This week the Come Follow Me curriculum omits a few chapters in Genesis. Ben and Christopher discuss these anyway since they touch on important themes. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah in turn all make choices that put their legitimacy as heirs in question. Jacob returns to Bethel to establish a mode akin to temple worship. Isaac dies, and the presence of both Esau and Jacob hints at final reconciliation between the brothers. Joseph’s story begins, interrupted by the narrative of Judah’s impropriety. This contrasts with Joseph’s character and legitimacy as the heir of the birthright of Israel. Joseph is sold into Egypt and the Lord is with him through it all. Joseph’s story is a fundamental narrative underpinning the story of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon and the development of the Latter-day Saint ethos.
As the Nephite government transitions from kings to the reign of the judges, there are many subtle and nuanced narratives that are going on below the surface of the text. Alma the Younger is experiencing a transition in his own discipleship and growth, as he soon recognizes the power of what bearing down pure testimony has on the course of civilizations. How does Alma learn these lessons to apply them? This is the basis for our discussion in this week’s episode of LDPS Presents: Come, Follow Me. ...
The Latter-day Saint tradition has canonized five different creation accounts. Despite intriguing differences, each of them can function liturgically—as does the temple account in temple worship. Christopher and Ben discuss all four creation accounts as descriptions of the dedication of the cosmos to God’s purposes rather than accounts of material origins. The teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the manner of dedicating a temple in antiquity fit well with this understanding of creation accounts. In discussing these creation accounts, Ben and Christopher lay a foundation for a discussion of humanity’s place in the cosmos and God’s purposes for humanity in the next episode. ...
Shiloh and Ben embark on discussing a favorite topic: The Beatitudes and the Sermon at the Temple (equivalent to the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Matthew in the Gospels) . The Beatitudes are the Preamble to the rest of the Sermon at the Temple, and it is impossible to really understand the rest of the Sermon if we miss the importance and setting of the Beatitudes. In both the Sermon on the Mount (in Matthew) and in the Sermon at the Temple (3 Nephi), the settings are symbolically the same: a high place / the temple. Whereas we often glance over the Beatitudes are simply random and unconnected virtues, they are infinitely more than that. In fact, within the story of the Beatitudes is the entirety of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as the rest of the Sermon at the Temple are little vignette's of what a Beatitude-type person (i.e., someone who walks the path of the "Christ") is like in various situations. The coming of Jesus Christ is the most important story in the Book of Mormon, as it is the apex of the Book of Mormon's reason for existence. Central to that message is the Sermon at the Temple, and, for that reason, we've made two parts out of this week's Come, Follow Me. There was just too much great stuff to talk about! We hope that you enjoy! ...
