Aquia Gospel Doctrine

“In the priesthood leadership session of a regional conference, we sang the hymn “Ye Elders of Israel.” The chorus contains a line “O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell.” Following the singing, Elder Neal A. Maxwell spoke and expressed the thought that bidding Babylon farewell is actually one of our challenges, that too many of us like to keep a summer cottage there. We cannot keep one foot in the Church and one foot in the world.” Elder Larry W. Gibbons “Wherefore, Settle This in Your Hearts”  October 2006 General Conference Lesson 16 introduces us to Balaam, the non-Israelite prophet, who was called upon by Balak and the Moabites to curse Israel. Reflecting on his experiences found in Numbers 22 - 24, and in connection with the above quote, engage with the following questions: In what ways was Balaam trying to keep one foot “with the Lord” and the other foot “in Babylon?” Why do you think Balaam was attempting this balancing act? Juxtaposing the good inten...

(Coming from a ByCommonConsent.com blog post on this lesson) Today’s lesson is on Moses and the Children of Israel. Perhaps one of the most recognizable accounts from the Old Testament, the Exodus story is one of deliverance, prophethood, miracles, and faith. One could read the account with each of these themes (and more) in mind and reap new insights and inspiration. Let us read through some excerpts from Exodus with the theme of oppression in mind. In Exodus 5 Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let the people go. Pharaoh responds by placing greater burdens on the Children of Israel. They protest but to no avail. Read Exodus 5: 1-3 (Moses and Aaron) Are there times that we can say we are like Moses and Aaron here? What are they actually asking Pharaoh? Read Exodus 5:5-9, 17-20 How does Pharaoh respond to Moses’s and Aaron’s plea? How does Pharaoh respond to the pleas from the Children of Israel Are there times where we might have a “Pharaoh-like” response to peop...

Read : Abraham 1:1, 5-20 In class, we read Genesis 12 through 22 to give us the long term (longue durée) narrative history of the Abrahamic Covenant, Abraham, and Sarah. Reaching even further back in the history of Abraham, through LDS scripture, we have the account of Abraham’s *almost* sacrifice at the hands of the priests of Elkenah. Read and ponder upon that account, then answer the following questions: Questions : What similarities are there between Abraham being sacrificed and Abraham sacrificing Isaac?  What differences exist? Does this account from the book of Abraham change your understanding of Abraham sacrificing Isaac? Does it change the meaning of sacrifice for Abraham? How do the trials in your life inform/influence/impact your sacrifices?

1. In Genesis 13 we get an account of Abraham and Lot coming up at of Egypt and settling in and around Beth-el. The land could not sustain both of them so Abraham went to the right while Lot went to the left. Genesis 13:10-13 reads: 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly  Questions: - What do you think "pitched his tent toward Sodom" means?  - By Genesis 19, where is Lot living? - What does this tell us about the effect of lot pitching his tent toward Sodom...

“Patriarchal blessings contemplate an inspired declaration of the lineage of the recipient and, when 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 for the accomplishment of such life’s mission, it being always made clear that the realization of all promised blessings is conditioned upon faithfulness to the gospel of our Lord, whose servant the patriarch is” (First Presidency Letter to stake presidents, 28 June 1958). Take some time this week to read through your patriarchal blessing. (For many of us, myself included, it will have been too long since we returned to it) What does it mean to have the patriarch declare our lineage in a blessing? Dwell upon your lineage and ponder its significance for you personally and spiritually. Without treating it as a checklist, reflect upon the blessings bestowed upon you? What blessin...

Read and reflect on the account of the Tower of Babel found in Genesis 11:1-9 for class on Feb. 18.   Questions :  What was the purpose of reaching into Heaven? Where do we go to try and reach Heaven? Compare. What does it mean to make a name for oneself (found in verse 4)?   Is this in conflict with taking upon yourself the name of Christ? What is the practical purpose of this story to the Hebrews?  What do we learn from it?