We often face choices between things we can easily have now or things we must work and wait for. Sometimes we choose what will bring immediate gratification (pleasure or satisfaction), even if the choice to work and wait would eventually provide a greater blessing.

We face some choices in life—such as decisions about whom and where to marry—where choosing immediate gratification could deny us glorious and lasting blessings.

Have you ever spent money or time to obtain something, only to discover that it was not worth what you had spent on it?

The same thing can happen spiritually. By making unrighteous choices, we may trade eternal blessings for things of far less value. By living righteously, however, we can receive all the blessings that Heavenly Father has prepared for us.

A study of this lesson will strengthen our desire to live worthy of our birthright blessings and of eternal marriage.

OVERVIEW:

• Abraham emphasizes the importance of marriage in the covenant (eternal marriage).
• Esau sells his birthright to Jacob.
• Jacob marries Leah and Rachel in the covenant, and through him the Abrahamic covenant continues.

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Genesis 24–29.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 10.

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This lesson continues our review of events from the life of the prophet Abraham. Thus far we have considered early stories of his childhood in Chaldea, being cast into a raging furnace, his sojourn in Egypt, his triumphs in battle, being blessed by Melchizedek, entertaining heavenly hosts, and receiving the Abrahamic Covenant.  A study of this  lesson will help us better understand Heavenly Father’s sacrifice in offering his Son as we learn of Abraham’s  willingness to  sacrifice Isaac. The biblical account is set forth in Genesis 22:1-19.

Latter-day Saints accept this event as having truly happened. It is confirmed repeatedly in modern scripture. In its way it seems to have presaged the sacrifice of Christ. The Father gave his own Beloved Son to die on the cross. Abraham’s obedience is one of the greatest examples of complete faith we know about, and should be a constant inspiration to us.

When the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob discussed the sacrifice of Isaac, he said that it “is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.” (Jacob 4:5.)

Doctrine & Covenants 132 (v. 36) confirms that God commanded Abraham to offer up his son Isaac. That scripture specifically says: “Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness.”

Regarding the purpose of this event, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “The sacrifice required of Abraham in the offering up of Isaac, shows that if a man would attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life, he must sacrifice all things.” (HC 5:555.)

OVERVIEW:

• Abraham is nearly sacrificed by the false priests of Pharaoh.
• Abraham has  children through Hagar and Sarah.
• God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Abraham 1; Genesis 15–17; 21–22.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 8.

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We are surrounded by unrighteous influences. This lesson is about the importance of being righteous even when wickedness is all around us.

OVERVIEW:

• Abraham and his family settle in Hebron, and Lot and his family settle near Sodom.
• Abraham rescues Lot, pays tithes to Melchizedek, and refuses to accept the spoils of war from the king of Sodom.
• The Lord destroys Sodom and Gomorrah.

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Genesis 13–14; 18–19.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 8.

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God's Promises to Abram - c. 1896-1902, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot

Although we generally speak of the Abrahamic covenant beginning with Abraham, he was actually the inheritor of promises, passed down through the lineage of his fathers, that began with Adam. Abraham himself wrote: “And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness” (Abr. 1:2). Abraham desired and “sought” the priesthood with all its accompanying promises. These blessings “came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time” (Abr. 1:3).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie: 

“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. (Abra. 2:6-11; D. & C. 132:29-50.) Included in the divine promises to Abraham was the assurance that Christ would come through his lineage, and the assurance that Abraham’s posterity would receive certain choice, promised lands as an eternal inheritance. (Abra. 2; Gen. 17; 22:15-18; Gal. 3.)

“All of these promises lumped together are called the Abrahamic covenant. This covenant was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 24:60; 26:1-4, 24) and again with Jacob. (Gen. 28; 35:9-13; 48:3-4.) Those portions of it which pertain to personal exaltation and eternal increase are renewed with each member of the house of Israel who enters the order of celestial marriage; through that order the participating parties become inheritors of all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (D. & C. 132; Rom. 9:4; Gal. 3; 4.)” (Mormon Doctrine, p13)

So, through the Abrahamic Covenant we are blessed with the gospel, the priesthood, exaltation, and eternal family relationships.

OVERVIEW:

• God covenants with Abraham.
• We are heirs to the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant.
  

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Abraham 1:1–4; 2:1–11; Genesis 12:1–8; 17:1–9.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 7.

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The biblical story of Noah and the Flood is likely one of our earliest remembered tales. Its scope and drama have fascinated artists and scriptural commentators for centuries.

Perhaps because many of the righteous were taken from the earth with Enoch, Genesis 6 reports that “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5).

The story of Noah and the Flood illustrates a significant pattern found throughout scripture that consists of three important biblical themes: 1) God calling a prophet to warn the people, 2) divine judgment, and 3) divine deliverance.

It is important that we understand this pattern. Church leaders have counseled us to build “personal arks” in order to be prepared and to protect our families both temporally and spiritually.

OVERVIEW:

• The people reject Noah’s call to  repentance; Noah builds an ark.
• The Lord cleanses the earth with a flood.
• The people build the tower of Babel.

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Moses 8:19–30; Genesis 6–9; 11:1–9.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 6.

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Elder Thomas S. Monson: Each time we watch the news on television or pick up a newspaper, we learn of terrible human suffering as a result of tornadoes, floods, fires, drought, hurricanes, earthquakes, conflicts of war. I ask the question: Do we have a responsibility to do something about such suffering? Long years ago a similar question was posed and preserved in holy writ, even the Holy Bible, and I quote from the book of Genesis: “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The answer to that vital question is: Yes, we are our brothers’ keepers. (from an address given in Salt Lake City to Rotary International on 20 November 1997)

The statements in the two lists above were made by two men we learn about in this week’s lesson. Consider what can be determined about each man based on his set of statements. The statements on the left side were made by Cain, who chose to follow Satan. The statements on the right side were made by Enoch, who chose to follow the Lord. Each man’s statements reflect his attitude toward God.

OVERVIEW:

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Moses 5–7.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 5.

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Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that our salvation is made possible because of “three divine events—the three pillars of eternity” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 81). He said that these pillars are the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement, which are all part of God’s plan for our salvation.

This lesson helps us understand how the Fall was a necessary part of Heavenly Father’s plan to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39).

OVERVIEW:

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Moses 4; 5:1–15; 6:48–62.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 4.

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Green Mountain Building

This Sunday, members of the Green Mountain 1st Ward are participating in our annual ward conference. We will not cover the Old Testament lesson material this week. Stake leaders will conduct the various meetings.

I have posted handouts covering lessons through the first Sunday in March. I encourage you to study ahead. Next week’s lesson is #4: “Because of My Transgression My Eyes Are Opened”, Moses 4; 5:1–15; 6:48–62.

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This week we discuss the Creation and insights we gain from Moses’ writings in Moses 1:27–42; 2–3. Presently, our understanding of the Creation is limited. The Lord has revealed only that portion of eternal truth that our mortal minds can understand and that we need to know to gain salvation. This lesson reviews those truths the Lord has revealed about the Creation, particularly the great miracle of God’s  creation of the earth and  everything that lives on it. An understanding of the Creation helps us understand the nature of our mortal probation and enables us to understand the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

OVERVIEW:

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Moses 1:27–42; 2–3.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 3.

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FORE⋅OR⋅DI⋅NA⋅TION: noun, God’s premortal ordination of his spirit children to fulfill certain missions during their mortal lives.

When we apply scriptural teachings in our lives they become more meaningful to us. It is helpful to put ourselves in the place of ancient prophets and their followers as we read and apply the teachings. However, in Abraham 3:22–28 we do not have to put ourselves in someone else’s place because these verses are about important events in which we participated. These events took place during our premortal life. This lesson is about the premortal life, when many spirits were foreordained to do important things for Heavenly Father.

OVERVIEW:

Reading Assignment – study the following scriptures: Abraham 3; Moses 4:1–4.

Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Old Testament Lesson 2.

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