Making Choices in Life

Abraham and Lot are a study in choices. When we look at them in Genesis we are reminded of our daily choices. We have a tendency to put Abraham on a pedestal but while he was a man of great faith and obedience he did make mistakes as well. Overall, his choices led him closer to God which is what we all want.

Abraham repeatedly introduced Sarah as his sister instead of his wife, but when the chips were down was willing to sacrifice his only son because God said to. 

Lot chose to "pitch his tent toward Sodom" and eventually moved there. He offered his daughters virtue to protect his guests. While that is hard to understand in this day and age a study of middle eastern guest right will help you understand the truly awful position the man was in. I really see Abraham as a man who was intentionally trying to grow closer to God while Lot was what today would be considered the "everyman". He believes, he know God exists but he's not really making much of an effort. We don't see that effort until the destruction of Sodom when he prays to God for the salvation of all in the name of 10 righteous men. 

Where are we in the world? What choices are we making? Are we trying to be closer to God or are we moseying along with the world?

The Abrahamic Convenants

The Covenants of Abraham

Last week I described a covenant as a promise, the Bible Dictionary describes it as an agreement sometimes between persons but more often between God and man. While a covenant between two people may be on equal terms a covenant between God and man is not the same, God makes the terms and man accepts. 

When we review the agreements made between Abraham and the Lord they are found in many areas of Genesis.

What Abraham Promised to Do What the Lord Promised Abraham

Move to the land of Canaan  

• Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  
• Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
• Genesis 13:15 and 16 I will give you all the land you see around you, I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth

Believe in the Lord

• Genesis 15:4-7 Heirs as numerous as the stars

Walk before me and be thou perfect; all males over the age of 8 circumcised

• Genesis 17:1-10 thou will be a father of nations; 

Sarai become Sarah

• Genesis 17:15-19 Sarah will bear a son; Ishmael will be a father of nations also

He and his children and household will keep the way of the Lord, do justice and judgment

• Genesis 18 Sarah will have a son; Abraham will be a great and mighty nation

On the surface the Abrahamic covenant is a promise to grant Abraham lands and a heritage in return for his obedience. When you look deep you see more however.  

The Abrahamic covenant was a promise to Abraham that not only he but all of his posterity would be entitled to the covenant of salvation (baptism), the priesthood and the covenant of exaltation (celestial marriage) on top of the promise of eternal increase of his line. Every individual who is baptized or receives a celestial marriage renews the covenant and that is also how people of non-Israelite linage (Gentiles) are adopted into the covenant.

We fulfill our side of the covenant by being obedient & by spreading the gospel, in return we share in all the promises of the covenant. We can be reunited with our Heavenly Father. We can have eternal life. We can live with our families forever.

One of the parts of Abrahams story that some people get confused about is the involvement of Hagar, we shouldn't be. Hagar and her son not only formed an important part of the story. Ishmael was the father of a nation as well. However beyond that we should not over look the culture of the time.

In Genesis 16:1-3 We found that Sarai had still not conceived the child that the Lord had promised and decided to take things into her own hands.  She gave her maid Hagar to Abram to be his wife to bear children with.

In D&C 132: 34 & 65 Joseph Smith clarifies what happens here. Multiple wives were not uncommon in the time and that the union of Abram and Hagar was commanded by the Lord. 

The very names of Abraham and Sarah show the change.

Abraham: Father of a multitude

Abram :exalted father

Sarah: Princess

Sarai: contentions

The changes in both names reflect Abraham and Sarahs new status as the parents of a nation.

Gods Covenant with Abraham

Genesis 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Have you ever had a protector? Someone who watched over you and helped you? What if that person took it one step further, what if they helped those who helped you and hurt those who hurt you?  I had remembered verse 2 where the Lord promises to make "of thee a great nation". That's the one everyone remembers right? Abraham sons with Sarah are the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel. I'm not sure how many people know that his Ishmael with Hagar, had twelve sons of his own, his second son Kedar is the ancestor of the prophet Mohammad. This means that Abraham is the father of both Israel and the Arabic people. 

What about verse 3 though? "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:" those that help Abraham and his family would gain blessing from the Lord and those that hurt or curse him would earn the wrath of the Lord. When I think of the story of Moses and the Pharaoh it is really amazing to think about what that really means. Finally that last part "and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Right now I only have my genealogy tentatively back to about the American Revolution and much of it needs to be fully verified, however I think that when all the work is done this is further verification that we will find we are all brothers and sisters and cousins and family.

Thoughts on Finding Answers

Because we believe that scripture reading can help us receive revelation, we are encouraged to read the scriptures again and again. By this means, we obtain access to what our Heavenly Father would have us know and do in our personal lives today. That is one reason Latter-day Saints believe indaily scripture study. -Elder Oaks, January 1995 Scripture Reading and Revelation

When we read of the account of the Tower of Babel we find a people who were scared and proud and most of all failed to come before God and ask of Him what to do. Can you imagine the difference in the story if the people instead of deciding to build a tower to heaven had come before God and said "Lord we are scared. We are fearful that we are to be scattered. Please help us." 

We have to remember that we are not the architects of our solutions, He is. He knows more that we do and is willing to share knowledge and to teach us. We need to quit racking our brains for solutions and remember to bend our knee. 

However once we bend our knee we must go where He sends us and do what He says. In my personal experience once we are listening He is quick to give the solution, its just a matter of us following it.

Restarting my blog

It has been a long time since I have blogged. My Old Testament class at BYUI has given me a fantastic chance to restart my blog by discussing what I'm learning in class.
Last week was the Creation and we weren't sharing yet, this is the second week of class.

I have chosen to share with you my thoughts on the Tower of Babel.

Genesis 11:1-9. A Tower to Reach Heaven

Most people have heard the story of the Tower of Babel, what many people do not know is why the people built the tower. According to Genesis 11:4 "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." The people were were terrified of being scattered and they also wanted to build up a name for themselves. Neither part of this combination involved honoring the Lord or wanting to be closer to Him. I believe if the intent of the people had been to build a tower to grow closer to God the result may have been different. This is one of the first lessons of the Bible on intent. God scattered the people by giving them all different languages.

The Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon explains the link between the Tower and the Nephites.

The Jaredites are the ancestors of the Nephites originating from Jared and the brother of Jared who asked the Lord for mercy.

How we can receive “a name” (Genesis 11:4) that will truly help us reach heaven?

The people did not understand that they needed to take the name of the Lord upon themselves not make a name for themselves. The phrase "taking the name of the Lord upon yourself" mean to make a convenient with the Lord. A convenient is a promise. When we are baptized we make a convenient with the Lord. We promise to obey His commandments and to obey Him.

Every book in the New Testament makes clear that Jesus, the Son of God is the only way back to live with Heavenly Father. Jesus is the path to God and when we make a covenant with God He also makes a convenient with us. He has promised us that we will live again with Him, that we will live eternally, He has promised that by obeying Him that we will not need to worry. This are some of the promises that He has made as part of this covenant that we make with Him. We do not need to build a tower to Heaven, we just need to take the name of Lord upon ourselves and follow His Son.

A Resurgence of Service, with a side of Chicken

<img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/krogerFriedChicken.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=3259567091&Campaign=0019997611&Uid=221656&token=3ea5f0303efbed915eb95e699acbc396" alt=""/>

I've got to tell you about something that I have noticed, a resurgence in customer service. Now before you laugh let me tell you about a store I've starting going to again-King Soopers. Recently I received a free coupon to try out and review their Deli chicken, at my KS Deli it was called Chester Fried Chicken (Depending on where you live it may be called Kroger Deli Fried Chicken).The chicken was wonderful, crispy, juicy and had a variety of items to choose from as sides. As a bonus...you are standing in a grocery store, if you don't want their sides, walk down the store aisles.
The chicken was good, the posted price was nice $8.99 for 8 piece, but what was really special was the customer service. The gentleman at the Deli was polite and very helpful, and super friendly.  I live in a pretty large city, I can get decent chicken lots of places. But to find good chicken across the street with great service. That's a keeper.

A Journey of 30 Years or A Dream Fullfilled

The first time I remember the words coming out of my mouth I must have been around 10 and I had probably watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As I recall I said something like "Someday I will have a room just for chocolate!" As I got older I wanted room for horses and friends and kids but the basic dream remained unchanged. I wanted my own house.  I have been putting it together in my head, in magazines and recently on Pintrest. Some areas of style are pretty well nailed down and some are still pretty hazy. You would think after this long I would have it down cold right? Well no not really. Because although I've wanted a house for 30 years there were a lot of years there where I wasn't sure how it was ever going to happen. Making rent and feeding us was beyond my reach, but the dream was still there, lurking in the background.

The house has gotten smaller over the years in my head from a mega mansion to a place where friends can gather and it doesn't take all day to clean. The daydreams of a 10 year old to reality and lots of things in walking and driving distance for a 40 year old.  But dreams do come true and this American dream is now my by the grace of God and there is no doubt in my mind that His hand is in this real estate transaction.

Starting with a real estate agent from my family,  to a financial officer who was awesome. From the lack of nerves in the bidding process, to the loft that appeared that wasn't photographed, to the appraisal process. My sister in law found a house full of furniture from people who were moving at incredible rates (thanks again). DJ sewing and stuffing couch cushions, Brian hauling totes all over for me. Providence is everywhere in this process.

Here is the view from my new front door:



Here is my living room:



My window seat in the master bedroom:



My loft that will become my office:



I have all kinds of plans for redecorating and will post progress starting with the painting party this weekend.

Thank you in advance to everyone who is helping with the entire moving process. This has been a dream for me for as long as I can remember. Thank you to everyone involved.