Ward Blog

by Sister Jessie Embry - January 15, 2022

Sunday School January 15, 2023

8th Article of Faith

What does that mean? Nephi said precious things were removed. The Bible we have developed over time. Scholars determined the books to include and their order. In addition, as we talked about with the Old Testament, the New Testament is not written as a history. Each of the authors of the four gospels had an audience and a purpose in mind. The letters were written with a purpose as well. We will talk more about that as we go through the New Testament this year. We will spend half a year just looking at the gospels.

Today I would like to talk about some of the things that we do not talk about as much during the Christmas season.

I would like us to consider those at the time of Christ who did as Christ suggests in John 1, come and see. Before we get to that, I would like to share something that I used to study John 1 which is the assignment for this coming week. John 1 is full of doctrine about the pre-earth life and the plan of salvation. In the King James Version, the verses are very poetic. Read verses 1-3. And the first part of the chapter continues that way. I learned much by reading the Joseph Smith Translation of the first part of the chapter. And D&C section 93 also has valuable information.

After describing Christ’s baptism, John writes about the disciples of John the Baptist and others who showed the message of Jesus Christ’s mission. Let’s read 1:35-51. As we read, we will stop and ask who the people were and what they said of the Christ. And we will see Christ’s request that those who wondered that they “come and see.” This explanation is different than what we will read later in how Christ called his apostles in the other gospels.

There were others who knew of Christ’s mission. We talk a lot at Christmas time about the shepherds and the wise men. Luke tells of us of others.

• The people in the temple Read Luke 2:23-39.

• The people in the temple when Jesus was twelve and Mary Luke 2:42, 46-51

• John the Baptist John 1:15-28.

With those explanations, let’s consider how do we respond to Christ’s invitation to come and see? In Alma 5, Alma explains some elements of that. We often quote these scriptures. 5:12-15. (And more if we get to it).

Just like the disciples of John, John, Simeon and Anna, the people in the temple, Mary and many others, we need to open our hearts to come and see Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.

by Sister Jessie Embry - December 29, 2022

Hi--

What do you remember about when President Nelson announced Come Follow Me? What do you remember about the first year of using this method of going through the scriptures? What are you thinking as we repeat the process starting with the New Testament? I assumed that church employees have been busily working on a new manual because they need to be employed and busy. Janell Miller said she did not think so, and she was right. I don’t have my 2019 manual but I looked it up on line. And the first lesson there was You are Responsible for your own Learning there as it is now. And the lesson from 2019 and 2023 are the same.

So the lessons have not changed. Yet I am sure that you would agree that we have all changed. Just some thoughts about what we have all experienced:

• We saw a pandemic completely changed how we saw the world.

• We were blessed to a program that we could study at home because we could not at church.

• We learned how to communicate via technology (Zoom, etc).

And of course, there are the changes that we experienced individually. Marriage, baby births, deaths, job changes, etc., etc.

In addition, Come Follow Me has helped us see the scriptures how they apply to each of us individually. We can find our own insights. When we started Come Follow Me, the lessons asked the teachers to ask the students to explain what they had learn. That was hard on teachers who sometimes asked the question but were not prepared to take the lesson a completely different way than what they had prepared. I know one time I had thought carefully what I had learned in Come Follow Me and I shared it in class. The teachers simply said, “That’s nice. Anyone else?’

All of the podcasts I skimmed or watched this week talked about the need to be responsible for our own learning. It is not the teacher that feeds out information; it is the teacher and the learner (a word I had not thought of) that work together and feel the spirit. Today I watched Come Follow Up on BYU TV, and Scott Esplin referred to Section 50 of the Doctrine and Covenants. I am going to type out the verses rather than doing a cut and paste because typing will help me think more carefully about the words. And I will not type every word.

First, God asks in verse 13 “unto what were ye ordained?” God answers “to preach my gospel by the Spirit.” Verse 16 says “ye shall answer this question yourself.” Then in 17 the Lod asks if the teacher, the preacher “preach it by the Spirit of Truth or some other way?” and 18 says “some other way is not of God.” Verse 19 says “he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way” and verse 20 says another way “is not of God.” If all have the spirit then they verse 22 “understand one another and both are edified and rejoice together.”

God then says in verse 40 that “ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things” so “ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.” And as you do that verse 45 says “the day cometh that ye shall hear my voice and see me and know that I am.” The footnote refers to D&C 67:10 that says “inasmuch as you strip yourself from jealousies and fears, and humble yourself before me, the veil shall be rent, and ye shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither the natural mind but with the spiritual.”

by Sister Jessie Embry - December 11, 2022

Hi--

I am amazed how little I know about the 12 minor prophets. And I think I have read the Old Testament many times. This year has taught me so much about what the Old Testament teaches about . Among many things it includes Jesus Christ, the scattering of Isreal, the last days, and my own relationship with Christ. I have read several books that have helped my own understanding. And I have learned in these last books that we can learn from each other. We cannot depend on each other though. We need to find our own relationship with Christ and trust in that.

So here are some random thoughts.

As righteous as the people of Nineveh became after Jonah's teachings, Nahum tells of their destruction. Yet even though the Lord destroys he also saves. This is true of whole nations. It was true of Ninevah but is also a type of the last days. It is also true of individuals as Alma told his son Corianton.

Habakkuk shows that we can talk to God and expresses are fears just as Joseph Smith did in D&C 121. Yet we need to trust the Lord's timing. As I thought this morning about how something I felt was a clear blessing from God is not as clear right now. One lesson in Come Follow Me referred to Hebrews 10 and verses 35-36. "Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Oh dear, that hard word for me Patience.

Zepaniah tells us that despite what is happening around us our attitudes are what God is interested. We need to be righteous and meek.

In studying Haggai and Zechariah, how can we not feel connected to the Come Follow Me lessons when a whole page is devoted to Provo's (our) tabernacle and temple? For the time period of Haggai and Zechariah, one of the main messages is that the Jews needed to build the temple if they want the blessings. My study suggests that Haggai's spoke messages cover just a few months. Yet he preaching set the Jews into action in working on the temple. Zechariah takes longer and his message keeps the Jews going on their temple building mission. The books remind me a lot of the history of Provo. I could go on and on about how Brigham Young worried about how the people in Provo worked more on their homes than on the tabernacle. One of my favorite lines is President Young tell the people to "build that house." And when they finally finished the tabernacle, it was too small so Abraham Smoot was called to come to Provo and built another tabernacle. For those of us who lived in Provo at the time we can remember how we learned the tabernacle was on fire. And there are all the stories as it was transformed from a shell to a temple. A needless fire gave way to a new place of worship. What seems like adversity can be a blessing.

I was surprised that lots of sources suggest that Malachi might not be a person. The name means "my messenger." We quote Malachi a lot in terms of tithing and Elijah. There are other messages we can learn. And I could go on and on about what the appearance of Elijah means not only to us but to the world turning their hearts to their fathers.

And finally I have always referred to Isaiah's messages of Jesus Christ and the last days. Now I have learned that the New Testament also quotes the 12 minor prophets. And those prophets also talk about the last days. A while ago I had the thought to I really believe the 10th article of faith? And if I do, how do I make it happen other than repeating it when I think through the statements of belief? What am I doing to be like Jesus in my own life and in helping others? I had an interesting thought as I looked at the Nativity scene on the temple grounds and then looked into the pavilion at the Christus statute. What happened in those 33 short years between Christ's birth and his resurrection? How did Christ, Mary, Josephsee these events. How should I see them. I tried to take a picture with my phone to express those thoughts. It cannot tell the whole story. Yet it gave me an image to remember my thoughts.

Finally, I ask are you ready for Christmas? What does that mean. I have not followed my usual December pattern to read about Christ's book in the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. That has been my pattern for years to get ready for Christmas, so I will move to that—remember not to neglect the Old Testament where prophets looked forward to Christ and my study of the Book of Mormon where modern prophets have promised me if I read it daily I will be blessed.

Thanks for giving me an excuse to write my thoughts and think someone is listening.

Jessie

Jessie

by Sister Jessie Embry - August 29, 2022

There are times that I wish that I could teach Gospel Doctrine every Sunday. There are times that I am glad I don't. The readings for last week might be one of those that I am glad I don't. I hope that you enjoyed reading Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. I like reading both but they are hard to sit down and read like a novel. It is in some way harder than reading Psalms because each verse is often its own message. Some of the things I read or watched suggested that the first chapters of Proverbs are instructions from a father to his son. Throughout Proverbs there are instructions on knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom is usually referred to as "she." There are some interesting concepts about why she. I think that the reason is just that unlike English many nouns are female or male. That would have been the case in Hebrew. There is a theory that wisdom refers to Mother in Heaven. I am not going to expand because I don't follow it. It is interesting that there are two types of women referred to--the religious women Proverbs 31 and the adulterous women in various places since as Psalms 7.

Sometimes I just glance at Proverbs and read a few verses. And then I have to stop and think what does that mean. For example, Proverbs 6:12-14

"A naughty person, a wicked person, walked with a froward mouth (the note says perverse)

He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teaches with his fingers;

Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischieft continually; he soweth discord."

I wonder if that is me and then verse 15 "therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy."

I need to work on Proverbs 15:1: "A soft answer turned away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger."

Or what does Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" or 25:14 "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and winds without rain," We have had a few clouds and winds with no rain recently.

I could go on. I am sure you have some that stand up to you.

My Great Courses class says that Ecclesiastes is one of the most depressing of all books in the Bible and comes after the upbeat Proverbs. In especially the first half the Preacher says that everything is vanity. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. The instructor said that he has reread the book and now is more hopeful. There may seem that there is little we can do but he concludes with Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Le us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." and then the final verse that God "shall bring every work into judgement."

Isaiah will present its own challenges--just different ones. Stay tune.

Jessie

by Sister Jessie Embry - August 16, 2022

While we will be singing psalms for Sunday School, I have been doing some research on the book of psalms that you might find interesting. Many of these thoughts came from the study guide from BYU Studies.

There was an article about the requirements for entering the temple. It refers to Psalms 24 and 15. 15 lists steps that those who enter the temple will walk with integrity, worked righteousness, spoke truth, despised reprobates, had sworn to do no evil, had not slandered, had done no evil to his neighbor, had not lifted up a reproach against his relative, had not charged interest for his money and had not taken a bribe against the innocent.

Another article talked about how hard it was to translate Psalms. The members of the committee doing the King James version did the textual analysis individually. But for Psalms they met together and worked through each phrase. Think how hard it would be to create Psalms 23 that reads as poetry in English yet was written in another language. The Psalms were arranged in a order. This article lists 7 types of Psalms.

I went through the hymnal and found about 70 hymns that the Psalms are referenced. I look at other hymns that I think came from the Psalms.

I think I got part of another idea from Come Follow Me. I think I have expanded on it. Psalms were written to be read. Come Follow Up on BYU TV suggest that the Psalms are to praise the Lord. So I had this thought that we could each write a Psalm using the words that we use today like awesome, etc. So I came up with a few phrases that you could fill in the blanks with words that means something to you.

The Lord is my .

He brings me .

His word fills my soul with

I am filled with as I think of His .

Lord, my heart is .

How can I find Thee?

Help me turn to Thee for .

I know that my life will be with your efforts.

God, you are

You are my .

You help me understand

the Lord. He brings us until the

I look forward to singing Psalms.

Jessie

by Sister Jessie Embry - April 24, 2022

Dave Wright told me about a daily email/website called Israel 365 that looks at various topics many from the Old Testament that give views from a Jewish point of view. I have archived a number of those thinking they would apply to future lessons. I went through them today. There were a number on the plagues in Egypt that you might find interesting. Since we are past that in Sunday School, I did not create a document with them. I did find a number that refer to the lessons we will have during the next few weeks. (Link Here)

Dave gave me a book that includes Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible alongside the KJV. I found two interesting things. One was that the two stone tablets had different information because of the Golden Calf. Another one was that JST says that a sinful man could not see the face of God and that is why God showed his backside. There is a suggestion in one of the attachments that the backside was God's head.

Young Women's Activity Up Rock Canyon - Photos for April 7

Activity Days for Girls - Photos for April 21

by Sister Jessie Embry - April 2, 2022

I returned to studying the Old Testament today. I had two thoughts. First Moses' advice from his father in law was important to Moses. For me it is important to try to truly sustain the leaders over me and try to help them so they are not overburdened.

The student edition of the NIV of the Bible that I have been comparing to the KJV asked an interesting question about the ten commandments. What if the thou shalt not commandments were worded positively rather than negatively? And while I am sure it is not a revelation to any of you, but I thought of the Sermon on the Mount when Christ said he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. And then Christ listed many of the negative ten commandments into more than just action and focused more on thoughts. The Sermon on the Mount in the JST and the Book of Mormon are places to look at the ten commandments so that we are more than the Pharisees.

by Sister Jessie Embry

Today is Palm Sunday, a day that many in the Christian world celebrate Christ's triumph ride into Jerusalem. The rest of this week is referred to as the Holy Week. In years past and I think this year I will continue my tradition to read the story of Christ's last week as part of my scripture study. The week goes from the high of the ride into Jerusalem to the low of the trials and death of Jesus and then ends at the beginning of next week with the blessed resurrection and the hope for all of us for the future life.

Today as I read the gospel accounts of Palm Sunday and looked up the prophecies in the Old Testament, I especially noticed the excitement of the people in celebrating their Lord. In Luke it records that as the people said "Blessed be the Kind that cometh in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven, and glory in the highest," the Pharisees said "master, rebuke thy disciples" as if don't let the people celebrate. And Jesus said,

"I tell you that, if these stones held their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

For me that means all elements of the earth knew what was to come and celebrated the beginning of the atonement that would allow all man kind and even the earth to fulfill God's mission.