Ot lesson29

Old Testament Sunday School

Next Week: Old TestamentLesson 33: “Sharing the Gospel with the World”

This WeekLesson 29: “He Took Up … the Mantle of Elijah”

Daniel [email protected] voice/text

The Mantle of God

“There is no mystery about the choosing of the successor to the President of the Church. The Lord settled this a long time ago, and the senior apostle automatically becomes the presiding officer of the Church, and he is so sustained by the Council of the Twelve which becomes the presiding body of the Church when there is no First Presidency. The president is not elected, but he has to be sustained both by his brethren of the Council and by the members of the Church”

(Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:156).

The Mantle of God

Often with change comes rebellion.

Succession Dilemma

What do all these have in Common?

Principles and Doctrines of the Gospel

Prophets and Revelation

Marriage and Family

Atonement of Christ

Plan of Salvation

Wresting Doctrine

Wresting:

verb1. to twist or turn; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist. 2. to take away by force: to wrest a knife from a child.3. to get by effort: to wrest a living from the soil.4. To twist or turn from the proper course, application, use, meaning, or the like; wrench.Noun5. a wresting; twist or wrench.6.a key or small wrench for tuning stringed musical instrument,as the harp or piano, by turning thepins to which the strings are fastened.

Wrest: 2 Peter 3:16

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Wrest: Psalms 56:5

5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

Wrest: Alma 13:20

20 Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrestthem it shall be to your own destruction.

Wrest: Alma 41:1

1 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing.

AgencyAtonement

Destroying Stealing Agency

Change Playing Field

Discredit

Fear, Obligation & Guilt “F.O.G”. Dr. Susan Forward

Feel Stupid, doubt, Responsible, Shame

Using your values against you

Intellect & Superiority

Delusional Behavior

Crazy Making

Destroying Stealing Agency

Fear

Obligation

Guilt

Stupid

Doubt

Resentment

YOU

Excuses and Testimony

Word of Wisdom

Blacks and the Priesthood

Gay Marriage

Polygamy

Book of Mormon

Faith

Religion

Things of the Testimony

Intellectual

SpiritualRational

Testimony

You Have No Power Here

WITCH:

You stay out of this, Glinda, or I'll fix you as well!

GLINDA:

(laughs)Oh, rubbish! You have no power here. Be gone, before somebody drops a house on you, too.

Lehi’s Dream

1 Nephi 8

Would not partake, Didn’t even start Path V.18

Mist of darkness V. 23

Clinging to Rod/Ashamed V. 24-5

Mocking/Ashamed V. 27-8

Feeling their way/Drowned V. 31-2

Wandering, Lost/Join mocking. V. 33-4

Nephi

“but we heeded them not.”

"Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."

Avoid Wresting: Seek the Principles and Doctrines of the Gospel

The Mantle of God

Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.

– Brigham Young, as found in the Journal of Discourses 10:111

I am not now, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social or political equality of the white and black races. I am not now nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor of intermarriages with white people.

There is a physical difference between the white and the black races which will forever forbid the two races living together on social or political equality. There must be a position of superior and inferior, and I am in favor of assigning the superior position to the white man.

The Mantle of God

If the Government of the United States, in Congress assembled, had the right to pass an anti-polygamy bill, they had also the right to pass a law that slaves should not be abused as they have been; they had also a right to make a law that negroes should be used like human beings, and not worse than dumb brutes. For their abuse of that race, the whites will be cursed, unless they repent.– Brigham Young, as found in the Journal of Discourses 10:111

The Mantle of God

I am neither an abolitionist nor a pro-slavery man. If I could have been influenced by private injury to choose one side in preference to the other, I should certainly be against the pro-slavery side of the question.”


The Mantle of God

Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.


The Mantle of God

Now, sisters, while your input is significant and welcome in effective councils, you need to be careful not to assume a role that is not yours. The most successful ward and stake councils are those in which priesthood leaders trust their sister leaders and encourage them to contribute to the discussions and in which sister leaders fully respect and sustain the decisions of the council made under the direction of priesthood leaders who hold keys. -- “Men and Women and Priesthood Power” By Elder M. Russell Ballard

The Mantle of God

For more than 20 years I have been teaching the importance of councils, including the vital participation of sister leaders. I acknowledge that some men, including some priesthood leaders, have not yet seen the light and still do not include our sister leaders in full partnership in ward and stake councils. I also acknowledge that some men oppress women and in some rare circumstances are guilty of abusing women. This is abhorrent in the eyes of God.

-- “Men and Women and Priesthood Power” By Elder M. Russell Ballard

The Mantle of God

I feel certain that men who demean women in any way will answer to God for their actions. And any priesthood leader who does not involve his sister leaders with full respect and inclusion is not honoring and magnifying the keys he has been given. His power and influence will be diminished until he learns the ways of the Lord.

-- “Men and Women and Priesthood Power” By Elder M. Russell Ballard

The Mantle of God

Now, sisters, while your input is significant and welcome in effective councils, you need to be careful not to assume a role that is not yours. The most successful ward and stake councils are those in which priesthood leaders trust their sister leaders and encourage them to contribute to the discussions and in which sister leaders fully respect and sustain the decisions of the council made under the direction of priesthood leaders who hold keys. -- “Men and Women and Priesthood Power” By Elder M. Russell Ballard

The Mantle of God

But Brother Burgess? What about when the Prophets teach something that is wrong?

Truth vs Error

Father in Heaven(Pure Truth)

Prophets(Truth)

ME(Truth/Error)

Adversary(Error)

Holy Spirit(Pure Truth)

Veil VeilVeilVeil Veil Veil

Wresting WrestingWrestingWresting Wresting Wresting

Truth vs Error: Putting off the “wrest”

Father in Heaven(Pure Truth)

Prophets(Truth)

ME(Truth/Error)

Adversary(Error)

Holy Spirit(Pure Truth)

World/Man(Error)

? ??

?

??

?

-My Responsibility to know Truth-Support/Sustain Leaders-Seek Father and Atonement in all I do

Testimony TestimonyTestimonyTestimony Testimony Testimony

-Pride-Offended-Critical of imperfections-Accept false teachings/world-Rationalize disobedience ?

The Mantle of God

I have known many times I have preached wrong.

Brigham Young, in Thomas Bullock minutes, 8 May 1854, Church Historical Department.

The Mantle of God

Ladies and gentlemen, I exhort you to think for yourselves, and read your Bibles for yourselves, get the Holy Spirit for yourselves, and pray for yourselves.

Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:107.

The Mantle of God

The great masses of the people neither think nor act for themselves. . . . I see too much of this gross ignorance among this chosen people of God.


The Mantle of God

What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. Brigham Young, (12 January 1862) Journal of Discourses 9:150.

The Mantle of God

I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way.

Brigham Young, (12 January 1862) Journal of Discourses 9:150.

The Mantle of God

Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually.

Brigham Young, (12 January 1862) Journal of Discourses 9:150.

The Mantle of God

How often has it been taught that if you depend entirely upon the voice, judgment and sagacity of those appointed to lead you, and neglect to enjoy the Spirit for yourselves, how easily you may be led into error, and finally be cast off to the left hand?


The Mantle of God

I do not wish any Latter–day Saint in this world, nor in heaven, to be satisfied with anything I do, unless the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, the spirit of revelation, makes them satisfied.


The Mantle of God

I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self–security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not.