Book Review: The Girl Who Could Fly

"The Girl Who Could Fly" by Victoria Forester

One of the taglines on this book describes this book as Little House on the Prairie meets X-Men. I would have to say, that odd little combination is a pretty accurate description. This book is about a young girl, Piper McCloud, who discovers she has the ability to fly. As she grows, Piper develops and harnesses that ability. But not everyone around her is as thrilled as she is. Her parents keep her hidden away and home from school for years, in an effort to hide her ability to fly. Then one day, they attend a community event and as fate would have it, her ability is exposed and the fall out is just as they expected; rumors, gossip and unwanted media attention. Then Dr. Letitia Hellion comes to the rescue and invites her to stay with other children who have similar abilities in a secure and safe location. But is it really a rescue? You must read to find out!

The clever writing immediately sucked me into the story. Piper really is from Little House on the Prairie it seems, and Victoria Forester does a great job expressing a unique voice for Piper. From a young reader's perspective, this book has it all. Adventure, unique characters, super hero elements, a bad guy (lady) and a bit of mystery. 

Piper seemed a little out of place, naïve and old-school, of course she was isolated at home with old-fashioned parents in a very small, backwoods sort of community. The other supporting characters are more current and nicely developed. The antagonist, Dr. Hellion, also has a valid backstory. The setting is believable and fun, especially for a young reader. 

Near the end, the writing seemed to stumble and was uncharacteristic of the rest of the novel, which is unfortunate because it was right in the middle of the climax. There was also a mysterious character who shows up a few times and you're left wondering who he is and why he was even there. It leaves a loose-end like there may be more to come. But honestly, I would prefer it as a stand alone book. 

Not compelling enough to span age groups, I think it is a great book for early readers, 3-5 grade level.

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2nd Draft

I printed out my 2nd draft of Witcherella. I must say, I am quite impressed. That's a lot of paper. That's a lot of words. That's a whole story right there and I wrote every word. Even if the words aren't always compelling or polished, I still feel pretty darn good looking at that stack of paper. 

After I printed it, I just sort of walked around the house for a while holding it close to my chest. I wrote a book! Time will tell if it's a good one. I will be handing it over to my book club on Thursday and then we'll discuss it at our April meeting. I'm nervous and excited. I can't wait to get the feedback and start on the 3rd draft. 

Regardless of where this goes, it's very fulfilling to see and hold these pages.

Gospel Doctrine OT C11: Joseph sold into slavery

Gospel Doctrine OT c11

Joseph sold to slavery/Potiphar’s wife

___________________________________________________________________

Leah               Zilpah             Bilhah                        Rachel

1.Reuben      7. Gad            5. Dan                      11. Joseph    Ephraim/Mannaseh

2.Simeon      8.Asher         6.Nephtali                 12.Benjamin

3.Levi

4. Judah

9. Issachar

10.Zebulun

Dinah

Genesis 37 Joseph Sold Into Slavery

Scan over Gen 37

???What do you learn from/about the brothers?

            Downfall of favoritism and jealousy

Joseph is obedient and diligent: He is asked to check on his brothers. He

travels 45+12 miles and wanders in fields to find them

Reuben tried to save Joseph

Judah has the idea to sell Joseph to the Middianites

Speaking of Judah, Gen 38 is about him and it is not favorable. It seems like it is set up as a contrast to the Joseph’s experience with Potiphar’s wife.

Genesis 39 Potiphar’s wife

Scan over Gen 39

Joseph was approx.. 17 yrs old when he was sold. He served approx. 13 yrs in Potiphar’s house (3-4 in prison)

???What do you learn? What stands out?

???What do you think about Temptation?

???Can we avoid it? Is it as easy as running away?

Will-power can be depleted. No matter how good you are, if you keep putting yourself in tempting situations, you will be depleted.

1 Cor. 10:12 – “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

"The temptation itself created a cost. Imagine that your morning is full of temptation: muffin, croissant, Facebook, YouTube, saying something nasty to your boss (or kids, in my case), the morning is just full of temptation. And you've been able to resist all of that, good for you, but by the time you've resisted all of them, you've already paid the price. And the price you've paid is the price of depletion."

“The kids who resist temptation don't just sit there and stare at the marshmallow. They do things. They sit on their hands, they watch the ceiling, they sing a song, they turn around, they do things. That, I think, suggests that... there is training. And Walter Mischel did this very nice experiment in which he asked the kids to think about the marshmallows as clouds, and that basically eliminated the temptation to a large degree." (Dan Ariely)

Morality was Joseph’s temptation in this particular story.

Immorality vs Amorality

How do you stay virtuous? How do you teach your children?

God stayed with Joseph . Gen 39:2-3; 39:21-23

Why? What did Joseph do to keep God with him?

Where did Joseph find the strength to stay moral?

"The Lord needs to know if he can trust us to do the right thing in every situation. Joseph of Egypt had a fine position as Potiphar’s principal steward. Then the wife of Potiphar attempted to entice him to sin. Joseph was far from home and family. He was a trusted slave, but still a slave nonetheless. No one would know or care about his morals. To spurn the woman would certainly bring severe complications to his life, but he was true to his noble character. He fled sin, was caught, and imprisoned. He paid a price for his purity; yet to have done otherwise would have been a tragic flaw in his character. Nephi’s strength of character led him to obey a commandment. He could easily have been slain by the wicked Laban. Yet to not obey, when he had the testimony that the Lord would open the way for him to obtain the plates, would have been a flaw in his character. The Lord could trust Joseph and Nephi." (The Cs of Spirituality, Robert E Wells, Oct. 1978)

What do Nephi and Joseph have in common? The testimony that the Lord would open the way.

The bigger picture.

"Clearly the brothers, and apparently also Jacob, had misunderstood the nature of their bowing to Joseph. They understandably, but incorrectly took that to mean they would worship Joseph, or took it as some kind of measure of their relative value of worth. Wonderfully we learn that Joseph was elevated to his position in order to serve them. And, their bowing was an act of receiving their brother’s help, not meant to establish some kind of family pecking order." (Phillip Allred, LDSLiving Mag, Mar 4, 2014) 

Servitude vs. Submission/ willingness to serve

Can this apply to parenthood?

Serving others:
"In this way – the same as Joseph had done during his lifetime – Joseph’s progeny are to become saviors to their brethren of Israel (and by extension the rest of Father’s children). During this last dispensation, Joseph’s descendants are charged with providing the covenants, ordinances, and saving truths of the gospel for the rest of the family. With this in mind, it is exciting to see our modern Temples as veritable spiritual granaries or storehouses where souls are literally delivered and saved while all around a famine seeks to lay waste precious mortal opportunities." (Phillip Allred)

Good quote on Morality, Immorality, Amorality:

It’s not immorality that we hate in movies, it’s amorality. Immorality, accurately portrayed complete with consequences, is a part of many good stories, including those from the scriptures.

But amorality, depicted without context or consequence, is an insidious evil that drags down all of society, particularly its younger members.

When dishonesty or violence or especially jumping into bed together on first acquaintance is depicted as the norm — portrayed as what everybody does — it can lead kids thoughtlessly into the same behaviors.

“Our Love-Hate Relationship with Movies” Richard & Linda Eyre, DesNews, Tues March 4, 2014

Gospel Doctrine OT C9: Provide a Lamb

Gospel Doctrine Old Testament C9

God Will Provide Himself a Lamb (Gen 15-17, 21-22)

____________________________________________

History: Abraham 1:5-7 Evil times

                                1:15 Abraham is saved

                                1:16-19 Jehovah speaks to Abraham

                                1:20 altar and evil priest are destroyed

??What is learned when Jehovah speaks to Abraham?

                -God will deliver him from his evil surroundings v16

-Sometimes deliverance takes us to strange lands v16

-People are evil because they turn their hearts away from the true God. If we want to be delivered and not destroyed, we need to keep our hearts turned toward God v17

        -God will lead him by the hand, give him the priesthood and power v18

                               

??How might Abraham’s experience on the altar of the false priests have helped prepare him for future trials? How can our trials help us prepare for future difficulties?

History: ??What promise did the Lord give Abraham regarding children? That they would be as numerous as the stars in the heaven.

??What was the problem? Sarah was barren. Gen 16:1-2.

She gave Hagar to her husband to bear children. Hagar bore Ishmael.

Abraham has a vision. Gen 17:15-17, 19. Sarah will bear a son a name him Isaac.

??What can the revelation that Abraham and Sarah would have a son teach us about how God fulfills his promises? God will fulfill his promises, though not necessarily in the way or at the tie we might expect. We are often asked to wait by the Lord.

We can look at what Abraham has learned, just in the readings of this lesson, (not taking into consideration the visions he had of the creation and worlds without number), and we see great mercy, love and attention from the Lord. It supports my personal Old Testament theme:

Moroni 10:3 “Remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.”

And then comes this. Video: Akedah (The Binding)

CHRISTYPE:

??What Christ-type do you see in the offering of Isaac?

                Abraham as the father, Isaac as the son

                Isaac as us, the ram in the thicket as Christ

Elder Dallin H Oaks said: “This story … shows the goodness of God in protecting Isaac and in providing a substitute so he would not have to die. Because of our sins and our mortality, we, like Isaac, are condemned to death. When all other hope is gone, our Father in Heaven provides the Lamb of God, and we are saved by his sacrifice” (Ensign, Nov 1992)

Of course the sacrifice of Isaac would be difficult on so many levels.

??What are some specific reasons it would be so hard for Abraham?

                -he had to wait for so long for a son. Isaac was his miracle

                -God had promised that the Abrahamic covenant would continue through Isaac and his descendants

                -Abraham’s personal history of almost being offered a sacrifice himself. We talked earlier about how that experience could prepare him? Do you think it did?

Our trials are all different, but can be no less difficult than what others are called to bear.

??What are things you or people you know struggle with?

It may be health issues, depression, work and employment, family issues, struggling with testimony and doubts. The thing that is the same is that we all have trials and we all are asked to sacrifice.

FOR ME: Take it for what it’s worth:  It made a different kind of sense to me to realize, these are not just trials. I’m not just muddling through and trying to come out the best I can. These are trials that require sacrifices in which I prove my faithfulness and obedience; my willingness to sacrifice. (Sterling misses passing the sacrament to his children)

??What have you been asked to give up? Ideal health? Can’t eat what you want? A big home? Extravagant vacations? Family relationships? The need to have concrete answers to spiritual questions? 

Elder Spencer W. Kimball: “Exceeding faith was shown by Abraham when the superhuman test was applied to him His young ‘child of promise,’ destined to be the father of empires, must now be offered upon the sacrificial altar. It was God’s command, but it seemed so contradictory! How could his son, Isaac, be the father of an uncountable posterity if in his youth his mortal life was to be terminated? Why should he, Abraham, be called upon to do this revolting deed? It was irreconcilable, impossible! And yet he believed God. His undaunted faith carried him with breaking heart toward the land of Moriah with this young son who little suspected the agonies through which his father must have been passing.” (Conf Report, Oct. 1952)

FOR ME: Taking it one step further:  Sometimes God’s commands may seem contradictory or too difficult to accomplish. I’m thinking of social issues in and out of the church that are difficult to understand. Same gender issues, women and the priesthood to name a few. We must follow the example of Abraham and live with exceeding faith.

President Hugh B. Brown said that God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac because “Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham” (in Truman G. Madsen, The Highest in Us [1978], 49).

D&C 101:4 – “Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.”

Henry B Eyring: “We need strength beyond ourselves to keep the commandments in whatever circumstance life brings to us. For some it may be poverty, but for others it may be prosperity. It may be the ravages of age or the exuberance of youth. The combination of trials and their duration are as varied as are the children of our Heavenly Father. No two are alike. But what is being tested is the same, at all times in our lives and for every person: will we do whatsoever the Lord our God will command us? (Conf Rep Apr 2004)

I don’t think we will ever be asked to sacrifice a child but we WILL be asked to sacrifice. The response either way should be faithful obedience. Will we do whatsoever the Lord our God will command us? That is the goal, the measure of our faith

Spencer W. Kimball: “How often do Church members arise early in the morning to do the will of the Lord? How often do we say, “Yes, I will have home evening with my family, but the children are so young now; I will start when they are older”? How often do we say, “Yes, I will obey the commandment to store food and to help others, but just now I have neither the time nor the money to spare; I will obey later”? Oh, foolish people! While we procrastinate, the harvest will be over and we will not be saved. Now is the time to follow Abraham’s example; now is the time to repent; now is the time for prompt obedience to God’s will.” (“The Example of Abraham,” Ensign, June 1975).

Gospel Doctrine OT c7: Abrahamic Covenant

Gospel Doctrine – Old Testament

C7 Abrahamic Covenant

What is a Patriarchal blessing?  What does this blessing tell us generally? 
It tells us our lineage and blessings for our future.

The First Presidency said: “Patriarchal blessings [are] an inspired declaration of the lineage of the recipient, and also, where so moved upon by the Spirit, an inspired and prophetic statement of the life mission of the recipient, together with such blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give. … The realization of all promised blessings is conditioned upon faithfulness to the gospel of our Lord.” (letter to stake presidents, 28 June 1957; quoted in Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2^nd ed. [1966], 558).

I kind of see the Abrahamic Covenant as a patriarchal blessing for an entire group of people. A covenant and blessing for all of us.

What does it mean to have the patriarch declare our lineage?

Joseph Fielding Smith: “The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.” (“How One May Become of the House of Israel,” Improvement Era, Oct 1923, 1149).

Who is Abraham? 

            

Terah  (father to these sons)

(Lived in Ur of the Chaldees, then due to famine, moved to Haran, part of Canaan where Terah died)

                _________________________________________________________

                l                                               l                                                               l

     Abram (Sarai)                       Nahor (Milcah)                               Haran (died)

(After Haran, went to Egypt then back to Canaan)                                                    Lot (son)

Read Abraham 1:1  Why a new place to live? Abr 1:5 (6-7, 12, 15-17, 20)

Read Abr 1:2-4
What do we learn about Abraham?

Pres. Spencer W. Kimball: “Remember that Abraham sought for his appointment to the priesthood. He did not wait for God to come to him; he sought diligently through prayer and obedient living to learn the will of God…  As we follow Abraham’s example, we will grow from grace to grace, we will find greater happiness and peace and rest, we will find favor with God and with man.  As we follow his example, we will confirm upon ourselves and our families joy and fulfillment in this life and for all eternity.” (“The Example of Abraham” Ensign, June 1975)

First mention of the covenant is in v2-4, clearly restated again in Abr 1:18-19.

(Famine is bad, brother Haran dies, Father repents, they travel to land of Canaan to a place called Haran)

In Haran, Abraham is given a vision and God covenants to bless him and his posterity. Abr 2:9-11, Gen 12:2-3, Gen 17:1-9

Read Abrahamic covenant, first 2 paragraphs)

Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation). Then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase. Finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity (D&C 132:29–50; Abr. 2:6–11). Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that (1) Christ would come through his lineage, and that (2) Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance (Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3; Abr. 2). These promises taken together are called the “Abrahamic covenant.” It was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob (Gen. 28; 35:9–13; 48:3–4).

The portions of the covenant that pertain to personal salvation and eternal increase are renewed with each individual who receives the ordinance of celestial marriage (see D&C 132:29–33). Those of non-Israelite lineage, commonly known as Gentiles, are adopted into the house of Israel and become heirs of the covenant and the seed of Abraham through the ordinances of the gospel (Gal. 3:26–29).

From reading those verses, what is the Abrahamic Covenant?

            -promised land Abr 2:6, 19; Gen 12:7; 17:8  (Salvation)

            -great posterity Abr 2:9-10; Gen 12:2-3; 17:2,4-6  (Eternal marriage/increase)

            -gospel and priesthood Abr 1:18; Abr 2:9-11; Gen 17:7   (Exaltation)

S. Michael Wilcox: “Other blessings were promised to Abraham’s descendants including promised lands, but the blessings of the truths of the gospel and the ordinances of the priesthood that bring exaltation were the most critical because these blessings alone result in seed as numerous as the sands of the sea or the stars of heaven…”

Temple Temple Temple covenants!!!

“When we are baptized into the church, the Abrahamic covenant’s promise of salvation is renewed with us. When we are sealed in the temple, the Abrahamic covenant’s promise of exaltation is renewed with us. To receive the blessings of the covenant, we must fulfill the associated responsibilities and live worthily.” (Gospel Doctrine manual)

Any more thoughts on the Abrahamic covenant?

Wilcox: “The Lord granted unto Abraham’s seed the great blessings of truth, priesthood and the ordinances of exaltation, but he expected the recipients of these blessings to covenant to do something in return. ‘For of him unto whom much is given much is required’ (D&C 82:3)”

What is required of us?

Abraham - Abr 1:18-19; 2:9; Gen 18:19

Isaac - Gen 26:4-5

Jacob - Gen 28:14

We are required to minister and bless the lives of others

Video clip: “The Abrahamic Covenant” 7:16

Fast forward 30 years –

What does this look like in our lives today?

How have you seen the responsibility of the Abrahamic covenant active in your life?

Pres. Packer: “We, as members of the Church, have the fullness of the gospel. Every conceivable manner of spiritual nourishment is ours. Every part of the spiritual menu is included. It provides an unending supply of spiritual strength. Like the widow’s cruse of oil, it is replenished as we use it and shall never fail.

“And yet, there are people across the world and about us – our neighbors, our friends, some in our own families 0 who, spiritually speaking, are undernourished. Some of them are starving to death! If we keep all this to ourselves, it is not unlike feasting before those who are hungry. We are to go out to them, and to invite them to join us. We are to be missionaries.” (“Feed My Sheep” Ensign May 1984)

I'm reading "Les Mis" and its really long

Have you seen the movie "Les Miserable"? The new one with all the raw emotion, requiring women to bring tissues in their purse, next to the Junior Mints they are sneaking into the theater? I've heard it's amazing, thrilling, evocative, fantastic, moving, etc. And I want to see it. I really do. The obstacle is this....I promised myself I'd read the book first. Wa Wa.

I started the abridged version the first week of January and I'm still plugging away. 90% finished as we speak. I was so excited to read this book. The preface blew me away. I love it so much I'll share it with you here:

"So long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, decrees of damnation prounounced by society, artificially creating hells amid the civilization of earth, and adding the element of human fate to divine destiny; so long as the three great problems of the century-the degradation of man through pauperism, the corruption of woman through hunger, the crippling of children through lack of light-are unsolved; so long as social asphyxia is possible in any part of the world; -in other words, and with a still wider significance, so long as ignorance and pverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Miserables cannot fail to be of use."

Well said.

However...

the further I read, the more disheartened I became. Oh, the words. The number of words used to describe useless information! Not to talk trash about good old Victor Hugo, but goodness gracious can that man ramble! Granted, he tells a beautiful story of forgiveness, redemption, love and the nobleness distilled in all men and women as creations of God,as well, but it is mingled with ramblings and history lessons and lectures on convents and sewer systems. It quickly became apparent to me that I was going to have to skim. And by skim, I mean skip entire chapters. 

This passage from the renowned wikipedia helped me not feel so alone in my discouragement and utter lack of understanding of so much of what I was reading. 

"More than a fourth of the novel—by one count 955 of 2,783 pages—is devoted to essays that argue a moral point or display Hugo's encyclopedic knowledge, that do not advance the plot, nor even a subplot. ... The topics Hugo addresses include cloistered religious orders, the construction of the Paris sewers, argot, and the street urchins of Paris. The one about convents he titles "Parenthesis" to alert the reader to its irrelevance to the story line.^[11] He devotes another 19 chapters to the Waterloo,"

I wish I would have understood the subtle clue of the title "Parenthesis" before plowing through that chapter. But I could not stop reading. Stopping was out of the question. You see, I don't know how the story ends.

It's true.

I remember watching an older film version of "Les Mis" in French class...and I fell asleep.
I remember watching the stage version in New York. NEW YORK CITY for heaven sake...and I fell asleep.
I have listened to much of the music and even owned a condensed soundtrack that I listened to regularly, but I have no idea where the songs fit within the story or even which character sings which song.
I thought the entire story revolved around Jean Valjean and Fantine and her pretty little daughter, Cosette. Imagine my surprise when Fantine dies and I'm not even a quarter of the way through the book!

And so, I'm on a mission and I'm nearing the end. I'm 90% of the way finished and I'm loving it. The story that is...not the digressions. How else would I know that Gavroche is Thenardier's son and that he has 2 brothers who were also discarded and their paths cross in a heartbreaking moment and Eponine is his sister. And that's just to name a few of the more relevant backstories and details. I love the depth of reading a novel as opposed to the movie. So don't tell me how it ends. I'll read it for myself. Wish me luck! And then I'll go see the movie. Hopefully while it's still in the theaters. 

Gospel Doctrine OT C5: Cain and Enoch

Gospel Doctrine Old Testament C5

“If thou Doest Well, Thou Shalt Be Accepted”

We are discussing two different men from the early beginnings of time, Cain and Enoch.

CAIN

READ Moses 5:24-25 – “For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world. And it shall be said in time to come—That these abominations were had from Cain; for he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God; and this is a cursing which I will put upon thee, except thou repent.”

???When did the Lord say this to Cain? Was it before or after he killed Abel?

???What could have happened BEFORE the murder to have the Lord say that?

Review Cain’s sacrifice: (v16 ‘Who is the Lord that I should know him?’)

 **Background - READ 5:5-8 God gave them commandments.

1-worship the Lord.

2-offer firstlings of flocks.

Adam & Eve are teaching their children about God and Jesus. Then Satan comes and says 5:13 “I am also a son of God.” Half truth-not THE son of God, just A son of God.           

5:17 ‘Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground’

READ 5:18-21

5:22- note the way God handles the situation. Not “Look at what you did. I can’t believe you did that. Stop doing that. I told you not to.” He says, “Why are you upset? You look like you’re having a bad day. What’s going on?” This allows for accountability, just like with Adam and Eve.

Then follows the verses we read earlier.

???What did Cain do that caused such a firm warning and chastisement from the Lord?

18-loved Satan more than God,

18-followed Satan’s commandment to offer sacrifice (v8says to do it in remembrance of the Son)

19-used fruit, not firstling of flock

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “Abel offered to God a sacrifice that was accepted, which was the firstlings of the flock. Cain offered of the fruit of the ground, and was not accepted, because he could not do it in faith. … Shedding the blood of the Only Begotten to atone for man … was the plan of redemption; … and as the sacrifice was instituted for a type, by which man was to discern the great Sacrifice which God had prepared; to offer a sacrifice contrary to that, no faith could be exercised … ; consequently Cain could have no faith; and whatsoever is not of faith, is sin” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 58).

What else do you learn from Cain’s story? I learn that Satan is good at helping us justify our actions that are inconsistent with the Gospel, then we get offended when we are corrected. I don’t know why Cain was fixated on offering a fruit salad for his offering but I’m guessing there must have been some sort of rationalizing and justifying in the process.

“What is happening with Cain is rather like what would happen if a high councilman decided to worship each Sunday in the canyons rather than in church, and to roast hot dogs rather than take the sacrament. He might feel good about what he did but the Lord would not give such activity his approval nor the blessings promised to those who partake worthily of the sacrament. Moses 5:20-21” (Ted L. Gibbons,  LDS Living, Jan 14, 2014)

The story continues…

5:26- “And Cain was wroth, and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, his brother, who walked in holiness before the Lord.”

Cain marries and has children and loves Satan more than God. He makes a secret covenant with Satan to murder Abel. He murders Abel.

READ 5:33-36 Cain is cast out and cursed

5:55 “And thus the works of darkness began to prevail among all the sons of men.”

5:58 “And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

???What damage is done when we refuse to listen to the voices that call us to repentance? What happened to Cain? (5:31) What happened to Adam and Eve? (5:27).

GENEOLOGY

Adam – Seth 6:15 – Enos 6:17 – Cainan – Mahalaleel – Jared – ENOCH

ENOCH

READ 6:27 Enoch is called to prophesy to the people. Why is the Lord’s anger kindled?

-hearts have waxed hard

-ears are dull of hearing

-eyes cannot see afar off

???How do we NOT do that.

6:31-34 – Enoch feels inadequate. God promises to change him.

6:33 – God tells him to tell the people something, but it is always instruction for him personally – to choose to serve the Lord.

(6:39 & 47 – God’s promises to Enoch are fulfilled.)

ENOCH’S MISSION

Enoch leaves Cainan and teaches the people.

6:37 men were offended, :38 and curious,

??? How do we respond to prophets and leaders?

6:43 the purpose for Enoch’s mission- he is my God, and your God, ye are my brethren

6:48-51 basic history of how they got where they are

6:56 ye are agents unto yourselves

Talks about sin, baptism, repentance, Jesus Christ

6:59-60 – 60“For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;”

6:63 all things bear record of God

7:13- Enoch is a might man, “powerful was the word of Enoch”

CITY OF ZION

7:16-19, 21 The Lord’s people and the establishment of Zion 7:69 Zion is taken up to heaven

7: 28-45 God weeps over the condition of his people, Enoch asks why and God answers that he loves them. Enoch weeps over the condition of the people, God comforts him. read 7:29-30 and 7:32-33

COMPARE THE PATH OF CAIN AND ENOCH

Open comments

Video “Righteous Desires” Elder Maxwell :47

“Like it or not, therefore, reality requires that we acknowledge our responsibility for our desires. Brothers and sisters, which do we really desire, God’s plans for us or Satan’s? Righteous desires need to be relentless, therefore, because said President Brigham Young, “The men and women who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day.” Therefore, true Christian soldiers are more than weekend warriors.”

( Neal A. Maxwell, “According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts”, General Conference, Oct, 1996)