29

Well I turned 29 yesterday, and I have been thinking a lot about the last 8 years of my 20's. Like most people I set goals. Goals are good, but they are even better when they are accomplished. I've been thinking about the goals that I set when I turned 20 and well have been setting all through out my 20's. I've met some of those goals. I have a college degree and a job, which is awesome. I have experienced a lot of other things through out my 20's such as serving a mission working at Disney world. I have even lived in five different states. What about those goals that I haven't accomplished yet? With one year left in my 20's is it too late to accomplish the rest of my 20's goals? I guess I have a year to figure it out. So here is to being 29 the last year of my 20's!

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. 

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.