Moses - wow, i have no idea what we really did. i have looked through my notes a number of times and we didn't use the things i had prepared. so sorry! i always prepare things that we don't use...thanks for letting the class be completely directed by the Spirit!

God Revealing Himself

Moses is Prepared
Father, Mother; Sister; Pharaoh's Daughter; Zippaorah

Moses is Called

Leadership and Delegation

Preparation for His Presence

Genesis 24 - 50

Issac and Rebekah
Jacob and Esau
Joseph in Egypt

ISAAC'S WIFE SEARCH

THE PLAN
Verses 12–14. These verses show that the servant, like Abraham, was a man of great faith. Abraham had told him that his errand was a commandment of the Lord (v. 7). So when faced with a tremendously challenging task, the servant turned to the Lord for help. Instead of just asking the Lord to solve his problem, he presented a plan for the Lord to confirm.Abraham sent his trusted and worthy servant to find a wife for Isaac. "Holy men need holy women to stand by their sides . . . Rebekah was worth a long and dangerous journey, just as Rachel and Leah were worth that same same journey in the next generation" (Daughters of God 39).

"As the servant approached the well at Haran, he presented he Lord with his plan for finding the right woman for Isaac " (40).


SHE WAS FAIR
Verse 16. The King James Version suggests that Rebekah was very beautiful, but the Joseph Smith Translation says that she was the most beautiful woman the servant had ever seen. The Joseph Smith Translation reads, “And the damsel being a virgin, very fair to look upon, such as the servant of Abraham had not seen, neither had any man known the like unto her . . .” (JST, Genesis 24:16).

THE WELL
Verse 19. Considering the capacity of a thirsty camel, one can well imagine how much effort it took for Rebekah to draw water by hand for ten camels. Not only was she beautiful but she was a willing worker and was quick to serve.
"We admire Rebekah and lover her immediately not only for her kindness but the the eagerness with which it was given . . . We have all seen modern Rebekahs run to draw living water for a Primary or Young Women class . . . Every time we see these modern Rebekahs coming up from the well with their pitchers dripping, we, like Abraham;s servant, wonder at seeing such unrehearsed demonstrations of character" (41).


GO AND DO
"Abraham's servant placed earrings and bracelets on Rebekah and asked her if there was space in her father's house" (42). I love to think that Rebekah was able to feel the great peace and presence of this servant - the one with who Abraham trusted completely to know and follow the Lord in guiding him to the future matriarch of the covenant people. Are we in tune with the Spirit to truly recognize with whom we come into contact?

Verse 58. This verse gives a great insight into the faith of Rebekah. For a young woman to leave her home, travel to a new country completely foreign to her, and marry a man she had never met would present a tremendous challenge. One would expect that she would have wanted to stay with her family as long as possible, but when given her choice, she said simply, “I will go.”

Are we really willing to leave our worlds in a moment for the Lord? Are we willing to walk away from what we know and feel safe in to leave it all and never return? wow. she's my hero.


ISAAC LOVING REBEKAH
Verse 67. When one contemplates the faith and beauty of Rebekah and how the servant of Abraham was led to her by the hand of the Lord, the comment “and he loved her” is not surprising.
"When Isaac went out to meet the returning caravan, Rebekah, 'lighted off the camel . . . took a vail, and covered herself' This was proper modesty. 'And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent . . . and her loved her (Genesis 24:64-65,67). When I read this, my thought was, of course he loved her. She was willing and did give up everything she knew and loved and was safe to her in order to marry him. She gave up her world for his man. She trusted completely in the Lord and followed. Wouldn't marriages be amazing and powerful and influencial for greatness if we were willing and did give up all the world we knew and trusted - holding tightly the Lord's hand - and gave ourselves and our worlds to our spouses? wow.

THE BIRTHRIGHT

This rationalization seems to reflect more scorn than hunger. Jacob would almost certainly have succored Esau freely if his life were in jeopardy. The point of this account seems to be primarily to show how little value Esau placed on the birthright. His immediate bodily needs were more important to him than the rights of the covenant. Additional evidence of this attitude is Esau’s marriages to Canaanite women, which broke the covenant line (see Genesis 26:34–35). The birthright itself should have been a treasured thing. The highly desirable birthright blessing is the right to the presidency, or keys, of the priesthood. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “It appears that anciently under the Patriarchal Order certain special blessings, rights, powers, and privileges—collectively called the birthright—passed from the father to his firstborn son. (Gen. 43:33.) In later ages special blessings and prerogatives have been poured out upon all the worthy descendants of some who gained special blessings and birthrights anciently. (3Ne. 20:25–27.) Justification for this system, in large part, lies in the pre-existent preparation and training of those born in the lines destined to inherit preferential endowments.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 87.) In the patriarchal order this birthright was passed from father to son, who was often, but not always, the eldest son. Righteousness was a more important factor than being the firstborn.

From Esau The story of how Jacob obtained the birthright blessing from Isaac with the help of his mother is a troubling one in many respects. Typically, commentators who do not have access to latter-day scriptures come to one of two conclusions: either they emphasize Esau’s unworthiness for the birthright and therefore justify the deception, or else they criticize Jacob’s shrewd and crafty nature. Amore complete knowledge of gospel principles, however, may pose some additional problems. Can a person deceive a patriarch and get a blessing that belongs to someone else? Was Jacob a deceitful and crafty man? Was Isaac blindly favorable to certain children? Can one be dishonest and still get a valid patriarchal blessing? The following points should be carefully considered:

1. As the record in Genesis now reads, there is little option but to conclude that Rebekah and Jacob deliberately deceived Isaac and that Jacob explicitly lied to his father (see v. 24). Rebekah and Jacob believed the deception was necessary because Isaac obviously favored Esau. Joseph Smith, however, taught that certain errors had crept into the Bible through “ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” (Teachings, p. 327). For example, a comparison of the early chapters of Genesis with the fuller accounts revealed to the Prophet (now found in the books of Moses and Abraham) shows how much has been lost. It is possible hat the story of Jacob’s obtaining the birthright has also lost much or been changed by unbelievers. These changes could then explain the contradictions.

2. Rebekah knew by personal revelation that Jacob was to be the son of the covenant (see Genesis 25:22–23). Jacob reluctantly gave in to his mother’s wishes after she told him that she would take the responsibility for what they were about to do.

3. Although the early patriarchs and their wives were great and righteous men and women who eventually were exalted and perfected (see D&C 132:37), this fact does not mean that they were perfect in every respect while in mortality. If the story is correct as found in Genesis, Isaac may have been temporarily shortsighted in favoring Esau. Or Rebekah may have had insufficient faith in the Lord to let Him work His will and therefore undertook a plan of her own to ensure that the promised blessings would come to pass. These shortcomings do not lessen their later greatness and their eventual perfection.

4. Whatever the explanation for the circumstances surrounding the reception of the blessing, one thing is perfectly clear. Priesthood holders are given the keys to bind and loose on earth and have that action validated in heaven (see Matthew 16:19). Once Isaac learned of the deception, he could have revoked the blessing and given it to Esau. Instead, he told Esau, “Yea, and he shall be blessed” (Genesis 27:33). Later, when Jacob was preparing to leave for Padan-aram to escape Esau’s wrath, Isaac clearly gave him the blessing of Abraham (see Genesis 28:3–4), an additional proof that Jacob received the blessing meant for him and that Isaac confirmed it upon him. Thus, if the Genesis record is correct as it now is, Jacob, like others, received a call and a promise of eventual blessings because of his potential and in spite of his weaknesses. Like anyone, he had then to live worthily in order to obtain the promised blessings.

NAME CHANGED

Love the idea of our names. I love what we can become when we understand who the Lord knows us to be. The book of Revelation talks about new names . . . i can't help but think that these names will tell us more of who we really are . . . much like our patriarchal blessings.

JOSEPH REUNITED WITH BROTHERS

"The exclamation of Joseph after his reunion with his family teaches an invaluable lesson about the Lords' planning and ability to use seemingly tragic circumstances to work for the ultimate and eternal good of his children. 'And Joseph said unto the , Fear no: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive' (Genesis 50:19-20). This powerful principle serves to highlight the doctrine taught by the Lord through Isaiah: 'For my thoughts are not your house, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than you ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts' (Isaiah 55:8-9). Man's feeble logic pales in comparison to God's perfect knowledge" (Prophets, Priests, and Kings 48).

team institute! i'm soo sorry that it is Sunday night and i am just now posting! thought i'd show ya a few pics so that you'd believe that i actually went and risked and had sooo much fun trying knew things - i may have screamed like a girl on the rapids!! :)

no laughing at how cute my hair is!!

Okay, now for the real and serious stuff!!

Genesis 12-23. Abraham. Sarah. Isaac. Melchizedek. wow.

we know the stories here about Abraham. we know that he was asked to sacrifice Isaac. we know that this is a symbol of Christ. we know that Abraham, of any man, knew truly what he was asking of his only begotten son because Abraham had been on the altar as his father tried to sacrifice Abraham's life to the idol gods. we know that Sarah was not laughing as the angel told them of her long awaited blessing of having a son. and we know that this picture is probably wrong and that Isaac was probably a man in his thirties who willing went upon the altar because of his faith and devotion.

thus, we need to learn more about who these people truly were. we need to determine how our lives need to be altered to be worthy of being their heirs to all the blessings and responsibilities they enjoyed.

make sure you have a pen and journal/notebook

MELCHIZEDEK

one morning i woke up at 4:30ish - against my will - and grabbed my scriptures to read some of the Book of Mormon. i randomly opened to Alma and was reading in chapter 13 about the Melchizedek priesthood and this man. i was in the half awake/half asleep mode and pondered a lot...here are some of the musings:

the Melchizedek priesthood was named after Melchizedek, a righteous, and obviously amazing high priest during the time of Abraham. It was named after him, only because the true name of this priesthood may not have been said with the respect it needed; the priesthood of the Son of God.

• do i treat the men who hold this level of priesthood power with the respect and regard and honor that i do the Son of God?
• do i expect them to carry and act equal to the holy priesthood power that they hold?
• do i live so that i will be equally yoked with a man who knows and treasures and keeps sacred this power?
• do i live in a way that inspires and influences the men in my life and sphere to recognize and remember what a gift and honor it is to holy this sacred power?
• what can i do to be better at excepting more from this power in my life?
• what more can i do to be aware that this is a daily blessing i get to have influence me?
• as a woman, created to give birth and nurture children and thus hold a portion of this power, do i live worthy to it?
• do i live knowing and acting in accordance with what i have and what i am?

He also created a society that had been the wicked of wicked and through Melchizedek's influence and powerful teaching, these people became worthy to be translated. WOW!!

CES Old Testament Manual p. 67-68

"Possessing both the kingship of Salem (which Josephus and many other ancient and modern authorities have identified as Jerusalem) and the keys of the high priesthood, Melchizedek was able to effect might changes among his people. Thus, he modeled the roles fulfilled by Jesus Christ as prophet, priest, and king. Melchizedek preached repentance to a group who had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination, who had all gone astray, and who were full of all manner of wickedness (Alma 13:7). The people did repent, and Melchizedek established peace in the land (Alma 13:18). Like the Savior, Melchizedek was an instrument in God's hands to redeem his people from spiritual death and destruction" (Prophets, Priests, and Kings, Andrew Skinner).

ABRAHAM

"Some of the ancient rabbinic sages . . . coined expressions like 'as if an altar was erected in his heart' to portray those individuals who were willing to do all the God required. Some of them well understood that sacrifice was first made in the mind and heart of the offerer. Their exemplar was Abraham. He had erected an altar in his heart long before he reached Moriah . . . Long before any of us were sent to this earth, Christ understood the principle of true and total sacrifice" ( Prophets, Priests, and Kings p 38).

Circumcision of Heart

"Perhaps our trials increase though our obedience becomes more exact and our performance more exemplary. Sometimes life becomes grossly unfair" (p. 41).

"The Lord said that those who profess discipleship 'must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified (D&D 101:4-5)' ' (p. 42).

"Besides the Savior, Abraham is the standard for mortal so live by. He mirrored the behavior of the Father on the one hand and the Son on the other. He faced contradiction and maintained his absolute loyalty to Deity and eternal principles. Such tests are given to mortals and are calculated to allow us the opportunity to demonstrate our loyalty just as Abraham demonstrated his. God doesn't want much - he wants everything. And he desires with all his soul to give us back everything he possess. We are asked to give up all in order to receive in infinitely greater all" (42).

" 'Why did the Lord ask such things of Abraham? Because, knowing what his future would be and that he would be the father of an innumerable posterity, he was determined to test him. God did not do this for His own sake for He know by His foreknowledge what Abraham would do; but th purpose was to impress upon Abraham a lesson and to enable him to attain unto knowledge that he could not obtain in any other way. That is why God tried all of us. It is not for His own knowledge, for He knows all things beforehand. He know all your lives and everything you will do. But he tries us for our own good that we may know ourselves; for it is most important that a man should know himself' " (p. 43).

SARAH

"Josephus tells us that Sarah 'loved Ishmael, who was born of her own handmaid Hagar, with an affection not inferior to that of her own son' (Antiquities of the Jews, 36). When Isaac was born, Sarah 'saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking' (Genesis 21:9). What a dilema for Sarah. She loved the boy Ishmael, and she knew that Abraham loved both Hagar and Ishmael, his son. But she feared for the well-being of Isaac. Isaac's life and Ishmael's eternal salvation would have been in danger. The promises of the birthright could have been lost. Sarah pondered the dilemma and made a difficult decision" (Daughters of God, S. Michael Wilcox ).

Compared to Emma: My Story and how Emma Smith took and and loved the of her second husband's affair. How do we nurture this character within ourselves and those around us?

ISAAC

Bible Dictionary: Isaac

He laugheth. The son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, the child of promise, and the heir of the promises (Gen. 15: 1-6; Gen. 17: 15-19; Gen. 18: 9-15; Gen. 21: 1-8). The main interest of his life gathers around his birth, the sacrifice on Mount Moriah (Gen. 22), his marriage (Gen. 24; 25), and his dealings with his sons (Gen. 27; 28). There are numerous references to him in various parts of the Bible (see especially Gal. 4: 28; Heb. 11: 9, 17, 20). In character he appears to have been a peace-loving shepherd, of great personal piety, full of affection for the members of his own family. In D&C 132: 37 we are told that Isaac is now exalted and sits upon a throne with Abraham and Jacob. Cf. Matt. 8: 11.

Genesis 4 - 11

places to study with the chapters in Genesis:

BD: Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Offerings, Noah, Enoch

thoughts for pondering:
this week we are covering Cain and Able, the prophet and city of Enoch, and Noah.

as i have thought about these events and people, i have pondered things like:

1. personal definitions of what an offering is?
2. what are we currently offering?
3. what do we need to be offering, how do we offer?
4. why has the Father through His Son commanded all people at all times to make offering to Them?
5. why and how are some offerings accepted and others not?
6. are ours accepted?
7. can we make offerings that don't change us, that don't sanctify us?

1. what was the city and the people of Enoch offering?
2. how do our offerings sanctify us?
3. can the members of the Church in our day become like the members in Enoch's day?
4. how, why?
5. what needs to be different with the Saints today in order to become as the Saints in Enoch's day?
6. how will that change come about?

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=21bc9fbee98db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=6c2e81313e1ab010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

Noah was preaching and teaching and prophesying for many years. Enoch testified and prophesied about the Flood.

1. how did things get so bad amongst the members in Noah's day that the Lord would flood them?
2. what are the things you are doing in your life that are "not a big deal" when the prophet asked you to do something - we find the energy and motivation to do big, hard things. but when it is small things to do things more obedient, we struggle.
3. so where do you need to tighten things up to be more trustworthy for the Lord?
4. are we okay with the details of the things the Lord asks of us?
5. Noah had to gather and live with and care for 2 of every animal in that ark. stinky, loud, crowded, dirty....are we okay to deal with the hard realities of following? what's the other option if we're not?

1. why was flooding the earth a necessity?
2. are we like Hem who has miracles upon miracles happen in their lives, but who never lets these experiences change WHO and WHAT he is?
3. do we go through the motions but never let the moments shape us?

Earth's Baptism

Orson Pratt declared:
“The first ordinance instituted for the cleansing of the earth, was that of immersion in water; it was buried in the liquid element, and all things sinful upon the face of the earth were washed away. As it came forth from the ocean floor, like the newborn child, it was innocent; it rose to newness of life. It was its second birth from the womb of mighty waters—a new world issuing from the ruins of the old, clothed with all the innocence of this first creation.” (In Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:20.)

“The earth, in its present condition and situation, is not a fit habitation for the sanctified; but it abides the law of its creation, has been baptized with water, will be baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost, and by-and-by will be prepared for the faithful to dwell upon” (Brigham Young, in Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:20).

Your Path Today

This chronology of the patriarchs teaches several things. For example, Shem 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. 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, ponder these questions:

1. 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?
2. Zion provided the escape for those who were righteous before the Flood. How will the Saints of the latter days be saved from the coming judgments?
3. What are the conditions for bringing the promise of delivery upon ourselves?

HOLY AMAZING THOUGHTS!!!!

“I prophesy to you, in the name of the Lord, that when the Latter-day Saints have prepared themselves through righteousness to redeem Zion, they will accomplish that work, and God will go with them. No power will then be able to prevent them from accomplishing that work; for the Lord has said it shall be done, and it will be done in the due time of the Lord, when the people are prepared for it. But when shall I be prepared to go there? Not while I have in my heart the love of this world more than the love of God. Not while I am possessed of that selfishness and greed that would induce me to cling to the world or my possessions in it, at the sacrifice of principle or truth. But when I am ready to say, ‘Father, all that I have, myself included, is Thine; my time, my substance, everything that I possess is on the altar, to be used freely, agreeable to Thy holy will, and not my will, but Thine, be done,’ then perhaps I will be prepared to go and help to redeem Zion.” (Joseph F. Smith, in Millennial Star, 18 June 1894, pp. 385–86.)

“When we conclude to make a Zion we will make it, and this work commences in the heart of each person. When the father of a family wishes to make a Zion in his own house, he must take the lead in this good work, which it is impossible for him to do unless he himself possesses the spirit of Zion. Before he can produce the work of sanctification in his family, he must sanctify himself, and by this means God can help him to sanctify his family. . . . My spiritual enjoyment must be obtained by my own life, but it would add much to the comfort of the community, and to my happiness, as one with them, if every man and woman would live their religion, and enjoy the light and glory of the Gospel for themselves, be passive, humble and faithful; rejoice continually before the Lord, attend to the business they are called to do, and be sure never to do anything wrong.

“All would then be peace, joy, and tranquility, in our streets and in our houses. Litigation would cease, there would be no difficulties before the High Council and Bishops’ Courts, and courts, turmoil, and strife would not be known. “Then we would have Zion, for all would be pure in heart.” (Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, pp. 118–19.)

“The only limitation on you and me is within ourselves.”
(Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1966, pp. 100–101.)