how amazing little children are.  We need to be as a child and be teachable.  To become like God we need to be teachable. 

We should not make promises to God that we cannot keep. (Ecclesiastes 5: 4-5) This reminded me of the repentance process.  During the repentance process it may be hard to stop doing the sin.  We should keep working through the repentance process but make no promises to stop until we know that we can keep our promises. 

(e) Read Ecclesiastes 12:7, 13–14 and answer the following questions:

·         What happens to us when we die?  Return to God.    

·         What is “the whole duty of man”?  Fear God and keep his commandments. 

·         Why is this a good description of man’s purpose?  Because this is the only way we can receive exaltation. 

Queen Vashti did not want to parade her beauty around a bunch of drunk people.  She refused to obey a direct summon from the king.  Women at that time were expected to obey men.  (Esther 1: 1-12)  The men at the banquet did not want their women rising up against them so they had the King get rid of queen Vashti. They didn’t want anyone disobeying the King.  (Esther 1:19)

Mordecai was Esther’s uncle.  After Esther’s parents died, Mordecai raised her.  (Esther 2:5-8)  Mordecai reported an assassination plot against the King to Esther.  (Esther 2:21-23)  Mordecai did not bow to Haman.  He did not break the first commandment which is idolatry.  (Esther 3:1-6)      

Esther was a courageous woman.  Esther beauty was a gift from God.  She was put into a position where she could gain favor with the King and save her people.  She knew her life was on the line (Esther 4:11-16) There is no doubt that God had his hand in this situation.  Esther, through fasting, faith, and courage, had saved a nation. 

All three of these people showed great courage in doing what is right.  I want to have courage to stand for truth and righteousness.  Through Heavenly Father I can face whatever comes my way.  I don’t have to be afraid to follow in righteousness because I will be protected by God.  Those that are wicked are the ones who need to be afraid.  These three showed that they followed God in righteousness.  They all three did not fall into the devils temptation.  I hope that through my life I can act as these three did.