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Today I have one big long spark for you in which I begin talking about the rule in Leviticus regarding men’s hair and end with a discussion of what it means for God to judge our hearts. And I have an announcement to make. Due to changes in my life, I will be unable to continue doing the podcast. I will keep the podcast active for a few weeks after this episode goes live for those who don’t listen right away, but this will be the last episode that I will make. If you liked this podcast you will probably like the Abide podcast by the Maxwell Institute. They also try to keep their episodes on the shorter side and link to their sources as well for further reading. I have loved making these episodes for the past few years and I hope I have been a help in your gospel study and journey coming unto Christ.Links   Peyos “Earlock” Guidelines https://anash.org/kosher-haircuts-and-peyos/ https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/81570/jewish/The-Prohibition-Against-Shaving-the-Edges-of-Ones-Head.htm   Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/leviticus-19-27-a-law-of-performances-and-ordinances-part-3-laws-of-mercy-and-righteousness?lang=eng   Brain Sweat quote https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/19.4MadsenBHRoberts-340f01d0-ddef-4186-8283-0005ae6e3125.pdf   Ellicott quote and Strong’s Concordance https://biblehub.com/exodus/28-3.htm   Another Ellicott quote https://biblehub.com/exodus/35-10.htm   Marvin J. Ashton https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1988/10/the-measure-of-our-hearts?lang=eng   Threefold Mission https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/event/three-fold-mission-of-church?lang=eng   Fourth Point https://www.ksl.com/article/8984614   Mission v purpose https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-differences-between-mission-statement-purpose-stan-phelps   Handbook https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/1-work-of-salvation-and-exaltation?lang=eng#title_number8   Weighing of the Heart  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Dead#cite_note-Taylor_2010,_p.212-47

For this week, I ended up with one long spark, focusing mostly on interpreting the scripture and the symbolism within them. I started with the question of 40 days and 40 nights, trying to remember what I’d heard somewhere about it being more of a phrase than a literal time period. Then through that research I found myself in material about interpretation. Some of which I used in a Sunday school class I taught several years ago when we were doing the New Testament and Revelation. And some of this I talked about at the beginning of last year with the Doctrine and Covenants, but if you have listened to me that long, you’ll still find plenty new information to learn today.   Links   Great and Last Sacrifice https://rsc.byu.edu/behold-lamb-god/great-last-sacrifice   Old Testament Manual https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-21-24-31-35-the-mosaic-law-a-preparatory-gospel?lang=eng   Moses with Horns Photo http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2obip6BcDaw/Uk4jIoZxEkI/AAAAAAAAKRw/U3dQFp1CN3k/s1600/Horns-of-Moses-2.jpg   Forty https://latterdaysaintmag.com/the-symbolism-of-40-in-scripture/   Pattern of our Parentage https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1984/10/the-pattern-of-our-parentage?lang=eng   Lost Language of Symbolism https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Language-Symbolism-Recognizing-Interpreting/dp/160908912X   Section 71-75: 1981 edition of the Scriptures https://sparksforlatterdaysaints.buzzsprout.com/1472050/8717274-section-71-75-june-28-july-4   Lund – Understanding Scriptural Symbols https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1986/10/understanding-scriptural-symbols?lang=eng   Church News Apostles https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/inside-the-quorum-of-the-twelve-misconceptions-about-an-apostles-service?lang=eng  

This week we discuss Exodus 18-20, which covers the organization of the children of Israel after they leave Egypt and the receiving of the Ten Commandments. I’ll talk this week about the command to create altars of unhewn stone, very different from the temple altars or the sacrament tables we are familiar with. And I’ll share some words from Cecil B. DeMille, the producer and director of the American classic movie The Ten Commandments.Link Sanctifying Power of True Ritual Worship https://rsc.byu.edu/gospel-jesus-christ-old-testament/sanctifying-power-true-ritual-worship   Cecil B DeMille https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/cecil-b-demille/ten-commandments-and-you/   Exodus 11-19 Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-11-19-the-passover-and-the-exodus?lang=eng   Exodus 20 Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-20-the-ten-commandments?lang=eng

This year, inspired by attending Ash Wednesday Mass and observing Lent with my friend, I researched Catholic and Orthodox Christianity celebrations. Links   Mardi Gras https://www.catholic.org/lent/mardigras.php   Lent https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/history-of-lent.html   Old Testament and Easter https://rsc.byu.edu/ascending-mountain-lord/old-testament-easter   Holy Envy https://uscatholic.org/articles/201908/learning-about-other-faiths-make-room-for-holy-envy-says-this-episcopal-priest/   Uchtdorf – Daily Restoration https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/41uchtdorf?id=p28-p37&lang=eng#p28

We are reading Exodus 14-17 and the children of Israel finally leaving Egypt and their bondage. We start with the parting of the Red Sea and finish with the water springing forth from a rock by the power of God. And there are two themes throughout these chapters: miracles and murmuring. Links   Professor Carter https://humanities.byu.edu/what-are-miracles/   EOM - Miracles https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Miracles   Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-11-19-the-passover-and-the-exodus?lang=eng   Faith Matters Steward vs owner https://faithmatters.org/are-you-a-steward-or-an-owner-a-conversation-with-ganel-lyn-condie/

This week we study Exodus 7-13, the plagues of Egypt, the passing over of the Angel, and the Israelites leaving for the Promised Land. I’ve spoken before on the Passover and about the blood on the doorposts, you are welcome to go listen to the Easter Part 1 episode from last March. Today I want to talk specifically about tokens. What they are and how we are to understand them when they come up on the Old Testament.Links   Bible Hub “oth” https://biblehub.com/hebrew/226.htm   Ask Gramps https://askgramps.org/difference-between-sign-token/   Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/enrichment-section-c-symbolism-and-typology-in-the-old-testament?lang=eng   Lord of the Sabbath https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-15?lang=eng   Draper – Sacrifices and Offerings https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1980/09/sacrifices-and-offerings-foreshadowings-of-christ?lang=eng  

This week I’ll speak about the burning bush, the name of God, and Moses’s stammering speech.Links   Prince of Egypt burning bush scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ds9y3lJGig   Burning Bush https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2820634/jewish/Moses-at-the-Burning-Bush.htm   Acacia Tree Flowering https://fineartamerica.com/featured/acacia-tree-flowering-thomas-marent.html   Theophanies on Sinai https://rsc.byu.edu/ascending-mountain-lord/theophany-sinai   I Am that I am – bible Hub https://biblehub.com/exodus/3-14.htm   Verb -ehye https://www.pealim.com/dict/454-lihyot/   Milk and honey https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/624194/jewish/Why-is-Israel-called-the-land-of-Milk-and-Honey.htm   Exodus 6:30 Bible Hub https://biblehub.com/exodus/6-30.htm   Moses coals https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1644/jewish/Moses-Becomes-Tongue-tied.htm   The Young Messiah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVfmdLO2Ui8&t=71s   Moses Stutter https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1093373/jewish/Why-Did-G-d-Make-Moses-Stutter.htm

I want to talk this week about patriarchal blessings. That is what the brothers received from their patriarch, their father. First, I’ll talk about the lineage we receive in our modern patriarchal blessings. Then I’ll talk of the specific blessings of each tribe, perhaps in a way you haven’t heard before. And lastly, I’ll talk about what a patriarchal blessing really means. Links   Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-37-50-joseph-the-power-of-preparation?lang=eng   Faust Devotional https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/james-e-faust/patriarchal-blessings/   Twelve Tribes – Twelve Paths https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/1717386/jewish/Twelve-Tribes-Twelve-Paths.htm   Faust – Priesthood blessings https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1995/10/priesthood-blessings?lang=eng   Patterson Devotional https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/robert-s-patterson/patriarchal-blessing-message-identity-promise-love/

I talk for a moment about Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, Joseph’s coat, the story of Judah and Tamar, and I’ll end with a comparison of Joseph to Jesus.Links   Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-37-50-joseph-the-power-of-preparation?lang=eng   The Story of Judah and Tamar https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-11-no-1-2010/story-judah-tamar#_ednref21   Syriac Christianity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Christianity   Joseph as a Type of Christ https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/joseph-as-a-type-of-christ-in-syriac-literature/   Lost Language of Symbolism by Gaskill https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Language-Symbolism-Recognizing-Interpreting/dp/160908912X

For my sparks, I have only two today. I discuss Jacob’s vision of a ladder, and Rachel stealing the idols from her father’s house. I also end up speaking a lot about art today, a favorite artist of mine from Israel and the Japanese artform of kintsugi.   Links   Yoram Raanan – Jacob’s Ladder https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2778464/jewish/Jacobs-Ladder.htm   Second Jacob’s Ladder painting https://www.yoramraanan.com/biblical-prints/jacobs-dream?rq=jacob   Jacob’s Ladder commentary https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/4962642/jewish/Jacobs-Ladder.htm   Moshe Greenberg – Rachel and the Teraphim https://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Rachels-theft-of-the-Teraphim.pdf   Emerson quote https://quoteinvestigator.com/2016/11/16/light/   Kintsugi https://traditionalkyoto.com/culture/kintsugi/

I start today by going back to Isaac almost being sacrificed, then I’ll share what I think of the story of tricking Isaac for the blessing, and I’ll end with a discussion about Mount Moriah, otherwise known as the Temple Mount.Links   Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-24-36-the-covenant-line-continues-with-isaac-and-jacob?lang=eng   Messengers of God https://archive.org/details/messengersofgodb00wies/page/96/mode/2up?q=isaac&view=theater   Midrash https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/midrash-101/   Temple https://rsc.byu.edu/ascending-mountain-lord/great-jerusalem-temple-prophecy-latter-day-context-likening-unto-us

Today my sparks concern the healing power of Abraham, and what one author called the Abrahamic Test.Links   The Wife/Sister Experience https://rsc.byu.edu/sperry-symposium-classics-old-testament/wife-sister-experience   Abrahamic Test https://rsc.byu.edu/sperry-symposium-classics-old-testament/abrahamic-test   Elder Holland quote https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/12bednar?lang=eng   Old Testament Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-18-23-abraham-a-model-of-faith-and-righteousness?lang=eng

This week I am talking about Abraham seeking after righteousness, the Abrahamic covenant, what it means to cut a covenant with the Lord, and the disciple’s journey.Links   Elder Maxwell quote – Pearl of Great Price Manual https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-pearl-of-great-price-student-manual-2018/the-book-of-abraham/abraham-1-1-3?lang=eng   Abraham Gospel Topic Essay https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng   The Abrahamic Covenant https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-4-no-3-2003/abrahamic-covenant-foundational-theme-old-testament   Cutting Covenants https://rsc.byu.edu/gospel-jesus-christ-old-testament/cutting-covenants   Facsimiles Arguments https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-4-no-2-2003/teaching-book-abraham-facsimiles   Joseph Smith Papers Facsimile scans https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/introduction-to-egyptian-papyri-circa-300-100-bc/1   Elder Maxwell quote https://deseretbook.com/p/wherefore-ye-must-press-forward-neal-maxwell-78567?variant_id=136892-paperback   Hero’s Journey https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/story-structure/heros-journey/#the_12_steps_of_the_hero_s_journey   Hafen Disciple’s Journey https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-c-hafen/disciples-journey/  

This week we read Genesis 6-11 and Moses 8, which recount the story of Noah and the flood, some genealogies, all the way to the Tower of Babel. For my sparks I’ll discuss the animals on the ark, the implications of the earth needing a baptism, and the story of Noah and the wine.Links   Flood as Baptism https://rsc.byu.edu/let-us-reason-together/was-noahs-flood-baptism-earth   Chiasm in Noah’s story https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/chiastic-structuring-of-the-genesis-flood-story-the-art-of-using-chiasm-as-an-effective-compositional-tool-for-combining-earlier-chiastic-narratives/   The Gospel and Animals https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1972/08/the-gospel-and-animals?lang=eng   Noah Drunk or in Vision https://latterdaysaintmag.com/was-noah-drunk-or-in-a-vision/   Garment of Noah https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-12120/   Noah’s Nakedness https://juvenileinstructor.org/noahs-nakedness-and-the-curse-of-canaan-gen-918-27/

This week we are discussing Moses 7. I’ll talk a bit about the history of the Book of Moses, the blackness of the seed of Cain, the law of consecration, the oath and covenant of the priesthood, and the new and everlasting covenant.Links   History of the Book of Moses https://rsc.byu.edu/book-moses-joseph-smith-translation-manuscripts/history-book-moses   Sons and Daughters of God https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/sons-and-daughters-of-god?lang=eng   LDS Living Black and Curse https://www.ldsliving.com/how-we-misinterpret-black-and-curse-in-the-scriptures-insights-from-an-african-american-convert/s/88562   Meridian Magazine Am I a Zion person? https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-11361/   Law of Consecration https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/victor-l-brown/law-consecration/   Oath and Covenant https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Oath_and_Covenant_of_the_Priesthood   New and Everlasting Covenant https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/12/the-new-and-everlasting-covenant?lang=eng

Today I’ll talk about the importance of knowing the patriarchal order of the priesthood, the history of the apocryphal book 1 Enoch, and the divine inspiration behind the act of writing as a form of communication.Links   Come, Follow Me for 2022 BYU Religious Studies Center https://rsc.byu.edu/my-gospel-study/come-follow-me/2022   The Ages of the Patriarchs in the Joseph Smith Translation https://rsc.byu.edu/witness-restoration/ages-patriarchs-joseph-smith-translation   Insights into Genesis https://rsc.byu.edu/joseph-smith-translation/insights-book-genesis   Eternal Marriage and the Old Testament https://rsc.byu.edu/gospel-jesus-christ-old-testament/eternal-marriage-family-old-testament   EOM – Enoch https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Enoch   Nibley Part 1 https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1975/10/a-strange-thing-in-the-land-the-return-of-the-book-of-enoch-part-1?lang=eng   Nibley Part 2 https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1975/12/a-strange-thing-in-the-land-the-return-of-the-book-of-enoch-part-2?lang=eng   Nibley Part 3 https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1976/02/a-strange-thing-in-the-land-the-return-of-the-book-of-enoch-part-3   Nibley Part 4 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1976/03/a-strange-thing-in-the-land-the-return-of-the-book-of-enoch-part-4?lang=eng   Nibley Part 5 https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1976/04/a-strange-thing-in-the-land-the-return-of-the-book-of-enoch-part-5?lang=eng

When we talked about Creation I quoted from a talk by Elder McConkie called the Three Pillars of Eternity. This week we are talking about another pillar: the Fall. Before I share what Elder McConkie said about it, this week I went searching for some of the other version of the fall to contrast what they believe and what we believe. What I found was that sometimes, we have more in common than we think.Links   Elder McConkiehttps://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie/three-pillars-eternity/   Catholic Encyclopedia https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/original-sin   Catechism quote https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/is-original-sin-stupid   Quran https://quran.com/7?font=v1&reading=false   Islam and Adam and Eve https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-about-islam/adam-and-eve-in-the-bible-and-the-quran/   Rabbi Friedman on Adam and Eve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXxZ7RMHt4g&t=452s   Father John Breck on Adam and Eve https://www.oca.org/reflections/fr.-john-breck/on-reading-the-story-of-adam-and-eve   Latter-day Saint Mag https://latterdaysaintmag.com/what-do-we-know-of-the-serpent-that-tempted-eve/   Messiah in Ancient America http://ancientamerica.org/library/media/HTML/tow7bp1v/34.%20WHY%20THE%20SERPENT%20SYMBOLISM%20OF%20CHRIST.htm?n=0

This week is the creation. We are reading this week chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, 2 and 3 of Moses, and 4 and 5 of Abraham. Each set of chapters are different accounts of the creation of the world. We are blessed to have three versions of creation to study. Two accounts are from Moses, but Joseph Smith restored essential truths in his translation, including the context for why the story of creation was told to Moses in the first place.Links   McConkie Three Pillars https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie/three-pillars-eternity/   Nelson – Creation https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2000/04/the-creation?lang=eng   Discussions in the Old Testament Genesis 1 https://youtu.be/hzPnMpAs9Bs   Scriptural Accounts of Creation: a Scientific Perspective https://rsc.byu.edu/converging-paths-truth/scriptural-accounts-creation-scientific-perspective#_ednref11   Xenphanes https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/xenophanes/#RefKno   Fallibalism https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_fallibilism.html

Hello. Thank you for listening today to the first episode of 2022. I hope you had a spirit-filled Christmastime that helped you think of your Savior. Hopefully today you can get another dose of goodness from me.I’ll talk today about some context the church gives us for the Old Testament, the importance of the knowledge of the Premortal Council, and the Atonement. Links Episode on book of Abrahamhttps://sparksforlatterdaysaints.buzzsprout.com/1472050/6391942-modern-revelation-how-does-it-work  Overview https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/come-follow-me-for-individuals-and-families-old-testament-2022/old-testament-overview?lang=eng   Premortal Existence https://rsc.byu.edu/apocryphal-writings-latter-day-saints/premortal-existence-foreordinations-heavenly-councils   Origin of Book of Abraham https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Book_of_Abraham/Origin Marginalian – Schrodinger https://www.themarginalian.org/2021/11/03/erwin-shcrodinger-my-view-of-the-world/?mc_cid=37e84db740&mc_eid=29d56caac2

Merry Christmas! Thank you for being here on this the last episode of 2021. As we close this year and think of our Savior’s birth, the Come, Follow Me study manual points us to the declaration known as “The Living Christ.” Links   When Was Jesus Born? BYU Studies https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/when-was-jesus-born-a-response-to-a-recent-proposal/   Nelson Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/drawing-the-power-of-jesus-christ-into-our-lives?lang=eng   The Living Christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles?lang=eng   We Talk of Christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1987/04/we-talk-of-christ?lang=eng   Chabad.org https://www.chabad.org   One Percent Better https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/54dunn?lang=eng