While the Israelites lived in the wilderness, God instructed Aaron and his sons to offer the following blessing on the people: The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.Numbers 6:24-26 I've been focused... Continue Reading →
Exodus 35-40; Leviticus 1, 16, 19: “Holiness to the Lord” (May 2-8)
"Moses Calls Aaron to the Ministry," (detail) by Harry Anderson The Tabernacle On Mount Sinai, God gave Moses detailed instructions about how to build an elaborate portable house of worship for the Israelites to use during their journey to the promised land. The Hebrew word shakan (שָׁכַן) means to settle or to dwell, so the... Continue Reading →
Thou Shalt Not Covet
The first nine commandments are all about our behavior, but the tenth commandment is about our desires. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.Exodus 20:17, Mosiah 13:24 The word "covet" can mean simply to... Continue Reading →
Lessons from Genesis
During the first three months of 2022, following he Come, Follow Me curriculum, I studied the book of Genesis, together with the books of Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. I also incorporated the Book of Mormon into my study. Here are some of the lessons I learned, organized by topic: 1.... Continue Reading →
Exodus 14-17: “Stand Still, and See the Salvation of the Lord” (April 4-10)
"Passage of the Jews through the Red Sea" (detail) by Ivan Aivazovsky Crossing the Red Sea One of the most dramatic miracles recorded in the scriptures is the passages of thousands of Israelites through the Red Sea on dry ground. The author of Exodus records that "the waters were a wall unto them on their... Continue Reading →
“Be Not Grieved, Nor Angry with Yourselves”
Joseph's brothers had plenty of reasons to be unhappy with themselves. They had treated Joseph badly—threatening him with death and selling him into slavery—and had never fully reckoned with the consequences of their actions. The guilt they carried with them colored their reaction to the adversity they were now experiencing in a time of famine.... Continue Reading →
“His Father Observed the Saying”
Joseph shared with his family two dreams that seemed rather self-serving. Both dreams ended with the family bowing down to him. His brothers reacted badly. They were already annoyed with the preferential treatment his father had shown toward him. Now, "they hated him yet the more" (Genesis 37:5). His father, Jacob, was also displeased, and... Continue Reading →
Heavenly Help
When Abraham sent his most senior servant on a difficult mission—to find a wife for his son Isaac—the servant had some concerns. But Abraham reassured him that he would not be alone: The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto... Continue Reading →
They Hearkened Not
Before Noah boarded the ark, he warned his neighbors: Believe and repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, that ye may have all things made manifest; and if ye do not this, the floods will come in upon... Continue Reading →
A Tower to Get to Heaven
Sometime after the Great Flood, the descendants of Noah were gathered in a place called Shinar, which later became known as Babylonia. They collectively resolved to build "a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven." They viewed this project as a way to avoid being "scattered abroad upon the face of the... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 