Lesson 4 Student Choice Assignment

Choice 7: Exodus 19. Preparing to Meet the Lord

Read Exodus 19:3-6, 10-11. Write two paragraphs answering the following questions:

·         What did the Lord want the children of Israel to become?

·         What did the Lord command them to do that would help them achieve this goal?

·         What was the promised blessing if they could accomplish these commandments?

·         In what way does this apply to us?

He wanted the Lord to become a peculiar people. He commanded the people to become sanctified. He promised that the people would be allowed to listen to God as He spoke. 

This applies to us because God wants us to be able to hear His voice, but we must be sanctified. We would be able to listen to God's voice through the Spirit. We must become sanctified if we want to be able to listen to God's voice.

Lesson 3 Student Assignment Choice 3

Choice 3: Genesis 29-30, 35, 37, 39-41. Joseph Endured His Trials

1. Read the chapter summaries for Genesis 29-30, 35. List the birth order of Jacob’s 12 sons. The order is Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.

2. Read Genesis 37:1-11 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 37:3, “What Was the Coat of Many Colors?” (pg. 93). Write an explanation of possible reasons Joseph’s brothers were envious of him. Joseph's brothers could have been jealous for these reasons: Joseph had a coat that was worn by one in a better class, setting him above his brothers, his dreams, his father's obvious love for him, and so on.

3. List the challenges in Genesis 37 that Joseph faced. How do you think Joseph felt about his challenges? How are Joseph’s challenges like the ones young people face today? Jealousy from his brothers, being stripped of his coat and tossed into a pit, then being sold into slavery. He probably was upset about it, but he knew things were coming his way that would be better.

4. Read Genesis 39:2-3, 21, 23 and find a phrase that is similar in all four verses. Then answer the following questions:

·         What did Joseph do in Genesis 39 that allowed the phrase in verses 2-3 to still be true in verses 21, 23? He resisted the advances of Potiphar's wife and stayed clean. When do you think Joseph made the commitment to be morally clean? I think Joseph made that commitment long ago. Maybe when his sister was defiled by Shechem.

·         Give examples from Genesis 40-41 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 39:21-23; 40:1-23 (pg. 95) that illustrate how the Lord remained with Joseph. He was able to interpret the dreams of the baker and butler, he was able to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, he was able to save Egypt.

·         Write two or three paragraphs listing the lessons you learn from the life of Joseph. What can you learn from Joseph about turning bad experiences and circumstances into good ones?

What have I learned about Joseph's life? Joseph's an amazing person. He was able to stay true to God despite his trials. He was able to save Egypt.

Now, I know I am no Joseph. I will never save Egypt, I won't be able to do what he did, but I am able to stay true to God. As long as I stay true, I will be blessed.

2nd Post of the BYUI Spring Semester 2015

This is again Choice 3 from our list of options.

Who Was Melchizedek?

Read JST, Genesis 14:25-40; Alma 13:14-19; Doctrine and Covenants 84:14, 107:1-4; and the

Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 14:18, “Who Was Melchizedek?” (pg. 67-68).

Write a paragraph or two describing what you found out about Melchizedek.

Okay, first off...Wow. I chose this option because it was going to be faster, but boy was it jam-packed full of info. Melchizedek was the King of Salem (which, by the way became Jerusalem, aka the city of peace). 

Abraham received his priesthood through Melchizedek. Melchizedek was very powerful in the Lord, shutting the mouths of lions and quenching fire. It is his name that was given to the Priesthood to avoid the repetition of the Lord's name.

Wow.

1st post of the BYUI Spring 2015 semester

This is Choice 3 from our list.

a. Read Genesis 11:1-9, Helaman 6:28, and Ether 1:3-4, and write your answers to the following questions:
• What was the stated purpose of building a tower? They were trying to reach heaven. Also, they were trying to "make [them] a name for [themselves]".
• Why do you think this angered the Lord? This angered the Lord because although they had a righteous desire, to get to heaven, they were going about it the wrong way. Also, they were being prideful in their attempt to make a name for themselves.
• What did God do to scatter the people? He confounded their language so they could not understand one another.
• Read Ether 1:33-43 and summarize in writing how the Jaredites from the Book of Mormon fit into this story. So, the Jaredites were in the land during the Tower of Babel and when the Lord confounded the languages. The Brother of Jared prayed to have his, his brother's, and their friends' and families' languages not confounded. They were then driven out of the land for their protection.

b. As is typical with Satan’s tactics, he will take a truth and twist it into a counterfeit. Note that the people building the tower of Babel tried to make a name for themselves, while the followers of the Lord willingly take His name upon them. Read Acts 4:12; Mosiah 3:17, 5:7-15; and Doctrine and Covenants 18:21-25, and write two to three paragraphs about how we can receive “a name” (Genesis 11:4) that will truly help us reach heaven.
There is only one way to "make a name" for us. We must take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. We must be baptized. We must live a life according to His will and obey the commandments.
This is the only way we can "make" a name for ourselves. If we do not take upon us the name of Christ, we will be cut off from the presences of the Lord. This should not be our goal.