8: Living Righteously in a Wicked World

Reading Assignment for Sunday, February, 23 2014

Class Member Study Guide: Lesson 8 

Genesis 11   Genealogy of Abram & Sarai. Abram leaves Ur for Haran.

Genesis 12 Abrahamic Covenant. Ur to Haran. Haran to Canaan. Famine: Canaan to Egypt.

Genesis 13 Egypt to Canaan. Lot and Abram part. Abraham in Hebron.
 
Genesis 14 Kings' battle. Lot captured & rescued by Abram. Abram declines Kings' war spoils. Melchizedek administers bread and wine and blesses Abram.  

Genesis 15 Abram desires offspring: numbered as stars.

Genesis 16  Sarai gives Hagar to Abram as wife & bears Ishmael. 

Genesis 17 Abram commanded to be perfect. Name change to Abraham and Sarah. Circumcision. Covenant everlasting.

Genesis 18  Abraham hosts 3 holy men. Sarah promised a son. The Lord know Abraham's valiance. The Lord and Abraham discuss Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19 Lot hosts holy men. Sodom residencts seek to abuse holy men and are blinded. Lot leaves Sodom. The Lord destroys cities with brimstone and fire.

Great Supporting Must Read/Watch Articles: 

Spencer W. Kimball
The Example of Abraham

Jeffrey R. Holland  
Remember Lot's Wife


Abraham's World

Background

The universal history in Genesis 1-11 ends with the descendants of Noah confounded and scattered throughout the earth, setting the stage for the call of Abraham by covenant to leave this world of confusion and to journey to the promised land. 

Through the covenant of Abraham, God promises the possibility that all who are scattered in every age can be spiritually gathered together by joining this covenant to become the seed of Abraham father of many nations” (Gen 17:5).

Whereas Genesis 1-11 contains a universal history--demonstrating how the whole world descended first from Adam and Eve and then from Noah and his three sons--Genesis 12-50 is a family history, tracing the lives of Abraham and Sarah and the birthright sons and their wives: Isaac and Rebekah: Jacob and Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah: and Joseph and Asenath. . . . The first chapters of Genesis reveal the consequences of the Fall--murder, death, destruction, pride, and arrogance--that spread across the earth that had once been blessed by the Creator:

In the second portion of Genesis, the Lord instigates a rescue mission to save his creation and his children through Abraham and Sarah. . . .

Thus Genesis 12-50 is composed of four major sections:

chapters 12-25 tell the story of Abraham; 
chapters 26, the story of Isaac; 
chapters 27-36, the story of Jacob; and 
chapters 27-50 the story of Joseph.

The main theme of Genesis 12-50 is the covenant that Jehovah made with Abraham that will remain in place with the righteous followers of Abraham until the the end of time. 

(Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament, Holzapfel, Pike, and Seely, Deseret Book, SLC, 2009)

Abraham
 
Abraham repeatedly demonstrated his faith by choosing righteousness, obedience, kindness, loyalty, hope and hospitality.  Despite his family's unholy practices, Abraham remains true to his faith, shunning the practices of idolatry and human sacrifice mentioned in the Book of Abraham.

He is instantly obedient, circumcising himself and his family in the same day that he is commanded to do so.  He also promptly acts on the commandment to sacrifice Issac his beloved son the day after he is commanded to do so despite his personal abhorrence to human sacrifice.

We see the same obedience as he leaves Ur to travel to Haran. True, evil practices and famine at times drive Abraham's journeys; nevertheless, he obeys the Lord. He follows the Lord's command in his journey to Canaan then on to Egypt to weather the famine taking place in Canaan.

After the return to Canaan from Egypt, Abraham selflessly allows his nephew Lot his choice of land.  Lot chooses the greener more fertile sections.  Abraham is so loyal to his nephew that he rescues the hostage Lot from northern city-state kings.  Abraham's dramatic rescue of his nephew with 300 of his own men and his refusal to accept the spoils of war from other city-state kings suggest his complete righteousness.  He will not taint himself with the spoils of war.

With great hospitality Abraham welcomes 3 holy men. By contrast the people of Sodom and Gomorrah while having an abundance of bread refused to care for the needy.

The Lord knows Abraham and Abraham knows the Lord.  In Genesis 18:19 the Lord says of Abraham:

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement;

Abraham talks with the Lord.  He advocates for the righteous in Sodom, pleading with the Lord to save the city if only there are a handful of followers.  Finally the holy men go to Sodom and lead Abraham's nephew Lot to safety.

It is through a latter-day prophet, Joseph Smith, and his translation of the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price that we come to have a more complete and intimate picture of Abraham.

Abraham describes himself in the opening chapter of the Book of Abraham.  He says:

And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest,  holding the right belonging to the fathers.

My fathers, having turned from their righteousness, and from the holy commandments which the Lord their God had given unto them, unto the worshiping of the gods of the heathen, utterly refused to hearken to my voice; (Abraham 1: 2, 5).

Living Righteously in an Imperfect World: Lessons from Sodom

The sins of Sodom and Gommorah went well beyond idolatry and sexual perversions.  In Ezekial 16: 49-50 we find an analysis of the inhabitants' sins:

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
 
And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Despite great wickedness, the Lord has compassion for Lot, removing any of his family willing to go.  Yet Lot's family had so embraced wickedness, that his wife cannot resists looking back longingly at the life of ease and pleasure she had enjoyed.

Where once Lot was a successful herdsman and tent dweller, his family's life of ease as they moved to Sodom became their downfall.

There are many lessons from this story, chief among them is righteous living and constant obedience.  

As Elder Neal A. Maxwell reminds us, we cannot maintain a palace in Zion and a summer cottage in Babylon.  We must choose whom we will serve.

 

 

 The Ancient Near East with Modern Political Boundaries

From Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament

 

The World of the Patriarchs and Major Trading Routes

Source: Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament

 

Themes

Testing Stories: People's faithfulnes serve as models to descendants

Birthright stories: Birthright may pass oldest son for someone more qualified

Jehovah talks with patriarchs: Jehovah appeared to four patriarchs

Related Videos

 
Things of the World (1:19)

 
No Other Gods (1:27)

7: The Abrahamic Covenant

Reading Assignment for Sunday, February 16, 2014

Class Member Study Guide:  Lesson 7

Abraham 1: 1-4

Abraham 2: 1-11

Genesis 12: 1-8

Genesis 17: 1-19



Abraham

Related Videos

 
Abraham (0:58)

The Abrahamic Covenant

Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation).

Then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase.

Finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity (D&C 132:29–50; Abr. 2:6–11).

Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that

(1) Christ would come through his lineage, and that 

(2) Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance (Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3; Abr. 2).

These promises taken together are called the “Abrahamic covenant.” It was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob (Gen. 28; 35:9–13; 48:3–4).

The portions of the covenant that pertain to personal salvation and eternal increase are renewed with each individual who receives the ordinance of celestial marriage (see D&C 132:29–33).

Those of non-Israelite lineage, commonly known as Gentiles, are adopted into the house of Israel and become heirs of the covenant and the seed of Abraham through the ordinances of the gospel (Gal. 3:26–29).

Being an heir to the Abrahamic covenant does not make one a “chosen person” per se but does signify that such are chosen to responsibly carry the gospel to all the peoples of the earth. Abraham’s seed have carried out the missionary activity in all the nations since Abraham’s day. (Matt. 3:9; Abr. 2:9–11.)

To fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham—having particular reference to the fact that the literal seed of his body would be entitled to all of the blessings of the gospel (Abr. 2:10–11)—a number of specific and particular things must take place in the last days.

  *The gospel must be restored

  *The priesthood must be conferred again upon man

  *The keys of the sealing power must be given again to mortals

  *Israel must be gathered

  *The Holy Ghost must be poured out upon the Gentiles. 

All this has already taken place or is in process of fulfillment.

Canons of the Old Testament

THESE ARE THE DIVISION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BASED UPON RELIGION

From Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament, Holzapfel, Pike, & Seely (affliated with the Religious Studies Center at BYU and published by Deseret Book)

6: "Noah Prepared an Ark to the Saving of His House

Reading Assignment for Sunday, February 9, 2014

Class Member Study: Lesson 6


Genesis 6

Genesis 7

Genesis 8

Genesis 9

Moses 7

Moses 8

Excellent Ensign Article about The Flood and the Tower of Babel: The Flood and the Tower of Babel

The article is written by Donald W. Parry a professor of Hebrew at BYU and member of the international team of translators of the Dead Sea Scrolls

IMPORTANCE OF STORIES OF ENOCH, NOAH AND TOWER OF BABEL

In these eleven chapters of Genesis, which cover the lives of the ancient patriarchs, almost one-third of the total history of mankind is summarized in a brief manner.

Obviously, such a limited treatment must omit many details that would be of great benefit to us.

When Moses wrote this history, however, he shared with us one of the most remarkable contrasts in the history of the world.

From the time of the Fall the people of the world began moving in two opposite directions. 

One group followed the teachings of Adam and Eve and continually strived for increasing righteousness and perfection.

 

The other group yielded to the deceitful enticings of Satan and his servants and moved deeper and deeper into depravity and wickedness. Both these divergent paths were followed to their ultimate ends. 

Under Enoch’s direction, a whole society became so perfect that God took it to Himself, and for the next seven hundred years those who qualified themselves were likewise translated into that remarkable city of Enoch (see Reading 4-14).

The other group moved downward as surely as Enoch’s city moved upward.

 

Finally they reached such depths of wickedness that it was a blessing for them to be destroyed .

Why is this pattern of significance to you?

Because we are in a period of history when the same dramatic contrast and division is taking place.

Jesus taught that the situation in the days of Noah was going to be repeated once more in history. 

When is that repetition to take place, and what are the implications of that repetition? How does Nephi’s vision relate to this teaching? 

TIME BETWEEN ENOCH AND NOAH

Bruce R. McConkie notes:

“During the first 2200 or so years of the earth’s history—that is, from the fall of Adam to the ministry of Melchizedek—it was a not uncommon occurrence for faithful members of the Church to be translated and taken into the heavenly realms without tasting death. 

Since that time there have been occasional special instances of translation, instances in which a special work of the ministry required it. 

“… Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was not translated [with Enoch’s city], ‘that the covenants of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to Enoch; for he truly covenanted with Enoch that Noah should be of the fruit of his loins.’ (Moses 8:2.) 

But during the nearly 700 years from the translation of Enoch to the flood of Noah, it would appear that nearly all of the faithful members of the Church were translated, for ‘the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.’ (Moses 7:27.)” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 804.) 

NOAH

 

The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith many things in relation to the ancient prophets and the keys which they held.

In a discourse on the Priesthood July 2, 1839, the Prophet made known what the Lord had revealed to him in relation to the missions of the ancient prophets and seers. In the course of his remarks he said this

“‘… Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven. … ’ [Smith, Teachings, pp. 157–58.]

Joseph Fielding Smith said:

“Luke reveals the coming of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias to inform him that his wife would bear a son. He also appeared to Mary and announced the birth of our Lord and Savior.

“Gabriel then is Noah according to this revelation.” (Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 3:138–41.)

Mark E. Petersen taught:

“Noah, who built the ark, was one of God’s greatest servants, chosen before he was born as were others of the prophets. He was no eccentric, as many have supposed. Neither was he a mythical figure created only in legend. Noah was real. …

“Let no one downgrade the life and mission of this great prophet. Noah was so near perfect in his day that he literally walked and talked with God. …

“Few men in any age were as great as Noah. In many respects he was like Adam, the first man. Both had served as ministering angels in the presence of God even after their mortal experience.

 

Adam was Michael, the archangel, but Noah was Gabriel, one of those nearest to God.

Of all the hosts of heaven, he was chosen to open the Christian era by announcing to Mary that she would become the mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He even designated the name by which the Redeemer should be known here on earth, saying He would be the Son of God. …

“… The Lord decreed that [the earth would be cleansed] by water, a worldwide deluge. Therefore, from among his premortal spirit children, God chose another great individual—His third in line, Gabriel—to resume the propagation of mankind following the flood.” (Mark E. Petersen, Noah and the Flood [1982], 1–4.)

 
NIMROD FOUNDER OF BABYLON 
 

The Joseph Smith Translation indicates, not that Nimrod was “a mighty hunter before the Lord” (Genesis 10:9), but that he was “a mighty hunter in the land” (JST, Genesis 10:5).

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TOWER OF BABEL 

Every time we hear foreign tongues (including English), we can be reminded that at one time “the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech” (Gen. 11:1). The hundreds of languages on the earth today stand as a witness that there existed long ago a tower of Babel in the land of Shinar.Yet in spite of the confusion of tongues so long ago, the gospel of Jesus Christ is reversing the effects of Babel. 

In the context of a temple dedication, Elder Spencer W. Kimball taught:

“someone said yesterday, there never should have been a Babel. There having been a Babel, it is in reverse now. The confusion of Babel is being overcome. The Finns and the Dutch and the British, the Germans and the French and the Hollanders, the Scandinavians, Italians, Austrians all meeting under one roof! All of them heard the voice of the prophet of the Lord. Everyone of them heard his message in his own tongue. Everyone of them heard the ordinances of the gospel, the ordinances of the temple, in
his own tongue. The confusion of Babel is in reverse.” ¹²

 

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