Choice 6: 1 Samuel 9-10. Saul Anointed King in Israel

1.    Read 1 Samuel 9-10 and list the qualities of Saul that made him a good choice to be king.

 Saul was a good person.  He was higher than any of the people shoulder wise.  God was with Him. 

1.    Read Articles of Faith 1:5 and briefly explain in writing how the calling of Saul to be king in Israel follows the same pattern of choosing leaders in the Church today.

We believe that a man must be called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.  Saul was called by God and was chosen through the proper authority which was Samuel. 

Choice 1: Joshua 7-24. “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve”

1.    Read Joshua 10:12-14 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Joshua 10:12-14,

“Did the Sun Really Stand Still in the Heavens?” (pg. 240). Did the sun really stand still in the heavens? Write a paragraph how you could explain these verses to someone who says he or she won’t believe the Bible because of this obvious contradiction with science.

 The Book of Mormon makes it clear that the earth, not the sun was involved in Joshua’s miracle.  God will cause the earth to stop in its rotation to lengthen the day.  In D&C 29:14 and D&C 45:40-42 and D&C 133:49 it explains at the second coming there will be more celestial bodies moved.  Joshua’s miracle has no comparison to what will happen when Jesus Christ comes again.  Because the moon’s light is reflected off the sun, only the sun needs to be darkened and both will lose light. 

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

 Successes: Israel takes Ai, and slays inhabitants.  Israel and Gibeonites obtain a league.  Israel defeats the Amorites and their allies.  Joshua and Israel conquer the whole land, destroying many cities and nations. Two kings on the east of the Jordan and thirty-one on the west are conquered by Israel.  The land is divided by lot among 9 ½ tribes- Caleb inherits Hebron as a special reward for his faithfulness.  Judah is given an inheritance in Canaan.  The children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) receive their inheritances.  Manasseh and Ephraim both receive an additional inheritance.  The tabernacle of the congregation is set up at Shiloh.  Benjamin receives and inheritance by lot.  Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan receive their inheritances by lot. Six cities of refuge are appointed for those guilty of manslaughter.  The Levites receive forty-eight cities with their suburbs.  The Lord fulfills all his promises and gives Israel rest.  The 2 ½ tribes are dismissed with a blessing.    

Failures: Israel is defeated by the people of Ai.  There remained some lands yet to be possessed. 

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

Joshua tells Israel to be courageous, keep the commandments, love the Lord, and not marry among nor cleave unto the remnants of the Canaanites who remain in the land. Israel was told that if they serve other gods, they will be curse and dispossessed.  Joshua recites how the Lord has blessed and led Israel.  Joshua and all the people covenant to choose the Lord and serve Him only.  Joshua was getting rid of the blood off himself and onto Israel.  Joshua reminded what God had done for them and challenged them to choose whom they would serve.   Joshua chose to deliver his final address this way because he was going to die and not be their leader anymore.  Joshua was trying to remind them that in the past they will be destroyed if they are wicked.  

Choice 1: Deuteronomy 2-3, 7, 9, 20, 25. Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

1.    Read Deuteronomy 20:17 and make a list of the different nations the Lord identified in these verses. Then read Deuteronomy 2:15, 7:2, 12:2-3, and write a paragraph about what the Lord commanded Israel to do with these nations.

The Lord commanded them to destroy the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  In Deuteronomy 2:15 it says the Lord was against them and they needed to be consumed.  The Lord told them In Deuteronomy 7:2 that they should kill them, and make no covenant with them, and show no mercy unto them.  In Deuteronomy 12:2-3 God tells them to destroy all their places they worshiped false Gods. 

1.    Read Deuteronomy 9:4-5 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Deuteronomy 7:1-5, “Why Did the Lord Command the Israelites to Utterly Destroy the Canaanites?” (pg. 219). Add to your previous paragraph any other reasons why these nations were destroyed.

The Lord allowed the wicked to be driven out not because the Israelites were being righteous but because the Lord keeps his word that he swore unto they fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Abraham was told that his seed would inherit the land of Canaan, the Lord also told him that Israel would first be taken into captivity in Egypt because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full”  Certain acts are so evil and so destructive to the order of the society that the only just reparation is the death of the guilty parties  But, in certain instances, the destruction of graven images required also the destruction of the people of the images They were warned not to become like the Egyptians and slave the people.   Prostitution and homosexuality had become religious practices to the point where the people were entrenched in depravity and proud of it. Their iniquity was ‘full’ or total. Accordingly, God sentenced them to death and made Israel the executioner. … The Canaanites as a whole were deserving of death; God’s patience allowed them a few centuries from Abraham’s day to Joshua’s and then His judgment was ordered executed. The failure of Israel to execute it fully became finally their own judgment.” Nephi said of the Canaanites, “He that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity”

1.    Many of the sins found among the people living in Canaan are prevalent in today’s society. Write a paragraph explaining how you think we can protect ourselves from these sins.

Many of these sins are very prevalent today and are becoming more and more excepted.  We can be protected by staying on God’s side.  If we stay on His side we will be protected.  We can avoid temptation by staying away from those evil acts.  We can gain strength through prayer and scripture study.  We need to stand together as God’s people and proclaim what is right and what is wrong.  

Choice 2: Numbers 3; 8; 18. Change of Policy in the Kingdom of God

I chose to do this assignment because I was interested in it.  I learned things about the Priesthood that I didn’t know about.  I did think that this assignment was about the black’s receiving the Priesthood later.  But I will have to do my own research on it. 

1.    Assume that you have a nonmember friend who does not understand why in 1978 the Church changed the policy of who could receive the priesthood. Read Numbers 3:5-12; 8:5-16; 18:1-2 and Bible Dictionary, “Aaronic Priesthood” (599-600); “Levites” (724). Write one or two paragraphs about how these scriptures might help explain why and how changes sometimes occur in the kingdom of God. Be sure to include the source of these changes and through whom the changes come as found in Numbers 3:5.

This subject was brought up in my capstone class.  I was curious to learn more about this subject. In the Bible Dictionary it says that today there are no Levites so everyone holds the Aaronic Priesthood today.  The lineal restrictions were lifted when the Law of Moses was fulfilled; therefore the offices of the priesthood were conferred upon worth men without limitation to the tribe of Levi.  The source of these changes came from the Lord.   

1.    Write a comparative statement about the similarities in the wording of Numbers 3:5-12

and Official Declaration—

Numbers: 3:7 And they shall keep his charge

Numbers 3: 8 And they shall keep all the instruments.

Numbers 3:10 The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 

1.    Read Numbers 8:6, 14; Isaiah 52:11; 3 Nephi 10:41; Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-36, 41–42. Make a written comparison between the requirements for those holding the priesthood then and now. Explain in writing the meaning of the word separate in Numbers 8:14 and how it applies to priesthood holders today.

The Levites back then need to cleanse themselves, and separate themselves from everyone else.  Instead of physical cleanliness we are told to spiritually clean.  We shall touch no unclean thing.  In other words we need to stay away from sin.  Only the righteous can have the priesthood.  All could receive the priesthood but few are worth for it.  You cannot be worthy for the priesthood if your heart is set upon the things of the world and aspire to the honors of men.  I believe separate in Numbers 8:14 means we need to separate ourselves from sin.  

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.