Scripture Mastery: Old Testament

In the seminary classes that our church youth attend, they are encouraged to learn a set of "scripture mastery" scriptures.  There are 25 from each of our 4 books of scripture:  The Old Testament, The New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and The Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.  (Okay, technically that is 5, but we sort of lump the Pearl of Great Price in with the Doctrine and Covenants, and part of it in with the Old Testment :)

These scripture mastery verses are specifically chosen to help youth learn basic gospel doctrine.  Learning them also helps prepare young men and women for future missionary service.  Some of the new scriptures help correlate with lessons the youth will be having. 

Some students even memorize these scriptures, but at very least become familiar with the wording, and where they can be found.  Seminary students often have a "scripture chase" where  they are given a clue, and race to see who can find the corresponding scripture first.  Scripture mastery study helps students to really become familiar with some key gospel doctrine. 

Our church recently revised the scripture mastery list.  They omitted some scriptures that used to be on the list.  They added some scriptures that weren't on the previous list.  Some of the scripture references were changed to add an additional verse in order to make more clear the doctrine being taught in that verse.  I'm very excited about these changes, and have already been studying to see which verses have been added.  I am so excited in fact, that I wanted to share them with you!  I will begin with the Old Testament, and perhaps add an explanation or two about why I like this addition, or why I think it is useful for students and future missionaries. I'm listing all of the scriptures in the list, but I will note which ones are new.

OLD TESTAMENT
 (These first few are from the Pearl of Great Price.  I will try to write a separate post about why this is included in our Old Testament list.)
Moses 1:39
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Moses 7:18
And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

Abraham 3:22-23
22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

 

Genesis 1:26-27

26 ¶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

NEW

Genesis 2:24

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

 

I think this one was added to help support the teachings found in the "Proclamation on the Family".

 

Genesis 39:9

 

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
NEW
Exodua 19:5-6
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

 

Exodus 20:3-17

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 ¶Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 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. 

 

Joshua 24:15

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

1 Samuel 16:7

 7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

 

Psalms 24:3-4

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

 

NEW

Psalms 119:105

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

NEW

Psalms 127:3

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

(This one also helps support the teachings found in "The Proclamation on the Family")

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 ¶Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

 

Isaiah 1:18

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 

NEW

Isaiah 5:20

20 ¶Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

(Isn't this so applicable for today's world?)

 

Isaiah 29:13-14

13 ¶Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

 

Isaiah 53:3-5

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 ¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 

NEW

Isaiah 58:6-7

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

(I should mention here that one of our practices is to fast for two meals once a month and contribute the money saved to help the poor.  This scripture supports that practice.)

 

NEW

Jeremiah 1:4-5

4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

(This scripture supports our belief that we existed as spirits before this life, and lived with our Father in heaven.  We used a different scripture before to support this teaching.)

Ezekiel 37:15-17

15 ¶The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,

16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:

17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

(We believe this scripture is talking about 1. The Bible, which is "for Judah", and 2. The Book of Mormon which is the "stick" written for "Ephraim", or the people of the American continent who were descendants of Joseph.  Combined together, these two books become one in our hand in testifying that Jesus is the Christ.)

 

Amos 3:7

7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

(This scripture supports our belief in living Prophets.)

 

Malachi 3:8-10

8 ¶Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

 

(This scripture supports our belief in paying tithes and offerings.)

 

Malachi 4:5-6

5 ¶Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

(This scripture supports our belief in doing geneology and temple work for our ancestors.  More information about this scripture is found in the Doctrine and Covenants.)

 

I know that there are many other Old Testament scriptures that are important.  They are taught during seminary lessons.  But these 25 are core scriptures that are emphasized.  I will write another post another day to share the New Testament scriptures.

 

 

Religious Freedom

Our church has recently developed some online tools and media to promote religious freedom.  It is clear to many of us that our religious freedoms are being threatened in recent years.  It is important that we protect the religious freedoms of all, not just those of Christians.  Check out this link to view the LDS Newsroom page about religious freedom.  I also want to encourage you to "like" the "Support Religious Freedom" Facebook group. 
Here is another link to an article about this movement.  And here is a link to a video of a speech given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks about religious freedom.   I think this is a very important and relevant discussion for us in our country at this time.

Mormon Messages: Daily Bread: Experience

To me, this video speaks to the very core of our religious beliefs; our personal relationship with God.

In His Own Time, In His Own Way

I have thought a lot about this article since I read it recently.  It contains a very good description of what it is like to receive revelation/ inspiration.  I think this is crucial for each of us to learn.

His Own Time, in His Own Way

By Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From an address delivered to new mission presidents on June 27, 2001.

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Revelation is a reality. It comes in the Lord’s way and according to the Lord’s timetable.

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I would like to examine some principles that apply to all communications from the Spirit—communications to the person who teaches, to the person who seeks to learn, and to every member of the Church.

First, we should recognize that the Lord will speak to us through the Spirit in His own time and in His own way. Many people do not understand this principle. They believe that when they are ready and when it suits their convenience, they can call upon the Lord and He will immediately respond, even in the precise way they have prescribed. Revelation does not come that way.

Qualifying for Revelation

Fundamental to any effort to receive revelation is a commitment to do all we can with our own efforts and judgment. This means we need to serve and to work.

Going forward with our service and work is an important way to qualify for revelation. In my study of the scriptures I have noted that most revelation to the children of God comes when they are on the move, not when they are sitting back in their habitations waiting for the Lord to tell them the first step to take.

For example, it is significant to note that the revelation known as “the Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel” (D&C 136:1) was not given in Nauvoo as the Quorum of the Twelve planned the exodus from Nauvoo in those sorrowful days following the Martyrdom of the Prophet in 1844; nor was it given on the west bank of the Mississippi River. It was given at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, after the Saints had spent a punishing year moving from Nauvoo westward across Iowa to temporary camps on the Missouri River. The revelation to guide the movement of the Saints across the plains was given on January 14, 1847, when the Saints had already gone about a third of the way to the valleys of the mountains.

We will get promptings of the Spirit when we have done everything we can, when we are out in the sun working rather than sitting back in the shade praying for direction on the first step to take. Revelation comes when the children of God are on the move.

So we do all we can. Then we wait upon the Lord for His revelation. He has his own timetable.

Timing and Type

About 35 years ago, when I was president of Brigham Young University, we were making plans to persuade the president of the United States to speak at the university. We had particular times that would suit our convenience, and we had in mind some things we wanted him to say and do while he was there. But all of us were wise enough to know that we could not contact the highest authority in the United States and invite him to come to the BYU campus—even to speak to 26,000 people—and put conditions on his appearance.

We knew that in inviting the president, we had to say in effect, “We will welcome you whenever you can come and for whatever time you choose to be here and for whatever you choose to say and do while you are here. We will accommodate our schedules and our arrangements entirely to your visit.”

Now, if that’s the way a community of 26,000 people must approach the highest authority of a nation, it should not be surprising that one person—however important—is in no position to put conditions upon or to impose personal timing upon a visit or communication from the Highest Authority in the universe.

Indeed, this is the principle the Lord revealed to His children in the great revelation printed in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord said, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (verse 63).

Next, the Lord declared that if our eye is single to His glory, our whole body will be filled with light and we will be able to comprehend all things. Then, His instruction continued with this great promise: “Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will” (verse 68; emphasis added).

The principle stated in that revelation applies to every communication from our Heavenly Father. We cannot force spiritual things.

In most cases, “his own way” is not the thunderous interruption or the blinding light but what the scriptures call the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12; 1 Nephi 17:45; D&C 85:6). Some have misunderstood this principle. As a result, some have looked exclusively for the great manifestations recorded in the scriptures and have failed to recognize the “still small voice” that is given to them. This is like making up our minds that we will learn only from a teacher who shouts and that we will refuse to listen to even the wisest teaching that comes in a whisper.

We need to know that the Lord rarely speaks loudly. His messages almost always come in a whisper.

Revelation as Enlightenment and Peace

One of the greatest explanations of how the Spirit teaches us is in the revelation given to Oliver Cowdery at Harmony, Pennsylvania, in April 1829. In this revelation the Lord told Oliver:

“Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

“Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation” (D&C 8:2–3; emphasis added).

Similarly, the Prophet Joseph Smith referred to the spirit of revelation as “pure intelligence,” which “may give you sudden strokes of ideas.”¹ In another revelation, Oliver was reminded that he had inquired of the Lord and that “as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit” (D&C 6:14). How did that instruction come? “Behold,” the Lord said, “thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind” (verse 15; emphasis added). That same teaching was repeated in a revelation given to Hyrum Smith in which the Lord said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy” (D&C 11:13; emphasis added). These are great descriptions of the way the Lord communicates with us by His Spirit.

In further instruction to Oliver Cowdery, the Lord reminded him of the time he had prayed that he might know “the truth of these things” (D&C 6:22). And the Lord described how He had answered that prayer and given Oliver a revelation: “Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?” (verse 23; emphasis added).

From these revelations we learn that God teaches us by the power of His Spirit, which enlightens our minds and speaks peace to us concerning the questions we have asked.

Revelation Is a Feeling

We also learn from these revelations that being taught by the Spirit is not a passive thing. Often the Lord’s communication does not come until we have studied matters out in our own minds. Then we receive a confirmation.

The process was explained to Oliver Cowdery in another revelation received at Harmony, Pennsylvania, in April 1829. The Lord described why Oliver had not been able to translate the Book of Mormon:

“Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right” (D&C 9:7–8; emphasis added).

This may be one of the most important and most misunderstood teachings in all the Doctrine and Covenants. The teachings of the Spirit often come as feelings. That fact is of the utmost importance, yet some misunderstand what it means. I know of persons who think they have never had a witness from the Holy Ghost because they have never felt their bosom “burn within” them. The burning of the bosom, I suggest, is not a feeling of caloric heat like combustion but a feeling of peace and warmth and serenity and goodness.

Revelation Is Not Constant

Revelation is not constant. The Lord’s way puts limits on how often He will speak to us by His Spirit. Not understanding this, some have been misled by expecting revelations too frequently.

Commenting on the workings of the Spirit, President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has said, “I have learned that strong, impressive spiritual experiences do not come to us very frequently.”²

To illustrate that point, consider what we are taught about our first parents after they were cast out of the Garden of Eden and shut out from the presence of the Lord. The Lord gave Adam a commandment that he should sacrifice the firstlings of his flocks as an offering unto the Lord. He obeyed. Did the Lord communicate with him immediately? The scripture says: “And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam” (Moses 5:6; emphasis added).

William E. Berrett, one of our finest gospel teachers, who served as an administrator at BYU and for the Church Educational System, said this about the matter of constant or continuous revelation: “Those who pray that the Spirit might give them immediate guidance in every little thing throw themselves open to false spirits that seem ever ready to answer our pleas and confuse us. … The people I have found most confused in this Church are those who seek personal revelations on everything. They want the personal assurance from the Spirit from daylight to dark on everything they do. I say they are the most confused people I know because it appears sometimes that the answer comes from the wrong source.”³

The Prophet Joseph Smith said something similar. When the Saints “supplicate at the throne of grace,” he counseled, they shouldn’t do so over trivial matters but rather should “pray earnestly for the best gifts.”⁴ That is an important principle. We pray continuously for guidance, but we shouldn’t expect continuous revelation. We expect continuing revelation, which is the continuing assurance of revelation whenever we seek guidance and our circumstances are such that a wise and loving Lord chooses to give it to us.

Revelation and Testimony

Visions do happen. Voices are heard from beyond the veil. I know this. But these experiences are exceptional. And when we have a great and exceptional experience, we rarely speak of it publicly because we are instructed not to do so (see D&C 63:64) and because we understand that the channels of revelation will be closed if we show these things before the world.

Most of the revelation that comes to leaders and members of the Church comes by the “still small voice” or by a feeling rather than by a vision or a voice that speaks specific words to our hearing. I testify to the reality of that kind of revelation, which I have come to know as a familiar, even a daily, experience to guide us in the work of the Lord.

Not understanding these principles of revelation, some people postpone acknowledging their testimony or their spiritual progress until they have experienced a miraculous event. They fail to realize that with most people—especially those raised in the Church—the precious revelation that gives us a testimony is not an event but a process. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) observed: “Being born again is a gradual thing, except in a few isolated instances that are so miraculous they get written up in the scriptures. As far as the generality of the members of the Church are concerned, we are born again by degrees, and we are born again to added light and added knowledge and added desires for righteousness as we keep the commandments.”⁵

We should understand that the Lord will speak to us in His own time and in His own way. This is usually by what the scriptures call the “still small voice” of enlightenment. We are often obliged to act upon our best judgment, subject to the Spirit’s restraining impressions if we have strayed beyond permissible limits.

Revelation is a reality. It comes in the Lord’s way and according to the Lord’s timetable.

I testify that these things are true. We have the gift of the Holy Ghost, the right to the constant companionship of the Spirit of the Lord to testify of the Father and of the Son, to lead us into truth, to teach us all things, and to bring all things to our remembrance (see John 14:26; 16:13).

Show References

Notes

1. 1.Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 132.
2. 2.Boyd K. Packer, That All May Be Edified (1982), 337.
3. 3.William E. Berrett, in Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, The Holy Ghost (1989), 29–30.
4. 4.Teachings: Joseph Smith, 131.
5. 5.Bruce R. McConkie, “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified,” in Brigham Young University 1976 Speeches (1977), 5.

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Mormon Missionaries---Women Called to Serve

This is a short video that shows what it's like to be a missionary.  This one focuses on the women that are serving.  Having been one myself, I can testify that it is a wonderful opportunity to serve and grow closer to the Lord.

Mormon Temples: A Conversation with a Church Leader

This is a great video that gives a peek in to our temples, and explains the purpose of the temple in our religion. 

Preaching Illegally; The Ends Justify the Means?

Here in China there are many religions that preach illegally.  Only a few churches are state approved, and those include the Catholic church, and another Christian church.  But running underground are a lot of "home" churches that meet and preach without the government's permission.  Most feel that the end justifies the means, and that if they are working for the greater good, then it doesn't matter if they are doing it illegally.  I question that way of thinking.

To understand this issue, you must understand China history.  In years past, Christians came in force to preach the gospel, but the foreigners also brought with them opium which destroyed many Chinese lives, as well as war.  China's distrust of religion runs very deep.  In addition, the communists tried to wipe out all unnecessary traditions and superstitions during the cultural revolution. You could say that they wanted their politics to be the religion of the country.  So now they have changed politically, and have allowed some religion, but are very cautious about which religions are allowed.

One of the things that makes the Chinese government nervous is the fact that when people band together in unity behind a cause, they can be easily led to rise up against the government.  Recently there have been some dangerous moments with groups such as Fa Lun Gong.  So the government is cautious about any group that might be rallying forces to rise up in protest of any nature.  Any religious group is watched carefully to make sure this doesn't happen.  Currently, preaching by missionaries is illegal here in China.  Those who do preach are doing so illegally.

Our church has a special agreement with the government of China.  We have built up a relationship of trust with them to the point that we have agreed not to proselyte, or even congregate with Chinese nationals.  In exchange, the government allows us foreigners to meet together freely, and also allows the Chinese national members to meet with each other freely.  We aren't even allowed to know the names of those living in our city who are Chinese national members of the church.  We keep our worship one hundred percent separate.  Some of other faiths might feel that this isn't the way to do things.  But as I have lived with this restriction, I have come to see that this is truly the only way to build a relationship of trust with the Chinese government, and with the Chinese citizens as well.

The Chinese citizens know the law.  They know it is illegal to preach.  What do you think goes through their mind when someone comes to their neighborhood illegally preaching?  I can tell you, from talking with a Chinese friend of mine, that their first thought is distrust.  They don't want to get in trouble because of involvement with these groups.  How can we be expected to represent God if we do so illegally?  How can we justify dishonest means in the name of God?  How can we expect them to trust us if we are doing something distrustworthy?  Really, it pays to follow the law, no matter our own personal convictions about it. 

But I must admit that I am frustrated because of those who still continue to preach illegally.  It hurts not only their cause, but my cause as well.  It makes the government distrust religion in general even more.  It makes the people also distrust religion.  If, and when our church is allowed to preach here, we will have to fight those preconceived notions of distrust.  And it also puts the lives of Chinese members in jeopardy.  Is it fair to ask them to worship illegally?  Is it fair to put them in danger of arrest?  Some might say that the ends justify the means, and that even if they die for the cause, they will die in God.  But my belief is that God does things in wisdom and in order.  He also does things honestly.  We need to keep that in mind if we are going to represent Him.  We also need to trust that God does things according to His own timetable.  He loves the Chinese people, and will give them the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, but He will do it when it is His timing, not our's.