GEE is "la Guia para el Estudio de las Escrituras" and it includes a lot of information that is not included in the English Bible Dictionary/Index.
I've been pondering on the connection between water, blood and spirit... trying to understand the connection between the three a little better. When I looked up the words in the GEE, here's what it says... (This is also found on www.lds.org under Guide to the Scriptures... I just found that out!)
Water =As water is essential to sustain physical life, the Savior and his teachings (living water) are essential for eternal life.
Blood =Regarded by the ancient Israelites and many cultures today as the seat of life or vital energy of all flesh
Spirit =A spirit can live without a physical body, but the physical body cannot live without the spirit (James 2: 26)
The commonality with each of these things is their vitality for mortal life. We would not exist without any one of these items.... Both physically and spiritually.
Spiritually we need;
Water = baptism. "Baptism by water and the Spirit is necessary before a person can enter the celestial kingdom"
Blood = The Atonement. The atoning power of a sacrifice was in the blood because the blood was regarded as essential to life. Jesus Christ’s atoning blood cleanses the repentant from sin (1 Jn. 1: 7).
Spirit = The Holy Ghost AND our personal spirit. The Holy Ghost is essential as expressed above about baptism. Our personal spirit because... In the resurrection, the spirit is reunited with the same physical body of flesh and bone it possessed as a mortal, with two major differences: they will never be separated again, and the physical body will be immortal and perfected (Alma 11: 45; D&C 138: 16-17). But as we also know, from Alma 34:34 the spirit is the same... we won't "magically" change when we die... we are alive now so that we can learn and develop our spirits to be as our Father in Heaven.
Just some interesting thoughts...
Then from our study this evening, in Abraham 5 in verse 5, it wasn't until they added Water that man could be formed.
I will post more of my thoughts from last nights study later. Abraham 4... the focus of that study is the fact that all that took place in Abraham 4 was a planning session! Do I plan that effectively... More to come!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A week of studies
I haven't posted in a while, but I promise, I have studied. Peach is taking an Old Testament class this semester, which is great because I really don't know the Old Testament like I should. It also gives me an opportunity to study the Pearl of Great Price as well as the Joseph Smith Translations. It is such a blessing to have modern revelation.
As Peach and I read through Genesis and Moses and Abraham, it amazes me to see how perfect the Plan of Salvation really is!
Here's a snipit from a few of my studies.
Moses 6-8
In Moses 6 Adam learns the Plan of Salvation and is Baptized. I found a new favorite set of verses in 59 and 60.
59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the aspirit, which I have made, and so became of bdust a living soul, even so ye must be cborn again into the kingdom of heaven, of dwater, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and eenjoy the fwords of geternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal hglory;
As Peach and I read through Genesis and Moses and Abraham, it amazes me to see how perfect the Plan of Salvation really is!
Here's a snipit from a few of my studies.
Moses 6-8
In Moses 6 Adam learns the Plan of Salvation and is Baptized. I found a new favorite set of verses in 59 and 60.
59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the aspirit, which I have made, and so became of bdust a living soul, even so ye must be cborn again into the kingdom of heaven, of dwater, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and eenjoy the fwords of geternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal hglory;
60 For by the awater ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are bjustified, and by the cblood ye are dsanctified; (Definition)
I have never studied these three together... Water, Blood, and The Spirit. The link for Spirit in 59 leads to 1 John 5:8
This will be a great study. I'll post my findings as I learn more!
Also, a good study to learn more about the Plan of Salvation is from The Joseph Smith Manual
Chapter 17.
I will post my thoughts on this later.
I have never studied these three together... Water, Blood, and The Spirit. The link for Spirit in 59 leads to 1 John 5:8
This will be a great study. I'll post my findings as I learn more!
Also, a good study to learn more about the Plan of Salvation is from The Joseph Smith Manual
Chapter 17.
I will post my thoughts on this later.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
3rd Nephi Chapter 27
Here goes my first study~
I opened my scriptures to 3rd Nephi 27.
1 And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were aunited in bmighty prayer and cfasting.
- UNITED then leads to
D&C 29: 6 And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall aask in bfaith, being cunited in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.
and to D&C 84:1
1 A arevelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they bunited their hearts and clifted their voices on high.
Whenever people "unite" their hearts in earnest prayer, the Lord will answer. The Disciples were praying to know a name by which to call the church that Christ had established with them in the Americas. He "showed himself unto them" and answered their prayer.
5 ...For by this name shall ye be called at the last day
8 And how be it amy bchurch save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.
9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel...
SO that's the ticket. It is Christ's church IF it is built upon His gospel - that's an important point. There are so many churches in the world today, all claiming to be churches of Christ. So what is the difference between those churches and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? It's authority.... it's revelation... it's the fact that the WHOLE gospel had to be restored to the earth in it's entirety. Other churches teach truth. They bring good into the world. I don't deny that. The difference is that it is not the WHOLE truth. During the time of the Apostasy many of the "plain and precious" truths were lost. The Priesthood was also removed from the Earth and if the Priesthood was removed, so was the authority to act in the name of God. That is why there was a NEED for a RESTORATION.
Continuing in 3rd Nephi 27... Verses 13-22 sum up the Plan of our Heavenly Father.
Then in verse 25 - out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be ajudged, for by them shall their bworks be known unto men.
This is interesting... the books that have been written and shall be written we will be judged. How important is it that we study the scriptures? From them, we will be judged.
A side note - Linking to the beginning thoughts on UNITED hearts. I find it interesting that the only reason we have the Book of Mormon today was because the prophets were UNITED in their desires and prayers to have the records preserved.
Enos: 15 Wherefore, I knowing that the Lord God was able to apreserve our records, I cried unto him continually, for he had said unto me: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.
Mormon: 11 And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from generation to generation until they have fallen into amy hands. And I, Mormon, pray to God that they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which bmy people and their brethren shall be cjudged at the great and last day, according to the word of God which is written.
For more on being judged from the words, follow the cross references... like 11c. And for more study about how the Book of Mormon was to come forth and the importance of the Book of Mormon I like these following chapters:
2 Nephi 27
2 Nephi 29
I love the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful that the records were preserved that we have them now. We have such an amazing opportunity to learn from these great Prophets and people of the past. And yet, all too often I set aside my scriptures to watch TV or to surf the Internet. Hopefully as intended, this blog will help me stay motivated to learn from the scriptures. I know the Book of Mormon is true. And the most amazing thing to me is that ANYONE can know... I love that! The Book of Mormon comes with a promise... and it does not fail!
I opened my scriptures to 3rd Nephi 27.
1 And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were aunited in bmighty prayer and cfasting.
- UNITED then leads to
D&C 29: 6 And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall aask in bfaith, being cunited in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.
and to D&C 84:1
1 A arevelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they bunited their hearts and clifted their voices on high.
Whenever people "unite" their hearts in earnest prayer, the Lord will answer. The Disciples were praying to know a name by which to call the church that Christ had established with them in the Americas. He "showed himself unto them" and answered their prayer.
5 ...For by this name shall ye be called at the last day
8 And how be it amy bchurch save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.
9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel...
SO that's the ticket. It is Christ's church IF it is built upon His gospel - that's an important point. There are so many churches in the world today, all claiming to be churches of Christ. So what is the difference between those churches and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? It's authority.... it's revelation... it's the fact that the WHOLE gospel had to be restored to the earth in it's entirety. Other churches teach truth. They bring good into the world. I don't deny that. The difference is that it is not the WHOLE truth. During the time of the Apostasy many of the "plain and precious" truths were lost. The Priesthood was also removed from the Earth and if the Priesthood was removed, so was the authority to act in the name of God. That is why there was a NEED for a RESTORATION.
Continuing in 3rd Nephi 27... Verses 13-22 sum up the Plan of our Heavenly Father.
Then in verse 25 - out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be ajudged, for by them shall their bworks be known unto men.
This is interesting... the books that have been written and shall be written we will be judged. How important is it that we study the scriptures? From them, we will be judged.
A side note - Linking to the beginning thoughts on UNITED hearts. I find it interesting that the only reason we have the Book of Mormon today was because the prophets were UNITED in their desires and prayers to have the records preserved.
Enos: 15 Wherefore, I knowing that the Lord God was able to apreserve our records, I cried unto him continually, for he had said unto me: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.
Mormon: 11 And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from generation to generation until they have fallen into amy hands. And I, Mormon, pray to God that they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which bmy people and their brethren shall be cjudged at the great and last day, according to the word of God which is written.
For more on being judged from the words, follow the cross references... like 11c. And for more study about how the Book of Mormon was to come forth and the importance of the Book of Mormon I like these following chapters:
2 Nephi 27
2 Nephi 29
I love the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful that the records were preserved that we have them now. We have such an amazing opportunity to learn from these great Prophets and people of the past. And yet, all too often I set aside my scriptures to watch TV or to surf the Internet. Hopefully as intended, this blog will help me stay motivated to learn from the scriptures. I know the Book of Mormon is true. And the most amazing thing to me is that ANYONE can know... I love that! The Book of Mormon comes with a promise... and it does not fail!
Moroni 10:
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and bponder it in your chearts.
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and bponder it in your chearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not btrue; and if ye shall ask with a csincere heart, with dreal intent, having efaith in Christ, he will fmanifest the gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Lately I have been lacking in my gospel study. In order to motivate myself to have a more effective study, I decided to create a blog where I can post the thoughts or impressions I have as I study.
I also invite comments and questions to my posts. If you have a question regarding a gospel topic you do not have a full understanding of or a question about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, let me know, and together we can search for the answers.
I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and His true church has been restored to the earth. What an amazing time to live and learn!
I also invite comments and questions to my posts. If you have a question regarding a gospel topic you do not have a full understanding of or a question about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, let me know, and together we can search for the answers.
I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and His true church has been restored to the earth. What an amazing time to live and learn!
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