Talking Scripture

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – A brief overview of these chapters.

02:15 – Jethro counsels Moses to delegate certain tasks. Delegation gives opportunities for growth.

19:41 – The Lord covenants to make Israel a peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Time, pressure, and heat create jewels.

29:26 – The cultural context of Exodus 19.15. Our doctrine is that intimacy and having children is holy and good within the bonds of marriage.

30:29 – The greatness of the glory of God requires transfiguration for individuals to enter into his presence.

32:36 – D&C 84 adds that Moses was preparing Israel for temple covenants to bring them into the presence of God.

35:35 – The Lord reveals the Ten Commandments.

43:56 – Rhymes to easily remember the Ten Commandments.

47:48 – An example of a modern day set of Ten Commandments.

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The post Ep 149 | Exodus 18-20, Come Follow Me (April 18-24) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – A brief overview of these chapters.

02:09 – The children of Israel murmur and complain in the wilderness. As a comparison, Nephi’s trust in God blesses his wilderness experience.

08:43 – The Book of Mormon gives added insight as to why murmuring is such a problem. The key to happiness is to remember the greatness of God in both pain and prosperity.

19:32 – A possible location of Sinai is discussed as evidence of historicity in the book of Exodus. Revelation came to Moses “when he was on the move.”

23:54 – The night crossing of the Red Sea can represent Jesus conquering chaos in our lives. Psalm 74 also addresses these themes.

29:29 – The children of Israel sing the Song of the Sea and rejoice in their deliverance.

37:10 – The beginning and end of the Exodus story has women standing as witnesses to the miraculous. Miriam is there at Moses’ birth and at the Song of the Sea.

43:17 – Some approaches to Biblical scholarship may be helpful in understanding why the Bible has some traditions that cast Miriam in a bad light.

47:30 – Miriam dies at Kadesh and the water dries up. Miriam as a symbol of the women in the New Testament named Mary who witnessed Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection.

51:41 – The bitter water is sweetened with a tree. The Savior heals us too.

55:27 – The Lord rains manna from heaven and sends quail for meat to feed the children of Israel for 40 years. God will take care of us in the deserts of our lives.

1:02:40 – Moses smites a rock and water gushes forth. Jewish theologians over the years had a tradition that the rock at the beginning and at the end of Exodus was the same rock. Paul worked this tradition into his discussion of Christ, and so to him, the rock was Jesus.

1:08:01 – Amalek battles with the Israelites and Moses’ hands are held up so that Israel may be victorious. We sustain the prophet and our local leaders, and by so doing, we hold up their hands that hang down.

1:10:59 – An invitation to remember what God has done for us.

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The post Ep 148 | Exodus 14-17, Come Follow Me (April 4-10) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – Multiplying signs and the law of increasing witnesses. God increases in severity as an act of kindness towards those he strives to redeem.

05:13 – The Lord wants to save Israel. A summary of the escalation of the plagues as a sign of God’s mercy towards Egypt.

18:53 – Nephi’s journey to the Promised Land has many parallels with the Exodus story.

21:26 – Pharaoh’s heart is hardened and he is angry that the Israelites are spared from the plagues. The world often attempts to dismiss God’s miracles.

22:55 – The ten plagues can be seen as a contest between the Egyptian gods and the power of Jehovah. Later, Christians will interpret the signs given by the magicians of Pharaoh as the power of the adversary.

32:17 – Moses did not present the whole truth to Pharaoh, rather he only gave him what was needful. Truth is to be given gradually.

45:30 – The significant and relevance of the Passover. The blood of the Lamb saved Israel anciently and continues to do so today. Jesus is the Passover Lamb, slain for the sins of the world.

54:24 – The Passover ordinance was changed from a local family experience to a national pilgrimage in the writings of Deuteronomy.

55:50 – The mark of the blood of the lamb saves the righteous.

58:19 – Accurately numbering the Israelites is difficult because of the nuanced meaning of the word eleph. Israel likely was composed of a mixed multitude when they departed Egypt.

1:02:01 – These chapters emphasize the importance of remembering. As we remember who saved Israel from destruction, our hearts are pointed to the Savior who saves us as well.

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The post Ep 147 | Exodus 7-13, Come Follow Me (March 28-April 3) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – The children of Israel are placed in bondage by the Egyptians. Moses is born and saved through the efforts of heroic women like Jochebed, Shiprah, Puah, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter.

08:58 – Moses flees from Egypt, meets Jethro, marries Zipporah, and speaks with God at the burning bush.

12:01 – The Lord knows our sorrows and suffering. Deliverance is a process.

18:40 – God helps us bear our burdens in the space between bondage and deliverance. Our bones thicken to match the weight they carry.

26:02 – Moses is called to deliver Israel from bondage and God gives him signs or tokens.

28:39 – Meanings of the divine name “I Am That I Am.”

35:07 – We are encouraged to act and not be acted upon.

37:35 – God tells Moses that he will lead Israel to a land flowing with milk and honey.

50:42 – Making time for rest and connecting with heaven is essential.

57:40 – Ways to interpret God making Pharaoh’s heart “heavy.”

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The post Ep 146 | Exodus 1-6, Come Follow Me (March 21-27) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – A brief overview of these chapters.

08:03 – Joseph acknowledges to his brothers that God was aware of his trials, and that ultimately they were for his good.

13:25 – A comparison of God’s fairness and mercy.

22:17 – Judah offered himself in place of Benjamin for his father’s sake.

27:08 – The Savior can fix broken things.

30:00 – Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as tribes of Israel.

39:03 – A closer look at some complicated passages you may be wondering about.

42:23 – How the Egyptian Book of the Dead may be related to the book of Genesis.

49:31 – Jacob knew loss and what it was like to live in a world of chaos and sin.

54:55 – Jacob confers patriarchal blessings upon each of his sons before he passes away.

1:02:54 – The Bible and the Book of Mormon were destined to come together and bless the world.

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The post Ep 145 | Genesis 42-50, Come Follow Me (March 14-20) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – Joseph of Egypt: An example of living the covenant with steady discipleship.

06:52 – Shechem defiles Dinah. Simeon and Levi seek revenge by wiping out the inhabitants of the city.

13:01 – Rachel bears Benjamin and dies in childbirth. She is buried in Bethlehem.

17:57 – Reuben sins with Bilhah.

21:29 – Joseph is sold into Egypt by his brothers. Joseph is a visionary man.

25:01 – Alternate readings of “the coat of many colors.”

28:45 – In Jewish legend, Joseph of Egypt possessed a sacred stone that was passed down from Adam.

36:07 – Judah sins with Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law, and she bears twins.

43:13 – Joseph rises to prominence wherever he goes. Joseph is a seer.

46:58 – We can employ Joseph’s strategies for overcoming temptation.

51:36 – Joseph interprets dreams and eventually becomes a ruler of Egypt.

55:49 – Finding temple symbolism in this story.

58:42 – Joseph marries Asenath. Hugh Nibley’s research teaches us more about her identity.

1:03:51 – Joseph as a type of Christ.

1:06:51 – As descendants of Joseph, we are called to gather God’s children.

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The post Ep 144 | Genesis 37-41, Come Follow Me (March 7-13) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:30 – A brief overview of these chapters.

04:27 – Jacob’s story emphasizes the importance of keeping the covenant in the family first.

13:52 – The geopolitical situation between Judah and Israel may have influenced the text.

15:36 – The Book of Mormon teaches that when we treat family like the enemy, we open the door to the real enemy.

16:50 – “Jacob’s Ladder” can be viewed as a heavenly vision of the Lord. Bethel as a representation of modern-day temples.

25:04 – Jacob meets Rachel at a well. The matriarchs are often associated with water.

28:07 – Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah first since she is the older sister. He then marries Rachel, but must serve 7 years for her.

30:58 – The image of opening a mother’s womb as a manifestation of heavenly power. The sanctity of life is very important to God.

38:26 – The names of the children of Israel are puns that expose the rivalry between the sisters Rachel and Leah.

43:34 – Faith in God includes faith in his timing, even for righteous desires. God remembered Rachel and he will remember you.

48:03 – The Lord (or an angel) tells Jacob to leave Haran. Jacob and Laban hold a contest regarding the fertility of their flocks. Rachel hides Laban’s “household gods.”

53:36 – Jacob’s reconciliation with Laban through a covenant.

57:32 – Jacob asks God for a blessing to endure well and reconcile with Esau (Gen. 32.7-12). Jacob wrestles with a “man” (Gen. 32.24) or God (Gen. 32.30). A comparison between Jacob’s wrestle in Genesis and Enos’ wrestle in the Book of Mormon.

1:05:20 – Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, which can mean “let God prevail.” We also receive a new name when we become followers of Christ and in other times of our lives. The symbol of the embrace.

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The post Ep 143 | Genesis 28-33, Come Follow Me (February 28-March 6) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:32 – Those searching for an eternal companion can learn valuable lessons from the story of Isaac and Rebekah.

04:27 – “He shall send his angel before thee to help” in Genesis 24.20.

06:55 – A caution: The Lord has not chosen one particular person to be your spouse.

09:32 – The servant’s test of how to choose an eternal companion. If you are looking for a 3-3 marriage, be a 3!

23:43 – Archetypes in Genesis. Four ways to read the text, with three important lenses. The temple symbolism of Rebekah at the well.

30:57 – Abraham marries Keturah after the death of Sarah.

33:56 – The sons of Ishmael and their “castles” in Genesis 25.12-18.

35:29 – Abraham died and was gathered to his people. These verses echo eternal truths regarding the reunification of families in the Spirit World after death.

39:22 – Rebekah and Isaac have twins named Jacob and Esau. These men represent two nations.

46:39 – Esau is the progenitor of the Edomites.

50:04 – Esau sells the birthright in Genesis 25.29-34. Esau’s tears remind us to not despise the blessings within our reach.

1:00:51 – The people of the covenant always seek sacred places to commune with God.

1:03:58 – The literal reading (peshat) of Genesis 27.1-40 with 4 points of emphasis from the Institute Manual.

1:11:19 – Patterns, types, and figures may provide deeper meaning to Genesis 27. Reading this text with an allegorical (remez) and sacred temple approach (sod).

1:22:23 – The tripart structure of the creation and the three Patriarchs may increase our understanding of temple symbolism and show us Rebekah’s essential purpose in this story.

1:32:13 – We can accept the responsibility of the Abrahamic Covenant by sharing the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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The post Ep 142 | Genesis 24-27, Come Follow Me (February 21-27) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – An overview of these sections.

02:05 – Abraham’s prophetic call and the symbolism of the mighty tree with sacred associations.

13:29 – “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

14:04 – Hebrew word play with laugh, rejoice, and Isaac’s name. Doubts and hopes are tied together in this story.

16:40 – Abraham bargains with the Lord for Sodom and Gomora to be saved because he knows the mercy of God.

23:33 – The story of Sodom and Gomora also portrays God’s justice.

24:46 – Lot makes efforts to save his family from destruction in Genesis 19.

29:45 – Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom cost him his family.

33:54 – The troubling narrative of Lot’s two daughters and the cave in Genesis 19.30-38.

38:35 – Beauty for ashes in Isaiah 61.3. Through tragic experiences, beauty can come to pass. Your origin story is not who you are.

42:01 – Genesis 20 is a triplet of the same story. This chapter introduces the Elohist’s narrative, a source text most likely related to Lehi’s Brass Plates text.

43:20 – The long-promised day finally comes and Isaac is born. We should trust and have faith in promises that take time to be fulfilled. The Song of Sarah.

45:11 – Hagar and Ishmael are cast out of Abraham’s household and they wander in the wilderness. Their water runs out and God shows her a well of water. God helps us, but also wants us to do all we can.

55:36 – Complexities, gaps, and anachronisms in Genesis 21. A covenant, a sacred well, and a tree at Beer-sheba are illustrations of temple imagery, connecting the Patriarchs to figures of the temple and visionary experiences.

58:55 – The burial of Sarah in Genesis 23. Different ways to read Abraham’s “mourning” and “weeping” for Sarah.

1:03:16 – The Lord asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac upon Mount Moriah, the foundation stone, Jerusalem’s most sacred ground.

1:04:47 – “The mountains” is an anagram of “Moriah” in Genesis 22.2.

1:07:05 – We are here to be tested. We will have trials of faith equal to Abraham’s.

1:11:23 – Isaac is an excellent type of Jesus Christ. Elder Melvin J. Ballard shares his feelings regarding Heavenly Father sacrificing his Son.

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The post Ep 141 | Genesis 18-23, Come Follow Me (February 14-20) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Show Notes

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Timestamps:

00:26 – The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant include preservation, protection, priesthood, power, a place, and posterity.

09:20 – The responsibility of the Abrahamic Covenant is to make Christ’s name known to the world and help all to obtain priesthood and temple blessings.

19:29 – The Lord places Abraham and his posterity, Israel, in the center of the world. Our challenge is to influence the world without being influenced by the world.

30:12 – Abraham and Sarah experience “The Hero’s Journey”. Sarah’s combat with Pharaoh is similar to Eve’s battle with the serpent.

39:03 – Abraham grants the superior land to Lot. We should be generous with others as was Abraham.

40:33 – Anachronisms in Genesis 14 are clues as to when it was written.

43:21 – Melchizedek has largely been removed from the Hebrew Bible, but was had on the Brass Plates. Melchizedek is a type of Jesus Christ.

49:59 – Abraham and Sarah both gave God the benefit of the doubt in regard to his promise of having seed. Like them, we should do all we can to ensure the Lord’s promises are fulfilled.

52:48 – The ritual cutting of sacrificial animals in Genesis 15 relates to ancient covenant making.

57:56 – Abraham’s visionary experience included both light and darkness.

1:01:08 – The Lord tells Sarai to choose Hagar to bring forth Ishmael. The word used for bringing forth children relates to the idea of “building.”

1:05:44 – Circumcision is a token or sign of the covenant given to Abraham.

1:07:04 – How El Shaddai (the Almighty God) can be read as a representation of our Divine Mother in Heaven, with blessings connected to children and life. The historical evolution of Israel’s view of the nature of God.

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The post Ep 140 | Genesis 12-17; Abraham 1-2, Come Follow Me (February 7-13) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.