The Book of Ruth (2 hr delay)

NO CLASS due to winter delay. Complete each assignment below and bring them to class on Tuesday to receive credit.

The Book of Ruth
This short, significant story took place during the time of the book of Judges. Unlike most of the stories in the book of Judges, however, it is hopeful, full of faith, and has a happy ending.

The Faith of a Convert
It is especially interesting to note that Ruth was not an Israelite by birth but was a Moabite (see Bible Dictionary, “Moab,” p. 733). Ruth married an Israelite of the tribe of Judah who lived in Moab during a famine. From the book of Ruth we can learn about the faith of a convert to the true gospel. We also learn that the love and mercy of the Lord are extended to those who desire it, even if they grew up outside of the covenant.

A Noble Posterity
You might be interested to know that Ruth’s descendants include David, who was a king in Israel, and the Lord Jesus Christ. As you read, look for what Ruth did that showed her to be a worthy ancestor of the Savior.

Please turn in the following assignments on Tuesday!

Ruth 1 - List at least three trials faced by people in Ruth 1
Choose one trial that is like one you have faced and briefly describe it.

Ruth 2 - Explain why you think Boaz was so kind to Ruth.

Ruth 3 & 4 - List at least three trials faced by people in Ruth.
Choose one trial that is like one you have faced and briefly describe it.

1. How might the things Boaz did for Ruth be similar to what Christ did (and does) for us?
2. How are Ruth’s actions an example “come unto Christ”?

Genesis 3 and Moses 4

Modern revelation testifies that the Fall was good, necessary, and a planned step in the eternal progression of all of Heavenly Father’s children. The Old Testament explains what happened in the Fall but not why it happened or what it means for us. One reason for this may be the loss of many plain and precious truths from the Bible (see 1 Nephi 13:25–29). As members of the Church, we can better understand the doctrine of the Fall because much of what was lost has been restored in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

We cannot completely understand the importance of the Fall in Heavenly Father’s plan unless we understand that because of the Fall, Adam and Eve would die both physically and spiritually (see Moses 3:17). Spiritual death means to be shut out of the presence of God (see Moses 5:4). Physical death is the separation of the spirit and the body. Although Adam and Eve did not immediately die physically when they ate the fruit, a change occurred in them that would cause them to eventually die. Eventually, they would die physically just as God said. Adam and Eve did not have the power to overcome physical or spiritual death.

Knowing these truths helps us understand why they, and we as their children, need a Savior and the Atonement. Adam and Eve were taught about the Atonement after the Fall. We read some of those teachings in Moses 5.

Before the Fall:
1. No physical death; Adam and Eve would have lived forever (see 2 Nephi 2:22).
2. No spiritual death; they lived in God’s presence—faith was not required (see Alma 32:21).
3. No progression toward godhood possible because of limited agency (see 2 Nephi 2:22).
4. They could not have children (see 2 Nephi 2:23).
5. They were innocent, knowing neither good nor evil, joy nor misery (see 2 Nephi 2:23).
6. They lived in a paradise where everything was provided without effort (see Moses 3:8–9).

After the Fall:
1. All things became mortal and could die physically (see 2 Nephi 9:6).
2. Adam and Eve were cast out of God’s presence and became spiritually dead (see D&C 29:40–42).
3. Eternal progression according to Heavenly Father’s plan became possible (see Moses 5:11).
4. They could have children (see Moses 4:22; 5:11).
5. They knew good and evil and could experience joy and misery (see Moses 5:11).
6. The earth also fell, so we must work for what we need (see Moses 4:23–25).

Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; and Abraham 4–5

The plan of happiness was given by a loving Heavenly Father to help His children receive immortality and gain eternal life. The Creation of an earth, where His spirit children could be sent to gain a physical body, be tested and tried, and develop divine attributes, was essential to this plan. The scriptures give enough details about the Creation to help us understand Jesus Christ’s role in the Creation and the Creation’s divine purpose:

• Jesus Christ (Jehovah) created the heavens and the earth under the direction of the Father (see Moses 2:1; see also D&C 38:1–3; 76:23–24; Moses 2:31–33).
• The earth was not created from nothing; it was organized from existing matter (see Genesis 1; Moses 2; Abraham 4).
• The spirits of all living things were created spiritually before they were created physically (see Genesis 2:4–5; Moses 3:4–5).
• Adam was the first man. He and his wife, Eve, were created in the literal image of God, and all people of the earth descend from them (see Genesis 1:26–27; Moses 2:26–27).
  God ordained one day in seven for mankind to rest from their labors and worship Him (see Genesis 2:1–3; Moses 3:1–3; see also Exodus 20:8–11).
• From the beginning, God gave us agency, which is the power to act for oneself. All choices made by exercising our agency have consequences based on eternal laws (see Moses 3:16–17; see also 2 Nephi 2:16, 27; D&C 130:20–21).

The plan of happiness was given by a loving Heavenly Father to help His children receive immortality and gain eternal life. The Creation of an earth, where His spirit children could be sent to gain a physical body, be tested and tried, and develop divine attributes, was essential to this plan. The scriptures give enough details about the Creation to help us understand Jesus Christ’s role in the Creation and the Creation’s divine purpose.

Moses 1

Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? How was life created on this planet? And why?

Moses asked questions like these, and beginning with Moses 1 God began to reveal the answers. Moses learned that:

• The God of the Old Testament (Jehovah) was Jesus Christ
• That he was a son of God (that means that you and I are sons and daughters of God)
• That the Holy Ghosts helps use to discern between good and evil
• That our worthiness affects our ability to feel and recognize the Holy Ghost
• That Jesus Christ created the heaven and the earth and all things therein
• That God’s works and creations is to help His children receive immortality and eternal life
  

Studying the Scriptures
Do at least two of the following activities (A–D) as you study
Moses 1.

A) Who Is God? Who Is Man?
1. Read Moses 1:1–11 and list what Moses learned about God.
2. List what Moses learned about himself in relation to God from those same verses. You may want to highlight these two lists in some way in your scriptures.
3. Explain how you think Moses felt about what he learned and why.

B) Why Does It Matter?
1. How did Moses use what he learned about himself and God (see Moses 1:1–11) to overcome Satan? (see Moses 1:12–22).
2. How might you use Moses’ example in Moses 1:12–22 to overcome temptation in your life?

C) Scripture Mastery—Moses 1:39
Moses 1:39 tells us the whole reason behind God’s works and creations. Note the definitions of immortality and eternal life found in “Understanding the Scriptures.”
1. Rewrite this verse in your notebook, putting your own name in the place of “man.”
2. Why is it important to know God’s purposes?
3. What “work” has God done to bring to pass your immortality and eternal life?
4. What are you doing, or what could you do, with what God has done for you?

D) Be a News Reporter
Pretend you are a reporter asked to interview Moses after his experiences in this chapter. Write down five questions you would ask him.

Abraham 3

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was”. In other words, not only was Abraham chosen for certain assignments before birth, but so were you (see D&C 138:53–56).

“For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days . . . some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly . . . There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us . . . Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight—and how tall we will stand (Elder Marvin J. Ashton in the November 1989 issue of the Ensign).

Even though Abraham was chosen for certain purposes (see Abraham 3:23), he still had to “prove” himself through obedience (see v. 25). In the April 1988 General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson affirmed these truths when he stated that, “The great test of life is obedience to God”.

Studying the Scriptures
Do activity A and then do two of the other three activities (B–D) as you study Abraham 3:22–28.

A) Scripture Mastery—Abraham 3:22–23:
1. Write what Abraham learned about pre-mortal life.
2. Read Doctrine and Covenants 138:53–56, which is part of a vision President Joseph F. Smith had of the spirit world. What information does the revelation in Doctrine and Covenants add to the revelation in Abraham 3:22–23? You may want to cross reference these two scriptures to each other by highlighting the references in your footnotes or by writing the reference of one in the margin of the other.
3. In addition to what you read in Abraham 3 and Doctrine and Covenants 138, consider the statement from the Prophet Joseph Smith in the “Understanding the Scriptures” section, and describe how these doctrines of the pre-mortal life affect you and how you feel knowing these things.

B) Look for Important Words:
1. Identify the words in Abraham 3:22–23 that tell who God would choose to be leaders on earth and when they were chosen. Write the words in your notebook; you may also want to circle them in your scriptures.
2. Find the phrase that most likely describes Jesus Christ in Abraham 3:24. Write it in your notebook and tell why that phrase describes Him well.

C) Write a Question:
Write an important question people may ask that you think can be answered by Abraham 3:24–26.

D) Apply the Doctrine
Choose one of the truths taught to Abraham in verses 22–28 and write about how it should, could, or will encourage you to live more righteously.

The Great Plan of Happiness

The essential components of the Great Plan of Happiness, of redemption, of salvation, are:

• Pre-mortal existence


• Spiritual creation


• Agency


• War in heaven


• Physical creation


• The Fall and Mortality


• Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
  o Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
  o Repentance
  o Baptism
  o Gift of the Holy Ghost


• The Atonement


• Life beyond the grave


• Spirit world


• Judgment


• Resurrection
  
  - President Boyd K. Packer

Studying the Scriptures and Study Helps

Your student guide has been prepared to help you read, study, and understand the scriptures. Most of your study time will be spent reading and thinking about the scriptures. The Latter-day Saint editions of the scriptures contain significant study aids that can help us increase our understanding of the scriptures. These include:

Chapter and section headings and verse summaries which either explain or give important background information to help you understand what you read

Cross-references which will lead you to additional information and insight on the topic you are studying

A Topical Guide (TG) which contains an alphabetical list of hundreds of topics with scripture references in all four standard works of the Church.

A Bible Dictionary (BD) which gives definitions and explanations for many biblical names and subjects

Footnotes that provide alternate (substitute) translations from either Hebrew (the original language of the Old Testament) or Greek (the original language of the New Testament), explanations of idioms (words or phrases used in a specific way when the scriptures were written but not commonly used today) and difficult constructions and clarifications of the meaning of archaic (old) expressions.

It also contains The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible; bible maps and photographs; and church history chronology, maps, and photographs.

An Introduction to the Old Testament

Ancient and modern prophets have stressed the value of the Old Testament in helping us come to know God. The Apostle Paul wrote Timothy, saying, “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures” (2 Timothy 3:15). The scriptures that were available to Timothy contained writings that we have today in the Old Testament. Paul said about these holy writings:

• They are able to make one “wise unto salvation”(2 Timothy 3:15).

• They are “given by inspiration of God” (v. 16).

• They are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (v. 16).

• They help the righteous become perfect and “throughly furnished unto all good works” (v. 17).


The Old Testament is about real people with real challenges and real problems; just like those we face today:

• Have you ever been asked to accomplish something that seemed impossible? Then you will relate to what Abraham was asked to do.

• Have you ever been treated unfairly by your brothers or sisters? Then you know how Joseph may have felt.

• Have you ever been confronted by a bully? David also had that experience.

• Have you ever been afraid of a task you were asked to do? This year you will learn how Gideon handled such a situation.

• Are people today tempted to break the law of chastity? Both Joseph and David faced that temptation but reacted in very different ways.

Like all scripture, the Old Testament is a witness and testimony that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all men, and that we must worship Them and live Their teachings to obtain peace in this life and eternal life after death.