Sparks for Latter-day Saints: A Come, Follow Me Podcast

Today I have one big long spark for you in which I begin talking about the rule in Leviticus regarding men’s hair and end with a discussion of what it means for God to judge our hearts. And I have an announcement to make. Due to changes in my life, I will be unable to continue doing the podcast. I will keep the podcast active for a few weeks after this episode goes live for those who don’t listen right away, but this will be the last episode that I will make. If you liked this podcast you will probably like the Abide podcast by the Maxwell Institute. They also try to keep their episodes on the shorter side and link to their sources as well for further reading. I have loved making these episodes for the past few years and I hope I have been a help in your gospel study and journey coming unto Christ.

Links

Peyos “Earlock” Guidelines

https://anash.org/kosher-haircuts-and-peyos/

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/81570/jewish/The-Prohibition-Against-Shaving-the-Edges-of-Ones-Head.htm

Old Testament Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/leviticus-19-27-a-law-of-performances-and-ordinances-part-3-laws-of-mercy-and-righteousness?lang=eng

Brain Sweat quote

https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/19.4MadsenBHRoberts-340f01d0-ddef-4186-8283-0005ae6e3125.pdf

Ellicott quote and Strong’s Concordance

https://biblehub.com/exodus/28-3.htm

Another Ellicott quote

https://biblehub.com/exodus/35-10.htm

Marvin J. Ashton

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1988/10/the-measure-of-our-hearts?lang=eng

Threefold Mission

https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/event/three-fold-mission-of-church?lang=eng

Fourth Point

https://www.ksl.com/article/8984614

Mission v purpose

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-differences-between-mission-statement-purpose-stan-phelps

Handbook

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/1-work-of-salvation-and-exaltation?lang=eng#title_number8

Weighing of the Heart 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Dead#cite_note-Taylor_2010,_p.212-47

For this week, I ended up with one long spark, focusing mostly on interpreting the scripture and the symbolism within them. I started with the question of 40 days and 40 nights, trying to remember what I’d heard somewhere about it being more of a phrase than a literal time period. Then through that research I found myself in material about interpretation. Some of which I used in a Sunday school class I taught several years ago when we were doing the New Testament and Revelation. And some of this I talked about at the beginning of last year with the Doctrine and Covenants, but if you have listened to me that long, you’ll still find plenty new information to learn today.

  

Links

Great and Last Sacrifice

https://rsc.byu.edu/behold-lamb-god/great-last-sacrifice

Old Testament Manual

https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-21-24-31-35-the-mosaic-law-a-preparatory-gospel?lang=eng

Moses with Horns Photo

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2obip6BcDaw/Uk4jIoZxEkI/AAAAAAAAKRw/U3dQFp1CN3k/s1600/Horns-of-Moses-2.jpg

Forty

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/the-symbolism-of-40-in-scripture/

Pattern of our Parentage

https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1984/10/the-pattern-of-our-parentage?lang=eng

Lost Language of Symbolism

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Language-Symbolism-Recognizing-Interpreting/dp/160908912X

Section 71-75: 1981 edition of the Scriptures

https://sparksforlatterdaysaints.buzzsprout.com/1472050/8717274-section-71-75-june-28-july-4

Lund – Understanding Scriptural Symbols

https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1986/10/understanding-scriptural-symbols?lang=eng

Church News Apostles

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/inside-the-quorum-of-the-twelve-misconceptions-about-an-apostles-service?lang=eng

This week we discuss Exodus 18-20, which covers the organization of the children of Israel after they leave Egypt and the receiving of the Ten Commandments. I’ll talk this week about the command to create altars of unhewn stone, very different from the temple altars or the sacrament tables we are familiar with. And I’ll share some words from Cecil B. DeMille, the producer and director of the American classic movie The Ten Commandments.

Link

Sanctifying Power of True Ritual Worship

https://rsc.byu.edu/gospel-jesus-christ-old-testament/sanctifying-power-true-ritual-worship

Cecil B DeMille

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/cecil-b-demille/ten-commandments-and-you/

Exodus 11-19 Old Testament Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-11-19-the-passover-and-the-exodus?lang=eng

Exodus 20 Old Testament Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-20-the-ten-commandments?lang=eng

This year, inspired by attending Ash Wednesday Mass and observing Lent with my friend, I researched Catholic and Orthodox Christianity celebrations. 

Links

Mardi Gras

https://www.catholic.org/lent/mardigras.php

Lent

https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/history-of-lent.html

Old Testament and Easter

https://rsc.byu.edu/ascending-mountain-lord/old-testament-easter

Holy Envy

https://uscatholic.org/articles/201908/learning-about-other-faiths-make-room-for-holy-envy-says-this-episcopal-priest/

Uchtdorf – Daily Restoration

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/41uchtdorf?id=p28-p37&lang=eng#p28

We are reading Exodus 14-17 and the children of Israel finally leaving Egypt and their bondage. We start with the parting of the Red Sea and finish with the water springing forth from a rock by the power of God. And there are two themes throughout these chapters: miracles and murmuring. 

Links

Professor Carter

https://humanities.byu.edu/what-are-miracles/

EOM - Miracles

https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Miracles

Old Testament Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-11-19-the-passover-and-the-exodus?lang=eng

Faith Matters Steward vs owner

https://faithmatters.org/are-you-a-steward-or-an-owner-a-conversation-with-ganel-lyn-condie/

This week we study Exodus 7-13, the plagues of Egypt, the passing over of the Angel, and the Israelites leaving for the Promised Land. I’ve spoken before on the Passover and about the blood on the doorposts, you are welcome to go listen to the Easter Part 1 episode from last March. Today I want to talk specifically about tokens. What they are and how we are to understand them when they come up on the Old Testament.

Links

Bible Hub “oth”

https://biblehub.com/hebrew/226.htm

Ask Gramps

https://askgramps.org/difference-between-sign-token/

Old Testament Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/enrichment-section-c-symbolism-and-typology-in-the-old-testament?lang=eng

Lord of the Sabbath

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-15?lang=eng

Draper – Sacrifices and Offerings

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1980/09/sacrifices-and-offerings-foreshadowings-of-christ?lang=eng

This week I’ll speak about the burning bush, the name of God, and Moses’s stammering speech.

Links

Prince of Egypt burning bush scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ds9y3lJGig

Burning Bush

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2820634/jewish/Moses-at-the-Burning-Bush.htm

Acacia Tree Flowering

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/acacia-tree-flowering-thomas-marent.html

Theophanies on Sinai

https://rsc.byu.edu/ascending-mountain-lord/theophany-sinai

I Am that I am – bible Hub

https://biblehub.com/exodus/3-14.htm

Verb -ehye

https://www.pealim.com/dict/454-lihyot/

Milk and honey

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/624194/jewish/Why-is-Israel-called-the-land-of-Milk-and-Honey.htm

Exodus 6:30 Bible Hub

https://biblehub.com/exodus/6-30.htm

Moses coals

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1644/jewish/Moses-Becomes-Tongue-tied.htm

The Young Messiah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVfmdLO2Ui8&t=71s

Moses Stutter

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1093373/jewish/Why-Did-G-d-Make-Moses-Stutter.htm

I want to talk this week about patriarchal blessings. That is what the brothers received from their patriarch, their father. First, I’ll talk about the lineage we receive in our modern patriarchal blessings. Then I’ll talk of the specific blessings of each tribe, perhaps in a way you haven’t heard before. And lastly, I’ll talk about what a patriarchal blessing really means. 

Links

Old Testament Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-37-50-joseph-the-power-of-preparation?lang=eng

Faust Devotional

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/james-e-faust/patriarchal-blessings/

Twelve Tribes – Twelve Paths

https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/1717386/jewish/Twelve-Tribes-Twelve-Paths.htm

Faust – Priesthood blessings

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1995/10/priesthood-blessings?lang=eng

Patterson Devotional

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/robert-s-patterson/patriarchal-blessing-message-identity-promise-love/

I talk for a moment about Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, Joseph’s coat, the story of Judah and Tamar, and I’ll end with a comparison of Joseph to Jesus.

Links

Old Testament Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-37-50-joseph-the-power-of-preparation?lang=eng

The Story of Judah and Tamar

https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-11-no-1-2010/story-judah-tamar#_ednref21

Syriac Christianity

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Christianity

Joseph as a Type of Christ

https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/joseph-as-a-type-of-christ-in-syriac-literature/

Lost Language of Symbolism by Gaskill

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Language-Symbolism-Recognizing-Interpreting/dp/160908912X

For my sparks, I have only two today. I discuss Jacob’s vision of a ladder, and Rachel stealing the idols from her father’s house. I also end up speaking a lot about art today, a favorite artist of mine from Israel and the Japanese artform of kintsugi. 
 

Links

Yoram Raanan – Jacob’s Ladder

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2778464/jewish/Jacobs-Ladder.htm

Second Jacob’s Ladder painting

https://www.yoramraanan.com/biblical-prints/jacobs-dream?rq=jacob

Jacob’s Ladder commentary

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/4962642/jewish/Jacobs-Ladder.htm

Moshe Greenberg – Rachel and the Teraphim

https://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Rachels-theft-of-the-Teraphim.pdf

Emerson quote

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2016/11/16/light/

Kintsugi

https://traditionalkyoto.com/culture/kintsugi/