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. 

Temples

Read Obadiah 1:17, 21; Doctrine and Covenants 128:5, 15; institute student manual Points to Ponder, “Saviors on Mount Zion” (pg. 259); Bible Dictionary, “Obadiah” (pg. 739). Explain in a paragraph or two what is taught in these references. In what ways does the temple deliver the faithful? How does the temple represent holiness?

These references taught me that through the temple we can receive deliverance. The temple is also the place that we can help the dead come unto the gospel. The temple is the place that saving ordinances can be preformed for those who can not do it for themselves. Everyone in this life has and will not have the chance to hear the gospel, so they will not be able to preform ordinances here on this Earth. It is through the temple that the people will still be able to have these ordinances performed for them. Heavenly Father loves his children and wants all of his children to have the chance to live with him again. He made it a part of his plan for his children to choose and received ordinances after this life. It is essential that those who have died have the opportunity to receive these ordinances, and that is why family history and genealogy work is so important. With out or ancestors we can not be made perfect and without us they can not be made perfect as stated by Paul. 
The temple delivers the faithful in two ways I think. First it delivers the dead who are faithful and can't preform saving ordinances for themselves. I also feel it delivers the faithful here on this Earth. Those who are faithful are those who can enter the temple. Those who are faithful and keep the commandments are those who go into the temple. 
Everything about the temple is holiness. You need to be worthy to go in the temple shows that the temple is a holy place. The temple is white showing holiness. The things preformed in the temple show holiness. The saying on the outside "holiness unto the Lord" represents holiness. The temple is holy!

I love the temple! I know that it is Heavenly Father's and Jesus Christ's house. I'm so grateful that I'm able to attend the temple regularly. I'm grateful that my ancestors have the chance to accept the gospel. I love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would make it apart of their plan for all of us to return back to him!!

Empathy

Read Ezekiel 26:1–3; 35:3–5 and write a statement that describes the reasons for the Lord’s anger with these nations. Read the chapter summaries for Ezekiel 27, 32. Describe in writing how Ezekiel felt about the fall of these foreign powers. List some ways you can develop empathy for those who suffer.

The Lord is against these nations because they looked at the broken state of others and made fun of them. I can see a little kid point at another kid that has fallen and pointing laughing. In both of these chapter summaries it states that Ezekiel laments. I knew that laments means sadden, but it isn't the normal state of sadness it is a strong pain for others. I decided to look it up and find out more about it. I found that lament means to mourn, or a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. This makes me think of our baptismal covenants and how we promised to mourn with those that mourn. We promised to be with those that have fallen and help them back up. Empathy is something that I have been working on a lot this semester. I'm not perfect at it, but I'm a lot better. Empathy is simply the capacity to think of others emotions and feelings. I have applied this by thinking that I don't know the whole story. I can't judge someone because well first that isn't my job and second there could be something happening in their life that is causing them to act that way. I always try to think about the other person before myself. Another thing that has caused me to have more empathy is just being happy. It is really easy to not have empathy is you are not looking at the good and being happy yourself. I know that as I have really made an effort to be empathetic my love for people has grown and I have been happier myself. It is hard but it works!!

Just be happy and love those that are around you, because Heavenly Father loves both of you more than you can imagine. 

Student Teaching update

First of all I don't think I do enough of these updates… Sorry. Well I'm over half way done! Graduation if 4 week or 26 days!! I will be in Rexburg again in 25 days!!! Then I will be off to Washington for a week! Can you tell I'm a little excited!
Student teaching has been rough. I have learned a lot about how much work it really takes to be a teacher. Teaching is hard, but so much fun at the same time. The other day I realized that you just have to look at the good, because there is so much good around us. I love my students! I love my mentor teacher! I love the experiences that I have with them everyday.
I have started applying for job, and man let me tell you that is a process. A 2 HOUR PROCESS! For each application!
Well speaking of student teaching I better get back to work… The big picture is just look at the good in things.

The Scattering and Gathering of Israel

Ohh man this one was kind of hard… Really when it all comes down to it we have no need to fear the Lord is on our side. 

(a) Read Jeremiah 46:27–28; 50:17–20, 33–34, 41 and explain in a paragraph or two what promises were given to scattered Israel. Read Doctrine and Covenants 110:11 and describe in writing what happened in this verse that relates to the promises of Jeremiah. What has happened since 1836 toward the fulfillment of these promises?

In Jeremiah 46:27-28 the Lord promised to save Israel from their captivity. This applies to the scattered Israel, because I feel that in this scattered state we feel lost and fearful. The Lord promises to save us from our captivity so there is no need to fear. Jacob shall return and Israel shall be at rest and ease. I feel that this applies to the scattered Israel by the returning of Jesus Christ. With the return of Jesus Christ at the second coming we will have rest and we will be at ease. The Lord will punish those nations or people that have persecuted Israel. He will also hold Israel accountable for their sins, but he will correct us in measure. He will direct us throughout time. 
The Lord will punish the king of Babylon. The Lord will punish those who have scattered Israel. The Lord will bring Israel back to his habitation. The Lord will pardon the sins of Judah.  Israel will be satisfied.  The Lord will plead their cause. Great rulers will come from the north. 
In Doctrine and Covenants 110:11 Moses is giving the keys of the gathering of Israel to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The gathering will begin with the tribe from the north where the great rulers will come from. 
I feel that gathering Israel is one of the biggest missions of the church. We have missionaries across the world trying to gather Israel. I also think the return of Jacob could mean the return of Jesus Christ in our lives. I know that as I grew up with out a strong knowledge of Jesus Christ I was fearful and lost, but now as I have learned about Jesus Christ and his church I don't fear. I feel a lot more at ease even with the chaos of the world around me. I'm so grateful to be gathered. I also feel that we have prophets to lean and guide us to help us measure up. Finally I feel that Jesus Christ pleads my cause everyday. 

Jeremiah a Great Prophet!

a. Read Jeremiah 16:10–13 and list five reasons why Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would be destroyed and Judah taken captive.

1. Walked after the imaginations of his evil heart

2. Walked after other Gods

3. Worshiped other Gods

4. Not kept the law of the Lord

5. Not hearken unto the Lord

b. Read Jeremiah 16:14–21 and describe in a few sentences what is prophesied to happen in the days to come. Additionally, answer the following questions:

In the days to come people will no longer believe in the Lord. They will then worship themselves or became vain and prideful. Finally the Lord will make his might know, and no one will deny he is the Lord. 

• How will the Lord take His word to the whole earth?

The Lord will send his word through fishers or fishers of men. We know the fishers of men to be the apostles. Our current fishers of men are the missionaries. 

• Why do you think the Lord used the terms fishers and hunters to describe what He would do? (see institute student manual commentary for Jeremiah 16:13–21, “Doom and Delivery,” pg. 241).

I feel that the Lord used the term fishers to refer to his apostles who were know as fishers of men, and later became the first missionaries. I feel that he used hunters, because of how literal that term can be. 

• According to Moses 7:62; Alma 22:14 what will be their message?

Their message will be their testimony of Jesus Christ. 

I loved reading Jeremiah this week, because his plain and strong prophecies!! I feel I know more about the second coming and the purpose of the scattering and gathering of Israel. 

The Last of Isaiah

Finally I'm to the last of Isaiah in my Old Testament class!! Here is my choice for this week's assignment:

How is the message of these verses one of comfort?

One of the comforts that I find in Isaiah 55:11 is that the Lord sends out his words and they don't come back void. I feel that when Heavenly Father sends out his commandments and revelations that we listen. I find this to be a great comfort that we as his children are listening to him. 

How can we come to better understand God’s thoughts and ways?

In 1 Corinthians it states that as we spiritual judge or as we spiritually try all things we know the mind of Christ. We need to try all thing as though Jesus Christ would. Finally as we try we will be better able to understand God's thoughts and ways.  

Give an example of when you have observed a clear example of God’s ways being higher than man’s ways.

The greatest example that I can see in my life of how God's ways are higher than mine or man's ways is how everything happens in the Lord's time. I have seen how the Lord has waited or prepared me for his time. The Lord knows where I'm suppose to be and when I'm suppose to be there. God has a way better plan than I could ever think of. 

Well now the I'm FINALLY out of Isaiah the only thing I can say is WHAAA HOOO!!!