In my recent study of Exodus, I’ve focused on the symbols of Jesus Christ in the Passover, Moses’ ministry, and the means by which the Lord redeemed the children of Israel,
Providing huge miracles and wonders,
Supplying daily bread,
Making water sweet,
Leading them to an oasis for rest,
Raising up a prophet to point them to the Lord,
etc.
This morning I had the idea to place our small Covid-era sacrament trays in my scripture study area. Symbols of Christ surround us in all His creations, and I’m not sure where this visual reminder will lead my thoughts and feelings this week, but we’ll see.
Exodus= from Greek, meaning, “the road out”.
Spiritually, it connotes an escape from bondage to freedom through transformation.
Unknown artist. I found this image in an April 2021 General Conference talk by Sister Reyna I. Aburto.
The Come Follow Me curriculum for Easter has a beautiful scripture activity under the heading, “Because of His Atonement, Jesus Christ has the power to help me overcome sin, death, trials, and weaknesses.” There is a list of scriptures to study, write about, and help you reflect upon the Savior’s power. It brought a lot of peace and reassurance to me as I did this.
Interested? Here is a LINK. (Once you click the link, you will need to scroll down to find the activity and its scripture list.)
Grief lurks beneath the routines of life and finds its way out from time to time. This week I experienced a resurgence of some grief for Richard’s sister and my grandmother who both passed away 5 years ago, one day apart, during the first week of March.
As I studied Jacob’s dream recently, the detail of the angels stood out to me, perhaps because I have been living with these memories of loved ones. I like the imagery of the Lord directing and overseeing the comings and goings of angels.
Perhaps this dream is my reminder that the spirits of loved ones are busy, still progressing, and are allowed to minister to us from time to time, according to our needs and their life experiences, all under the direction of the Lord.
Jacob is experiencing a rough time. I like in this painting that more angels are coming toward Jacob than are walking away. He has a long path ahead, but it’s an ascent that leads to the Lord.
Maybe you’re discouraged about a loved one’s path and this image could be helpful to you.
Or, you might be the one in a wilderness, sleeping on a rock, looking for personal hope. I have seen that keeping my covenants with God really helps during these times.
As we keep our covenants with God, He promises great things,
I am with thee.
I will keep [protect] thee in all places whither though goest.
I serve as a Sunday school teacher right now and I’m reading this excellent book as a supplement to my study of the Old Testament.
Also, this is very good. The hard cover, coffee table book, color edition is out of print, so I bought it used. Deseret Book will print a black and white paperback copy for around $30 but it isn’t the same experience as the original version.
I realize that my life and ideas don’t have the Sirens’ call of a TikTok video. As I read books like this, I grow less trendy, and more like those old men in the ward of my youth who couldn’t stop talking about the Abrahamic Covenant. I’m more aligned with them these days than any other mentors in my life, and I like that about myself.
In my personal study of the Creation, I looked at each day and pondered what the Lord was revealing about himself.
For instance, on day 2, He created the heavens. Here were some of my thoughts,
God is aware of our specific temperature and oxygen requirements. The atmosphere protects, insulates, provides rain. = He doesn’t intend for our lives to be uncomfortable all the time. God is our protector and aids our every breath.
He prepared the atmosphere to sustain life. He prepared Jesus Christ to give life.
He provides a Comforter to be with us. During mortality, we are engulfed in heavenly help, just as we are encircled by the heavens.
Perhaps this exercise would be helpful to you. What is the Lord revealing to you about Himself through His creations?
The article by President Russell M. Nelson from 2020, The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming is amazing. It was listed in the Come Follow Me study guide for Doctrine and Covenants 133. Here are a few passages that I marked.
I have been thinking about building physical, emotional, and spiritual reserves that can buffer me against stress.
The thing about building a reserve, whether it is financial, spiritual, or physical, is that it is done with consistent, small acts over a sustained period of time.
We can do that. We must do it. There are things during these challenging times that, with God’s help, “only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can accomplish.”
This month, I have some opportunities to teach about the trials of the early Latter-day Saints. As part of my preparation, I compiled my highlights from general conferences and church magazines on the subject of trials. Perhaps there is something in this document that would be helpful to you.
Many treasures, hidden riches, and even my knowledge of God have been gained during difficult times.
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
I’m teaching Sunday School in a couple of days, and this is the state of my mind and my kitchen table. I have learned the best preparation is to read the scripture assignment as many times as I can and look for treasures. The Come Follow Me manual is the best study guide.
A small amount of time goes into other research (that stack of books). I don’t listen to podcasts because my class members are already doing that.
I keep notes and ideas on post-it notes to add or toss from the lesson plan, and most weeks the discussion travels beyond this map. In the end, I can’t claim credit for the things people learn from the discussion, but this is my process.
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luke 14:16-24
This parable is referenced in Section 58 of the Doctrine and Covenants as the Lord uses it to teach about building Zion. (D&C 58:8-11) A key identifier of a Zion people is their focus on gathering others to the gospel feast. The servants in this parable go out and invite everyone, absolutely everyone.
How am I doing at accepting the invitation?
How am I doing at inviting others?
My favorite detail from this parable is that the Lord has prepared a wonderful feast and he wants his house filled. How parental. The older I get, the more I understand the longing for a full table with each child present. Magnify my small capacity and longing by an infinite amount and that would describe the Lord’s interest in helping all his children know that they are invited, numbered, and loved.
