Gospel Doctrine OT c24: Fall of King David

Gospel Doctrine OT c 24 The Fall of King David

2 Samuel 11-12, Psalms 51

Read 2 Sam 11:1 : "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem" (11:1).

No explanation is given as to why David did not personally lead his armies. But it is clear that the way this verse is written, the reader is to take David's inactivity in a negative way. The reason becomes obvious after reading the chapter: David's fall is tied directly to his careless manner in performing his kingly duties. Had he been on the battlefront, he would not have been home where the seduction of ease and complacency beguiled him.

?Why do you think David didn’t go to battle? What were his reasons? What did he tell himself?

With the battle front a great distance away, David must have felt at ease in the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem, where he had everything he needed. It is human nature, however, that when we feel that "all is well in Zion," we becomes careless and lax in the things of righteousness.

Read 2 N 28:21: "And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell"

Of this, Harold B. Lee, taught: "It is frightening to observe that in places where there is the greater prosperity, there is the unmistakable evidence that, like the peoples of other dispensations, when the people prosper they forget God" (Stand Ye in Holy Places: Selected Sermons and Writings of President Harold B. Lee [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975], p. 82.).

?Do you see this happening? How do you combat it?

Sensing little danger, it is easy to remove the armor of God for a brief season. Our relationship with God becomes more casual and less intense. Yet sadly, when the armor of God is removed, we open ourselves to the "fiery darts of the adversary." Thus, it was with David. Paul warned that to protect ourselves against these forces, we should take upon ourselves "the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Eph. 6:12-13). (Bruce Satterfield, Meridian online magazine, June 3, 2014)

Let’s talk about how to put on the whole armour of God so that we can withstand evil, especially in the context of King David and immorality.

We must continually be on the look out for the ways God has provided to escape the temptation. Regarding this, Neal A. Maxwell has given this counsel: "As to our circumstances, the Lord has promised He will either make a way to escape or a way to bear adversity (1 Corinthians 10:13). As to temptation, most of the time there is an obvious way to escape, but prevention--not being enticed in the first place--is more sure and is part of having sufficient faith" (Not My Will, But Thine [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988 ], p.75).

“What To Do” chart

Thoughts               Fill your mid with uplifting thoughts

Media                              Choose media that inspires. If it doesn’t inspire, it might not be worth ( tv,                                        your time.

People                    Don’t flirt w/ others after marriage, love your spouse with all your heart, continue to “court” (develop your relationship with) your spouse.

Place                      Ensure that the places you go and the activities you participate in will enable you to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Pornography, though billed by Satan as entertainment, is a deeply poisonous, deceptive snake that lies coiled up in magazines, the Internet, and the television. Pornography destroys self-esteem and weakens self-discipline. It is far more deadly to the spirit than the rattlesnake my father warned me not to pet. The Bible records that King David was gifted spiritually, but he stood where he should not have stood. He watched what he should not have watched. Those obsessions became his downfall. (David E. Sorensen (presidency of 70), April 2001Gen. Conf., “You Can’t Pet a Rattlesnake”)

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The rest of the story: Bathsheba was with child. David tried to hide his sins. He brought Uriah home from the war and encouraged him to lie with his wife. He would not. He knew where he should be and what he should be doing. He should be with his men at war. Here we see the contrast between David and Uriah. David tries a second time, gets Uriah drunk and encourages him to lie with his wife. Again, Uriah wouldn’t return home. So David sends Uriah to the front lines of the battle, orders the others to stand back and Uriah is killed.

?How and Why do people try to cover up sins today? What happens when we try to cover our sins? Use example of trying to cover a mound of dirt. Covering sins doesn’t work.

Elder Richard G. Scott said: “Do not take comfort in the fact that your transgressions are not known by others. That is like an ostrich with his head buried in the sand. He sees only darkness and feels comfortably hidden. In reality he is ridiculously conspicuous. Likewise our every act is seen by our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son. They know everything about us. …

“If you have seriously transgressed, you will not find any lasting satisfaction or comfort in what you have done. Excusing transgression with a cover-up may appear to fix the problem, but it does not. The tempter is intent on making public your most embarrassing acts at the most harmful time. Lies weave a pattern that is ever more confining and becomes a trap that Satan will spring to your detriment” (Gen Conf, Apr. 1995)

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“If you or someone you know has been poisoned spiritually, there is a spiritual snakebite kit. It’s called repentance. ¹² And like the remedy for temporal snakebite, it is most effective if applied quickly and early. It can combat even the most venomous spiritual poisons.” (David E. Sorensen (presidency of 70), April 2001Gen. Conf., “You Can’t Pet a Rattlesnake”)

We read about a repentant King David in Psalms 51.

Read Psalms 51:1-3, Similar to Alma the younger’s experience (Alma 36:17-19).

Read Psalms 51:8-17 – ?What imagery is used to depict repentance?

?How does that help you better understand repentance?

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It all comes down to this. Where are we standing? What are we doing? Where are we looking?

“Oh, how we must look to Christ and live.

The direction of our look is critical. From the rooftop King David “saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” (2 Sam. 11:2). He looked across the way, and his heart was filled with lust. He looked; he fell.

Judas Iscariot fixed his eye upon thirty pieces of silver. Greed overcame his righteous desires. His misplaced look cost his life, his soul, and the thirty coins. (See Matt. 27:3–10.)

Our looks must not be allowed to wander across the way or to become fixed upon the perishable things of the world. The eye, “the light of the body” (Matt. 6:22), must be trained to look upward. We must look to God and live!” (Carlos E. Asay, Oct. 1978 Gen. Conf., “Look To God and Live”)

Gospel Doctrine OT C23: David, Jonathan and Saul

What is the 10^th commandment? Thou shalt not covet.

What are other words for covet? Jealousy, envy, coveting.

SET THE STAGE-

Saul-1 Sam 9:2 – there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he [Saul].

David- 1 Sam 18:5 - Just killed Goliath and is now set over Saul’s armies

Jonathan- 1 Sam 18:3-4 - Saul’s son, also a valiant soldier and putting faith in God (like David)

1 Samuel 18:6-9

???What did Saul let ruin his friendship and love for David? Jealousy, envy, coveting. Also the spirit of the lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit troubled him. (1 Sam 16:14).

BEHAVE

It is interesting to see the behavior of Saul and David at this crossroads.

David’s behavior: 1 Sam 18:14-16

Brigham Young said something about behaving ourselves wisely when others speak and think evil of us. He was giving instructions to departing missionaries in 1861. He said:

“You will have all manner of evil spoken against you, and all I ask of you and all that God or angels will ask of you is that not one word spoken against you shall be true; and I want you for my sake and for your own sake and for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom of God to live so that the wicked shall have no cause to speak evil against you” (cited in Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors, pp. 412-13).

King Saul’s behavior:  1 Sam 18:11 (javelin). Also as a trap to get David killed, Saul offered his daughter Michal in marriage. In exchange for dowry, David needed to kill one hundred Phillistine’s. He killed two hundred and married Michal. Saul continues to seek David’s life. Threatens with the javelin again. Michal saves him by letting him out the window to escape and putting a dummy in his bed. (ADD MICHAL’S NAME BY JONATHAN) David flees to Samuel, the prophet. David continues to run. Saul kills priests who help David and eventually threatens to destroy a city. He is completely consumed by envy, jealousy and pride.

And so begins the tragic story of King Saul.

???Where do we see a lot of envy and jealousy? I’ll also add pride to the list. Why is it so destructive?

PRIDE

Saul’s tragic flaw was pride, often manifested as a fear of criticism and a love of popular approval.

“As the newly anointed king of Israel, he was actually a substitute. Jehovah was the true king of Israel. … He was to be the civil representative of the true king, Jehovah.” (Richard Elliot, “The Tragic Dimensions of Saul”, Ensign, June 1990).

David was to take Saul’s place as King of Israel, as prophesied by Samuel. This is seen as Saul turns away from the Lord, he also turns away from David, creating enmity with both. David takes the figurative place of Jehovah as Saul rejects them both.

Moroni 8:27 – ‘Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction.’

C.S. Lewis – “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952)

Benson- Saul became an enemy to David through pride. He was jealous because the crowds of Israelite women were singing that ‘Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.’

“The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. ‘What will men think of me? weighs heavier than ‘What will God think of me?’

“Fear of men’s judgment manifests itself in competition for men’s approval. The proud love ‘the praise of men more than the praise of God.’ Our motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest. Jesus said He did ‘always those things’ that pleased God. Would we not do well to have the pleasing of God as our motive rather than to try to elevate ourselves above our brother and out do another?

“Some prideful people are not as concerned as to whether their wages meet their needs are they are that their wages are more than someone else’s. Their reward is being a cut above the rest. This is the enmity of pride.

“When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment. The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. The reasoning of men overrides the revelations of God, and the proud let go of the iron rod.”

“Disobedience is essentially a prideful power struggle against someone in authority over us.” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” April 1989 Gen Conf).

Holland- “Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

“Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! To say nothing of the chagrin in the end, when we find that God really is both just and merciful, giving to all who stand with Him “all that he hath,” as the scripture says. So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your stand, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Laborers in the Vineyard,” April 2012 Gen Conf).

Holland- Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this—it is the father of all lies. It is Lucifer, our common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, “Give me thine honor.”

“It has been said that envy is the one sin to which no one readily confesses, but just how widespread that tendency can be is suggested in the old Danish proverb, ‘If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill.’

“As others seem to grow larger in our sight, we think we must therefore be smaller. So, unfortunately, we occasionally act that way.”

“One observer has written: ‘In a world that constantly compares people, ranking them as more or less intelligent, more or less attractive, more or less successful, it is not easy to really believe in a [divine] love that does not do the same. When I hear someone praised,’ he says, ‘it is hard not to think of myself as less praiseworthy; when I read about the goodness and kindness of other people, it is hard not to wonder whether I myself am as good and kind as they; and when I see trophies, rewards, and prizes being handed out to special people, I cannot avoid asking myself why that didn’t happen to me.’ If left unresisted, we can see how this inclination so embellished by the world will ultimately bring a resentful, demeaning view of God and a terribly destructive view of ourselves. Most “thou shalt not” commandments are meant to keep us from hurting others, but I am convinced the commandment not to covet is meant to keep us form hurting ourselves.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Other Prodigal,” April 2002 Gen Conf).

???How do we overcome envy?

Holland- How to overcome envy? Start making your way back to the Father. Count your many blessings. Applaud the accomplishments of others. Serve others. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Other Prodigal,” April 2002 Gen Conf).

FRIENDS

Throughout all of this, Jonathan is a true friend to David. 1Sam 18:4 indicates that Jonathan may have even known that David was anointed to be king. He tried multiple times to convince his father, Saul, to not kill David. (1Sam 20:2-4, 13-17, 23) (1Sam 23:16-18)

???What made their friendship so strong?

???What is the value of good friendships?

Eyring- “The promise we made in the waters of baptism “to bear one another’s burdens’. It is to be a friend. … All of us will be tested. And all of us need true friends to love us, to listen to us, to show us the way, and to testify of truth to us so that we may retain the companionship of the Holy Ghost. You must be such a true friend.”

--John 15:12-15- “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servant; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

Hales- “There’s a marvelous lesson to be taught by those who live in the islands. When they catch crabs, they place them in a small, flat basket. If you place one crab in the basket, it crawls right out. If you place two crabs in the basket, every time one crab starts to crawl out, it is pulled back in by the other crab. Does that tell you something about your friends? What is the definition of a friend? Friends are people who make it easier to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. If they deviate from the path and lead you away, it does not matter what kind of cars they drive, who their parents are, how effective they are on the football field or the basketball floor or the baseball diamond. You have to ask yourself, ‘Do they make living the gospel easier? Do they help me out of the basket? Will they go with me?’” ( Robert D. Hales, “This is the Way; and There is None Other Way,” BYU speech, Jan 10, 1982

Hales-“We need to measure very carefully who our true friends are. The measure of a true friend is one who will not have us choose between his way and the Lord’s way. A true friend makes it easier for us to live the commandments of the Lord. A true friend will not let us do anything we want. True friends will correct us when we do something wrong and bring us back on the straight and narrow path that leads to exaltation.” (Robert D. Hales, “Return with Honor,” Ensign, June 1999)

BEST FRIENDS

Scott- “I wish to share with you some of my most treasured friends,” Richard G. Scott, Oct 1988 Gen Conf). He then says two of those treasured friends are the prophet (at the time, Pres. Benson) and the Book of Mormon. “I offer you the Book of Mormon, a precious friend provided by a loving Savior. Within its pages is truth that brings comfort, guidance, peace, and yes, the companionship of the other true friends. Between its covers you will find the friendship and worthy example of Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Benjamin, Alma, Ammon, Helaman, Mormon, Moroni, and so many others. They will rekindle courage and mark the path to faith and obedience. They will ehlp you overcome the bitterness and anguish of transgression. More important, all of them, without exception, will lift your vision to the perfect friend—our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Christ. … I cannot comprehend his power, his majesty, his perfections. But I do understand something of his love, his compassion, his mercy.

“There is no burden he cannot lift.

“There is no heart he cannot purify and fill with joy.

“There is no life he cannot cleanse and restore when one is obedient to his teachings.

“Let my other friends guide you to him, but find him yourself through humble, sincere prayer, obedience, and faith.”

“[God] is your Father; pray to him. If your life is in disarray and you feel uncomfortable and unworthy to pray because you are not clean, don’t worry. He already knows about all of that. He is waiting for you to kneel in humility and take the first few steps. Pray for strength. pray for others to be led to support you and guide you and lift you. Pray that the love of the Savior will pour into your heart. Pray that the miracle of the Atonement will bring forgiveness because you are willing to change. I know that those prayers will be answered, for God loves you. His Son gave his life for you. I know they will help you.” (Richard G. Scott, “True Friends That Lift,” Oct. 1988, Gen Conf)

BE ONE—eternal friendships

Proctor- “In the same way that our bonds with our cousins might be built upon the stronger relationship of our parents as siblings, so a friendship nurtured in this world is stronger if founded upon the eternal relationship we have with our Father and his Son.

“The implications of this potential friendship are enormous. It demands that we rise above the limits of common friendship and grasp the higher values that the gospel has been teaching us. A friendship in this world usually develops because we share similar backgrounds, interest, goals, abilities, or traits. yet these can be tenuous, or in a word, temporary, temporal, not eternal.
“If instead, we start with the background of having the same eternal parents and the objective of eternal life, the bond is definitely more powerful. If we can move beyond the petty boundaries that eventually seem to plateau friendship in this world and replace envy, jealousy, and strife with faith and charity, we have a chance at forming here on this imperfect earth an eternal relationship.” (Maurine Proctor, Meridian Magazine, June 4, 2018_)

Maxwell- “Can one expect human relationships to be deep and lasting sources of purpose and meaning without having truth at their center? Can there be friendships such as the friendship of Jonathan and David outside the context of absolute values?”

Holland-  Paul “reminds us we are all the body of Christ, and that all members, whether comely or feeble, are adored, essential, and important. We feel the depth of his plea that there be “no schism in the body, but that the members … have the same care one for another. And [when] one member suffer[s], all the members suffer with it; or [when] one member [is] honoured, all the members rejoice. That incomparable counsel helps us remember that the word generosity has the same derivation as the word genealogy, both coming from the latin genus, meaning of the same birth or kind, the same family or gender. WE will find it easier to be generous when we remember that this person being favored is truly one of our own. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Other Prodigal,” April 2002 Gen Conf).

Gospel Doctrine OT c22: Look On the Heart

Gospel Doctrine OT c22 Look on the Heart

1 Samuel 9-16

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Israel wants a King. Samuel tells them it is not God’s way but they want one anyway. God gives them a king: Saul.

Who was Saul?

1 Sam 9:2- a choice, young man, goodliest of all and head and shoulders above all others.

9:21- not of high standing or prestige

Seeking his father’s lost livestock, he goes to Samuel the prophet for counsel (9:6).

The Lord told Samuel the day before that Saul would come. The day Saul arrived, Samuel was expecting him (9:17).

Samuel anointed Saul (10:1). He was accepted as king (10:24). There were those who despised him, but Saul held his peace (10:27). Saul went away with a changed heart (10:9).

Focus of the lesson is the HEART.

??What is God’s concern with the heart?? What is it about the heart that is so important??

            Physical implications- it keeps us alive, constant, strongest muscle

            Spiritual implications- true desires, spirit speaks to it/through it, capacity to love

Marvin J. Ashton- “When the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure

around the person’s head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his manliness, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person’s capacity and potential to bless others.

“Why the heart? Because the heart is a synonym for one’s entire makeup. We often use phrases about the heart to describe the total person. Thus, we describe people as being “big-hearted” or “goodhearted” or having a “heart of gold.” Or we speak of people with faint hearts, wise hearts, pure hearts, willing hearts, deceitful hearts, conniving hearts, courageous hearts, cold hearts, hearts of stone, or selfish hearts. (Gen Conf Oct. 1988)

What was the condition of Saul’s heart?

Based off of what we know from the beginning, his heart was humble. Humble enough to ask guidance from the prophet. His heart was not bothered by those who despised him. He didn’t care about the worldly cares of men.

Was that good enough? Once a good heart, always a good heart?

Story:

Saul was a good, righteous and courageous king. He led his people well, protected them and defended them. Nahash the Ammonite came against Jabesh of Israel. Saul waged war and won victory. The people loved him as their king. (C11)

In Chapter 12, Samuel gives a discourse and warns the people about being ruled by a king again. God then shows his great power by sending thunder and rain during the harvest, causing the people to repent and acknowledge God. In response, Samuel says,

12:20-21  And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

12:24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

??What is Samuel’s warning and what is his counsel??

Serve with all your heart

2x Turn not aside (after vain things)

Vain things cannot profit nor deliver you

Those two things mean - Keep your heart right and your perspective right.

??What are we turning aside to? How does that affect our hearts?

SITUATION #1

Battle with the Philistines (C13).

The Philistines were as numerous as the sands of the sea. Israel was scared and began to scatter and hide. Samuel was going to bless and offer a sacrifice by the priesthood power but on the 7^th day, when he was supposed to come, he wasn’t there, so Samuel offered the sacrifice instead (13:8-10).

Read 1 Sam 13:10-12

Elder James E. Talmage wrote, “Saul prepared the burnt offering himself, forgetting that

though he occupied the throne, wore the crown, and bore the scepter, [he had] no right to officiate … in the Priesthood of God; and for this and other instances of his unrighteous presumption he was rejected of God and another was made king in his place” (The Articles of Faith, 12^th ed. [1924], 185).

?? What is unrighteous presumption? Have you experienced unrighteous presumption?

Read 1 Sam 13:13-14 A warning for us all. God would have established the kingdom on Saul and Israel forever but he lost it all. We have similar great blessings promised to us. We are required to make the same decisions Saul made. What decisions were/ are those?

            Will we turn aside from the Lord and His ways?

            Will we serve with our hearts?

            He was impatient, failed to trust God and disobeyed.

The Lord seeks men and women after his own heart. Just like Samuel counseled in 12:24 serve with all your heart and turn not aside after vain things.

Jonathan and his armour-bearer (14)

14:6 Jonathan and his friend will take on the Philistines on their own

14:7 armour-bearer believes in Jonathan’s heart

14:14-16 they were victorious, they feared not man and knew that god would be with them

SITUATION #2

Saul turns aside…

(good example of church discipline)

Going to battle against Amalek, Samuel tells Saul – read 15:2-3.

Read 15:9 Saul spared some things.

Read 15:10-11 Samuel is sad about what is coming…

Read 15:13  ?How can Saul be so confident in what he had done?

Read 15:14-15 rationalizing, presuming, pride, not trusting that God is in charge (I know that this is what God said, but it makes more sense if…. I just thought I could still…. But did the prophet think about this….?) I think often we fall into the trap of not remembering who God really is. He is the supreme creator. It is His power that created everything we see and experience. This is God’s church and He is in charge, not us. If we do not accept that, then we reject Him.

Read 15:15-21 Discussion takes place

Keypoint- 15:22-23 - And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and

sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

?What is the value of obedience?

Listen and obey is the best we can give! Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

?How is stubbornness like idolatry?

Read 15:24-29 And it wasn’t just Saul. He was the leader, the king. People followed him. And when he wasn’t obedient to the Lord, neither were his followers. His influence and example made his actions and his rejection that much more tragic.

We can be at risk of losing our eternal blessings.

15:30-31 Love and open arms are still available to those who repent.

1 Sam 16:1 – And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul? Tender hearted Samuel….

Samuel finds David

God directs Samuel to the house of Jesse to find the new king. Remember when Samuel found Saul, Saul was head and shoulders above everyone else. Maybe Samuel was still stuck on Saul a little.

Read 1 Sam 16:7 – 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.

After seeing 7 sons, Samuel asks Jesse if there are any more.

1 Sam 16:11-12  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all they children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and wthal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

Two final scriptures:

D&C137:9 – For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

D&C 64:34 – Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

The final question for us is found in Alma 5:26 – If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Gospel Doctrine OT c20: Virtuous Women

Gospel Doctrine OT c20 Virtuous Women

Ruth; 1 Samuel 1

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Visiting RS with mom, teacher had every one stand then said, “If your life has turned out how you planned and you haven’t had disappointment, stay standing. If your life is not how you had envisioned it, sit down. I sat. I wasn’t married, called off an engagement, didn’t have my degree yet, or a car. I looked around and saw two newly wed girls, probably 4 or 5 years younger than me, standing confidently, even proudly. I sank deeper into my chair and my disappointment. Just give them time, I thought. Life doesn’t always turn out how we planned.

This lesson is about some women who dealt with challenges that were not part of how they would have designed their lives if it were up to them.

“And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman” (Gen. 2:20–23).

And so Eve became God’s final creation, the grand summation of all of the marvelous work that had gone before.

Notwithstanding this preeminence given the creation of woman, she has so frequently through the ages been relegated to a secondary position. She has been put down. She has been denigrated. She has been enslaved. She has been abused. And yet some few of the greatest characters of scripture have been women of integrity, accomplishment, and faith.

Pres. Hinckley, “The Women In Our Lives” Gen Conf Oct 2004

Start with Naomi and Ruth.

Ruth married the son of Naomi and converted to the gospel of Israel.

?What impact or difference did her conversion make in her life?

?How does our personal conversion impact us?

Mosiah 5:7-8

Ruth 1:16

What did Ruth give up by going to Bethlehem with Naomi? What did Ruth gain by going with Naomi? What can we learn from Ruth about making sacrifices for the gospel? PUT GOD FIRST. BE TRUE TO COVENANTS.

What became of Ruth’s courage to be true to her conversion and faith? (She married Boaz and had a son which was the line of Jesus Christ. Ruth 4:17).

“Now that was a kind of a prophecy which is very important to us. In a culture hostile to the leadership of women, these women—Naomi and Ruth—lived to bring about an end the scripture’s writer carefully emphasizes: Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David, through whose lines, which are carefully detailed for us in the first chapter of Matthew, came Jesus who is called Christ….

 Ruth confidently met hardships not uncommon in our time—the death of a loved one, loneliness in a new place, and the need to work hard for her bread. Her small efforts, linked significantly to a later great event, tell me that each of us can take seriously the importance of our daily lives and decisions as we choose to follow God.” (Aileen Clyde, “Confidence Through Conversion” Gen Conf Oct 1992.)

Think about the influence of Ruth’s conversion and faith on generations to come…

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Next is Hannah, mother of Samuel.

Hannah’s testimony reaches across dispensations to our time, and her story is an invitation to apply the same principles of righteousness. Through doing so we, too, might rejoice in the Lord as we experience his innumerable blessings in our lives.

?What principles of righteousness do we learn from Hannah?

PUT GOD FIRST. BE TRUE TO COVENANTS.

We are not excused from honoring our covenants in even the most trying situations; however, we are promised that a way will always be provided for us to fulfill the Lord’s commandments (see 1 Ne. 3:7). The scriptures declare, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will … make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). In fact, the weaknesses we feel during affliction are designed to bring us to the Lord. By turning to him, we can receive power to endure each trial, and our weaknesses can thereby become strengths (see Ether 12:27).

Linda M. Campbell, “Hannah: Devoted Handmaid of the Lord”, March 1998 Ensign

Bible dictionary says, “after Eli’s death he became the great prophet and judge of Israel

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So there are two righteous women. They were not prophetesses. They were not leaders. They were good women just like us.

?What are you doing that is influencing your family and the world around you?

My plea to women and girls today is to protect and cultivate the moral force that is within you. Preserve that innate virtue and the unique gifts you bring with you into the world. Your intuition is to do good and to be good, and as you follow the Holy Spirit, your moral authority and influence will grow. To the young women I say, don’t lose that moral force even before you have it in full measure. Take particular care that your language is clean, not coarse; that your dress reflects modesty, not vanity; and that your conduct manifests purity, not promiscuity. You cannot lift others to virtue on the one hand if you are entertaining vice on the other.

Sisters, of all your associations, it is your relationship with God, your Heavenly Father, who is the source of your moral power, that you must always put first in your life. Remember that Jesus’s power came through His single-minded devotion to the will of the Father. He never varied from that which pleased His Father.¹¹ Strive to be that kind of disciple of the Father and the Son, and your influence will never fade.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “The Moral Force of Women” Gen Conf Oct 2013

PUT GOD FIRST. STAY TRUE TO COVENANTS.

SUPPORTING QUOTES AND TALKS:

in our premortal life we exercised our agency when we chose Christ as our leader. He does his part and each of us can do ours to make covenants and build a partnership with him. How that happens is described by King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon:

“And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.

“And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.” (Mosiah 5:7–8.)

…

When we are converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ we become both humble and courageous. Our conversion strengthens us greatly in our decision making. A good example of the kinds of real circumstances good people face in this life can be found in the Old Testament in the very short, five-page book of Ruth. Each time I read it I see something new. Lately I have been thinking of it as a story of conversion, of courage and decision making. It is about another time, another culture, yet it is about us too.

Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, and their two sons had gone into the enemy country of Moab because there was a great famine in Israel, their home. In due time their sons married Moabite wives, named Orpah and Ruth. Then in a ten-year period, the father and the two sons died. Naomi had heard that the famine had lifted in Judah, and she wanted to return to her people. She counsels her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers’ homes. Naomi called them her daughters and kissed them, and they wept with their love for her. (Now isn’t that quite remarkable? I fail to understand how this clear and well-known record hasn’t had more influence on all the unfunny mother-in-law jokes that abound in the world.) But eventually Orpah decides to stay in Moab, and again Naomi says to Ruth, “Behold, thy sister in law has gone back to her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.” (Ruth 1:15.)

At this point, in majestic Hebraic poetry, Ruth announces her decision and confirms her conversion. “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” (Ruth 1:16.)

When Naomi, herself realistic and wise, saw Ruth’s steadfastness, she “left off speaking to her” (see Ruth 1:18), which does not mean she stopped talking with her, but that she quit trying to convince her of the difficulties she would face in Israel. Ruth, the Moabitess, would face bigotry, poverty, and much insecurity, but she was converted, and she had decided. She and Naomi became a great team, facing together not only the problems before them, but the opportunities that would come also.

In time, Ruth married Boaz, and a child was born to them. “And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the Lord … for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born [a child].

“And Naomi took the child … and became nurse unto it.

“And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4:14–17.)

Now that was a kind of a prophecy which is very important to us. In a culture hostile to the leadership of women, these women—Naomi and Ruth—lived to bring about an end the scripture’s writer carefully emphasizes: Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David, through whose lines, which are carefully detailed for us in the first chapter of Matthew, came Jesus who is called Christ. Would you ever have expected the small book of Ruth to foretell such a great event?

Ruth confidently met hardships not uncommon in our time—the death of a loved one, loneliness in a new place, and the need to work hard for her bread. Her small efforts, linked significantly to a later great event, tell me that each of us can take seriously the importance of our daily lives and decisions as we choose to follow God

Aileen Clyde, Gen Conf Oct 1992, “Confidence Through Conversion”

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“And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman” (Gen. 2:20–23).

And so Eve became God’s final creation, the grand summation of all of the marvelous work that had gone before.

Notwithstanding this preeminence given the creation of woman, she has so frequently through the ages been relegated to a secondary position. She has been put down. She has been denigrated. She has been enslaved. She has been abused. And yet some few of the greatest characters of scripture have been women of integrity, accomplishment, and faith.

Pres. Hinckley, “The Women In Our Lives” Gen Conf Oct 2004

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Hannah’s testimony reaches across dispensations to our time, and her story is an invitation to apply the same principles of righteousness. Through doing so we, too, might rejoice in the Lord as we experience his innumerable blessings in our lives.

First, we must choose to abide by our covenants, whatever our circumstances, until the end of our mortal probation. Samuel the Lamanite explains this accountability by stating, “Ye are free … to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free … that ye might choose life or death” (Hel. 14:30–31).

We are not excused from honoring our covenants in even the most trying situations; however, we are promised that a way will always be provided for us to fulfill the Lord’s commandments (see 1 Ne. 3:7). The scriptures declare, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will … make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). In fact, the weaknesses we feel during affliction are designed to bring us to the Lord. By turning to him, we can receive power to endure each trial, and our weaknesses can thereby become strengths (see Ether 12:27).

Linda M. Campbell, “Hannah: Devoted Handmaid of the Lord”, March 1998 Ensign

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What I mean to say is that whether you are single or married, whether you have borne children or not, whether you are old, young, or in between, your moral authority is vital, and perhaps we have begun to take it and you for granted. Certainly there are trends and forces at work that would weaken and even eliminate your influence, to the great detriment of individuals, families, and society at large.

My plea to women and girls today is to protect and cultivate the moral force that is within you. Preserve that innate virtue and the unique gifts you bring with you into the world. Your intuition is to do good and to be good, and as you follow the Holy Spirit, your moral authority and influence will grow. To the young women I say, don’t lose that moral force even before you have it in full measure. Take particular care that your language is clean, not coarse; that your dress reflects modesty, not vanity; and that your conduct manifests purity, not promiscuity. You cannot lift others to virtue on the one hand if you are entertaining vice on the other.

Sisters, of all your associations, it is your relationship with God, your Heavenly Father, who is the source of your moral power, that you must always put first in your life. Remember that Jesus’s power came through His single-minded devotion to the will of the Father. He never varied from that which pleased His Father.¹¹ Strive to be that kind of disciple of the Father and the Son, and your influence will never fade.

Dear sisters, we rely on the moral force you bring to the world, to marriage, to family, to the Church. We rely on blessings you bring down from heaven by your prayers and faith.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “The Moral Force of Women” Gen Conf Oct 2013

If Grandma were here

Dear Grandma,

I miss you. I wish you were still here. I miss sitting at the round, wooden table in your dining room and seeing you, sitting with one leg tucked up underneath you, your other leg propped up and held close to your chest as you sip your diet Coke. 

I can see the light from the coming in through the back window, muted by the heavy curtains and rosy as it picks up the color of the orange shag carpet.

But the warmth in the room doesn't come from the afternoon sun. Warm, accepting love found a home with you. Your willingness to listen to and value me, always warmed me from the inside out. I miss you.

If you were here, I would sit again at your table and pepper you with questions. You and I both know how you like pepper. You see, I've started writing. I like to do it and I like to think that some of that comes from you. 

If you were here, I would ask you if you ever doubted yourself as a writer?
Did you ever feel like you were in over your head? Like you have no idea what you're doing and you write like a 1st grader?
Did you ever get so nervous about your writing that you had a stomach ache? Did you cry?
Were you ever so full of self doubt that you couldn't write anymore? Did you ever want to quit?
Did words ever fail you?

Oh Grandma, how I wish you were here and we were cuddled up around your table, eating homemade toast with extra crispy crust and lots of butter. I wish I could lean into you and tell you all my insecurities and whisper all my fears. You'd wipe my tears and calm my nerves, gently laying your smooth, wrinkled hand on mine, not needing the words you so artfully craft on paper, to ease my troubled heart.

I love you Grandma. I miss you.

With endearment,
me