Old Testament Lesson #35 "God Reveals His Secrets to His Prophets"

Amos 3; 7-9; Joel 2-3

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPHETS

"Prophecy is not designed just so we can build our time lines and figure out what is going to happen. Prophecy is designed to show us the character of God (His justice, mercy, sovereignty, etc.) and cause us to turn to Him." --Hampton Keathley IV, Bible.org


THE BOOK OF AMOS
There is a fabulous treatis on the book of Amos at Bible.org.  Rather than just quote it or paraphrase it, I'm sharing the link so you can read it word-for-word and not miss anything.  The only changes for Latter-day Saints would be that when the author asks, "How does this relate to us since we are not under the covenant blessings and curses?" we can answer, "It completely relates to us because we are of the House of Israel and under the covenant blessings and curses."

And, for those who may not know, Yahweh (referred to in the article) is Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ (Bible Dictionary).

THE BOOK OF JOEL
Bible.org also has a helpful article on the book of Joel.  It is interesting to note, however, that the author is not entirely sure of the meaning and fulfillment of the prophecy in chapter 2.  That's because he is not a Latter-day Saint.

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

"And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call" (Joel 2:28-32).

What is mount Zion referred to here? It is the New Jerusalem (D&C 84:2), to be built upon the American continent (Article of Faith 10).


Interestingly, although Peter quoted this scripture at Pentecost (Acts 2:17), and many scholars feel it was fulfilled at that time, the author of the Bible.org article does not.  Pentecost was missing several of the elements, he says:  signs, wonders, dreams, and visions.  In fact, the only element he thinks happened at Pentecost was the pouring out of the Spirit of the Lord upon the people.


Of course, he is right.  The full prophecy was to occur in the dispensation of the fullness of times.  The signs and wonders in heaven have not yet come, but the dreams and the visions and the outpouring of the Spirit are abundant.  This very scripture was quoted to Joseph Smith by the Angel Moroni in a vision.  The fulfillment of verses 28 and 29 began when Joseph Smith had his first vision, was shared among many of the Saints in the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, and continues to spread over the earth to this day.  Dreams and visions were not infrequent occurences in the lives of the early saints, and although sacred and therefore safeguarded, they are not highly unusual among the Church members today.  Elder Scott has said, "One of the most memorable and powerful patterns of communication by the Spirit is through dreams" ("To Learn and to Teach More Effectively", BYU Education Week, 2007, paragraph 50).  The outpouring of the Spirit blesses the lives of Latter-day Saints daily.  Every month miracles are chronicled in The Ensign.  

Note that the scripture does not discriminate between the sexes:  both sons and daughters shall prophecy.  This occurs daily in our missionary force, in our Priesthood and Relief Society, in our family home evenings, and in our General Conference sessions, since "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev. 19:10). 

The prophecy does not discriminate against the youth or the aged:  "old men shall dream dreams, and young men shall see visions."  Not only do those of all physical ages receive such manifestations, but also those of all spiritual "ages:" investigators to the Church as well as fourth-generation members have full access to the Spirit of the Lord as they exercise righteousness. 

And it does not discriminate by hierarchy of the Church:  even the "servants" and the "handmaids" will receiving an outpouring of the spirit.  That sentence could also refer to the fact that anyone who is a servant or handmaid of the Lord is qualified for this blessing.

Elder Scott gives us counsel on how to receive the outpouring of the Spirit to guide us in our lives.  "Spiritual guidance," he says, "is direction, enlightenment, knowledge, and motivation you receive from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.  It is personalized instruction adapted to your individual needs by One who understands them perfectly.  Spiritual guidance is a gift of incomparable worth bestowed upon those who seek it, live worthy of it, and express gratitude for it...

"To acquire spiritual guidance and to obey it with wisdom, one must:

• Seek divine light in humility
• Exercise faith, especially in Jesus Christ
• Strive diligently to keep his commandments
• Repent constantly
• Pray continually
• Hearken to spiritual guidance
• Express gratitude for guidance received."

(ibid., paragraphs 14, 17)

CONCLUSION
We in the latter days are blessed beyond measure with the gift of prophecy, both through the individual revelation available to guide us in our personal lives, and through the revelations our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, receives for the Church and for the world.

Quick quiz:  What was the last counsel President Monson personally gave to the Church members? 

Here is the answer.

Old Testament Lesson #29 "He Took Up the Mantle of Elijah"

2 Kings 2; 5-6

BIBLE BALDERDASH GAME

Teaching Tip:  Take three class members out of the room and give two of them a piece of paper with the following terms on it:

1. Abarim
2. Cab
3. Dothan
4. Ehud
5. Jebus
6. Scrip
7. Stacte
8. Ziv

Give the third person a piece of paper which also includes the definitions of the words:

1. Abarim: the mountain range Moses was standing on when he viewed the Promised Land
2. Cab: a measure that equals a little more than a quart
3. Dothan: a town ten miles north of Samaria, known for its good pastures
4. Ehud: a certain left-handed Israelite
5. Jebus: the ancient name for the city that is now called Jerusalem
6. Scrip: a traveling bag made of leather and used for carrying food
7. Stacte: a sweet spice used in the incense for the temple, probably made of tree gum.
8. Ziv: the second month in the Hebrew year

The person holding the definitions is to use them in the game; the other two people are to make up their own definitions, attempting to be as believable as possible.  The object is to fool the class into believing the false definitions.

Return to the classroom together and pass out blank pieces of paper and pencils to the class members, asking them to number them 1-8.  Call out each word and have each of the three give their definition, then have the class members write on their papers which person they think gave the true definition.  Don't tell the class members which definitions were right until all the definitions have been given.  Then go through the list and have the person who read the correct definition raise his hand.  Of course, it will be the same person every time.  Hopefully, this will be a surprise to the class members, that the same person had the right answer every time.  Point out how easy it would have been to win the game if you had told them which person would have all the correct answers.  Also point out that the appearances or the intelligence or charisma of the person giving the accurate definitions was irrelevant, because you had given the person the correct answers.

There is a humorous quote that applies here:  "This life is a test.  It is only a test.  Had it been an actual life, you would have received more information on where to go and what to do."  This is the way life is for many people on the earth.  Lucky for us, we know the single person who has all the right answers, who has been given "more information on where to go and what to do."  That person is, of course, the Prophet.

THE PASSING OF THE MANTLE OF THE PROPHET

1 Kings 17:1 tells us Elijah was from Gilead, the wild country in the east.  2 Kings 1:8 tells us he was a "hairy" man, or a person who wore skins or furs, and leather; he was good at wilderness survival.  (Nobody knows what "Tishbite" means.)

The prophet who took his place was Elisha.  Ask class members to find all that they can about Elisha from 1 Kings 19:19-21.  Some answers follow:

• He was a very wealthy man to have had twelve men plowing with twelve yoke of oxen at once.
• He had a family he loved and respected; he was a good son who wanted to honor his parents before leaving.
• When the call came, he was willing to give up his worldly possessions, as symbolized in his giving a feast of two oxen, valuable work animals.  Killing the animals showed that his course was final, irrevocable.
• Despite having been a powerful man, he was willing to become Elijah's servant.

As soon as Elijah's mantle passed to Elisha, Elisha had the keys and power of the priesthood, and it was obvious to everyone present (2 Kings 2:8-15).  They were very different in their earthly stations and in their personalities and talents, but each was equally worthy, and each held the same calling as Prophet.  The Lord gave the power to the person who was right for the time.

THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING THE PROPHET

Teaching Tip:  Ask five class members ahead of time to read the following stories about Elijah and then share them with the class in their own words:

• Elisha and salt in the water (2 Kings 2:19-22)
• Elisha and the ditches (2 Kings 3:12-20)
• Elisha and the borrowed oil vessels (2 Kings 4:1-7)
• Elisha and Naaman's leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)
• Elisha and his servant (2 Kings 5:20-27)

In each of these incidents, the prophet's commands made very little sense.  In the cases of the first four, those involved believed the prophet and followed his instructions.  In the last case, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, did what seemed logical to himself, and suffered ill consequences because of it.

THE VISION OF THE PROPHET

The prophet always has a vision that we do not have; that's what makes him a prophet, seer and revelator.  When Elisha's town was surrounded by an army, ready to take Elisha as a spy, his servant was terrified, and cried, "Alas, my master!  how shall we do? And [Elisha] answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.  And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.  And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:15-17).

Then Elisha temporarily blinded the enemies, offered to take them to the person they were seeking (himself), and instead led them to Samaria, where he restored their vision and let them go.  It may have been a real physical condition of sightlessness, or it may have been an inability to recognize Elisha as who he was.  But the point of the story is that the odds are always in the favor of the Lord God of Israel, and although we can seldom see or even imagine what His winning plan might be, it always exists and it always succeeds, and the prophet knows how to execute it.  Once we know this, we can give up our fear and trust the prophet fully.

INDIVIDUALITY, COMMANDS, AND VISIONS OF LATTER-DAY PROPHETS

When the Prophet Joseph Smith died and the saints were trying to determine the order of the Kingdom, and who should lead the Church, there was a famous incident in which Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young each spoke and it was readily apparent to those listening that Brigham Young was to take Joseph Smith's place as head of the Church.  In later years, those present referred to this feeling of certainty as if they had seen Brigham Young's face replaced by Joseph Smith's as he spoke.  Joseph Smith had been the Prophet of the Restoration and was perfectly fitted for that role.  Brigham Young became the Prophet of the Exodus, and his abilities, personality, and spiritual gifts helped him to move the Saints west.  And so it has been with each prophet: his particular gifts and visions have been ideal for the time and situation in which he serves.

President Hunter was our prophet for such a brief time.  He told us to become a temple-oriented people.  At that time, going to the temple more than once in a lifetime was nearly out of the question for many of the members of the Church.  Prior to that time there were not many Primary lessons about the temple, and there was always a caution in the lesson about being sensitive to those children whose parents had not been married in the temple.  And what point was there in telling humble saints in Africa or Asia or the South Seas to be focused on the temple?  For them to go was an impossibility.  But now the emphasis became entirely different:  not to simply avoid hurting people's feelings who hadn't been to the temple, but to tell them to get going, and if they couldn't go, to get ready for the impossible!

President Hunter's counsel would have been even more pointless if the previous prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, had not begged for and received the revelation that all people could receive blessings in the temple.  If he hadn't been so focused on racial equality in all temple blessings, how could President Hunter have told us that we should all be a temple people?  Because President Kimball felt driven to ask for the priesthood for all men, and temple blessings for all members, President Hunter could plead with everyone to be focused on the temple. 

And because President Hunter did that--and it only took him a short time to deliver his message--saints everywhere became more focused on the temple, more encouraged, more willing to be full tithe-payers and to be qualified as recommend-holders.  President Hinckley could then spearhead the enormous world-wide temple-building project of one hundred temples by the year 2000.  Those who heeded President Hunter's counsel were rewarded for their faith in the impossible during President Hinckley's tenure.

President Hinckley also had personality traits and spiritual gifts (talents) that were perfect for his time.  He was a fearless expert when dealing with the press.  He was inventive in solving the problem of bringing temples to more people.  He had a terrific sense of humor and counseled us continually to look on the bright side of life during fearful times.  When he advised us repeatedly to get out of debt, the American economy was strong.  Those who heeded his words were in a much better position to face the recession.

President Monson has continued to give counsel to be positive and hopeful despite troubled times and a negative press, saying, "The future is as bright as your faith."  He has continually stressed expressing love within our families; he has counseled us to enjoy the present day and the changes and challenges of our journey through life.  He has emphasized giving to others and blessing those in need, even in a time when many members themselves are struggling financially.  We need to examine his words carefully, and then examine our actions: do they match?  If the prophet's counsel seems illogical, unimportant, or even impossible, we had better take even greater care to follow it, because this indicates that he sees a vision we do not.

We can look all around and study opinions and recommendations to determine our personal course of action, but we would be wise to remember, as in the Bible Balderdash game, that if there is ever a question or a conflict between sources of information, the prophet is the one we listen to.  We may see others as being smarter, more experienced, better-looking, more financially successful, or as having access to more research, but none of that matters, because President Monson is the one who has been given all the right answers.