Old Testament Last Post

Well here is the last post for Old Testament it has been great sharing my testimony about the Old Testament!

Read Haggai and write responses to the following questions:

(a) The Importance of the Temple.

What did Haggai say were the consequences for delaying the building of the temple? 

The consequences for delaying would be a drought upon the land, and upon mountains, upon corn, new wine, oil and ground that bring good fruit.  

What do you think it means to put your wages “into a bag with holes”? 

I picture a bucket of water with holes. The hard work that is put into earning wages is just wasted and falls out of the bag. 

What does Haggai 1:4–6 tell about the priority of the temple in the lives of the people? (see also institute student manual commentary for Haggai 1:7–11, “The Consequences of Disobedience,” pg. 325).

Haggai tells us to think of all the thinks that the Lord has given us, and how we have not given back to the Lord. The Lord asked for us to build a temple, and we delayed. We should not delay what the Lord asks of us but set it as our priority. 

(b) The People’s Response to Haggai.

What did the people do because of Haggai’s message? 

It states in versus 12 that they obeyed and built the house of the Lord. 

Explain how you are making the temple the symbol of your membership and how the temple affects the way you live.

I feel like I make the temple the symbol of my membership by keeping the covenants that I made in the temple. The people that I associate with know that I'm a member and know that I keep the promises in the temple by the things that I do. Everything I do is affected by the temple. From the things I choose to wear and how I choose to spend my time. 

(c) The Lord’s Promise If They Build the Temple.

From Haggai 2 list the blessings and knowledge the people would have if they worked to rebuild the temple. 

1. The spirit of the Lord would be with them.

2. The temple would be filled with his glory.

Also, record three main points that describe how the temple is a place of peace.

The temple will be a place of peace because the spirt of the Lord will be there, the temple will be filled with his glory, and we will have no need to fear in the temple. 

Zion

(a) Read Micah 1:1–9; 2:1–11. Write a brief statement describing what Micah prophesied would happen to Israel and Samaria. Read Micah 3:4–12 and list the reasons why these things happened to them. Read Micah 4:1–3 and the institute student manual commentary for Micah 4:1–2, “What Special Meaning Do These Verses Have for Latter-day Saints?” (pg. 121). Then make a second list of Israel’s future reasons for hope.

Micah prophesied that Israel and Samaria would be destroyed. The reasons they will be destroyed is: they behaved in ill doings, judge for reward, teach for hire, divine, for money, and prepare war. Israel has a reason to hope for these reasons: the house of the Lord shall be established, they will be taught his ways, they will walk in his paths, and the law shall go to forth.

(b) What additional insights does Doctrine and Covenants 45:66–71 reveal about Micah 4:6–8?

The additional insights are: the New Jerusalem will be a land of peace and a place of safety, The glory of God shall be there, the wicked will not come unto it, it shall only be the people that shall not be at war and one with another. I feel that this is a very important part of Zion that the people will not be at war with one another. I think that war is more that just fighting but it is also judging and saying hurtful things. Zion will be the place were love is felt everywhere. Not just the love our Savior has for us, but the love we have for each other. 

(c) In your own words summarize the teachings in Micah 4:12; Isaiah 55:8–9.

The Lord has a plan for us. We don't understand the plan most of the time, but we need to trust in the Lord's plan. The Lord does things that we may not understand, and I feel that it is ok. 

(d) Read Micah 5:1–5 and the institute student manual commentary for Micah 5:1-4, “But Thou, Bethlehem, ... out of Thee Shall He Come ... That Is to Be Ruler in Israel,” (pg. 122). Then list what Micah said about the first and second coming of the Lord.

First Coming: A ruler from old and everlasting shall come out of Bethlehem

Second coming: The gathering of Israel.