Wednesday, December 31, 2014 0 comments

My Blogging Year in Review: Small Plates of Michaela for 2014


The following are my personal favorite posts from 2014 because of what I learned and how they changed me.  I categorized them for your convenience and better contextualization.  As you can see, my primary focus this year was the Old Testament. Enjoy!

Old Testament

All the Blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Isaac Says Rebekah is His Sister

Jacob’s Messianic Blessing to Judah

 

Three signs the Lord gives Moses for the Israelites

What is the Covenant of the Sabbath?

 

Thoughts about the Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle

What is the Meaning of the Bells and Pomegranates on Aaron’s Robe in Exodus 28:33-35?

Lessons from the Shewbread

The Priestly Crown

The Candlestick in the Holy Place

The Ransom for a Census

 

Lessons from the Murmuring (and Over-Indulgence) in Numbers 11

A Sabbath-breaking Case and the Introduction of the Fringe

Murmuring and Rebellion about Priesthood Leadership in Numbers 16

 

Rahab Hides the Israelite Spies: Joshua 2

On Wiping out the Amalekites

Ehud, a Deliverer Raised Up

Gideon’s Debate with an Angel and the Sacrificial Sign

Gideon Destroys Baal’s Altar

Meaning in the Two Signs of the Fleece

How Lord Tests Gideon’s Ranks to Choose the Few

Jepthah and Jepthah’s daughter as a types of Christ

Re-examining Samson’s First Philistine Romance

Judges 17-18: When there was no king in the land

A Story of Procrastination in Judges 19

 

Little missed detail about the state of the Tabernacle under Eli

The Ark of the Covenant in Exile: 1 Samuel 5-6

Israel’s Repentance Process After Regaining the Ark

The Israelites' Deeper Problem with Wanting a King

Jonathan as a type of Christ in 1 Samuel 14

Eliab versus David as choices for king

The big lesson from all the attempts on David’s life in 1 Samuel 18

David flees the Manhunt

Nabal and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25

Saul visits the medium in 1 Sam 28

 

The Death of Absalom as a type of Christ

Why call Him “Prince of Peace”?



New Testament

How Jesus’s Water-to-Wine Miracle can Help Us Today

How Jesus gains his disciples through member missionary work

New insight on the Parable of the Sower

Using the Lord’s Prayer to Guide Our Prayers

The Woman Taken in Adultery

Watch For The Thief

 

The Manner the Twelve Choose Another Apostle in the New Testament

Paul finds some odd disciples

The New Song Sung Before the Throne

KJV Versus JST: the Woman Clothed with the Sun in Revelation 12


Pearl of Great Price

Eve, the Mother of All Living


Topical

Religious Freedom: Foundations, Privileges, Limits, Benefits, and More

How is the Holy Ghost always to be with each of us when there are many of us?

What can Baptism Metaphors Teach Us?

15 Ways to Study a General Conference Talk to Teach a Lesson

Take Heed to Yourselves

Reaching for Humility


Experience

Raspberries and Humility



Thanks for reading!




Monday, December 29, 2014 0 comments

29 Ways of Writing to Learn About the Scriptures


I stumbled upon an article  by Dennis A. Wright from the Religious Educator (a magazine for seminary and institute instructors) called “Using Writing to EnhanceLearning in Religious Education: Practical Ideas for Classroom Use.”  (Religious Educator 3, no. 3 (2002): 115–121.)

In this article, Brother Wright describes a variety of different writing activities that can be used in seminary and institute classrooms to help students think about the scriptures.  He lists 29 in all. (excited noises in all the land)  Check it out!

I was delighted to find that many of these activities are ones that I have done as part of my scripture study and writing for this blog.  I was pleased to find more activities to try.

I love the perspective Brother Wright gives about the importance of writing about the gospel, since it informs my efforts to blog about the scriptures:

The Lord esteems the writings of His servants so highly that He has declared He will judge the whole world from their books (see 3 Nephi 27:25–26).
But all the books have not been written. As students and teachers of the gospel, we have our own opportunity to write the words that God speaks to us. This invitation is extended to all the Saints, not just the prophets. Paul taught, “He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3). As a church, we seek to edify others through our sacrament talks, via the lessons we teach, and in our missionary efforts. The process of thinking and writing enhances the service we offer. When we help our students learn how to ponder the gospel of Jesus Christ through classroom and personal writings, we teach students to act upon an important principle of edification. When we encourage students to communicate their faith through writing as well as through speaking, we provide an important opportunity for the Spirit to witness the truth.

Learning to ponder the gospel of Christ through writing is an important principle of edification (often neglected).  Often I’ve only understood a scripture passage more fully while in the middle of writing about it.  If I had only thought and not written, I would not have learned as much.

Communicating faith through writing gives additional opportunities for the Spirit to witness of the truth beyond the bounds of our personal presence or even our lifetime.  (This is a hope a cling to as I continue to blog.)   I think it was Hugh Nibley who speculated that writing was given by the Lord for that purpose.
Saturday, December 27, 2014 1 comments

KJV Versus JST: the Woman Clothed with the Sun in Revelation 12


Revelation 12 has a significantly large JST entry, so I thought I would do a comparison between the KJV and JST to see what I could learn.  


KJV Revelation 12
JST Revelation 12
Analysis and commentary
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
1  And there appeared a great sign in heaven, in the likeness of things on the earth; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.
Calling it a sign instead of a wonder implies we are to find direction and instructions from this and the following imagery instead of just marveling over it.

Telling us this occurred in heaven and is in the likeness of things on the earth lets us know that the events represented occurred (figuratively) in heaven and they are happening again here on the earth.  This helps us because of the veil over our memories so that we can know the full significance and what our part should be.
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
2  And the woman being with child, cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
This seems to be meant to make it absolutely clear it is the woman this refers to. (Not sure why this was needed.)

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God and his throne.   [compare to KJV v5]
Changing the KJV v5 to be v3 in the JST may not seem to add much, but it gives the sense that the man child was born and then caught up to heaven before the dragon was even aware of it. 
This teaches us that God is much wiser than Satan and gets His work done before Satan can get it together.  It should give us great confidence in God’s plan and timing.
 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
4  And there appeared another sign in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman which was delivered, ready to devour her child after it was born.
Here again the wonder/sign difference is repeated.

If you notice, in the JST, the woman has already been delivered when the dragon stands watching her. 
JST v7 tells us that the child represents both the kingdom of God and Christ, so the dragon thinks that the kingdom of God has yet to be formed, when it was already formed with the organization of the church and then caught up to God as valiant leaders were martyred and received to heaven.  (Likewise, when Herod tried to kill the baby Jesus, Heavenly Father had already removed Jesus from danger.  When the leaders of the Jews tried to prevent Jesus from gaining more power, His death and resurrection and ascension to heaven brought him to the right hand of God, a place of universal power.)

Once again the message is the devil thinks he can frustrate the Lord’s plans, but he is too late and doesn’t even realize it.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.


6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
5  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore years.

Changing days to years makes this time allotted seem more literal than figurative, and makes us think of the Great Apostasy before the Restoration, but perhaps we should shift our thinking a little bit.  The woman fled to the desert (a barren, desolate place), yet she is nourished there instead of starving to death.  (Perhaps like the miracle of manna?) God prepared that place to be nourishing and it evidently has a food supply adequate for her to stay there 1260 years.   Does this sound like the Great Apostasy?  No.  This sounds like the church is living as it is supposed to and no one has any idea how they can live like that because it looks like life would be so hard and brutal and joyless with so much self-denial and sacrifice.  But there is more than enough nourishment there.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
6  And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought against Michael;

These changes make clear that the dragon has his angels just as Michael has his angels.  The devil has his followers just as the Lord has His.
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ.
8  Neither was there place found in heaven
Here is where Joseph Smith gives inspired interpretation that the child represents the kingdom of God and Christ. 
The addition of Michael, the child, and the woman in the setting of heaven further reinforces the idea that moral battles fought here were all previously fought in heaven as well, fought and won.
It is almost like all the evil was squeezed out with good.  No wonder we are to fill our lives with the best so that there is no room for anything less.
  9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

for the great dragon, who was cast out; that old serpent called the devil, and also called Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth; and his angels were cast out with him.


The differences here reinforce that the devil and Satan are the same entity, not two different entities.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
9  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ;
10  For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.


11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
11  For they have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death.
This verse adds that part of overcoming Satan (besides having faith in Christ, fighting with testimony, and sacrificing our lives if necessary) is to keep our testimonies to the end.
 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Therefore, rejoice O heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
12  And after these things I heard another voice saying, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, yea, and they who dwell upon the islands of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
The thing we learn here is that while one voice exults over the victory in heaven, another voice warns that the battleground has moved to the earth. 
Woe means great sorrow and distress.
 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

13  For when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
14  Therefore, to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might flee into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Changing fly to flee while keeping the gift of the wings should make us think here.  What are wings for if not to fly with?  The answer is they are symbolic of the power of God given to move, to act, etc. 
God gives the Saints the power to flee to a place of refuge—the Salt Lake valley, temples, church, prayer, home and family, Zion—all require God’s power to be a refuge where we can be nourished.

This verse also supports the sense of the woman in the prepared place in the wilderness as a time of the church’s faithfulness and not general apostasy.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
15  And the serpent casteth out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
At first, this seems like a meaningless change until you realize that eth changes the tense of the verbs from past tense to present tense.  
We learn the events of this verse are going on right now and will continue to happen.
What comes out of someone’s mouth?  Words.  Satan tries to flood the earth with all kinds of invective, slander, and libel against the church, anything to destroy its influence among men or to destroy faith.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
16  And the earth helpeth the woman, and the earth openeth her mouth, and swalloweth up the flood which the dragon casteth out of his mouth.
These things are also happening right now, as we are to learn from the change of verb tense.

This might be interpreted to mean that the libel and the slander attacking the church gets buried and ignored, never gaining much traction.   To us in the church it may seem like there are too many lies floating around as it is, but if the promise of this prophecy is being fulfilled as stated, then much of the anti-Mormon literature goes straight into oblivion and never fulfills its purpose.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Revelation 12:1-17)
17  Therefore, the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.



How are we to interpret the dragon becoming wroth and making war against the remnant of the women’s seed?  This represents a change of tactics when Satan changes from throwing most of his attacks at the church and its organization to attacking individual members.   This is becoming more common today with social media activism when some special interest group decides that a member is an offender in some way and dog-piles persecution on that person and those who support him or her. 

Note that the devil has failed three times in this chapter already.  1) He failed to devour the man child and destroy the kingdom of God and Christ.  2) He lost the war in heaven and was cast out.  3) His flood meant to carry away the church to destruction was swallowed up and absorbed.  

The final question of this chapter remains:  Will the devil succeed in his war against YOU in the battle TODAY?  

Keep in mind that we know we were involved in the war in heaven and we already won then with our testimonies and faith in Christ, so we just need to do again what we have already done before.   We did it before, and we can do it again. 




Friday, December 19, 2014 0 comments

Lehi’s Prophecies about Israel in 1 Nephi 10


1 Nephi 10 is kind of overlooked by us today because it is pretty much a summary of Lehi’s prophecies at that point in time.  It is almost like a chapter heading itself, except it is longer.

The notable thing about this chapter is its lack of notability.  There is nothing that surprises us because we know that it all happened as Lehi said.  Jerusalem was destroyed.  The Jews were carried away to Babylon and later brought back.  The Savior was born.  A prophet came to prepare the way for the Messiah and said what it was predicted he would say. That prophet baptized the Messiah and witnessed who it was.  The gospel was preached to the Jews, the Jews dwindled in unbelief, and they killed the Messiah.  The Messiah rose from the dead and made Himself manifest to the Gentiles through the Holy Ghost.  Israel was scattered again. 

Again, we know all this happened, and it may be really tempting for unbelieving readers to say that Joseph Smith just wrote a summary of important events in the Bible and this wasn’t really prophecy.  But I think that fails to understand the function of the chapter.  If the object was to commit fraud and fool us into believing, it is too obvious.  It is too easy for a suspicious person to “detect” and disbelieve, therefore it is really prophecy, and it is instead allowing the reader to choose whether to believe or not, meaning it is a test of the reader more than a test of the writer.  You have to believe in modern prophecy and seership in order to believe in ancient prophecy and seership.

So we must think about the function of this summary.  For Nephi it may have acted as a way to preserve the most salient elements of his father’s prophecies, and for him these were points of faith.  And considering he was writing this all while looking in retrospect of the prophecies, and since he was about to tell us about his vision/interpretation of Lehi’s dream, it seems that he picked out the points that corresponded to his vision, which makes him and his father two witnesses as to the truth of the future-history he is about to reveal.  In essence, Nephi sets his father as the first witness of the future and himself as the second.  (He does this most clearly when he quotes from Isaiah then quotes his brother Jacob, and then calls attention to those quotations as 2 witnesses in addition to his own.)

Now, one thing that puzzled me was why it was important to reveal so much information about John the Baptist to the Lehites and at this stage of time.  Usually the focus is on the Messiah, so why does the prophetic eye fall upon John the Baptist in such detail?

Right now my best answer is this—I think it is a sign that in spite of being scattered physically from Israel, it was for the Lord to show the Lehites that they were still grafted into Israel spiritually and that to those who are a part of Israel there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of the counsels and will of the Lord in any time and place.  It is a manifestation of the grace and generosity of the Lord in bestowing knowledge that will connect His people’s together though they may be separated by hundreds of years and thousands of miles. 

For those of us who believe in prophecy, this chapter is a sign to us that prophecy is real.  The Lehites knew about John the Baptist long before he lived and far away from where he lived.  The prophecy coming true is confirmed to us in a totally different book—the Bible.

It also helps give us confidence that the other prophecies Nephi shares that have yet to happen will come to pass.